Planning a trip to Maui and want to get awesome Maui family photos? Keep scrolling to find out how to book affordable Maui photographers for your vacation!
This post about affordable Maui photographers and how to take Maui family photos was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
One of my favorite travel souvenirs are professional vacation photos. They are the always worth the investment and they are something I treasure long after the trip is over.
And when you add in the gorgeous backdrop of Hawaii, it’s a winning combination.
So, that’s why I always tell families to add a Hawaii photography session to their Maui itinerary.
Keep scrolling to find out where to find cheap Maui photographers that are pretty awesome. Plus, get my tips for taking amazing Maui family photos!
Don’t want to scroll? Click HERE for $25 off a Flytographer photoshoot!
Why are Vacation Photos Important?
When I think about some of the cool trips I’ve taken, sometimes it’s kind of a blur. I mean, I like to be on the go and experience as much as I can. And in Maui, there are so many incredible things to do!
But, when I take a look through my photos of my Hawaii vacations, I remember very specific details.
I can smell the fragrant plumeria flowers in the air, taste the shave ice, and hear the sounds of the ocean. It’s a flood of senses and memories.
I think of vacation photos as an investment.
When I’m old and grey, I want to look through my photos and think about all of the amazing adventures I had with my kids when they were little.
And I don’t want the only photos of myself to be selfies I take with my family.
Why You Should Hire a Hawaii Vacation Photographer
I’m at the point in my life where I’m all about outsourcing whatever I can to save myself time and stress!
In the past, I used to have my husband be our photographer, which meant he was always lugging around heavy equipment. And sometimes, he’d get distracted and only take photos of landscapes instead of the kids.
So now, I just hire a vacation photographer to make everyone happy.
Personally, I like to book 60-minute shoots for Maui family portraits somewhere that’s not too far from our hotel or near fun attractions.
I love hiring a vacation photographer when I’m traveling with my kids because we block out time for “good” photos, and then we just enjoy the rest of our trip, knowing we don’t have to stop and take photos everywhere.
My kids love knowing they only need to be “camera-ready” for a short time. It’s less stressful for everyone.
But, there are 4 other cool benefits I want to talk about why you should do family pictures in Maui. Check out the latest prices and more details.
1. SECRET INSIDER TIPS
No one knows the best places to take photos for your Maui family pictures better than a local photographer! That makes sense, right?
The cool part about doing photography in Maui, Hawaii, is that there are a million options for photo locations.
Your Maui vacation photographer will know all the best Maui photography spots for the perfect angles, best lighting, and interesting backgrounds. They find the best photo spots on Maui; all you have to do is show up.
Plus, you can ask them about other cool places to take photos on Maui and their tips so you can do your own photo shoot in other areas of the island.
2. POSING HELP
A good vacation photographer will also help you find ways to pose your body that are super flattering. I mean, they want you to like your photos!
They can place you in the perfect spot for the best lighting and adjust your head and arms in ways you might not think to do on your own.
Your photographer has also probably photographed many, many people in your location, so they will have lots of posing ideas and things they have learned over the years.
3. CAN LEAVE YOUR GEAR AT HOME
Another reason why hiring a vacation photographer is a smart idea is that you won’t have to lug all your camera gear around.
My husband usually does our travel photography, but he carries a super heavy backpack with his fancy camera and several lenses. He doesn’t want to leave it in our rental car, so it’s just one more thing to carry everywhere we go.
Plus, if you are traveling with kids, you are probably already hauling a lot of stuff. We always try to lighten our load whenever possible.
It also lightens the mental load when you aren’t worried about getting the perfect “Instagram shot” every place you go. Instead, you can just be present and enjoy Hawaii.
4. THEY ARE FUN + EASY!
I always treat vacation photo shoots as fun Maui activities for families. It’s like any cool tour or crazy adventure. And that’s the attitude we take when I include one on our vacation itinerary.
What’s great is that your vacation photographer is in charge, and you can just follow their lead while taking in all the gorgeous Maui scenery.
I like doing them on the first few days of the trip because I can ask my vacation photographer for local tips and tricks. We always get awesome food recommendations this way.
