We talked about Texas for a solid ten minutes before even thinking about the photoshoot. Amber was not only from my home state, but from my hometown as well. We had most likely cheered our Texas Rangers on at the very same baseball games, under the same hot Texas sun, with the same beer or hot dog in our hands (and with the same name even!). Sharing those memories was like having a little piece of Texas all the way out here in the Pacific with me. Hawaii is beautiful, don’t get me wrong! But Hawaii is also very far from home. And it was such a special gift to be able to share that love for Texas with someone. Not to mention these guys were the absolute sweetest couple!

The military brought Amber and Kyle out here to Hawaii. And of course you can’t be a complete military family without two AWESOME Pitbulls. Nola and Tex (which by the way are the best names ever), were so much fun! They were definitely distracted by the turquoise waves (let’s be honest, aren’t we all?), however we did get them to sit still for a few pictures! Their big strong tails wagged the entire time and their tongues kept popping out to taste that salty air. These two were in heaven.

And so was I! Lanikai Beach is my favorite spot on Oahu. Especially right at sunset! As the sun sets over on the west side of the island, the light gets soft and dreamy. The clouds get all pink and purple. The sand cools down. And it feels like you’re actually witnessing a miracle.

On top of all that, I was getting to do what I love most. Capturing these precious memories for this young family is the most rewarding thing in the world for me. After the sun sets, life moves on, and Hawaii is just a distant memory, there’s one thing that will last forever. Photographs. Amber and Kyle, thank you so much for allowing me to gift you these memories in a way that truly honors and humbles me. I’m so blessed to do what I do. And I’m so excited for life’s beautiful adventures that await you two!