Portrait Of Local Hawaiian Beauty In Tropical Rainforest

Once again I was back in the Hawaiian Pali rainforest which has become one of my most favorite photoshoot locations. This time it was a special occasion because of who I was photographing.

The model’s name was Iris a non-model actually since this was her first photoshoot. She is a lifeguard and a “just a regular girl” which I love because my most intimate an real photos have been taken of non-models or first time models.

Born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii, Iris has natural pure beauty and pride which shines through her photos.

The rest of the photos are in color but I had to start with this black and white conversion to set the mood. Soft light from the overcast sky provided perfect lighting conditions for portrait and beauty photography.

I enjoy studying photos for a long period of time. There is a lot to take in and admire on this photo; the symmetry, the mix of strength and beauty, the amazing eye contact, gently flowing hair, the mood .. and so on

Photoshoots especially for beginner models or non-models start with more formal setups. Finding a stunning backdrop that helps setting the mood is a breeze at this excellent location.
Standing further away to take full body photos and choosing a conservative wardrobe in the beginning all help putting the model at ease as opposed to starting with a wet and wild bikini concept.

Certain aspects that result in a pleasing composition happen to work out by themselves like the angle of the dead tree complimenting the angle of the model’s legs.
I do not recall consciously framing the photo that way and it is a lot of fun to find these elements later on during editing that were not part of the conscious picture taking process while I was looking through the viewfinder.

As the photoshoot progresses the camera moves closer revealing more intimate moods and moments. The light, the colors, the expression, the wardrobe and the accessories nicely bring this picture together for me.

When great moments present themselves it is time to capture them from as many angles as possible until they are inevitably gone. Getting close to the ground, shooting through colorful dry leaves and creating the background from the rainforest canopy resulted in a nice color palette. Using a wide aperture ensured that the background and the foreground would be blurred so the model would stand out.
The natural beauty of this native Hawaiian girl completes the picture.