When I mentioned to my friend Rebecca from Rebecca M. Creative that our family would be spending time on Oahu, she immediately introduced me to her friend Analisa. Analisa and her husband had fairly recently moved to Oahu, and were now expecting their first baby. Analisa is also an incredible makeup artist that Rebecca had worked with on shoots, and she knew that we would hit it off.

As soon as I reached out to Analisa, I knew she was just as special as Rebecca had told me she was. Not only did she agree immediately to do a quick shoot with me, but she also offered to share my business with her online sphere in hopes of getting more people to book me while I was there!

Analisa’s maternity session was my first session after landing on Oahu. I was still in awe and in the “honeymoon” stage of a vacation: every sight and sound and smell was intoxicating and I was just in heaven. Being able to photograph this model-of-a-mama was a dream! Her own mom came with her, and I could just sense the anticipatory excitement that overwhelmed the two of them. Analisa was mere days away from her due date, and despite feeling “done,” she was positively radiant with the famous pregnancy glow. I had her traipsing through rocky coral – and – get this! – these were shot in full sun, no shade, with the sun directly overhead. It IS possible to make amazing portraits in less-than-ideal sun conditions. If you want more tips on this, check out my post 3 Tips to Shooting in Full Sun.

Not long after these were taken, I saw photos of baby Ava Grace, and she is just as beautiful as her mother! Analisa made a beautiful pregnant lady, but she makes an even more magnificant mother!