And I always ask about other cool photo spots in the area, like street art or super cute cafes! Of course, we also like to do Maui beach photos too.
How to Book Affordable Maui Photographers
While we’ve used a lot of different vacation photographers in Maui Hawaii throughout the years, some of my most memorable experiences have been through Flytographer.
Basically, it’s a concierge vacation photography website where you can find photographers almost anywhere in the world, including Maui. Find the best prices here.
Flytographer makes it easy to choose the perfect Maui family photographers. You can find out all about their photography style, favorite places to take photos, and you can even scroll through their online portfolio.
And the booking process is simple and quick. You just choose the Maui photographer you like and pick your preferred dates. Then, Flytographer will check availability and get back to you with a proposed plan.
If your preferred photographer isn’t available, they will check to see if another photographer can do your shoot. That saves a lot of stress.
What I love most about Flytographer is that they are FAST! We sometimes receive all the photos before the end of our trip from our Maui portrait photographer! I love looking at them on our flight home.
It definitely is an affordable Maui photography service that gives great photos and always has been an amazing experience for us during our family vacations.
Here are just some of the Maui photographer options you can have during your Hawaii vacation:
- Family photographers
- Newborn portraits
- Wedding photo shoots
- Proposal on the beach
- Love story pictures
I bet you can even find an amazing Maui maternity photographer from here as well!
Whether you want pictures on the beach, in the ocean, at sunset, all around the island, on the West Side, on the North Shore, at golden hour, with your loved ones, you can get all the photos you want during your magical family island vacation to Maui Hawaii.
These Maui family photographers really know how to help you have fun during the shoot, especially your kids.
Flytographer certainly is my favorite family photographer website for sure.
What to Wear for Maui Family Photos
Of course, you can wear whatever you like for your Hawaii family photos. But, I know some people like to get ideas, so I’m listing a few options to add to your Maui packing list to make your photos pop.
Aloha Wear
While this is totally up to you, our family loves to put on Aloha shirts and Hawaiian dresses for our professional photos.
A few popular brands for authentic Hawaiian Aloha shirts and dresses include Reyn Spooner, Avanti Hawaii, and Kahala.
You can also find some budget-friendly options online at Amazon or at Target in Maui during your Hawaii vacation.
Maxi Dresses
If a Hawaiian dress really isn’t your style, you can always choose a nice maxi dress. Maui maternity photography photos always look so good with maxi dresses!
It can look really nice to have some members of your family wear Aloha prints while others wear solid colors that coordinate.
A similar option is to wear a flowy maxi skirt. These look great when the wind is blowing slightly because they add some movement to your pictures.
Same Color
If you aren’t a fan of Aloha print clothing, another idea is to have all the members of your family wear the same color.
I’ve seen a lot of beach photos where families are all wearing primarily white, and it looks crisp and clean. Maui beach photographers really know how to make anything pop though!
You can even do different shades of the same color (like light blue, royal blue, navy, etc.) to make things look cohesive.
Or you can choose the same color palette. I’ve seen some families choose a pastel rainbow theme for a large family and it looked super cute.
Hawaiian Flower Crowns (Lei Po’o)
If you’ve been scrolling Instagram to get photo inspiration, you have probably seen a bunch of people wear Hawaiian flower crowns.
These are actually called a haku lei or lei po’o. They have been around for ages, but are super trendy lately.
There are tons of places to order haku leis on Maui.
After your photo shoot, keep your haku lei in a refrigerator to wear for a few more days. Just put a wet paper towel on top to keep it fresh.
If you are getting married on Maui, you will definitely want one for your wedding day.
5 Tips for Getting Awesome Hawaii Family Pictures
1. DO YOUR HAIR AND MAKEUP
I’m listing this first because it really is more important than you might realize.
With the lighting and photo editing, it’s easy to look a bit washed out in photos. And looking washed out can also make you look older than you are.
That’s why you might consider putting on full makeup (foundation, lipstick, mascara) and using colors that are a bit bolder or brighter than usual.
Think of it a bit like stage makeup. You need it to look more like yourself in photos.
