Best (Permitted) Beach Locations for an Oahu Photo Session
Picking the perfect location for your photo session on Oahu can be tough—but only if you’re doing it alone. After all, how are you expected to choose between all the breathtaking beaches, gorgeous coves, and stunning resorts?! That’s where we come in as a local Oahu photography team, bringing you all of your options for Oahu photo locations so that finding the right one is as breezy as the palm trees that line our beaches.
Because not every beach on the island allows commercial photography, we’ve put together a specially curated list of amazing locations that our clients RAVE about. In this blog post, we’ll be giving you a sneak peek at our client-exclusive location guide so that you can start envisioning where your dream session might take place, whether that be a romantic sunset stroll with your partner or a fun beach adventure with the fam. If you’re looking for photo locations on a different island, check out our Maui and Big Island guides instead!
How to Pick Your Oahu Photo Location
Before we dive into our favorite Oahu photo locations, we wanted to first walk you through the process of how to actually choose one. Again, there are seemingly ENDLESS photo-worthy spots around the island, so picking just one as the backdrop for your tropical vacay session can feel almost impossible. But by the end of this guide, you’ll feel like a total pro and have a clear, confident vision of exactly what you want your session to look like!
1. Hire a local Oahu photography team
First thing’s first: before you even think about choosing a location, it’s essential that you hire a local Oahu photography team that you can trust with your whole heart. Having a group of experts by your side to support you in planning your session is the #1 best thing you can do to ensure a smooth, seamless, and stress-free process, from the moment you book your flights to the moment you receive your final photo gallery.
Even better than hiring a professional team, though, is hiring a local one: we’re huge proponents of hiring local when you’re planning a Hawaii photo session for many reasons, one being that we know Oahu better than the backs of our own dang hands! We simply have experience that no tourist or visiting photographer could provide, and it’s one of the reasons our clients absolutely adore working with us. You’ll never be alone in the process when you have us by your side, guiding you along the way and supporting you with all of our best recommendations—photo locations and otherwise. We’re talking the yummiest food, the most fun activities, the prettiest hikes, the best shave ice around the island… you name it.
If you want to hear more about why we believe it’s so important to hire a local photography team, check out this blog post we wrote!
2. Think about what kind of backdrop you want
You may have already been doing this since the moment you decided you wanted to book a Hawaii photo session; after all, how could you not start envisioning that adorable Christmas card with you and your loved ones lookin’ all cute and smiley on your tropical vacation? So if you haven’t already, start thinking about what kind of backdrop you want for your session.
Now I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Oahu all just. . . beaches?” While Oahu is obviously brimming with miles and miles of picturesque, palm-tree-lined beaches, we also have an abundance of lush greenery and jaw-dropping mountain scenery! You know the kind: the scenery that would be in the backdrop of the Jurassic Park movies. Oh wait. . . the mountains I’m talking about were actually in the Jurassic Park movies 😉
Whether your perfect session takes place on a smooth, sandy beach, a rocky cove, with the city in the background, or amidst layers of rolling green hills, Oahu has all the diverse landscapes you could dream of—and we’ve got all the best recs for each of ‘em.
3. Browse permitted location options in our Client Lounge
Our team will help you make your final pick by sharing with you our exclusive Client Lounge, full of all our best suggestions, tips, and advice. We’ll make personalized recommendations based on what type of session you’re having, where on the island you’re staying, what kind of lighting you want, the experience you’re craving, and what kind of scenery you’re picturing. You can trust that your session is in the hands of the experts now, and we won’t steer ya wrong!
Best Beach Photo Locations on Oahu
Enough of that—let’s get into whatcha came here for! Below, you’ll find a list of the best Oahu beach photo locations for family sessions, couples sessions, and maternity sessions.
Aulani/Ko’olina
If you’re visiting Oahu with your kiddos, chances are you’ve considered staying at Disney Aulani Resort, or have even booked it already. We absolutely love the Aulani/Ko’olina area, with its gorgeous lagoons, beautiful beaches, and easy access to incredible hotels—but unfortunately, commercial photography is not allowed on the beach and lagoons near the resorts. However, there are several gorgeous beach spots that we love taking our clients to within walking distance of (or just a short drive from) most of the hotels!
