Today we celebrate my daughter’s birthday. 3 years ago on July 27, 2007 – my beautiful wife gave birth to the love of my life, Kiyana. Amazing how 3 years has gone by so fast. It only felt like yesterday when I first held her in my arms. She is growing up so fast! Words can’t express how blessed I am to have her.
Kiyana, one day you will be able to read this. Today you make 3 years old. You make mommy & daddy so proud! You have accomplished so many within the last 3 years. Not only you make our faces smile, you make everyone’s heart smile. My heart has never felt so much love until I have met you. Never in a million years I thought I would be a father, but when you came along, I felt so honored and blessed that you have chosen me to be your daddy. I enjoy every moment I have with you. You will always be the little twinkle star in my sky. You will always be the sunshine on my rainy day. You will always be the little sweet angel that I long to have in my arms. I love you with all my heart.
Kauai LOVE! One of my favorite islands in the Hawaiian chain. What makes this island so special? Being able to photograph a wedding there, eating at Hamura’s Saimin & KFC (Kauai Fried Chicken – inside joke for all you Kauaians). Kauai is beautiful, green, laid-back, quiet, filled with friendly people & beautiful. Wait, I already said beautiful. With Kauai being so beautiful, Meghan+Brett had the hardest time choosing a venue for their wedding (after looking at various venues over and over). Little did they know that the most beautiful and perfect venue for their wedding was simply in their uncle’s backyard. What an amazing location it was! Thank you Meghan+Brett for letting me be part of your special day.
What’s more fun than photographing a bride+groom being trashed? NOTHING. This was a blast! Jenny+Kekoa was such an amazingly fun outgoing couple to hang out with. They were both adventurous and was willing to help my vision come to life. Little did they know that our Trash The Dress session would require your feet getting a little wet but who would of known they would be completely drenched. Total rock stars I tell you. They both battled the rough terrain, sharp rocks, rain, wind and some big waves. Here’s a few images from there beautiful wedding and day after session. Thank you Jenny+Kekoa for letting me be part this memorable event. And thanks to Alex Rapada for assisting me & Studio Red for filming this amazing experience!
This was a wedding I shot back in March. Every time I’d fly over to Maui, I’d look down out of the plane and was curious about this amazing property. I didn’t know it was a golf course and that it was a venue for weddings. When I met up with Beth+Robert, they mentioned that they were getting married on a golf course located in Wailuku. They explained the details of the property and I knew exactly what they were talking about. I was overly excited to photograph their wedding! The day has finally arrived and their wedding couldn’t have been any more perfect. I was honored to photograph this wonderful couple and to help capture their love, emotions, laughter, friends & family all in one special event. Congratulations Beth+Robert!
Come follow me as I photograph Nicole+Cory’s beautiful wedding in Portlock, Hawaii. This is a time lapse of a photo taken every 2 seconds and put together as one little movie clip. What an amazing day it was! Enjoy!
A few days ago, I got a nice surprise in the mail. YES! A “best of wedding” plaque from The Knot! And to share it with you all, here’s my acceptance photos (no speech as pictures says a thousand words). Thank you to all the brides (knotties!), grooms, vendors and cool people who voted for me! Without you, there’s no way I’d receive this. This one is for you!
Oh my goodness, this is hilarious! Looove these acceptance photos. Congratulations Frank! I was so excited for you when I heard from Alex. Definitely well-deserved!
Jessica+Gary are avid tennis players. Tennis is actually what got them together so incorporating they’re favorite sport into an engagement session was such a fun and great idea. They were such a joy to photograph! I look forward to photographing their wedding in July of 2011.
My wife and I can’t wait for baby to arrive. Kiyana is so ready to be a big sister. Just four more months. Daddy can’t wait to meet you and hold you in his arms.
Maui is what I call my 2nd home. Within the last 2 month, I’ve been to this island seven times. So what brings me to Maui this time? An awesome couple, a beautiful wedding situated at this amazing venue. It’s been over two years since I last photographed a wedding here. Nothing much has changed since then but I was again in awe of it’s beauty (as if it was my first time). I really had a blast photographing this couple and celebrating with their friends and family. Special thanks to White Orchid Wedding for putting together this amazing event. Here are a few images from Jennifer+Cody’s special day.
