get excited
MAUI BEACH
LOCATIONS
your perfect spot
With the sun rising over Haleakala and setting in the West, the angles of light change throughout the day. Some locations are better suited to morning sessions while others lend themselves better to golden evening light.
From romantic views straight off a postcard to family-friendly beaches, we know all the best Maui has to offer.
Here are a few of our favorite Maui beach portrait locations.
Let's Find Your Spot
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North Shore, CEntral, and Pa'ia Beaches
You know how when you are really excited about something, you can’t wait to share it? Let's lead this off with our all-time favorite beach on Maui.
If you are looking for dreamy Maui portraits, it doesn’t get much more romantic, island vacation than white sandy beach and aqua blue water.
Trimmed with forest areas offering shade when you need a break from the sun, this beach also has gorgeous West Maui Mountain views. Iconic views straight out of every Maui guidebook, this location brings out the love for this island in every session we do there!
Ideal for morning sessions as the sun doesn’t set over the water here, but if you opt for an evening session, the sunset will produce a display of color that won’t disappoint!
Bonus for families with children or sessions with multiple outfits, this beach also has easily accessible restrooms and showers.
Baldwin Beach, Pa'ia
OUR FAVORITE MAUI BEACH
This beach is another favorite and worth the drive. We love some windswept hair and the emotion it evokes in an image. If you feel the same way, then you won’t mind the wind that is common at Kanaha beach.
There is a long stretch of white sand, perfect for playful action shots romping around and having fun together. There's an "island oasis" vibe with a bank of palm trees at the end of the long white sandy beach.
This is another beach that has a lovely dance of color at sunset, but if you want that quintessential sunset over the water in your session then keep reading!
Kanaha Beach Park
WEST MAUI BEACHES - Lahaina & Kapalua
Ka'anapali from Canoe Beach to Honokowai is off limits to commercial photography, but there are lots of beautiful options for the West Side. Please note that a $50 travel fee applies to West Maui locations.
(travel fee does not apply to Baby Beach in the morning)
Picture expansive waves crashing against a white sandy beach. Giant cliffs with dramatic views and a golden sunset glow to create vivid images for your Maui beach session. Pretty epic right? This beach pairs beautifully with some off-the-beaten path locales for those who reserve a Kuleana Session.
Because of the features that make this location so picturesque, it can also be dangerous, I don’t recommend this beach for families with small children on the cliffs. It can be windy, but with a location steeped in dramatic features, it just adds to the emotional feel for the images we will take.
Ironwood Beach
Aptly named, Baby Beach is perfect for families with small children or people that want to get in the water. Powerful waves can be beautiful in photographs, but terrifying for little ones. We love Baby Beach for its calm waters and beautiful morning light.
There is a palm tree grotto that makes this location super romantic and adds that extra touch of tropical vacation to your photo session.
If you want photos in the water, Baby Beach is perfect for getting in waist high and splashing around.
Things to consider before booking this location: there are no restrooms or showers, and the beach area can be narrow on high tide days. If you're considering sunset, you'll want to be in the water as the sand gets very busy at sunset time.
Baby Beach/Pu'unoa Beach
This Kapalua beach is great for an extended family session and large group photos because it has one of the widest expanses of white sand that is flat.
It is frequently less crowded than other beaches in the area and has beautiful light for both morning sessions and at sunset (although the sun does NOT set over the water at this location). It does have a public restroom, again making it an excellent spot for larger groups and those that need some picnic tables to rest at.
DT Fleming Beach
Kapalua Bay is one of the ONLY West Maui beaches where the sun dips into the horizon most of the year making it an epic spot for sunset - though it's gorgeous at sunrise too!
This golden sand, crescent shaped bay offers restroom and shower facilities making it great for outfit changes.
It offers rocks, greenery, gorgeous pathways, and tons of options for great backgrounds.
Kapalua Bay
South Maui Beaches - Wailea, Makena, Ma'alaea
This is our favorite South Maui Beach.
I don’t know if you have noticed a theme here, but we prefer less populated beaches over the more commonly visited locations Maui has to offer. Maluaka beach is one of these places.
It has incredible sunset views, that perfect long sandy white beach Maui is famous for and amenities for outfit changes.
Maluaka Beach
Named for its soft sugary sand this beautiful beach has views of both Haleakala and West Maui Mountain ranges. Surprise, surprise, it is relatively uncrowded (told you there was a theme!) and a great sunset location. There can be wind, but we are an island, so there is always a little breeze to remind you that you are in the tropics!
Sugar Beach / Kealia Pond
