Beautiful images and an amazing experience? 

I ensure every photo session at Monica Lau Photography offers BOTH!

Time always passes us by, and moments we want to celebrate and remember are gone too quickly. Maybe it's your young children dressing up as their favorite character or your high school senior months away from graduation.

I’m Monica Lau, and as a mom, I know how special the years are and how quickly they pass.

And I know what it's like to put everyone's needs before your own. And sometimes you want something just for you.

It's my passion to deliver a fantastic experience that produces exquisite photos.

About Monica Lau

Monica's 30-year career as a professional portrait photographer has led her to call Kailua, Hawaii home. With skills that have been perfected over the years, Monica's mission as an artist is to evoke self-confidence, strength, and joy in her subjects while putting them at ease. It is in these moments of genuine fun and connection that she does her best work.

While her career began in newspapers and magazines and progressed to the renowned Getty Images, she's happiest when her camera's focused on celebrating people and bringing out their beauty. Having raised a family while building a successful career, Monica loves working with children and adults to capture the moments people want to remember most.

Monica brings an eye for capturing that special moment in her portraits. She creates exclusive portrait artwork for you to enjoy, then passes down to your children and your children's children. By investing in a work of fine art by Monica, you're creating your family's legacy.

“Monica Lau is an amazing artist! She easily captures the beauty and personality of whoever she photographs. Both my husband and I have hired Monica for business-related photos, but recently we asked Monica to create portraits for our high school senior. The results were incredible! Monica’s portraits truly showcase our daughter’s best features and character. All our friends and relatives who have seen these images have been so impressed at Monica's ability to capture our daughter’s inner strength and spirit.We recommend Monica Lau very highly.”

CATHERINE K.

Monica's Commitment to Her Clients

It's important to savor the time with your children, commemorate milestones and celebrate who you are at any age. I ensure you never regret a missed moment while delivering a personal and amazing experience. Here's what to expect when you work with me:

INITIAL CONSULTATION

My work is about more than creating great pictures. I strive to create heirloom pieces that become one of the most important items in your home. During the consultation, we will discuss everything you love and what images you want to capture. Then, we will begin planning your look, including wardrobe, hair, and makeup, and I will provide suggestions based on my years of experience regarding what looks good.

DAY OF THE SHOOT

The session takes place at my professionally-equipped studio, complete with an area for hair and makeup, restrooms, an indoor studio, and an outdoor tropical garden. There's no time limit on capturing the perfect photo, but most sessions last half a day. I guide people on the poses that look best and show them digital images along the way to put them at ease. By the end of the session, I will have captured stunning pictures and delivered an amazing experience.

THE FINAL PRODUCT

I invite you to my studio two weeks after your session to reveal the best images. This day is often emotional as people have the opportunity to see how truly beautiful they are. We'll discuss any additional re-touches needed and select the images you want to turn into printed artwork. Choices include matted wall art and display boxes with a collection of matted images that use the finest quality ink to prevent fading, rated to last 100 years. Within 4-6 weeks, you'll rejoin me one last time to unveil your beautiful artwork.

Plan Your Photo Experience

It's easy to get started with Monica:

STEP 1 – PLANNING SESSION

We begin with a complimentary consultation to discuss the images you want to capture and plan your look

STEP 2 – PORTRAIT SESSION

Next, artists create your look (including hair and makeup) followed by a half-day session with multiple wardrobe changes in my studio

STEP 3 – IMAGE REVEAL

Finally, we present you with the top images from your session and select those that will become forever art

“Monica is a FANTASTIC photographer & genuinely the kindest person you’ll ever have the pleasure of meeting! She has blessed my family with countless beautiful photos - works of art – that will be treasured FOREVER.

She has the expertise and wonderful personality to make your photo session an enjoyable one with FABULOUS results! Thank you, Monica, for capturing the BEST time of our lives with our precious baby girl & twins in belly.”

ALANA S & FAMILY

MONICA’S WORK HAS APPEARED IN:

MONICA’S AWARDS:

MONICA’S CHARITABLE WORK:

I always hope my photography makes a difference in my client’s lives and that it gives them as much joy as it does me in creating it.

I also find tremendous joy in giving back to my community through:

Volunteering

Mentoring

Charitable Giving 

It’s been my pleasure to donate more than $20,000 through charitable portrait events, financial contributions, and countless complimentary gift certificates to charitable organizations across Oahu.

Let’s plan your dream photoshoot!

Please fill out the form below or call 808-349-5148 to get started.