Thank you Frank for these amazing photographs of our special day. I could not have asked for a better photographer than you to catch the moments that flew by too quickly. Thank you for traveling around Maui the day after our wedding as well! I will never forget this experience, and we already plan to return in the future once we begin a family of our own. Thank you again for a a wonderful day.
Peggy -June 24, 2010 - 4:03 pm
Awesome pictures! How special to get married in such an amazing place! Thanks for sharing!
Anna Llamas -June 22, 2010 - 10:36 pm
My jaw just fell to the floor…beautiful pictures.Thanks for sharing.Great looking couple.
Helen McDonald -June 22, 2010 - 8:43 pm
How super fabulous!!
The photography is awesome!
The couple look sooo much in love.
I particularly like the photo of mother of the groom, in her
turquoise green dress with the beautiful diamond pendant.
Wish I had been there, but I feel so special just viewing these romantic photographs.
Helen
Jody -June 19, 2010 - 4:17 pm
Great pictures. Pretty bride & good looking groom! Brings back some memories of when I was in Hawaii in 1976.
Cari -June 17, 2010 - 8:16 am
holy cow these pictures are amazing!
Betty Gardner -June 16, 2010 - 3:49 pm
Your pictures are awesome – really enjoyed seeing them
as I was not able to attend the wedding of my grand-
daughter. She and Cody have my love and for you a
great big thank you for sharing these pictures.
Betty Gardner
Grandmother of Jennifer Nicholdson
Kathy Lowe -June 16, 2010 - 2:56 pm
These pictures could not be more beautiful!!!!! You created “forever” memories.
To Rob and Gina!
You are truly a beautiful couple! The pictures are beautiful and we really wish that we could have been at the ceremony. We wish you a happy long life together!
Love your Cousin – Kim! and her husband – Reco.
aloha gina & rob,
you two were such a laid back, gracious, and wonderful couple! It was a pleasure meeting you both and assisting in your wedding. thank you for selecting the sheraton waikiki resort to be the location for such a wonderfully happy and memorable event. all the best to you both, and may you return on many, many vacations in the future! a hui hou (until we meet again!)
Uncle John Chung -June 21, 2010 - 8:02 am
Dear Gina and Rob,
I am so proud of you both, especially Gina, achieving highest academic advancement in your young age.
Chung Family wish you very happy and prosperous, of course lots of my grand kids.
Stop by NJ paradise.
Love,
From Uncle John
Seoul, Korea
Aunt Sandy & Uncle Tom -June 18, 2010 - 6:56 pm
Robbie & Gina,
We are so sorry that we had to miss your wedding; how fabulous it must have been. The pictures are wonderful! Loved them & both of you too. Take care & enjoy the rest of your lives together.
Love, Aunt Sandy & Uncle Tom
Ed & Rita -June 17, 2010 - 1:48 pm
Your wedding pictures are just beautiful. Sorry we could not be there, but these pictures are so perfect, they make us think we were right there. Can’t wait to see you both when you come back to PA. Congratulations, & Best Wishes, Now and in the Future!
Maggie -June 17, 2010 - 2:15 am
Robbie and Gina, simply awesome photos. Sorry we couldn’t be there, it looks beautiful. Congratulations and love and happiness to you always. Love, Aunt Maggie & Uncle Gary
Mackensie -June 16, 2010 - 4:37 pm
These are just so beautiful! I love your profile shot in the limo and the ones at sunset!
LMKost -June 16, 2010 - 4:07 pm
Rob and Gina,
Beautiful pictures of a Beautiful Couple. VA and I missed very wonderful event. Thanks for sharing it with us through these pictures.
Congratulations and Best Wishes on your marriage and future Happiness together.
