Sunrise - Maui Photo Session Locations
Baby Beach in Lahaina
Conveniently located in Lahaina, Baby Beach is a great portrait photography session location! The beach does not get busy until after 9am and there is nice shade to allow for even lighting through your session. This has a very soft airy feel, the sand is extra fine, the waves never get big here due to the close reef, so it is perfect for families with kids worried about the water or very young ones. There is not a large variety of backgrounds here so if that is what you are looking for, maybe check the other options below! Baby Beach is the safest when it comes to weather being the warmest area of those listed here.
Baby Beach is located by Safeway, you will park and meet me at Jodo Mission prior to your sunrise photo shoot. You can even go for a dip in the water afterwards, there’s great snorkeling right by Mala ramp right next to this spot!
Napili Bay in Napili
I love shooting at Napili Bay! This beach gets very busy in the peak sunbathing hours, but for sunrise it is empty! Located further North and in the cooler area of Lahaina’s zip code, this does allow for potential sprinkling during the shoot. This photography session location has a curved beach in your background, as well as black rocks you can stand on (not too sharp), and some palm tree backgrounds as well!
You will park on the street next to Napili Kai Resort to access the beach. Best thing about doing a sunrise photo shoot at this location, is you can get breakfast right along the bay afterwards! Either the North end at Sea House (inside Napili Kai resort), or at the South end at the infamous Gazebo restaurant!
Oneloa Beach / Ironwoods Beach in Kapalua
Farthest North of the options listed is Oneloa Beach, or some refer to it as Ironwoods. The most dynamic of locations listed here for your photoshoot , Oneloa Beach has a nice white/tan sand beach, with black rock cliffs, and a unique boardwalk along the edge. I love how many unique angles we can get here, but I will advise that being the farthest North, it is the least ideal weather-wise. The wind can be very strong (although for sunrise I notice it is MUCH more calm versus any other time of the day ), and there will likely be some droplets of rain. But guess what that brings… rainbows!!
You will park at the beach parking area along Lower Honoapiilani Road. This is a big surfing spot, but for an early sunrise photo session, there is typically not a problem finding a spot. This parking area often does not have cell reception, and neither does the beach. We meet in the parking lot, but I will prepare you for a back up parking option prior to the shoot just in case.
I’m open to shooting in plenty of other locations, as long as commercial photography and permits are allowed on the beach! Please contact me with any further questions, let’s make some magic!
