Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the Photo Art By Davo shooting locations for family photo sessions?
We shoot at two locations depending on which photo session you purchase!
Easy Breezy Mini Photo Sessions, Full Family Photo Sessions and Large Family Photo Sessions are done at Kalapaki Beach in conveniently located Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii. Lihue is approximately 19-21 gorgeous minutes (through Kauai’s famous tree tunnel) from the hotel locations in Koloa/Poipu, 10-15 minute drive along the shore from Kapaa and 45-50 minutes from places on the north shore like Princeville and Hanalei Bay. We also offer Couple’s Only Photo Sessions at Shipwreck Beach Cliffs in Poipu.
What is the difference between the “Easy Breezy” Mini and Full Family photography sessions?
Depending on how many people are in your group, determines the photo session you should purchase. If you have 5 people or less in your group then get a Easy Breezy Mini Photo Session! If more than 5 people in your group then you’ll need to get the “Full Family Photo Session!” (Full Family Session is up to 9 people)
If your group is 10 people or over then you’ll need to “Large Family Photo Session”. Everyone will have their moments in front of the camera! We’re not grouchy with our time and don’t work on a timer!
When do I receive my photos and in what form will they be delivered?
For “Easy Breezy Mini or Family Photo Sessions, you will receive your beautifully edited photos the same day (usually) by 1pm for morning sessions and the next day by 1pm for afternoon photo sessions! They will delivered via private Google Drive link, which I will send to you in a neatly packed delivery email which you can share with family and friends or keep them all to yourself. The folder will contain as many edited photos as possible! Usually over 50 and up to 150ish beautifully edited photos, it all depends on how smiley your group is!
What should we wear for the family photo session?
That is entirely up to you! We want you to be comfortable, most importantly…although we do have some suggestions! A couple “Dos and “Don’ts“, if you will!
Black is never great. I’ll be honest. It sucks all the light out of the photos, so unless you’re in love with black on the beach, skip that choice!
Light color tones, sky blues of every shade, greens, pinks, yellows, pastel tones, work really well, even earthy tones are fabulous!
If you want some more suggestions, go to our Facebook page and see what other clients are wearing for inspiration!
How do you edit photos so fast?
Great question! In many cases, the answer to that question, in 2025-26, is normally “AI assisted”…Not us… we’ve been editing photos for 20 years or more and we still edit by hand, in an app called Lightroom Classic. LRC is the ol’ “go to editing software” for professionals. I’m often asked, why doesn’t editing take at least a week, two weeks or even more to edit the photos?”
Simple answer. We work hard. We’re super busy, so in order to keep our clients coming back to us for their photo sessions here in paradise (and they do comeback!), we like to edit the same day of the photo session, so we remember you, we remember the moments, the faces, the vibes…in order to give our clients the very best from us. We work hard at editing. We deny 100%, the use of AI in our edits. We keep it warm, colorful and naturally….all YOU!
What if the weather is gloomy and dark or even raining?
Welcome to Kauai, Hawaii, the wettest of all the islands in the Hawaiian Island chain! Luckily, we choose to do our sessions on the sunnier southeast side in Lihue! The weather is often optimal there vs the rest of the island and we have far less cancellations due to this carefully selected location. Ignore your weather forecasts! Seriously! Great weather is part of my job and even I don’t look at most weather forecasts. They are always wrong!
If the clouds are gloomy and dark, I can easily brighten and warm them with my advanced editing tools! Your sky will look amazing no matter what the weather looks like! In fact, may of our sessions are in “less than perfect” weather and we NEVER had a complaint! If it’s actually pouring rain at our meeting time then we can give you some reschedule options or issue you a refund, if it all goes south on us! Enjoy the moment, go with the flow! The key is…ignore the weather reports and show up with a smile and ready to party! Weather here is “epic” and part of the journey!
What kind of gear do we use?
We work with top of line Sony A7rV full frame professional mirrorless cameras with Sony and Sigma lenses. We’ll also always have a back-up camera at your session, right on my hip.
How much does a photo session cost?
Our Easy Breezy Mini Sessions (1-5 people) are $325, Full Family sessions (2–9 people) are $450, and Large Family sessions (10+ people) are $620! Couples Only sessions at epic Shipwreck Beach Cliffs are $495, and our Kauai weddings/elopements are $950. No hidden fees and no upsells — permit costs are already included in every session!
How do I book my session?
Easy breezy! Just purchase your session right here on our website, and I'll personally email you to schedule your date and time! I don't use an online calendar — I handle all the scheduling myself so we get you the perfect light!
What time of day will our session be?
Morning sessions are the best! I offer sunrise, then 30, 60, and 90 minutes after sunrise — the beach is empty, the kids are happy, and the light is gorgeous! Evening sessions are one slot, 25 minutes before sunset. Mornings are my favorite: calm wind, calm waves, empty beach — and we're done in time for breakfast!
How long does a photo session last?
Short and sweet — that's the whole point! Mini sessions are quick and painless, usually around 20–30 minutes. No stiff posing for hours, just fun in the sun and back to vacation mode!