And doing your hair can make a big difference, too. Years ago, I used to just put my hair up in a ponytail or a bun without realizing that it could look weird in photos to have my hair pulled so tightly.
Now, I usually pack a flat iron or curling wand, so I can wear my hair down. I’m pretty obsessed with this curling wand.
Another option is to wear your hair in a bun throughout the day and then let it down for your photos. It usually produces beachy waves that look effortless and chic.
If you really want to look amazing (or it’s a special occasion), go and get your hair and makeup professionally done at a local spa or salon.
I used to think that was a bit over-the-top until I did it for a Kauai Jungle Tub photo shoot, and the results were fabulous!
2. WATCH POSING VIDEOS
When people take photos of me, I never know what to do with my hands. I feel super awkward and end up just doing the same thing in every photo.
And then, when I look at the pictures, they aren’t what I envisioned. That’s disappointing.
So, I’ve started watching posing videos on YouTube to give myself ideas on how to look natural in my photos.
This is one of my favorite posing videos because it breaks down a few easy poses that anyone can do. This was so helpful for our Maui portrait photography we did.
Watching how-to pose videos has helped me figure out what to do with my hands, where to look, and how to stand in ways that flatter my body.
You can also get ideas on how to pose with your kids. There are plenty of super cute ways to interact that look adorable in pictures.
3. GET PHOTOS WITH YOUR PARTNER
One of the things I notice most about doing family photography is that we usually get a lot of family photos or photos just of the kids.
It’s rare to get photos just with my husband.
So, now I’ve made it a point to let photographers know that I want to make sure to get a few couple shots. These usually end up being some of my favorite ones.
And when you think about it, this might be your best chance of getting any photos with your partner during your entire trip.
4. COME UP WITH A SHOT LIST
Ok, I fully admit that I’m a “planner,” and I usually have clear ideas on how I want something to look.
It’s super important to communicate that with your photographer in Maui.
What I like to do is think about any family combinations I want to make sure to get (this is especially helpful when doing multi-generational travel.)
Then, I usually scroll through Instagram or the photographer’s portfolio and see what types of photos I like best. It’s a great way to get ideas for creative poses, especially with kids.
5. USE PROPS
Finally, my last tip for getting the best Maui family photos is to include props.
Kids tend to relax a bit when they are holding something or doing an activity. It helps avoid the awkward “cheese” face so many kids pull as they get older.
Some ideas include ukuleles, surfboards, fresh flower leis, beach balls, and signs. Oh, and food always works!
Usually, we bribe our kids with a special treat at the end of the photo shoots. And we give it to them right at the end.
You could do ice cream cones, shave ice, popsicles, fancy drinks, etc., depending on where you are taking photos. These make up some of my favorite photos of my kids!
Maui Photographer FAQs
After you have a basic idea of your Maui itinerary, you should book your Maui photography session. Ideally, you’ll schedule it for the first few days of your trip. That way, you don’t risk people having a bright red sunburn, and you have time to reschedule if it starts raining.
A 60-minute photo shoot with a Hawaii family photographer works best for families with kids. That way, there’s enough time in case of meltdowns or emergencies but not enough time for kids to get too bored. If you are doing multi-generational family photos with a large family, you’ll want 90 minutes to make sure to get all the photos you want.
Yes, it’s customary to tip your photographer in Hawaii. You can do a cash tip at the time of your photo shoot.
Any beach would be the perfect place to capture all your special moments during your Hawaii vacation. Haleakala would be another place for some amazing images for your Maui photoshoot, as would Secret Cove Beach, Wailea Beach, or anywhere along the Road to Hana.
Family Photography Maui Wrap Up
Ok, those are a bunch of ideas to get you going for your Hawaii family photos. Now you know how to choose the best Maui photographers, what to wear, and tips for getting the cutest Hawaii family pictures.
Make sure to use the Maui family photographers affordable service that we use and love!
Maui family photography is a fun way to commemorate an awesome Hawaiian vacation! And be sure to check out my list of Hawaii Instagram captions, and Hawaii quotes to post with your photos!