Four Seasons Hualālai Sunset Family Photos | Big Island, Hawaiʻi

Big Island sunsets and a family vacation are a perfect match. This sunset family session with the Tharpe family at Four Seasons Hualālai felt more like a relaxed beach walk than a formal photoshoot—grandparents, parents, and kids all enjoying their time together in one beautiful place.

Four Seasons Hualālai is a wonderful location for extended family photos. With palm trees, open sand, lava rock, and ocean views all close together, it’s easy to get lots of variety without a lot of walking—great for families with little ones and grandparents alike.

We captured the full family, smaller groupings, and plenty of candid moments in between— we saw a turtle, the kids played on the beach, and other sweet moments that happen naturally when families are relaxed.

Sunset sessions are designed to feel fun and low-pressure. Kids don’t need to be “perfect”—they get to move, explore, and be themselves. As long as parents are relaxed and smiling, I can almost always get great expressions from the kids. It also helps if kids have already eaten and, especially for younger ones, if the day beforehand is kept simple so they’re not overtired.

Sessions typically start 40–90 minutes before sunset, when the light is soft, and the temperatures start to cool down. Family vacations fly by, but photos like these help you hold on to the memories you made.