My wishlist was this: 1) Two local models (male and female - athletic and outdoorsy type, and preferably someone who fishes. 2) Location was to be somewhere scenic by the water 3) Photographer would be someone who could shoot editorial, and one I could collaborate with, and hopefully have a long relationship with. Believe in the power of visualization and manifestation, because I got exactly what I hoped for!
First off, I was incredibly fortunate to have met the very talented photographer and filmmaker, Dorka Hegedus Lum. Dorka is originally from Budapest and is a true global nomad, having lived in multiple countries across at least 4 continents (that I know of) her whole life. She is extremely friendly and immediately disarming. Because she is so authentic, she has this ability to connect with people on deep levels effortlessly. I met her a couple of years ago while serving on our kids' elementary school APT board, and helping out with our kids' sports teams - further solidifying my belief that you usually end up receiving far more than you give in intangible rewards through volunteer work. Dorka’s got this entreprenuerial free-spirited, adventurous, artsy vibe to her and is super passionate about each and every one of her projects she’s involved with. She does all kinds of photography, filmography (she went to film school and worked as a producer in the past) does graphic design, book covers, autobiography publishing, volunteers for numerous organizations in her community, is a writer, and even competes in rough water swimming and biathlons on a regular basis. She does this all while raising two amazing athletic children. She is also an avid cook who brings the most delicious, tender Hungarian beef stews and European cakes to potlucks she helps organize. She is full of vibrancy and life! Like I said, she is someone who puts in 300% to everything she creates. She is a true artist and creator. So it was really a no-brainer for me to ask her to help me with the photographs and footage I needed to launch my brand, ALAUA. And I’m so thankful she agreed to do it!
Dorka and I discussed locations and ultimately decided to shoot at Ka'ena Point, even though it was a far drive from town. We loved the mountain range, tide pools, and versatility of the location. We even went on a little scouting road trip, which was a fun time.
Another very important thing I had to do was to find models. I knew I wanted a pair - a local guy and girl. I wanted them to be in their 20s or 30s, athletic, outdoorsy, with bright smiles. I also wanted someone who loved fishing, since one of my towels is inspired by the fishing community. Finding the models was somewhat challenging. My network of friends is 40+, and our children are all minors. Apart from my family members, I don't really know too many people in their 20s or even 30's that would be interested in modeling. I had contacted my niece from Hilo to see if she would want to model, and she said yes. The trouble was, all of her potential-model male friends were on the mainland for college. So, we decided to maybe wait for the summer time for a separate shoot. I then contacted another niece of mine, Tehani, and she suggested two of her friends. She sent me pics of them and Boom! They were both athletes, with great smiles, gorgeous vibes, and personal style. I was sold. A huge plus is that the guy was also an avid fisherman!
Tehani has known Teiah since their Campbell High School softball days. They even have matching naupaka tattoos on their forearms. Teiah is a professional athlete with amazing cheekbones and a smile that brightens any room. Her profile honestly reminds me of the Hawaiian Airlines logo. She’s got this grounded confidence to her - you know that air that only disciplined athletes possess. She was so sweet and took direction extremely well. She also shared with me that she is an artist with her own exciting business aspirations. I actually recognized her from the numerous softball pics my niece and sis-in-law posted on social media throughout the years. I always thought she was incredibly photogenic and stood out in the photos. So I was obviously very on board when Tehani suggested her for the shoot.
Gabe is from Haleiwa and met Teiah through her aunty, who also happens to be her neighbor. He's got incredible charisma - his bright smile and demeanor actually sort of reminded me of Bruno Mars (or what I imagine him to be). He is friendly, upbeat, funny, confident and animated. He’s got many tattoos on his body - I didn't get to learn about all of them, but the one on his shoulder featured a fishing net design (reflecting his passion for fishing) and the one on the side of his torso was the Haleiwa zipcode. It was so serendipitous that he was from the North Shore. Had spent much of his youth and adult life at Ka’ena Point. Like, he was from the shot location... This was his home. Ka'ena Point was his backyard growing up. He’s taken Teiah there on dates (including a couple's photo session), fished there his whole life, and it's been his go-to spot for time with his family. Even the shells on his puka shell necklace were collected along the shoreline of Ka'ena Point. He shared that he’s in the process of gathering more shells each time he visits, so he can eventually string a puka shell necklace to gift to Teiah.
What I really appreciated about Gabe was that he brought his own ideas, fishing expertise, and personality to the shoot. While shooting, Gabe suggested a scene where he throws his fishing net into the water. He's got amazing energy and great ideas!
The days leading up to the shoot, I prepared by steam ironing all the towels to get rid of any creases - a tip I received from Dorka. She also asked me to create a shot list - what I wanted photographed and how. I knew I wanted the overall visuals to have movement and a story. I wanted less posey shots but more of a documentary vibe. With that in mind, I made a list and an inspo board of the types of shots I wanted, keeping in mind how I planned to use them on my site, socials, and other marketing materials. I did not realize how important this list was until we were actually at the shoot. It’s very easy to forget about the specifics in the midst of all the action. We often referred back to the list. I was so thankful that Dorka had the experience and foresight to request this. She had so many other helpful suggestions that I wouldn’t necessarily have thought of. Things like preparing refreshments for everyone (it was a long day and we were thirsty!), thinking through props for shoots, and even things like how to add complementary color to a shot by sourcing colorful wardrobe options.
I had done modeled product photography shoots in the past, but not at this scale or as involved. This was the very first professional photography shoot that I got to accompany and be a part of. What I didn't expect was that it would be a total body workout. The vehicle access gate was closed on the day of the shoot due to "wet conditions," even though the soil was bone dry. As a result, we had to transport our equipment on foot. Tehani is the unsung hero in this crew of 5. Tehani helped carry all the props, refreshments, and gear through rocky terrain. With a big fishing bag on her back and a cart in one hand, we had to work together to maneuver the cart across narrow passageways in some areas. She was also often on watch duty when it was too much trouble to bring the cart down to the shore.
Tehani also helped me film behind-the-scenes footage of the shoot. I wanted to document my entrepreneurial journey and remind myself to slow down and enjoy the process. Too often in the past, I was just consumed by the go-go-go! of running a business. And I definitely did not stop to smell the roses. This journey, the process, are the puas to smell along the path. These experiences and relationships I build are what make the path meaningful and beautiful.
We wrapped up the shoot between sunset and sundown. It was such an energizing experience full of action. Everyone was on high vibrational energy, and I really feel we were able to document an amazing story for ALAUA. Mahalo to everyone! Really appreciate all of you!
