This week we wanted to highlight Maui-based Photographer Tad Craig! We asked Tad to share a bit about himself and his approach to photography. Find out more below!

We first met Tad when we worked together with his wife Cory on her custom wedding gown! Below are some photos. Tad and Cory are both so lovely and kind. Tad recently offered to take a photo of The Sewing Hui volunteers for our Cookbook Fundraiser. So sweet of him! Find out more about Tad and his art below…

Q: How would you describe your style and aesthetic with your work as a photographer? 

A: One of the most beautiful things we have here is the amazing colors of the Hawaiian Islands. I absolutely LOVE color & creating imagery that is Bold, Vibrant & Colorful. Of course I am constantly searching for those beautiful fleeting moments of raw emotion & joy that really express the moment too. Let me also say that I also love B&W. B&W has such a classic & timeless look to it & is perfect for some images at weddings & sometimes LESS is MORE! 

Q: What is your favorite part about photographing weddings on Maui? 

A: It would have to be the crazy beauty & amazing color that we have as a backdrop.

Q: Why did you choose Maui as your home for your business?

A: I was struggling in Hood River Oregon with a low paying job & my friends all had banquet jobs in the Five Star hotels on Maui’s South Side. I was an amatuer photographer pursuing a sports photography career & the three banquet jobs I had helped support that until I jumped ship & became a Romance/Family Photographer not looking back at my other jobs, but as a lifelong career.

Q: What are your favorite moments to capture with your photography? 

A: My most favorite moment to photograph hands down are surprise proposals. I LOVE capturing that moment when she realizes her life has just changed & her expression on her face reveals it perfectly. My most favorite part of a wedding to photograph is when it’s just the couple & I getting creative  right at sunset. However, photographing a big crew of friends all celebrating rowdily comes in quite close to that. 

Q: What drew you towards photography?

A: I grew up in Telluride, Colo. It’s a tiny little ski town nestled in the mountains of southern colorado. One of the locals was named Ace Kavel. He was a wildman on skis, but adventured into the wilds of the mountains to get these insane images all the time. He became famous & a local legend when he started gracing the pages of Patagonia catalog & earned a living from that type of photography. That was my dream! My stepfather gave me my first camera in 1985 which was a Nikon FE2. It was a manual film camera that I still have. It took me a REALLY long time to get serious, but right when I moved to Maui I started taking photography classes on B&W Photography & printing at the Hui No’eau. In those days we just used to put our hands right in the chemicals to fish the prints out & it was in one of those B&W printing sessions that I had my “AHA” moment & it all came together with all the photography concepts!  I turned pro a few years later when one day the Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel came to me & said, you have to choose to be a  BANQUET WORKER, or a PHOTOGRAPHER, because you can’t do both professionally at this hotel! I chose photography!

Of course it came FULL CIRCLE when after I had proposed to my wife & we were looking for venues that I had told my fiance about the Hui No’eau & she fell in love with it. The roots of my photography were formed in the basement of the building & then the beginning of my marriage was formed in the lawn in front of the Art Studio surrounded by all of the most important people in my life!  And of course my wife was in a dress made by Jennifer Oberg! LIFE is Sweet!

And we just love those full circle moments!! We loved working with Tad’s wife on her gown and meeting Tad. Brides and grooms looking for a wedding photographer, we highly recommend Tad! You can follow his work on social media on IG: @tadcraigphotography or visit his website at https://tadcraigphotography.com/

This week we wanted to highlight Maui-based Photographer Madelynne Lorraine! We asked Madelynne to share a bit about herself and her approach to photography. Find out more below!

We first met her at Kristin and Sven Lindblad’s wedding ceremony at the Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center. If you have been following our blog, you know that Kristin is the bride with the wedding heirloom gown and the peacock cape. You can find the past blog about her dress here. When we met Madelynne, we were so impressed by her style and approach to photography. She has a meticulous eye for capturing the precious little moments of the day. Like a fly on the wall, she sees the world through her camera and knows just when to hit the shutter on her camera.

Madelynne also graciously came to take photos for The Sewing Hui, a community organization directed by Jennifer Oberg. This was another great moment where she really captured the spirit of The Sewing Hui volunteers. Also, we wanted to share that both Madelynne and Jennifer are members of Maui Wedding Creatives, a collective of ‘like-minded wedding creatives aiming to elevate the Maui wedding industry through community, education, transparent business ethics, and client-centered practices. Brides-to-be, be sure to check out MWC for all your wedding vendor needs. 

Find out more about Madelynne and her work in a short Q&A we did with her:

Q: How would you describe your style and aesthetic with your work as a photographer?

A: My aesthetic is classically inspired and timeless. The right mood for the right moment. Light and bright images for playful, fun photos and moody photos for deeply emotional moments. Lighting, posing, composition and editing all play together to tell a story. The imagery should match the mood and tell a deeper story. I’m not one for fads, the only thing I want dating your photos is the fashion and wedding aesthetic! No toning or style changes based on what’s popular at the moment, because true classics never go out of style. I strive for vibrant imagery with true to scene colors as I know many couples put a lot of thought into their color schemes. Final galleries are a feast of visual variety…natural light to creative flash with influences from fashion to photojournalism. I appreciate photography with range.

Q: What is your favorite part about photographing weddings on Maui?

A: My favorite part about photographing weddings on Maui is the light, natural scenery and couples! We have absolutely gorgeous light in Hawaii, unparalleled sunsets and stunning scenery! I never feel I’m lacking inspiration. I love to show off the scenery in my photography, I mean why choose to have a Hawaii wedding if not for the amazing backdrops? The couples that choose Hawaii often do so because they want a more intimate wedding with those that are truly close. A destination wedding cuts out a lot of extras, and usually distills the day to what and who is most important. I also have to shout out the amazing wedding community out here, we have some really talented and heartfelt folks that truly embody community over competition.

Q: Why did you choose Maui as your home for your business?

A: Sometimes I don’t know if I so much chose Maui and it called to me. I moved here on a whim, a call that made no logical sense but felt right. Something was pulling me to take another leap of faith in life (my first being my decision to move to California and attend art school ). I had phenomenal opportunities in Los Angeles, but I think I was searching for a more grounded, heartfelt community. Maui and its people have transformed and challenged me in the best of ways, and I hope to be here for as long as the island will keep me.

Q: What are your favorite moments to capture with your photography?

A: This is a hard question, as one of the reasons I love weddings so much is the diversity it offers! I remember being encouraged to pick a specific photography field during college, to which I always struggled. I loved fashion, photojournalism, landscapes and macro nature work…how was I to choose? I didn’t realize how diverse of a shooter you need to be to photograph weddings until I first tried my hand at it. I instantly fell in love because I get to create imagery influenced by all my favorite styles. I do have a special place in my heart for candid moments, and apparently I’m something of a ninja…popping up at the right moments out of nowhere. It’s something clients have mentioned many times, though I have always been a fan of people watching and searching for the little things that speak to deeper truths.

Q: What drew you towards photography?

A: The ability to transport the viewer. I’ve always felt entranced by photography, ever since I was young. I wanted to experience all the world had to offer and often did so through images. I love how it connects us, and how it can be the link to our memories.

Brides looking for a wedding photographer, we highly recommend her! A wonderful person and a talented photographer. You can follow her work on social media on IG: @madelynnelorraine and FB: @madelynnelorrainephoto or visit her website at www.madelynnelorraine.com.

Below are just some of the many beautiful moments she has captured: