Big Island holiday family photos: book Thanksgiving and Christmas early
If you’re hoping for Big Island holiday family photos this year, book now. Thanksgiving and Christmas are our busiest weeks of the year, and they fill fast. We also cap how many sessions our team takes on each month, because the holidays are when we want to be with our own families too. Once those spots are gone, they’re gone.
Why holiday dates go first
Hawaii is a favorite holiday trip, and a lot of families have the same idea at the same time: the grown kids fly home and the whole crew ends up on the same beach for a week. That means the evenings around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s are the first ones on our calendar to fill, often months ahead.
We don’t squeeze in extra sessions to keep up. Our photographers have families of their own, and we’d rather do fewer sessions really well than rush through a packed holiday week. So if you already know your dates, reach out sooner rather than later.
A family who keeps coming back
This family is one of our return clients. They keep coming back to the Big Island for their beach family photos, and they keep booking with us, which honestly means the world. Their three daughters are all grown now, and that’s one of our favorite kinds of sessions.
Families with adult kids are special to photograph. Everyone is relaxed and the jokes are better. There’s also room for all the combinations: the whole family, mom and dad on their own, the sisters together, each parent with each daughter, and a portrait of each girl. Those pairings are the photos parents end up treasuring, because these trips with everyone together don’t happen every year.
Where we photographed them
This family stayed at the Four Seasons Hualalai, so we photographed them right on the beach there, with the lava rock point on one side and the resort’s palms and lawns on the other. If you’re staying at a Kohala Coast resort, there’s usually a beautiful spot within walking distance. Here’s more on family photos at the Four Seasons Hualalai.
Planning holiday photos in Hawaii
Winter on the Big Island’s west side is still warm and mostly dry, and showers that do roll through tend to pass quickly. A few things are different from summer, though.
The sun sets earlier, so evening sessions start earlier too. We’ll send your exact start time once you book. Humpback whales are back from about December through April, and it’s not unusual to spot a spout behind you during a session. You can read more about them from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
For outfits, this family went with soft whites and one pop of blue, which is about as classic as it gets on a beach. Our guide to what to wear for Hawaii beach photos has more ideas, and if you’re coordinating a big group, these extended family session tips will help.
Holiday cards and gifts
If you’d like these photos on your holiday card, plan ahead. Galleries usually arrive within about two weeks of your session, so an early-December session leaves time to print before the holidays. We wrote more about when to book for holiday card photos if you’re working backward from a mailing date.
Prints from a trip like this make a lovely gift for grandparents, too. They’re the pictures that end up on the fridge and the mantel for years.
Live here? Try our holiday minis
For local families, our Cozy Backyard Minis are short, classic holiday card sessions on a lush private property in Waimea. They’re quick and posed, made for the card. See the dates and book here. Heading to Maui for the holidays instead? Here’s what Christmas family photos on Maui can look like.
Coming to the Big Island for the holidays? Send us your dates and how many are in your group, and we’ll check what’s still open. Reach out here.
Big Island holiday family photos: quick questions
How far ahead should we book holiday family photos in Hawaii?
As early as you can. Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks are our busiest of the year, and we limit how many sessions we take each month, so those evenings often fill months ahead.
Is the weather good for photos on the Big Island in winter?
Usually, yes. The west side is warm and mostly dry in winter, and passing showers tend to clear quickly. If the weather turns, we’ll work with you to find another time during your trip.
Can we get photos with our grown kids and the grandkids together?
Absolutely. We love families with adult kids. We’ll make sure you get the whole group plus the smaller pairings that matter to you.
Will we get our photos in time for holiday cards?
Galleries usually arrive within about two weeks, so a session in late November or early December leaves time to order cards.
Do you offer holiday sessions for local families?
Yes. Our Cozy Backyard Minis in Waimea are short holiday card sessions made for families who live here.
Written by Aislinn Chalker, founder of Wilde Sparrow Photography. I have photographed families on Hawaii’s beaches since 2012, our team holds more than 200 five-star reviews, and our work has been published in Click Magazine. Learn more about us.
