12 Best Hawaii Wedding Photographers (plus, be your own photographer)
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase through my links we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Read about our affiliate policies here.
Time to answer one of our most often received questions – Who do we recommend for Hawaii wedding photographers? Great question but let’s also discuss other photo session options. Including photography tips so you don’t need to hire a photographer.
And here are the best locations for a Hawaii Beach Photoshoot: The Best Beaches No One Tells You About.
We love stumbling upon baby announcements, honeymoons, engagements, weddings, holiday cards, or family reunion photo shoots while we are traveling in Hawaii. We are early risers so we always find numerous photoshoots in progress at Lahaina’s Baby Beach during the golden hour. We also have a list of our favorite photo spots across the islands.
We have used two professional photographers during our time living on the islands so we aren’t rookies, but we mostly rely on reviews, newsletter member’s feedback, and research for our recommendations. We list the best Hawaii wedding photographers by price and location below. These Hawaii photographers can work with you on any special occasion you want to capture.
But first, let’s share some tips on skipping a professional photographer entirely.
Planning a trip to Hawaii? We have the best resources to help you plan:
– Hotel or vacation rental, figure out where to stay with our reviews
– The best Hawaii itineraries on the planet will finish your trip planning
– Looking for that romantic tour or activity? We share our favorite tours here
How to Take Good Pictures in Hawaii
There are many reasons not to hire a Hawaii wedding photographer for your vacation. Here are a few reasons to DIY this project:
- You only want one good picture
- You don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for a photographer
- You don’t have time to coordinate your vacation schedule with a photographer
- Uncertainty! You won’t know if the professional pictures are any good until you’re back home
There is no shame in taking your own pictures in Hawaii. Here are some tips (the extent of my photography training) on being your own Hawaii wedding photographer.
Welcome to Jordan’s MasterClass on Hawaii Photography (free of charge).
- Using your phone’s camera is a wonderful option. The user-friendly design and high-resolution images provided by an Android, iPhone, or Samsung are hard to beat.
- Select the best time of day for your photo shoot. The best time to take pictures in Hawaii is the early morning or the evening, aka the golden hour after sunrise and before sunset. The soft lighting is optimal for natural lighting. This is when you find Hawaii wedding photographers on the best beaches of Hawaii with their subjects.
- Use the sun to your advantage. It is best to have the light behind the photographer and directly on the subject. But, if you’re taking pictures of people during a bright sunset, they could be caught squinting or even with their eyes closed. Shifting your angle a little bit can make a world of difference in your final product.
- Avoid shadows blocking your subjects or their faces.
- Horizontal pictures are best. Turn your phone horizontally for the best family shots and flexibility in editing the shot later.
- The rule of thirds works even for family pictures. Use the 3×3 grid on your digital camera or your phone to align your subject on the left or right thirds. When looking at a photograph, the eye naturally starts to the side. For example, have your family be on the left side of the beach with the ocean and background in the other two-thirds of the shot.
- Take numerous shots. Thank goodness for digital cameras. Take as many photos as you can. Experiment with your subject in the center, left side, right side, or move back so your subject is farther away.
- Avoid clever angles or perspectives. Don’t get on one knee, stand on a rock, or hang from a coconut tree to get your shot. Stand in front of your subject and experiment with changing the angle of the camera lens for different perspectives.
- Avoid zooming your phone’s camera. Most phone cameras have a digital zoom so pinching and zooming will lower the resolution. Just move your feet to be closer or farther away.
- Use Portrait Mode. Select portrait mode on your phone’s camera app for those beautiful shots where the subjects are in focus and the background is blurry.
- Filters are your friends! After the photo shoot, experiment with filters to enhance the shot. One doesn’t need Adobe Photoshop to look like a pro. Use the built-in filters and editing options on your camera or download an app to edit the picture. This is when you can experiment with zooming (cutting) for a closer perspective.
The challenge of being your own photographer is that you are not in the shot. You can purchase a simple phone tripod to place on a ledge.
You can also ask a friendly passer-by to take some pictures of your family. You’d be surprised how many amateur photographers are on the beach with you. Our trick is to ask a high school-aged student.
Practice at home during the golden hour to better understand your camera and how you want to take the shot. 10 minutes of taking pictures of your partner in the garden can pay dividends. Especially when you have already selected the perfect location in Hawaii (see below).
More Trip Planning Resources:
- 15 Steps to Plan a Trip to Hawaii
- First Timers Guide to Hawaii
- Your Maui Honeymoon: 10 Unforgettable Activities
Best Hawaii Wedding Photographers
These are a list of Hawaii wedding photographers but they are not restricted to weddings. These photographers will take pictures of any occasion for you.
We made our Hawaii wedding photographer recommendations based on a few critical criteria:
- Pricing transparency: many other great photographers don’t share their pricing, but we wanted this list to give you a good snapshot of what you’re signing up for.
- Quality of portfolios: obviously but, these photographers do their jobs well – no overprocessed, cut-and-paste-looking edits.
