Big Island Couples Session at Old Kona Airport
Most couples think the photos end when the wedding does. They don’t have to. As a Big Island Photographer, I think the day after your wedding, when the pressure is off and it’s just the two of you, is one of the best times to shoot.
That’s exactly what Brandon and Kortnie did. The morning after they got married at Royal Kona, we met up at Old Kona Airport Beach as the sun dropped. No timeline, no guests, just the two of them and the last light of the day.
Here’s why a Big Island couples session is worth adding to your wedding, and why Old Airport is my top pick for it.
Why a Big Island couples session is worth it
Your wedding day moves fast. There are people to greet, a timeline to keep, and a hundred little things pulling at your attention. A session the day after slows all of that down.
You’ve already said your vows. Now you get to just be together. That relaxed, unguarded feeling shows up in the images, and it’s usually why these end up being a couple’s favorite photos of the whole trip.
For Brandon and Kortnie it also fit who they are. These two are travelers at heart. Brandon proposed in Kyoto, and they are already planning their next trip to Australia and New Zealand. A quiet evening on the water felt like the right way to mark the start of the next adventure.
Old Kona Airport, my favorite spot for a sunset session
Locals call it Old A’s. Old Kona Airport Beach Park is a long stretch of coastline just north of downtown Kailua-Kona, and it is one of the most underrated photo spots on the island.
A few reasons it works so well for couples sessions.
- Easy to reach and free to park
- Black lava rock, tide pools, and open ocean all in one place
- Very few crowds once the sun starts to drop
- The light hits the water perfectly in the last hour of the day
Brandon’s family is from Trinidad, and he has told me more than once how much Hawaii reminds him of the Caribbean. Standing out on that lava rock at golden hour, I understood exactly what he meant.
Planning your own Big Island couples session
The best light happens in the 45 minutes before sunset. That is when everything turns warm and soft and the harsh midday glare is gone.
Here is my tip. Plan to start about an hour before sunset. That gives us time to walk, settle in, and catch the light right as it peaks. Sunset times on the Kona side shift through the year, so I will always help you lock in the exact start time when we plan your session.
Let’s plan yours
If you are getting married on the Big Island, a couples session is one of the easiest ways to walk away with images that feel like you. As your Big Island Photographer, I would love to help you plan one. Reach out and let’s find your light.
