Michael & Dawn | Sunrise Vacation Session | Wailea, Maui

My husband Mark and I went on vacation to Maui over Labor Day weekend.  Maui is a very special place for us and more specifically Wailea Beach and the Grand Wailea.  So when the opportunity to shoot a sunrise vacation session before we left, I jumped on it!

Michael and Dawn had, as they described it, a “helltastic” year.  As a reward, they treated themselves to a relaxing vacation to Maui.  They have been together for 18 years and reside in Kansas City.

Mark and I met them while on a tour for the Maui Brewing Company.  (My favorite is the Pineapple Mana!)  At the end of the tour, which I highly recommend, there is a taste tasting, where we all randomly sat at the same table and clicked instantly!  After the tour, we stayed and chatted on the brewery’s lanai.  We were staying all staying at the same hotel, the Grand Wailea.  It was great to have some company on the last two days of our trip. 

The next night, we were out to dinner and I had this crazy idea!!  Since none of us really adjusted to the time zone change, we were waking up very early.  The Grand Wailea sits on the South West coast of Maui and is known for the sunsets, but Mark and I were leaving on a red eye the next night.  Sunrise was the only option I had, so I took a risk.  I asked Michael and Dawn if they would be willing to model for a sunrise session and they were ecstatic!

So, we all met on the beach in front of the hotel at 5:45am!  We waited for the sun to rise over Haleakala and the most amazing pink skies appeared.  The beach was deserted and I was able to capture some intimate portraits for Dawn and Michael to take home with them.  Now, they have something to remember this crazy year and their Maui vacation!  

As I look back at this session, sitting in the cold of New Jersey, I am dreaming about going back to the golden skies of Maui!