Dream Photo Shoot

Photo by Kristy Taylor

I usually start my morning writing in my 5 minute gratitude journal. Starting the day with gratitude for all that I have has been a life changing habit and puts me in the best mindset for my day. With gratitude, I can share more light and love with others. Today is Thanksgiving and I told myself I was taking today “off” (an entire day off rarely ever happens), but I’m feeling too inspired to take the day off. I NEED to get these feelings on paper and share with whom ever wants to listen.

As I’m reflecting on what I am grateful for today especially, I can’t help but think about the dream photo shoot I got to partake in yesterday, featuring our new jewelry collection Pukas & Pulelehuas. I left the shoot on a natural high, buzzing from the content we created. This collection features one of a kind puka shells found by me, pulelehuas (butterflies in Hawaiian) & unique keshi Tahitian Pearls. Seeing the Pukas & Pulelehuas Collection come to life has meant the world to me. Every time I see a butterfly (especially when they fly overhead while I’m surfing) I just feel this warmth inside, like my great grandma Goosie is reminding me that she’s still with me, watching over me, wholeheartedly loving the lifestyle I’ve chosen. Goosie was a world traveler (always wore heels) , collected jewelry from all over the world and was just the coolest human I have ever met. One of my fondest memories as a kid was listening to Goosie’s spiritual experiences with angels and God while sitting at the dining room table, while colorful glass butterflies fluttered above us, hanging from the ceiling. She was an automatic writer and I believe she could see certain frequencies that others aren’t able to see. Throughout my life, butterflies appear, even in the most subtle ways, and remind me of her… like on my tape measurer that I use for making jewelry- I’ve had it for a decade, but didn’t notice there was a tiny butterfly on it until I was actually sitting down making one of the butterfly necklaces featured in the new collection. Or like the sticker I found in a box of candy from Argentina that had butterflies all over it and read “Beautiful from the front and back. Beautiful to watch you walk and grow. Even the bees stop to watch you“ in Spanish. Every time I see a butterfly, I know that I am on the right path and that my guardian angel is with me. And every time I save a butterfly from the ocean, I feel a sense of joy and light. So the Pukas & Pulelehuas Collection means a whole lot more to me than just jewelry, it’s energy transmuted, it’s a reminder of hope and love when the world feels chaotic and challenging.

Now that you know some background to the reason I created this collection, let’s get back to that dream photo shoot…

One of my favorite photographers is my dear friend Kristy Taylor @lahainalifestyle / lahainalifestyle.com & if you go to her instagram and/or website, you will quickly see why. The way she captures feelings & vibes in her photos is pure magic & she delivers quality, creative content, EVERY TIME. We had been texting back and forth trying to schedule a photoshoot but our schedules just weren’t lining up. She had an opening a few weeks back, but the model I wanted to work with, Ashley T. Nielson, wasn’t on island and I had a trunk show that day, so I decided to hold off until her next available opening. I reminded myself to not stress and that whatever is meant to be will be; to trust in God and let his plan unfold naturally. So that’s what I did! I let go of my expectations and just went with the flow and a shoot slot on the 23rd opened up! I booked the session and prayed for the best weather possible since it’s our rainy/trade winds season; you just never know what Mother Maui has in store for you.

I had always dreamt of vibey photographs with a toasted coconut skin surfer girl dripping in my jewelry, with a rainbow behind her… you know, just the epitome of a Maui babe & the lifestyle she lives. I WANTED THAT SHOT SO BAD. But you can’t just call on rainbows to appear the day of your shoot (LOL), the timing has to align. So I show up early to one of my favorite beaches I often cruz at, surfing, soaking in the sun-rays and playing with my puppy. As soon as I text the girls that it’s a go on the location, it starts to downpour, Hawaiian style. 10 minutes of heavy rain, then calm. And again, 10 min of downpours. My motto in life is “no stress” (which was my #1 reminder on my wedding day) and “what’s meant to be will be”… so naturally I was down to wait. The rain finally subsided & we just sort of went for it! As we walked over to the steps leading to the beach, a vibrant rainbow appeared over the ocean. I’m not sure the girls were as excited as I was…. I was truly ELATED!

We get down to the beach and Kristy starts shooting Ashley so we could bring those dream photos to fruition. I can say confidently that Kristy is similar to me in the sense that we both fully live in the present moment and go with the flow. Plans are great, but sometimes when you’re so attached to the outcome, your expectations get in the way of the present moment magic and can lead to disappointment. To clarify, when I say the phrase in the flow, I mean the flow of time as well as the creativity flow.

Let me tell you, we brought the flow & the VIBES. One rainbow turned into a double rainbow (and then we started quoting the famous double rainbow YouTube guy) and throughout the entire 1.5 hour shoot, the rainbow floated over the ocean. The timing was just right because today, Thanksgiving, there’s a major cold front passing through Hawaii and it is windy and rainy! SO now looking back at the timing, it was clearly meant to be. If we scheduled the shoot for any other day, would we have been blessed with such a beautiful rainbow the entire time?! Who knows.

As Kristy and Ash were working their magic, I was behind the scenes, taking short video clips and getting creative on my iPhone because I also love photography (even though I know nothing about cameras). I ended up being in the right place at the right time and the reflection of light through the iPhone lense created an arched rainbow over Ashely, with glittery sun rays shining through. I’ve taken photos like this before while at one of my favorite waterfalls, but never in my wildest dreams had I imagined I would have the opportunity to shoot a photo like this at my jewelry photoshoot! Doesn’t it (photo below) look outer worldly?!

Photo by Natasha Porreca

I feel so extremely grateful that I got to be a part of a such a dreamy shoot filled with natural beauty everywhere. I wanted a raw, natural vibe to the images and love that Ashley & I were on the same page with no make up! Raw. Natural. Salty. Day Dreamy. Mahalo to all of you who have loved & supported my creations for the past decade. I hope that when you’re wearing your Nani Shells jewelry, that you feel the energy put into making each and every piece. That you feel the love, that you feel the light.

The Pukas & Pulelehuas Collection will be dropping in the next week-ish (YAY), so keep your eyes peeled for the announcement! And here’s a sneak peek into the dreamiest Nani Shells photoshoot featuring Ashley T. Nielson and Kristy Taylor of Lahaina Lifestyle.

Xx Tash