As some of you know, in 2013 I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Maui multiple times and work for my good friend Anna Kim. Anna is like a soul-sister to me! We have so much in common-- from photography style to tv shows to foodie tastes to even the same bathing suits! I just adore any time I get to spend with her and hang out... of course it doesn't hurt she happens to live in one of my favorite places ever, Hawaii! ;)While I was working/playing with her this summer, it coincided with her birthday. Anna is not only much loved by me but everyone who meets her. I mean it's kinda impossible not to love her! So she had a beautiful birthday party at one of the most gorgeous wedding venues on Earth... the Haiku Mill in Maui. All her friends & family who adore her surrounded her with love that day. And a very fancy birthday fete-- complete with gorgeous florals by Dellables-- was held in her honor. It was an amazing day, and I was flattered to not only attend as a guest but to also photograph parts of it for Anna. The party was even featured on Pacific Wedding's Blog.It was actually a rainy day, though it is hard to tell in pictures. My favorite memory ever of that night was dancing and singing with Anna in the rain to the tune of Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines." So fun!Thank you Anna for being a wonderful friend to me! I hope you will always cherish these photos :)

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Jasmine & Micah had a lovely wedding at the Makena Beach and Golf Resort on Maui, Hawaii! First of all, what an amazing place to get married! The beach in front of this resort is so beautiful and looks like a postcard in photos! Unreal! Jasmine & Micah were super fun to photograph because they are just funny, outgoing, sweet people. Micah and his groomsman were hilarious and total hams for my camera. Jasmine and her girls were as cute and sweet as can be! They had a beautiful and emotional beachside ceremony, and then we had a chance for some fun portraits on the sand! It was awesome. I loved every second of their Hawaii paradise wedding. :)I shot this wedding as an associate for Anna Kim Photography. Thanks Anna! 

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Paulina & Bryan had a beautiful wedding on the lovely island of Maui, Hawaii. It was simple, full of love, and every detail was beautiful. Paulina dazzled in her Jimmy Choo's and beaded gown. Her bouquet by Dellables was as romantic as ever. Bryan looked dapper in his suit. The two married in an outdoor church ceremony (the fact that they have outdoor churches in Hawaii is AMAZING to me), and then had a lovely reception at Merriman's. Merriman's is such a beautiful spot for Maui weddings, I could just shoot there again and again! My favorite part of the day was getting to photograph these two on my favorite beach-- Kapalua Bay-- and photographing them on the lava rocks! So magical!I photographed this wedding as an associate for Anna Kim Photography. Thanks Anna for this amazing opportunity!

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This year was SO exciting for me in many ways. Not only did I get to shoot my own weddings in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Diego, Napa, and Boston...BUT... I also got to do some work for my dear friend and extremely talented friend Anna Kim in Maui, Hawaii. Anna is an AMAZING Maui based wedding photographer and she hired me throughout the year to take on some associate photography jobs for her! It was so fun getting to travel on three separate occasions to my favorite state, Hawaii, and do what I love... photograph weddings.Danielle & Brett's was the first wedding I shot on Maui. It was a gorgeous, intimate, beachside wedding in Kihei. We had so much time for portraits which was so fun to shoot! They also had a beautiful Hawaiian ceremony that was so touching, joyful and heartfelt. I loved photographing this wedding so much and am so excited to share! Enjoy!

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As you may or may not know I am currently in Maui for a little work and a lot of play! I've been here for 11 days now and still have 5 more to go! While I was here, my very close friend Anna Kim (you may remember her from this shoot) had a fabulous birthday fete at the magical wedding venue Haiku Mill. Anna was very kind in asking me to photograph her party so she could remember it... and as you may imagine, it is always flattering when another talented peer who you really admire asks you to photograph something for them! So of course I was very happy and honored to oblige!Today Pacific Weddings Magazine featured the affair on their blog... which showcases my photos alongside some of the photos Anna took at the party too! Very cool!You can check out the feature HERE! 

