Hula Portraits of You?

I offer private commissioned hula dancing portraits. The style is like those you see for sale on this website (Men of Hula & Women of Hula pages) Timewise I like to plan for a few of these portraits each year. It is important to me that the individual respects the culture and can dance hula at least on an intermediate level.

When hired to create your hula portrait, my commitment is quite large. My job begins by ensuring that I have the support of your hula teacher. Because of my long-standing track record, there is rarely a concern, and this is more of a protocol matter.

Next, my subject and I need to discuss the preferred hula attire. Typically, I am the one honored to enter the forest to gather appropriate adornments for the dancer to wear – Palapalai, Lauaʻe, Ti, and other plants familiar to hula dancers. The dancer may join me, (and we can learn from eachother) as we again follow proper protocol while gathering greens. As my Kumu Charles Kaʻupu taught me, we listen to the forest, tread lightly and pick sparingly, with permission.

The next step is to make the leis and skirt. I often work together with the dancer on this. Generally this will take half a day.

We decide whether to create the images in the mountains, in ʻIao Valley, or on a beach. By far, the beach is the most common choice, because of the nice, soft, directional lighting during the final hour of sunset. I prefer to shoot at the beach as well, because of the soft, uncluttered background and open space for the dancer to move.

I prefer that the dancer has several verses of a kahiko hula dance memorized. We like to select the verse with the most dramatic movements and repeat that verse several times as I shoot away with my camera. It is wonderful ( but not at all necessary) if the Kumu Hula or Alakaʻi can join us and play the rhythm on the ipuheke or pahu drum. A hula shoot is fun but really hard work at the same time. We plan for a total of two hours at the beach, which includes time to carry gear to the location, change outfits, and warm up. The actual shooting time is an hour or so.

My fee for this service is $1895. Included is:

• Meeting & planning
• Gathering of costume “greens” and lei-making
• Ti leaf skirt making
• Photography session
• Post-shoot image editing
• Photoshop creative editing of top three selected images
• DVD Disc or Downloadable folder of all images captured
• One 20×24-inch finished stretched canvas or 16×20 print on acid-free watercolor paper, ready to frame in a 20×24 inch Koa Veneer frame – either selection is shipped to you and ready to hang as artwork.

Note: Additional prints may be purchased. Framing is available. The entire process is a fun and memorable experience. Email me for inquiries: randy@randyjaybraun.com.