Our favorite beaches in the area get gorgeous sunrise and sunset views, and offer stunning scenery of the Hawaiian mountains in the distance. Which location is right for you will depend on the time of day you’d like to have your session, whether or not you have kiddos who feel safe around larger waves, and whether you’d rather drive or walk from Ko’olina. There are plenty of amazing dining options near both beach options, as well—so if you’re finishing up your sunrise session just in time for breakfast OR wrapping up your sunset session right as the dinner cravings hit, we’ve got you covered with recommendations!
Want to see examples of real sessions in the Aulani/Ko’olina area? Here are a couple of amazing families we’ve photographed there recently!
Hawaii Family Sunrise
Oahu Sunset Family Photos
Kualoa Regional Park & Beach
Remember when I mentioned those Jurassic Park mountains? These are the ones I was talking about! Located right near the iconic and stunning Kualoa Ranch, Kualoa Regional Park is by far one of the most fabulous photo locations on all of Oahu. It’s fairly quiet and peaceful, making it a dream come true for anyone who prefers a little more intimacy during their session, and would rather not be around too many crowds.
From the lush greenery to the breathtaking ocean views, you’ll find otherworldly beauty at every turn when exploring this park, whether it’s cloudy and mysterious or sunny and vibrant. Plus, how fun would it be to make a whole adventure out of it and explore Kualoa Ranch before or after your session? Take advantage of all their amazing tours, such as UTV rides through Jurassic Valley, epic zip lines over the forest, and jungle expeditions!
To get some inspo for your photo session at Kualoa Park, take a peek at these two gorgeous family sessions.
Family Photos at Kualoa Regional Park
Oahu Family Photographers – Kualoa Park
Honolulu/Waikiki
Want to be a little closer to the city? We’ve got two beach options on our list that are super easily accessible from Honolulu: one that’s about a 15-minute drive from the Moana Surfrider Hotel, and one that’s right in Waikiki itself.
These Oahu photo locations have totally different vibes, the former offering a more tranquil, private experience with fewer crowds, and perfect for anyone looking to escape the crowds of Waikiki. If you’re staying in Waikiki without a rental car and would rather find somewhere within walking distance, our second option will be the one for you; however, it’s only available at sunrise due to how crowded it gets later in the day. We’ll be sure to provide our recommendation based on where you’re staying, what time of day you’re available, and how large your group is—but no matter which one we end up choosing, you can be sure that you’ll get some of the prettiest views around!
This sunrise family session is the perfect example of why early sessions are the way to go in Honolulu; we were able to beat the crowds and enjoy a relaxed, stress-free session.
North Shore
While we’re on the topic of locations that you might have seen in popular films/television shows, Oahu’s North Shore is famous for its picturesque shorelines, big waves, excellent snorkeling, and for its role in the series LOST. Our favorite beach location on the North Shore is actually where a lot of the show was filmed, boasting lava rock-lined tide pools, gorgeous greenery along the shore, and absolutely stunning sunset lighting. This beach is best for small families or couples, seeing as though it can get pretty crowded and parking is limited, and is available for sunrise or sunset!
East Oahu
The eastern side of Oahu is best known for its many adventurous activities such as hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming, making it a great location for families seeking a bit of an island adventure. We personally love this Oahu photo location for the diversity it has to offer, with both beautiful beaches and lush greenery that make for amazing variety in your photos! The beach we love most is about an hour drive from Aulani and a 40-minute drive from Waikiki, so it’s not too difficult to access. A lot of the beaches in this area are typically way less crowded than beaches in Waikiki or the North Shore; you might even get your beach to yourselves if you arrive early enough in the morning!
See what we mean by looking through this stunning family session at Waimanalo Beach.
Ewa Beach
Last up on this list is Ewa Beach, a scenic area on the southwestern shore of Oahu. There’s a gorgeous beach park that offers a lengthy stretch of beach to explore, with peek-a-boo views of Diamond Head and downtown Honolulu on one side. The other side features a dreamy white sand beach and plenty of palm trees, so you really can’t go wrong either way. Weekdays are best for sessions at this beach park due to how crowded it gets on the weekends!
Booking Your Expert Oahu Photography Team
Ready to start planning your Oahu photo session and get advice from the experts? Because WE are so ready to capture your dream moments in paradise no matter which location you choose. Learn more about our Hawaii photo packages on our website here, and reach out to us here to get in touch. We can’t wait to create a one-of-a-kind photo experience for you and give you memories to look back on & cherish for a lifetime!
On the hunt for more resources like this to help make your Oahu photo session easy-peasy? Check out our guides below, featuring our favorite kid-friendly activities on the island as well as our best outfit advice!
