Aloha from Oahu
To bring our new Palm Ritual Collection to life, our team packed up the essentials—cameras, clothing steamers, lots of jewelry and sunscreen- then headed to Hawaii…for one whirlwind of a shoot. From sunrise call times and unexpected rainstorms to golden sunsets on the North Shore, we captured the spirit of the islands in every frame.
Keep scrolling for a behind-the-scenes look at our shoot days, the reality behind the magic, local favorites (hello, Sunrise Shack), and all the beautiful chaos that went into making this collection.
It’s part work, part escape—just how we like it.
We spent our first day in Oahu scouting the locations we had planned to shoot at. We were checking to see that all locations were still possible and that we could achieve them all in one day. Unfortunately the waterfall we wanted to shoot at was currently closed to the public so we had to act fast to find a new location. Luckily we found a new spot just as the sun was setting.
Next up we made our way over to the North Shore to check into our condo and do some final prep for the shoot. That meant a late night of steaming clothes and organizing the jewelry and apparel for each look.
The shoot day started with a 5:30am call time for hair & makeup (along with a little more steaming). We needed an early start to catch the best morning light. Soon after, we hit the road and headed to our first location. Thankfully we had umbrellas with us because right after we set up, it started raining. As with most tropical rainstorms, it didn’t last long and we were blue skies and rainbows within no time.
They say it takes a village—and they weren’t wrong. Behind every dreamy shot is a crew knee-deep in a rocky stream, dodging bugs, balancing cameras, and praying their phones don't end up in the current. ;)
Because when the light hits just right and the shot is magic… it’s all worth it.
The day included a few locations to capture different elements of the island including beaches, gardens, tropical forests, and streams. We wrapped the shoot in the early evening and dropped the model off just in time to catch her flight back to Los Angeles. It was a very long day but thanks to an amazing team, we got it all done. We ended the day with the most beautiful sunset at Turtle Bay and a good sleep.
Even post main shoot day we were still on the hunt to get supplemental images. No leaf went un-turned, no flower un-noticed.
Island Bites & Sips: (A few of our favorites)
Fresh fruit Stands off the highway
Mai Tai Bar @ The Royall Hawaiian
Hotels Worth The Hype:
The Wayfinder Waikiki - a steal
The Royal Hawaiian - a splurge
Turtle Bay - an escape
Shops We Couldn't Resist:
Saved By Shiatsu
When your body’s wrecked and in need of a quick reset, we highly recommend The Shiatsu Massage & Center. Pro tip: ask for Toro.
Meet The Dream Team
Photographer: Serena Lutton
Videographer: Giulia Avila
HMU: Mariah Melanie
Model: Amanda Lougee
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