Plan Your Shoot
Guided poses, lots of energy, wet feet and sandy toes. Here’s how a Pine & Palm beach session works, from choosing a time, to the day your photos arrive. We're here for you, every step of the way.
Our sessions are all about fun! We come with a script of poses, so expect to move, walk and play, with a few Pine & Palm twists to bring out your most natural smiles. We bring lots of energy, so you can relax, laugh and forget you’re getting your pictures taken.
Your feet will get wet during the session with us. We won’t intentionally get you soaked, but we never limit the magic you’re willing to let us capture. Our photographers pride themselves on adapting to any situation to get every last drop of beauty a moment has to offer.
We bring cold refreshments and a small snack to every portrait, proposal, engagement and Elopement session. Snacks are mostly used to buy smiles when needed, but they’re always available. (We usually have water, Capri Sun, Goldfish Crackers, Rice Krispies and Fruit Gummies.)
Staying in touch. About 7 days before your session, you’ll get a reminder email to confirm your details. The day before, our office emails you a confirmation with your meeting spot and final details. On the day, your photographer will text you about an hour before your start time, so keep an eye on the phone number you gave us.
Soft light from the rising sun shows the setting’s true colors. Lighting stays soft and even through your whole session, and the morning sun creates crisp, airy images perfect for the wall at home.
We don’t usually have to worry about Maui’s trade winds in the morning, the ocean is still calm, and the weather is at its most predictable. As the day heats up, the winds pick up. Bonus: beaches and parking areas are much less crowded. Sometimes we even have the whole beach to ourselves!
A Maui sunset brings out more of the gold and pastel tones from the setting sun and the volcanic haze (vog) on the horizon from the Big Island. The clouds and sky change every day, so each sunset is unique.
Winds are harder to predict but tend to die down closer to sunset. It’s a bit more of a gamble weather-wise, but when it all comes together, it’s pure magic. It’s also popular at the beach, so there may be more people to work around. With a Pine & Palm photographer, crowds are rarely a problem!
Maui’s weather is ever-changing and hard to predict. Instead of standard weather apps, which lean on conservative forecasts, we rely on advanced multi-model maritime weather software and watch Maui’s many microclimates closely to find the best spots on the island each day.
Occasionally we may suggest meeting at a different location with better conditions, or rescheduling to the next available slot when the forecast looks significantly better. If the weather doesn’t line up with what we all hoped for, we’ll let you know promptly.
Wind is part of the Maui experience. We don’t reschedule just because it’s a windy day. A photoshoot is only considered for rescheduling if the County of Maui issues a red-flag or high-wind advisory, and then we’ll discuss other times or locations with you.
If your shoot has to be canceled because of inclement weather, rescheduling is penalty-free and subject to availability. If no other time slot is available during your travel dates, the weather delay becomes a cancellation. Your $50 Booking Fee isn’t refunded, but you get a free rebooking for a future session with no new Booking Fee, to be used within 18 months of your original session date. Weather cancellations are joint decisions between you and Pine & Palm Productions, and complete cancellations due to weather are extremely rare. See our cancellation policy.
Your remaining balance is due at your photoshoot, right after your session. We carry mobile card readers, so we accept debit and credit cards, Google Pay and Apple Pay. We do accept cash, but for your safety we prefer card or e-payments. If you pay in cash, please bring exact change; we don’t provide change.
We take lots of shots (often 1,000+) so every moment is captured, and it’s our job to filter out the best ones. Your online gallery is ready for viewing in 5–7 business days, so you can choose your favorites, and your final edited photos are delivered 14 business days after you send us your selections.
Every image is hand edited and color graded to adhere to our standards, portfolio aesthetic, and quality; we never apply a preset filter. Let us know your vision! We love getting creative with every client.
Book your session online, or send us a quick question and we’ll help you plan. We normally reply within 24 hours, Monday to Friday.
