Documenting real moments with unique, artistic photography. Family, wedding, lifestyle and child portraits on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Sunset Surreal with the Roscoe Family

July 18, 2018

I have a list of words in my head that are a sort of “driving force” for my work. Words I think about, words that inspire me, words that even just make me seem cooler than I am when I say them out loud to myself (confidence boost!).

Combined, they form a mood that for me is incredibly powerful and inspiring. With every single session, I try to reach for this mood, to pluck it from the sky and express it through my work, but it’s a finicky thing, like sweeping your hand through fog and hoping to get a drink of water. The thirst for this expression will never seem to end.

Occasionally I’ll meet other people who seem to respond to this mood too. People like those here on my blog. Maybe you, reading this now! People like the Roscoe family, who I first met about 5 years ago. Our session then was one for the record books, and this most recent session was wonderful as well.

If anything, I can be thankful for that, and for them. I’m not sure if I met the mood my words above convey, but at the very least I’m blessed to have the opportunity to try.

Thanks for taking a look!

family in hawaii with a turtle I first met the Roscoe ohana around 5 years ago. We had a wonderful time then, and I
kids hugging in hawaii

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Allison & Nick in Kealakekua

December 18, 2017

I drove around the south end of the Big Island; a beautiful route I normally don’t take. It’s out of the way for my usual shooting locations.

But Allison and Nick’s wedding wasn’t at any of my usual locations. For their wedding day they had secured an oceanfront estate in the stunning Kealakekua bay. To say that I was excited to be in such a magical place would be an understatement!

Despite being a popular tourist attraction, it has a quiet, off-the-beaten-path and rather local vibe to it… which, it turns out, was absolutely perfect for Allison, Nick and their family and friends.

I entered the estate well ahead of schedule and found the place to be quietly, confidently moving along with preparations. Some weddings I’ve done have had a hurried feel, a nervousness, which is understandable… because it’s a wedding. But for these two and their loved ones, it almost felt like just any other day, and I instantly felt a calm wash over me as I introduced myself to everyone. Allison in particular had to have been one of the calmest, most relaxed brides I’ve ever met, and Nick was charming and hadn’t broken a sweat even in the coastal heat.

The rest of the afternoon proceeded just as smoothly, and I had such an enjoyable time capturing it all.
This, I believe, is the universe in perfect alignment. Thank you, Allison and Nick, for having me there to document it!

-Jim

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Pololu with the Spector Ohana

October 24, 2017

Sigh. I like the families I get to work with.

It’s a good feeling, a comforting feeling, like putting your hands right in the warm air blasting from your car’s vents on a cold day. Or slumping down on your couch after a long day. Your feet might ache, your back might ache, even your heart might ache, but you’ve got that couch and for a brief moment, it’s all you need.

And this, right below, is all I need to be pleased as a photographer. A rockin’ family, a beautiful location, and an hour or so of time. Spector family — you guys are amazing and I am so thankful to have hung out with you all!

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The Brown Family

October 3, 2017

The sun was high and bright that day on the Big Island of Hawaii, casting the sort of light that instantly made you want to sit in the shade to get to know a good book, take a nap, or find a different kind of shade, underwater, with a mask and snorkel.

But even the water was bright that day, as the waves reared up and enjoyed the sun themselves, glowing aquamarine. They crashed and dredged the sandy shores, revealing countless small lava rocks, glistening in the sun.

It was a beautiful scene for the Brown ohana, a wonderful group of nine from Arizona. They were just as sunny as the beach that day — a perfect mix for family photos.

A hearty thanks to the Brown family for having me! And a big Mahalo to the Big Island… for everything. 🙂

-Jim

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The Davis Family’s Big Island Adventure

September 24, 2017

This was a wonderful, quintessential Hawaii family session!

A mother’s love, a father’s joy, and a little one’s amazing moments of zest, with a backdrop of black rock, white coral, and a sky of yellow, blue and salmon blending into each other and fading into the sea.

Simple perfection; I love it.
The Davis ohana, hailing from California, were great fun to hang with; I took them to a secluded little spot not far from the Fairmont Orchid, and we kept things as simple and heartfelt as we could — an easy feat with their incredibly cute son! He’s around the same age as my own girl, so it was awesome to connect with fellow new parents.Thank you so very much to the Davis family for having me over for a session!