BOOKING YOUR FAMILY SESSION in 2021

During your shoot I will give lots of guidance and suggestions based on what will look best, and my hope is to capture your natural reaction to those suggestions and your reaction to your partner (and children, if applicable) and to turn your special moments into art you can proudly hang on your walls or display on an album. While I’m shooting, I’m also making sure there’s space for you (and your partner, and your kids, and anyone really) to be 100% who you are.

I use my camera to celebrate the realness of life and I strive to make images for regular people like me and you. So bring your magic, and I’ll bring mine.

Please select what type of photography package best fits your budget and the experience you're looking for and let’s start planning your session!

*A $200 fee is required as non-refundable deposit to book and reserve my services - and it's applied towards your package total. The remaining balance is due the day we shoot.

FAMILY PACKAGES

A LA CARTE ADD-ON OPTIONS:



VIDEO // $800

a short HD video made with footage taken during your shoot

FINE ART ALBUMS

8X8 LAY-FLAT // $800

12X12 LAY-FLAT // $1,000

Fine art lay-flat albums provide ultra-thick pages that perfectly portray seamless panoramic spreads and are wrapped in eco-friendly covers. Price listed is for a max of 20 pages (10 spreads).

READY for YOUR FAmilY SESSION?

PLEASE EMAIL SOPHIA AT ALOHA@THESOPHIACO.COM OR text (808)781-4677

 FAQs

How far in advance should I book?

Because I work with many families that come to Oahu on vacation and babymoon, I am constantly booking year round. The sooner you get in my calendar the better! So don't wait too long to contact me, but if you made a last minute decision, please contact me asap and I'll do my best to fit you in.

Do you pose us?

I don’t like the word “pose”. I make suggestions on where to stand or sit or where/how to play based on the dynamic of your family and on what will look best based on lighting and scenery. Traditional posing with looking at the camera is not my jam at all. My goal is capture real reactions - and I know that might sound scary if you're used to traditional portrait sessions! I work hard to create a comfortable environment for the whole family to feel like they can be themselves. And rest assured, because I will be capturing beautiful images even if it feels like chaos.

What's the best spot for our session?

There are so many amazing places in Oahu and we will decide together where the best place for your session is. Beach sessions are very popular, but we also have mountains and jungle-like scenery, rivers and waterfalls.

What's the best time for our session?

The exact time will depend on what time the sun will be rising or setting and the location we pick for your shoot.

If you have young kids that can’t handle staying up late for sunset or getting up super early for sunrise (or for some other relevant reason) we can shoot mid morning or mid afternoon. Please know that you won’t have “golden” light but the shots will still look beautiful and vibrant.

I want to try underwater shots but also want those beautiful beach shots, can we do both?

Yes, we can. Package 03 is amazing for both land and water shots because we have enough time for both. We pick a location where I know will work for underwater and that will also work for beach shots.

Are the underwater shots done way out in high seas?

No. We walk into the ocean from the shore and swim out a little just so it’s nice and semi-deep and also clear.

Do you bring any floatation devices for underwater shoots?

No, I don’t. Any objects like a boogie board or pool noodle will drift away once we let go of it and that will just add one more layer of worry. All my clients feel more comfortable in the water if they have to float on their own. Expect to be treading water and not touch the ground for these. I recommend floating belly up to catch your breath if needed. If treading water sounds intimidating, we will look into chest high depth locations.

Smaller children can wear “floaties” as long as a parent is with them at all times. Please don’t expect full underwater shots of that child though. I’ll have them float on the surface and maybe get split shots (over/under).

My kids can't swim, can I still do underwater shots?

I won't risk your safety or mine if they cannot swim. So NO full underwater shots unfortunately. We can get shots of everyone playing in shallow water though.

What should we wear?

I will send you a lot more information on what to wear once we book your shoot! I got you, don’t worry. I’ll guide you every step of the way to help you pick the best colors and best outfits.

Do you provide the beautiful floral crowns a lot of your clients wear?

No, I don’t. But I can recommend some of my favorite vendors here on Oahu that make gorgeous haku leis.

When do we get our photos?

I edit each image individually and by hand in Photoshop and I am also a full time mom, with that in mind, galleries can take 4-8 weeks to be delivered (8 weeks when I'm at my busiest). I do send a mini gallery of fully edited preview shots straight to your phone within 2 weeks of your shoot.

Do you photoshop?

I don't do any crazy photoshopping on my images... meaning, what I get on camera that day will be the reality of your portraits. No made-up skies and non of that "please make me look thin" sort of thing. I truly believe that every single person is beautiful just the way they are! And that if you're looking for a photoshopped version of your family, sadly, I am not the photographer for you.

Do you give out RAW photos?

No. Editing is the other half of my art. I only give out fully edited high resolution jpegs.

How many photos do we get? Are they edited?

The amount of photos will depend on which package you book. All photos are fully hand edited by me.

Are you going to take drone shots during my shoot?

Drone shotsDrone shots will depend on the light and the location we shoot. There are some “no-fly zones” in Oahu and I have to respect that by law. I will make sure you know which locations are not allowed.

Can I print my photos?

Absolutely! A print release is included in all photo packages. I also suggest the best places to get your images printed.

Who has the time to print photos? Can I just print through you?

Absolutely! If you're one of those people who lets their beautiful images sit on a hard drive forever, I offer a la carte albums. I can also print your images on wood with a wood frame if you want that!

Can I order a Story Book Album from you at a later time?

Yes! I offer a la carte 8x8 or 12x12 lay flat albums with eco friendly cover options. You can come back and order those from me up to a year later if you want to invest in an heirloom album.

Do you offer Holiday Mini Sessions?

I don't, sorry! I feel like 15 minute sessions don't go hand in hand with the way I like to document families.