Sincerely,
Unc LarryM and Virginia
Simon Heu -June 16, 2010 - 2:20 pm
Gina and Rob
This is uncle Simon. You guys are great looking couple.
But Gina is looking a little better, he.he.–
We are so happy for you and wishing move forward for the future.
Remember,
A drop of water + a drop of water is NOT just two drops of water.
It will make a huge “one drop of water”.
We love you all.
WOW!!! Your work is always beautiful but this shoot is especially amazing! LOVE all the angles and different poses – you ROCK Frank! Your work is such huge inspiration and I love your style!
Frank! These pictures express the feelings they both have for each other and how their day was from start to finish… Magical and Beautiful. It was a pleasure working with you. I’m so happy you captured the moments created by music and dance. It’s a beautiful thing combined with everything you captured throughout the day! See You Soon! Tony So http://www.thedjhawaii.com Peace and Beats!
Okay, so now the Mastah Photographah also performs miracles. That first shot is impossible to accomplish. And howdahell do you find these places? You make me sooooo jealous!!
With love, all things are possible. That’s the message I got from their entire wedding.
I am truly inspired by Amy+Deva’s true love for each other. From the moment I first met with Amy+Deva (about 1 year ago) to do their engagement session, I felt a deep connection with them. They mentioned about a Hindu wedding which was going to take place on their wedding day. I was overly excited as I have never photographed such a cultural event. And finally, their big day has arrived. I have been waiting for this day for so long! Witnessing this memorable event has made me feel as I have transported to India and back. What a way to be culturally exposed. Thank you to Amy+Deva for letting take part of your amazing celebration. It’s an honor to be part of your circle of friends.
Also, check out their wedding article published in the New York Times. http://nyti.ms/abHeIT
This event wouldn’t have been possible without the help of these amazing vendors.
Finishing Touch, Flower Girls, Mood Event, Naturally You, Ihilani Resort, Lanikuhonua, Pacific Party Rental & Gourmet Events Hawaii.
It’s contest time again and I am deeply honored to have not one but TWO images selected as a finalist! Please vote for one of my images at the following link:
The winning photo will grace The Last Word page facing the inside back cover of the magazine. It is a truly special page, dedicated with an inspirational scripture carefully selected. Cast your vote by midnight on May 26th, 2010. Will only count one vote per day per person, email or IP address.
My wife had no clue what the day would lead to. It all started on May 6. Normally, she would get flowers delivered to her work. She waited and waited, but no flowers. On May 7th (birthday eve), I surprised her with 2 dozen roses. She acted happy but I knew she was a bit disappointed because she really thought I FORGOT she disliked RED roses. My main motive was to get her a bit irritated.
The following morning I woke up really early (6:00AM) kissed her cheek (while she slept) and whispered to her that I needed to complete a wedding before we could do anything. Kiyana woke up at about 7:30 therefore she couldn’t sleep in. My poor wife felt as if there was nothing special going on and that I didn’t care it was her birthday.
So then by 10:30AM I mentioned that we had an appointment at 12:30. She had no clue as to what. It was for a facial at Ampy’s in Ala Moana.
Following her facial, we had an appointment for hair. Went to Kissa Salon where her brother Kit Luu worked.
Right after her hair, we went to MAC (which she LOVES so much) for mini make-over. The make-up took awhile which gave me some in between time to see what was on with the setup at the restaurant.
Right after the make-up session, we had an appointment for manicure and pedicure. Unfortunately, this session took the most time and delayed everything. Our surprise for her was set back 45 minutes. Everyone was getting hungry. But I am glad the delayed happened. People that texted me saying they would be late, was on time! YAY!
She thought the day was over…and didn’t know that the best was yet to come.
I mentioned to her that her while she did her manicure, I ran into one of her friends and mentioned that we should go visit them and their newly born son. Kim was excited. Emmelyn came to greet us at the front door. The rest is history. She will never forget this day.
Special thanks to Alex (who did all the background leg work) and video. And thank you to everyone who made it out to the party. Without you, this birthday celebration would have not been possible.
Watch the video below to see how the day unfolded.
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