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Here is part two of Vanessa and Pat's Hawaii Trash The Dress session! I think this is the part everyone has been waiting for...when Vanessa jumps in the ocean in her wedding dress! LOVE! You might think it's kinda scary or sad to trash your dress but I gotta say, Vanessa and Pat had a ton of fun with it! Vanessa was smiling and laughing and loving being in the warm waters of Lani Kai Beach! She was having so much fun, in fact, that I was totally jealous. If I'd had my wedding dress, I definitely would have jumped in right beside her!!! Really, I would have!! It looked THAT fun and liberating! Just see for yourself!We trashed the dress little by little. First, they walked on the shoreline as the water lapped up on their feet.

A little bit of fun dancing...

And then BAM! Water! In wedding clothes!! Fabulous!!! See what I mean about fun and liberating?!

My favorite thing about Lani Kai beach is the two little islands, known as the Mokuluas, that are off in the distance. The islands are so beautiful and make you feel like you are in a completely different world!! Put a gorgeous couple in front of the Mokuluas and I am in photographer heaven! See?!

Vanessa worked it in the water like nobody's business! Fierce, I tell you! FIERCE!

Trashing the dress doesn't have to only mean being in the water you know! Not at all! For example, you can get sexy in the sand!

REAL sexy!!!

Oh. Em. Gee. I am in total love with the fabulousness here. The sky! The light! The water! The most gorgeous and ferosh couple ever! Love. Love. LOVE!

And back in the water! 'Cause, really, being in the water is SO FUN!

Work it out you two! Work it oooooouuutttttt!

I love this!!

This shot was the PERFECT way to end the session! I just LOVE it!

If you want to see more Vanessa and Pat check out this SLIDE SHOW below!!!

Vanessa and Pat -- thank you so much for allowing me to capture your love and for having fun with me in Hawaii! I had a blast with you two! You guys are so fun to be around! And Vanessa, thanks for being willing to jump in the ocean in your wedding dress. You totally inspired me and I hope you love the images we created!!! xoxo - Ashleigh

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When I found out I was going to be in Hawaii this summer, I just KNEW I had to set up a photo shoot there. Specifically on Lani Kai Beach in Kailua, because seriously? It is one of my most favoritest beaches ever. In the whole entire world. Lani Kai is just one of those magic places to me. The kind of place that defines paradise!My fab photog friend Pinky agreed to shoot with me, and being a Oahu local, made all the arrangements! She got her good friends Vanessa and Pat to model for us! Vanessa and Pat have been married for eight years! So this kind of worked out to be an anniversary session for them!! :)What struck me the most about Vanessa and Pat was that they acted like newlyweds all day. They were in young, puppy-love!! I love that they were having so much fun together, and how Pat can make Vanessa laugh so easily! And I loved that these two were in their own little world and pranced on the beach like it was just the two of them! I really couldn't have asked for a more perfect couple to photograph on the most perfect beach. It was truly an incredible experience and I am just in love with how the photos turned out!So in love that I will be posting more from their session later this week! So stay tuned for that! But for now, please check out round one of Vanessa and Pat's Mr. and Mrs. session on Lani Kai!We started the session off on the sand. We wanted to work our way up to getting them in the water! So first they rocked it out on the dry parts of the beach! hehe

Vanessa has the best laugh!! Her face totally lights up and it's totally contagious! When she starts laughing, everything gets brighter! Love it!

Aughhhh! Vanessa! You are GORGEOUS!

I love how these two can just  let loose and be themselves in front of the camera!

Vibrant. Fabulous and Fierce. Totally my style. Totally in LOVE!

Pat you are pretty handsome yourself!!

Vanessa! Work it out mama!!! You are so stunning!!! Pat is a lucky man!!

There's that laugh again! This photo is so fun and joyful! I just love it!!

Ahhh! That light!!! Swoon!!!!

Aren't these two just gorgeous?! Stay tuned later this week for Part 2 of this session! You will see how Vanessa TOTALLY trashed her dress! It was pretty amazing!!! You don't wanna miss it!! :)

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