Do you travel to Oahu or the other islands?
Nope — we're Kauai only, and proud of it! Each Hawaiian island has its own small, tight-knit community of professional photographers, and we like to leave that work to them — Kauai is our home and our specialty! All of our sessions happen right here on the beautiful south shore!
How far in advance should we book?
As soon as you know your travel dates! Sunrise time slots are the most popular and go first, so grab yours early!
How many edited photos will we receive?
A LOT! Most photographers give you 20 to 50 edited images at most — we don't hold back like that! As long as you're not blinking, we edit it! Most people end up with 50 to 120 images, beautifully edited — all depending on how smiley your group is!
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
REFUNDS: A full refund will be issued (minus $40 if a photo permit was issued) for a client who needs to cancel for any reason, providing the client has informed Photo Art By Davo via email (davo@photoartbydavo.com) no later than 72 hours(3 days) prior to the photo shoot meet-up time. Client cancellations within the 72 hour window and up to 24 hours prior to the photo shoot’s meet up time, will be issued a 50% refund OR you’ll be given the opportunity to reschedule, at your convenience and at no charge. Client cancellations within 24 hours of the photo session or “no shows” will not be issued a refund. Planning vacations can be difficult with tubing adventures, boat tours and hiking expeditions, etc. I get it. So, if any conflict in scheduling arises, just reach out to me asap via email and I’ll do my very best to accommodate your evolving vacation schedule. I’ll email you the night before or the morning of our photo shoot with final directions and reminders. No worries! Photo Art By Davo understands the weather situation on Kauai. Often the weather forecast says “rainy”…However, my locations on the “southside” are optimal for sunlight and often contradict the majority of the island’s weather forecasts. If it’s pouring rain, we will most certainly cancel the photo session and a full refund will be issued, no problem. We also have the option to reschedule. You’re in good hands…and speaking of that…continue reading below.
LICENSES AND PERMITS: Photo Art By Davo is Hawaii licensed, insured and ALWAYS permitted when applicable. 99% of my photo shoot locations require a permit. Permit costs are included in my rates and are obtained by me, prior to your photo shoot. No action is needed on your part. I obtain the permits online. During our photo shoot, our specific Hawaii WIKI or other agency (if applicable) permit will be on-location with us. It is important that we, as residents, business owners and visitors follow all the rules and laws here on Kauai. When hiring vendors here on Kauai, make certain you are dealing law abiding “pono” professionals! Aloha!!
What if our kiddos are not “in the mood” and cranky?
We ADORE little ones and they adore us!! Honestly, grumpy, wiggly toddlers and giggly kiddos are our absolute favorite!! Here's our secret — our sessions are super FAST N PRODUCTIVE! Minis are just 20-30 minutes of pure fun, so we're all done before anyone even thinks about getting cranky! No stiff posing, no "say cheese" a hundred times — we play, we laugh, we let the kids be gloriously themselves, and THAT'S when the real magic happens! Morning sessions are pure gold for little ones — they're bright-eyed, the beach is all ours, and we're back to vacation mode before breakfast!! We've photographed hundreds of happy little rascals and loved every single one!! Ask for their own dinosaur photo!
Do you charge a travel fee like many photographers?
Nope, never — no travel fees, no surprises, no fine print!! Our locations are set and they're spectacular: mini and family photo sessions at Kalapaki Beach in convenient Lihue, and couples-only sessions at the dreamy Shipwreck Beach Cliffs! We hand-picked these two spots for the most gorgeous light and the easiest parking on the island — calm, gentle vibes at Kalapaki Beach for families and the epic, wild cliffs of Shipwreck for couples only!! Every single session is pure magic!!
Do you photograph large families and multi-generational groups?
OH YES!! We absolutely LIVE for big family reunions!! There's nothing happier than three generations laughing together on the beach!! Our Large Family Photo Session (10 or more people) was made for exactly this — grandparents, cousins, aunties, uncles, everybody!! Everyone gets their shining moment, we keep it fast and giggly, and then you're all back to vacation mode with the best souvenir ever!! Let's make some Kauai memories!!
Do you offer prints or digital files?
You do the printing — and that's WONDERFUL news!! Your photos are 100% YOURS! No upsells, no packages, no pressure from us — ever!! We deliver your stunning hi-res images on Google Drive, and you can print them anywhere you love, as big as you want, for years to come!!
What should we bring to our session?
Just your beautiful selves and those gorgeous smiles!! A couple of little things make the morning even sweeter: a towel for sandy toes, water, a yummy snack for the kiddos, maybe some leis for those Hawaii vibes! (you can get those at any grocery store here) and a change of clothes, if you're hitting the beach after! Everything else? Leave it to us — we've got you!!
Should we tip?
Aww, you're so sweet for asking!! Tips are never expected — but they're truly appreciated!! We do have a Venmo, if you'd like — just ask!! But honestly, the greatest gift you can give our little family business is a 5-star Google review sharing your easy breezy experience!! That keeps our dream thriving! Thank YOU!!!!