I was so lucky to be able to photograph such a kind, fun and happy family a couple of weeks ago. The weather had been rainy and dark but spending time with this bunch was like a ray of sunshine. I got to feel the warmth and true essence of love and family. I had a wonderful time with you all. Thank you and I hope 2022 is full of all your hopes and dreams.
Much love + aloha,
SM
Family isn’t an important thing.
It’s everything
~Michael J. Fox
Family ties are precious threads no matter where we roam.
They draw us close to those we love and pull our hearts to home.
I hope your holidays were filled with so many precious memories. I also hope your heart was warm and full having your family all together at home. Thank you for letting me photograph you all again. I had a great time that morning.
Much love,
SM
I hope that you find where peace blooms this Christmas season. I know it feels different and looks different than years past, but I will continue to send you all the strength, hope and love so that you can find the courage everyday to show up for yourself and for those that need you most.
"And when great souls die,
After a period peace blooms,
Slowly and always irregularly.
Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration.
Your senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed, they existed.
We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.”
-Maya Angelou
With love,
SM
Congratulations on your high school graduation! As a parent, it’s hard to imagine when our children are little that will one day they will be old enough to go out into the real world alone. I’ve shared this sentiment with my own children and I hope you spread your wings far and wide to experience all the wonderful things that life has to offer you. It’s such an exciting time to have the future in your hands. And with that remember this.
Behind you, all your memories.
Before you, all your dreams.
Around you, all who love you.
Within you, all you need.
-author unknown
Thank you for choosing me to commemorate this time in your life. I had such a wonderful time meeting all of you! Come back to Oahu to visit again soon.
Much aloha,
SM
Seems like life is accelerating at such a fast pace these days. Hard to believe that the last post on this blog was a year ago. I’m happy to be back to share some photos of our dear friends who recently moved off island to start a grand new adventure on the east coast. It was a perfect evening to remember and I’m so glad we made it out that night to shoot with the most gorgeous sunset.
Three years was so short — I wish we could have extended it just a little bit longer for the boys. Felt like it all happened so fast and I’m still so sad about it. We all miss you down the street and it just isn’t the same but I know we will see each other again in the near future soon! So until next time….
XOXO and much aloha!
SM
“When we started our travels, we traveled to go somewhere. Now we travel to find some place.”
I believe that the love you keep is the shelter you make and where ever you all end up next, I know it will be the perfect shelter for your beautiful, growing and healthy family. I’m so happy that we met and I wish you all the best in your travel adventures. Come back to visit us here on the island of Oahu again soon. We loved sharing the aloha!
With love,
~SM
“There’s a certain kind of closeness that only families know,
It begins with childhood trust and increases as you grow.
It’s a very special feeling to know your family’s there,
It’s a tie you can rely on, a bond you’ll always share.
As a member of this family we know that we belong,
We’re proud to say we’re family, together we are strong.
Of all the blessings we may have, our family means the most,
And whether we live near or far, that bond will keep us close.”
-author unknown
Spending time with this gorgeous family made me feel so inspired. They gave me so much to look forward to when thinking of my own family. Parenting is an extremely tough job - it’s not for the faint of heart. You question everything that involves your children everyday. But when you are lucky enough to meet parents like you see in these photos and their kids, you can’t help but be encouraged by the work they have put into strengthening the love and family ties. I can only hope to be as successful at it. Thank you for such a wonderful and beautiful evening on the beach. I loved spending time with you all!
Much aloha,
SM
“Still, what I want in my life
is to be willing
to be dazzled-
to cast aside the weight of facts
and maybe even
to float a little
above this difficult world.”
-Mary Oliver
During these weird times I hope you encounter the dazzling things. You might find things to be difficult along the way but you can always remember to float.
Thank you to this lovely little family of 3 (soon to be 4) for meeting us at a beach that was a little farther out. I hope you love your family photos and I can’t wait to meet the little one!
Much aloha,
SM
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the now the primary focus of your life.” -Eckhart Tolle
I photographed this beautiful little family just two weeks ago and when we met that morning we didn’t worry about social distancing because of a pandemic. We smooched and hugged and I was just so happy to see how the kids had grown. Today, things around us have changed and we are experiencing unprecedented times of uncertainty and needless to say an uneasiness for all of humanity.
Yup, there isn’t so much as a high five happening these days. Unless of course you want to count a high five in the air from at least 6 feet away. We have been inside for the most part for over a week and yes, things are changing daily. Just heard the news today that Oahu will continue to stay at home until April 30th. School will not resume as usual after spring break, and we all have to make adjustments with work. But believe me we’ll get through this.
Bless all the medical professionals that are at work in all the areas that have been hit extremely hard. You are amazing, selfless human beings and we have nothing but love for you. There are so many thoughts, ideas and judgements about what is happening in the world right now but I believe that humans are good and compassionate. There are so many of us that want to spread love and warmth - not viruses. Each of us contribute in some way to the good that is all around us. Stay positive, help where you can and find beauty.
Let me leave you with something really beautiful to look at. I could be oversharing but we could all use the distraction, right? Also, just want to say that I really truly appreciate that the “K” family decided to do another session with me this year! I loved seeing you all and I think the VW bus was such a fun prop that created a one of kind session. I hope you love them all.
And last but not least, THANK YOU “J” for letting us borrow THE BUS. :-)
Be well…..
Much aloha,
SM
Having teenagers makes me feel like time is running out. It’s like this window of time where as a parent you are supposed to teach them about responsibility, life, adulthood and independence - it’s becoming smaller and smaller with each passing day. I could be putting myself out of a job and let’s face it the pressure is real. It was a regular busy weekday and I was driving one of my kids to their after school extracurricular activity, and I thought how simple our life seemed in the past. The mind can play tricks on you because every season has it’s difficulties. And yes, it’s so hard to know when it’s all going to pass. The passing of time and it’s oppressively constant journey into the unknown is my mind wanting to live in a past that I can never get back. So as I dropped my daughter off I tried really hard to just make an imprint of this mundane moment. Of her walking off into the distance to join her friends with her ponytail swinging and that "“the future is bright skip”. Here’s to being super excited about the future and all the things it’s going to bring your one wild and precious life.
For this lovely family and her mama who I know feels the pressure too.
Much love,
SM
Who else needs an adult vacay with your significant other? High fives all around for these two for making themselves a priority. It’s so much easier said than done. Woot! Woot!
I want to wish this beautiful family of three (soon to become four) a happy and amazing new beginning. They recently moved back to their hometown after being on Oahu for a few years. They deserve the best that life has to offer and I hope that you will always continue to find it.
much aloha,
SM
When photographing at the beach you never really have any control over mother nature and on this day we battled the wind and the many beach goers. There might be a parallel with this story for those of us married to an active duty service member because you really have no control of when and where they might deploy next. Just a few short weeks after we shot these beautiful images this family was forced to say aloha and a hui hou to their hero. Its a tough situation to be in, but I hope you talk to yourself more than you listen to yourself over these next few months. Remember to tell yourself how strong and capable you are. You can only take it one day at a time and that is always going to be good enough. That one day turns into weeks and those weeks turn into months. He’ll be back soon.
Lisa is also a photographer here in Oahu check out her work at Saltwater Soul Photo
From carpools to gymnastics meets to life’s little mishaps. This is how I am going to remember this lovely family. I’m forced again to bid farewell to some people who have become friends over these past few years. It’s all part of the military life experience. So I’m going to leave you with this “Don’t be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends.” ~richard bach
Thank you so much for letting me capture these last few memories of your time in paradise. I hope our paths cross again and until then “I’ll see you later.”
Much aloha,
Sharlyn
This is my beautiful neighbor, her handsome husband and her two sons (minus one because he lives in a different state). I remember when we first moved in, I did the obligatory wave and smile and I’m really busy kind of hello, as I shuffled kids to various extracurriculars. Then one day we got connected. She invited me to one of her famed parties that would include so many fun women you would just want the night to go on and on. I will always remember this to be your thing. Connection. You are so good at it and for that superpower, I am thankful. I’ve met many incredible and inspiring women because of your ability to connect us together. I was so happy that you asked me to document some memories of your time here in Hawaii with these beautiful heirloom images. I hope you treasure them for a lifetime. I wish all the best as you make your move to what I hope will be your final destination and your home. I hope our paths will cross again because I can’t wait to connect again soon.
Much aloha,
~SM
I was lucky enough to photograph this super down to earth and extremely photogenic family recently. You made my job super easy and effortless on that beautiful evening. Thank you so much for choosing me create memories of your wonderful vacation here on Oahu. I hope it was filled with rest and relaxation. Come back to visit again soon!
Much aloha,
Sharlyn
I’m so happy that I was able to photograph this kind and lovely family recently. They too are living the military life and enjoying their time on Oahu while they can. I hope that you will treasure these images for lifetime. Thank you for choosing me to capture these moments for you.
Much love,
Sharlyn
I photographed this family 7 years ago when the babies were still tiny babies. They vacationed on Oahu recently and I was lucky enough to capture moments for them again. It could be a beautiful myth but they say you can leave the old you behind and become a completely new person every seven years. Whether you believe it or not, what I do know is that the babies that I remember back then were completely different people after all this time. Take a look.
2012
2019
It’s funny how time does that. I sometimes think the passing of time is so unfair because as most parents know it’s hard to enjoy and savor every minute of every day. The beauty of parenthood gets lost in the busy-ness of our lives. Time really does fly and an old photo can’t help but bring up those feels of nostalgia. Thank you again for the great memories. It was so nice to see you after all these years, my friends. Come back and visit the sweet Hawaiian Islands again soon!
Much aloha,
~SM
It’s hard to believe that we planned this family photo session almost a year out. When I think of how quickly that year passed me by all I really want to know is how can I slow down the clock? Please someone message me when you figure that out.
Thank you so much for choosing me to photograph your vacation on Oahu. I had a wonderful time on the beach with you all and it was my pleasure to create images that you will enjoy for a lifetime.
Much aloha! XOXO
~SM
I met this lovely family at the last possible hour to capture some memories at Magic Island. Their next move will take them to a completely different part of the country. It will be an adjustment but I’m sure that you will have so much to look forward to. I wish you all the best during this transition. Luckily Grandma won’t be too far away to lend that helping hand. Come back to visit the beautiful islands of Hawaii where your first memories as a couple and new parents will always hold a special place in your heart. Much aloha, ~SM
