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The Majestic Waipi’o Valley: Adventure Engagement Session in Hawaii

Ella and Azriel’s adventure engagement session in Hawaii featured wild horses, a dip in the ocean, and a touch of wild coastline.

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For some couples, classic engagement photos don’t encompass the wild spirit of the relationship. This was the case for Ella and Azriel, a couple whose love and lifestyle were best captured in the outdoors, with ocean waves, sky-high palm trees, and moody clouds overhead.  

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For this adventure-loving pair, we knew that for their engagement photo shoot, we would need to choose a style and location that encompassed their energy, and passion for exploring the unknown. So Couple Cups got to planning an epic adventure engagement photos.

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Adventure Engagement Session in Hawaii: Meet the Couple

Ella and Azriel live on the Big Island of Hawaii and shared with us how their love of the outdoors was very influential in their relationship. During our initial consultation, this couple told us how their free time was spent hiking, surfing, and exploring all Hawaii has to offer, and we offered pointers for their future wedding in Hawaii. They wanted photos that would encompass their personality but could also add an element of intimacy to reflect their love and commitment.

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As we got to know Ella and Azriel, it seemed evident that an adventure engagement session in Hawaii would be a perfect way to encompass their love in an authentic way. Their only requirement for photos? Must have water! Couple Cups started brainstorming locations that could encompass the wild adventure that the coastline offers, as well as areas that water could be integrated into the photoshoot. The result? The epic Waipi’o Valley on the Big Island of Hawaii.

The Wild Waipi’o Valley: Adventure Engagement Session

The Waipi’o Valley or “Valley of the Kings” is more than just an incredible place for photos, it is also a sacred element of Hawaiian culture. Surrounded by staggering cliffs that jut 2,000 feet into the air, this place is home to rivers, waterfalls, and lush jungle, as well as the boyhood home of Hawaiian royalty: King Kamehameha I. 

Due to its dynamic landscape, and bounty of water features, we know this would be an incredible place for Ella and Azriel’s engagement session. For the couple who was not afraid to get their hands (or dress!) dirty, we knew they would be on board.

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Preparing for an Adventure Engagement Session in Hawaii 

We set a date for our adventure engagement session in Waipi’o Valley of Hawaii and prayed the weather would cooperate. Ella had always dreamed of wearing a flower crown for her engagement photos, and we connected her with Grace Flowers Hawaii to get a personalized flower crown made for this special occasion.

We also provided the couple with clothing suggestions and information on what photographs well. Any solid color piece that flows well in the breeze and in the water and would enhance the photos.

 Ella also reserved an early morning session with Indigo Grace Artistry for makeup prior to the shoot. “Just make sure I can get in the water with whatever makeup you put me in!” Ella told the makeup artist. And with that, this couple was prepared for an adventure engagement session in Hawaii that encompassed their love of adventure, and of each other.

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The Shoot: Wild Horses, River Crossings and Authentic Love

The journey into Waipi’o Valley is steep, and we piled into Ella and Azriel’s 4×4 vehicle in order to make the journey down into the Valley. We arrived around 11 am, just as the morning fog was burning off, and before the afternoon’s rain clouds rolled in: the perfect time for photos filled with emotion.

We began the session in the lush jungle at the base of Waipi’o. The couple took off their shoes and ran through the incredible valley forest while we captured their playfulness and their energy. The wind was in full force that day, which made for some incredible photos as Ella’s dress and hair flowed for the photos.

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As we made it to the riverbank, we encountered some friendly wild colts that Waipi’o is known for. When these horses realized we didn’t have any snacks to share, they continued on their way, but not before we captured a few intimate photos of wild horses in the foreground while the couple stared lovingly into each other’s eyes.

Waipi’o Valley has a river crossing that takes you to another beach, filled with wild cliffs and room to roam. The couple put on their swim attire, and we were careful to keep the camera gear dry while we journeyed to the other side. Getting wet was worth it for the photos and memories we were about to create.

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Jumping in: Water Pictures for Adventure Engagement Session in Hawaii

At the end of the session, the couple felt energized by the river crossing and ready to jump into the ocean. Before they fully submerged, we requested a few more stunning photos of Ella and Azriel running below the towering cliffs, which make even the sky-high palm trees look small!

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Then, the couple held hands and walked into the waves at the shore of Waipi’o Valley. Between the waves crashing, and the serene beauty the water provided, we knew that these photos were exactly the couple was looking for: unique and wild for a couple who was keen on any adventure.

Finalizing an Adventure Engagement Session in Hawaii

After we dried off and began the journey out of Waipi’o Valley, the couple expressed how they had fallen even more in love with Hawaii, and each other, after visiting Waipi’o Valley. Not only was the photoshoot representative of their love, but a day filled with exploration and adventure. This couples engagement shoot reminds us all that photographs don’t always have to be posed and rehearsed. In fact, some of the best photos are with salt on your skin and sand in your hair.

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If you are interested in learning how we can make your dreams become a reality with an adventure engagement session in Hawaii, get in touch. We can’t wait to help you capture photos as timeless as your love.

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