Plan Your Shoot

Sunrise vs Sunset Photoshoots on Maui

Both are pure Maui magic. Here’s how a sunrise session and a sunset session really differ, from the light and the wind to the crowds, start times and beaches, with real examples from our own sessions.

Couple sitting on lava rocks at Polo Beach, Maui, as the sun sets on the horizon behind them

Same Beach, Two Looks

These are real Pine & Palm sessions on the same beaches, one in the morning and one in the evening.

Polo Beach

Lava rocks, palm trees and a sandy shore in Wailea. Lovely at sunrise or sunset.

Three kids sitting on the sand at Polo Beach, Maui, a girl in a blue tulle dress, a boy in a white shirt and a girl in a green tulle dress, with palm trees, a green hedge and lava rocks behind them under a warm evening sky — Sunset

Poʻolenalena Beach

One of our Wailea favorites, beautiful at sunrise or sunset.

Family of four on the sand at Poʻolenalena Beach, Maui, with the ocean, lava rocks and palms behind them in warm sunset light — Sunset

Launiupoko Beach Park

One of the best sunset spots in the Lahaina and Kāʻanapali area.

Family of four standing on the big boulders at Launiupoko Beach Park, Maui, with tall palms behind them glowing under a golden evening sky — Sunset

Kapalua Bay

Palm trees, rocks and a sandy shore in Kapalua. Beautiful at sunrise or sunset.

Family of five in white and blue throwing shakas on the sand at Kapalua Bay, Maui, with the ocean and the palm-lined point behind them in warm late-afternoon sunset light — Sunset

Light, Wind & Crowds

Sunrise

The light

Soft light from the rising sun shows the setting’s true colors. Lighting stays soft and even through your whole session, and the morning sun creates crisp, airy images perfect for the wall at home. Mornings are generally cooler and calmer.

Wind & weather

We don’t usually have to worry about Maui’s trade winds in the morning, the ocean is still calm, and the weather is at its most predictable. As the day heats up, the winds pick up.

Crowds

Beaches and parking areas are much less crowded in the morning. Sometimes we even have the whole beach to ourselves!

Sunset

The light

A Maui sunset brings out more of the gold and pastel tones from the setting sun and the volcanic haze (vog) on the horizon from the Big Island. The clouds and sky change every day, so each sunset is unique.

Wind & weather

Winds are harder to predict but tend to die down closer to sunset. It’s a bit more of a gamble weather-wise, but when it all comes together, it’s pure magic.

Crowds

Sunset is popular at the beach, so there may be more people and other photographers to work around. With a Pine & Palm photographer, crowds are rarely a problem!

Whatever the time, we watch Maui’s weather closely. See how we handle Maui weather.

When Does My Session Start?

Session times follow the sun, so they shift through the year. We set them from the actual sunrise and sunset times on Maui for your date:

Sunrise sessions start at the first quarter hour after sunrise, and never before 6:00 AM.
Sunset sessions are timed to end right as the sun goes down (on the quarter hour, no more than 5 minutes after sunset). A longer session simply starts earlier.

The times on our booking calendar are already worked out for every date, so you just pick one. Here are a few examples of scheduling throughout the year:

Example sunrise start times and sunset session times by month
Mid-month	Sunrise start	30-min sunset	60-min sunset	90-min sunset
December	7:00 AM	5:15–5:45 PM	4:45–5:45 PM	4:15–5:45 PM
March	6:45 AM	6:00–6:30 PM	5:30–6:30 PM	5:00–6:30 PM
June	6:00 AM	6:30–7:00 PM	6:00–7:00 PM	5:30–7:00 PM
September	6:15 AM	6:00–6:30 PM	5:30–6:30 PM	5:00–6:30 PM

Hawaiʻi time. Times change a little through each month; your exact time shows when you book.

Visiting from the Mainland?

Sunrise is a really good idea for a lot of families. If you’re coming from the West Coast or further, the time difference means you’ll probably wake up early very easily, sometimes so early that it feels like an inconvenience until you get used to island time.

If you can, we suggest booking your sunrise session toward the beginning of your stay. You’ll look your best for your photos, before any sunburn, and since your body clock hasn’t adjusted yet, the early morning session won’t feel like an early morning at all. It will feel more like a late-morning or midday session!

Bringing Little Ones?

Kids are always welcome, at sunrise or sunset. Younger kids usually need some time to settle in, so we recommend a longer session for families with young children.

Which Should I Choose?

Sunrise and sunset sessions compared
Topic	Sunrise	Sunset
Light	Soft and even, truer to tone with natural, true-to-life color	Gold and pastel tones, a different sky every day
Wind	Generally calmer, ocean still calm	Harder to predict, tends to die down near sunset
Temperature	Generally cooler	Warmer than mornings
Weather	Most predictable	A bit more of a gamble
Crowds	Much less crowded	Busier, with other photographers around
Timing	Starts just after sunrise, never before 6:00 AM	Ends right at sunset
Mini price	$300 + tax	$325 + tax
Only at this time	Wahikuli, Kuʻau Cove, Kanaha	Mokapu, Ulua

Lean toward sunrise if you’d love calm wind, cooler air, soft true-to-life color and a quieter beach.

Lean toward sunset if you’re dreaming of golden skies and iconic Maui sunset photos, but don’t mind gambling on the weather and crowds.

Back to What to Expect

Ready When the Sun Is.

Book your session online, or send us a quick question and we’ll help you plan. We normally reply within 24 hours, Monday to Friday.

Book a Session Ask a Question