This isn’t a veiled pitch, Maui will see thousands of proposals across the island every year, and 90% of them will do it without a pro photographer. And to me, that’s a-okay. It doesn’t mean I can’t help you out though!

In this post, I’ll provide a few tips that can help plan your surprise proposal, or gather ideas for the engagement photoshoot afterwards. I’ll even provide some advice for friends or family members that you can capture it for you.

Let’s start with the most popular question…

Tip #1 – My recommendations on where to propose in Maui…

Maui is home to many beautiful beaches, waterfalls and lush rainforests… to be honest, it isn’t really that hard to find a beautiful place to propose. I see proposals at sunset on any beach almost weekly and the moment is always magical.

With that being said, there are a few places that I think stand out:

• Secret Cove Beach (Pa’ako Beach) in South Maui – This is an extremely popular spot. This is where we captured the proposal featured above. Fair warning though, this beach isn’t quite a “secret” anymore. In fact, it isn’t atypical to see 3-4 weddings and/or engagement shoots going on in a fairly small beach. To access this beach, follow the Google GPS directions towards Secret Cove Beach, parking spots are limited so due plan to arrive early. The entrance to Secret Cove is on your right, hidden in plain sight, through a stone wall entrance.
• A beach with a little more privacy – As much as I love Secret Cove, it’s fallen out of favor with me lately because it’s just getting busier and busier. If you don’t mind the crowd, it’s still a great spot. However, there’s a lot of beaches nearby that are a lot less crowded where we can get much more variety with photos.
• Haleakalā National Park – You’ll be above the clouds, you can propose with the volcano in the background or above the clouds. I personally haven’t shot a proposal or engagement shoot up here, it is about 2 hours from town depending on where you’re coming from. You’ll have to have a reservation for sunrise, though you don’t need one for sunset. Also, photographers in Maui generally have an additional fee for travel to Haleakalā or on the Road to Hana. Downside is that can be busy up there, and most certainly cold… which means you probably won’t be as dressed up. You’ll see a few shots of mine on the right (or below if you’re on mobile).
• Road to Hana – It’s probably the #1 thing to do for anyone visiting Maui, there’s many guides on the internet, and many beautiful spots along the way. Though it’s unlikely that I would be available for the trek, I do know some photographers in Hana if you’re thinking about it! My recommendation for driving the Road to Hana is to download the Shaka Guide app on either Google or the Apple Store, you won’t have service on the Road to Hana… no internet, no radio, nothing. This app uses your GPS (which doesn’t use data) and basically acts as your tour guide for the Road to Hana!
• Kapalua or Napili Bay – Most tourists are going to be in Kaanapali / Lahaina area, those beaches tend to be the most busy. Kapalua and Napili Bay are a little more intimate and my recommendation for those who wish to stay in West Maui. Both are beautiful options to capture your special moment. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still going to be busy – just a little less so than the Kaanapali beaches.

Alright, you got the Who, and Where – what about When?

Tip #2 – For photos, timing is everything.

Us photographers like to shoot an hour before sunset, aka “Golden Hour.” Which coincidently, is when most choose to pop the question! If you’re working with a photographer, plan to propose just before sunset to save a little time for the engagement photos afterward.

Tip #3 – Planning with a photographer (or a friend)

For the best shots, it’s best to plan things in advance. Secret Cove Beach has a few great areas to propose, but remember it can be busy – so be prepared to have backups! The shot above is on the right-end of Secret Cove Beach, you’ll see the steps there (though again, this area is popular so arrive early). Ideally, plan to propose in a position where we can see the reaction of your fiancé to be.

Tip #4 – How to Capture it Yourself

If you’re on a budget, and you don’t have any friends tagging along – you can always capture it yourself. You’ll simply need a tripod with smartphone adapter – they can be found on Amazon for under $30. The dynamic range of smartphones can’t match what a real camera can do, so if we have clear skies I would recommend exposing for the background and recording a video at the highest resolution your phone can do (4k for most). If your girlfriend grows curious, you could say you’re shooting a time-lapse of the sunset.

It depends. Some photographers charge à la carte, and others have packages.

They have their pros and cons, but with à la carte a lot of clients are often lured into a cheap session and then have to pay a lot for digitals, prints, rights, etc. It isn’t always the case, but be sure to do your research. I can only speak for myself so that would be my best recommendation. Go through portfolios and find a photographer that resonates with you. Most photographers post pricing nowadays with the vast majority of photographers in Maui being in that $300-$1000 range for a session.

I consider myself an anti-salesy photographer, I have straight forward pricing and packages. You can find out more about it on my pricing and packages page for Couples Photographer in Maui.