raised on maui. inspired by hawaii.
I’m a storyteller at heart. My photos are about preserving the full feeling of your day, from the little details, happy tears, hugs and laughter to the atmosphere, scenery and beauty of being in Hawaii. My style is refined and natural, with a documentary approach that allows real moments to unfold. During portraits, I provide thoughtful direction to create images that feel playful, romantic and editorial while still feeling like you.
I believe everyone has a story to tell, an incredible adventure, something that makes them unique and special and I am on a quest to bring that story to life.
I grew up here on the beautiful island of Maui, where I now live with my longtime boyfriend and our sweet Yorkie, Max. My mom was an artist, and I was introduced to photography at a young age. When my auntie gave me my first camera at eight years old, a point-and-shoot 35mm film camera, I was hooked. I photographed everything, but I especially loved photographing my friends and people while travelling.
Our time together will be joyful, playful, and laid back.
Aloha, I’m Tara
I will gently guide you, most of our couples need direction to create natural candid moments.
We don’t take ourselves too seriously, and really enjoy our time together for the best memories, which make the best photos. I like to capture you naturally and genuinely so encourage you to interact with one another. Most of our couples need direction and I will give you direction and movements to do throughout our time together. I also love to hear your ideas, so feel free to share if you are looking for something specific.
I am also the vice president of the Maui Wedding and Event Association which is a non-profit organization set up to promote and protect the wedding and event industry on Maui while ensuring we operate with Aloha and respect toward our Maui community.
xx,
TaraLee Murphy
Proudly featured in:
“Tara’s team was INCREDIBLE! I cannot recommend them enough” - Victoria W.
associate photographer team
I have a small team of amazing associate photographers who photograph under my brand. They are talented professionals with years of experience capturing weddings, elopements, couples portraits, family sessions, and more. Each associate is handpicked for their incredible talent, kind personality, and ability to create a relaxed, enjoyable photography experience, just like what you see in my portfolio. My associate photographers focus on elopements and couples portraits when I'm not available.
While your photographer may be different, the heart and soul behind every photo remains the same. All images are carefully edited in-house to maintain my signature look and feel you’ve fallen in love with- natural, refined, and full of emotion..
Ask about having one of my talented associate photographers capture your day
“Tara is SO incredibly talented and an absolute JOY to work with!!! We absolutely loved getting to meet her during our engagement photos which was our first photoshoot ever, and we were so thrilled with how those turned out that we were even more excited to see the outcome of our wedding photos. My goodness they are EVERYTHING WE WANTED AND MORE!!!”
- Lindsay G.
“Tara and her team were absolutely incredible! They were professional, prompt, communicated well, and created stunning work. We wanted to focus on being present with our guests with minimal time spent posing for photos, etc. She did a fantastic job getting information ahead of time/arranging group photos efficiently/allowing us to live in the moment of the day. I would 1000% use her again"
-Margeaux D.
“Tara and her team are absolutely INCREDIBLE at what they do! After searching around for a while to find the best wedding photographer on Maui, I am positive that we made the right decision in choosing Tara to capture our special day. From beginning to end, our experience was PERFECT. We felt so relaxed and comfortable throughout all the photos, thanks to Tara. ”
- Mackenzie H.
Our core values
Aloha
Aloha is at the heart of everything we do. Rooted in kindness, connection, and deep respect for the land, people, and culture of Hawaii, we strive to embody Aloha in every interaction and create an experience that feels meaningful, grounded, and deeply connected.
Professionalism
From first inquiry to final delivery, we lead with integrity, clarity, and care. Our process is seamless, thoughtful, and guided by years of experience so you feel confident, supported, and completely at ease every step of the way.
Excellence
We believe your wedding or elopement deserves nothing less than extraordinary. Every detail is approached with creativity, intention, and a commitment to quality, so your story is told in a way that’s timeless, elegant, and uniquely you.