- Personability: You want to get to know your photographer through their website and portfolio, it shouldn’t feel like you’re meeting some stranger on a beach in the middle of the ocean…
We are not affiliated with any Hawaii wedding photographer on this list.
While we do list these photographers by island, many will do inter-island travel for a fee.
A few things to note across the islands:
- While all beaches in Hawaii are public, not all of them are open to commercial activity – such as Ka’anapali Beach on Maui.
- Professional photographers are required to get permits for any location they shoot at. Some photographers include permit prices in their packages, while others don’t. Permits are around $20.
- All prices are prior to a 4.17% Hawaii State Tax, and most photographers require anywhere from a 25-50% retainer.
Oahu Wedding Photographers
Michelle Scotti
- Pricing: $350-$700 depending on location
- Time with the photographer: 40 – 60 minutes
- Location: you select a single location from her pre-selected options.
- Number of photos you get: 10
- How you receive photos: digital download
- Restrictions: 1 location only, up to 10 participants, doesn’t offer wedding services.
- Paid add-ons: expedited editing, extra time with the photographer (extra people), and the complete digital collection
- Editing style: light and natural to dramatic and creative, some look like they should be used as movie poster photos
- Why we like her: she has a very straightforward and convenient online booking process. Plus looking through her website you can get a great idea of how each location’s photos will turn out. She keeps it really simple while still accommodating proposals, engagement, honeymoon, maternity, family, and couples photos.
- How to book: contact Michelle here
Oahu Pro Photography (Brett)
- Pricing: $400-$1,600 depending on the package
- Time with photographer: 30 minutes – 3 hours (3 hour sessions can be broken into 2 separate sessions)
- Wedding info: $750-$4,000 for 1-8 hours
- Location: depending on the package you choose, he has a few pre-selected options or you can pick anywhere on the island.
- Number of photos you get: ALL photos, within just days of the photo shoot, plus print credit is baked into the price.
- How you receive photos: digital download
- Restrictions: photo resolution is optimized for 5×7
- Paid add-ons: enlarging photo resolution for print
- Editing style: light and minimal, very high quality without looking excessively edited.
- Why we like him: he has the fastest turnaround time we’ve found. You probably won’t even make it off the island before you have the photos in your inbox. Families love how well he works with kiddos, effortlessly capturing fantastic photos of the squirmiest little ones. He does an obviously fantastic job of making his clients comfortable and at ease, none of his photos look too posed. Plus he offers mini-sessions as a more affordable option.
- How to book: contact Brett here
Right Frame (Ania & Radek)
- Pricing: $600-$1,100
- Time with photographer: 1-4 hours
- Wedding info: $750-$5,000 (17 wedding packages available) for 1-10 hours
- Location: location of your choice or take their input, multiple locations/outfit changes
- Number of photos you get: 50+ depending on package
- How you receive photos: electronic or usb depending on package
- Paid add-ons: expedited editing, ordering prints
- Editing style: bright, natural, vibrant
- Why we like them: they offer a ton of flexibility and options so you can pick your place and package if you know exactly what you want or have them help you decide what options will be best for the outcome you’re looking for.
- How to book: contact Ania & Radek here
Maui Wedding Photographers
Love & Water (Shawn & Adam) + other islands
- Pricing: $750-$1,500
- Time with the photographer: 30-75 minutes
- Wedding info: $1,800-$4,500 for 2-6 hours
- Location: by client request, most shoots take place in Wailea
- Number of photos you get: 15+ depending on the package
- How you receive photos: digital download
- Paid add-ons: entire gallery, expedited editing, some packages have travel fees if shooting in West Maui
- Editing style: natural, light, pink sunrise hues
- Why we like them: they have a signature style that sets them apart with completely natural, pinkish hues that really bring out the island feel that works beautifully with sunrises and sunsets and screams Maui.
- How to book: contact Shawn & Adam here
Wilde Sparrow (Aislinn + team) + other islands
- Pricing: $700-$1,400
- Time with the photographer: 25-75 minutes
- Location: your choice in Kihei, Wailea, or Lahaina.
- Number of photos you get: 10+ depending on the package
- How you receive photos: digital download
- Paid add-ons: Gallery upgrade, fresh flower crown, custom photo album
- Editing style: bright, minimal
- Why we like them: Aislinn was born and raised in Hawaii and has built her business around a specific session flow designed to put you at ease. She curated a team of professionals and trained them in her style so she could cast a wider net and not carry the full load of her growing business.
- How to book: contact them here
Mariah Milan
- Pricing: $275-$1,700
- Time with the photographer: 10-90 minutes
- Wedding info: $1,650-$3,200+ for 2-4+ hours
- Location: pre-selected location for mini sessions, otherwise your choice, and they have a list of beaches they recommend
- Number of photos you get: 5 to the entire collection depending on the package
- How you receive photos: online gallery
- Editing style: natural, baby blue hues, bright
- Why we love them: the photos are phenomenal, and they have options for every budget. Mariah and her team are LGBTQ+ friendly and have experience with individuals on the spectrum, making their services more accessible.
- How to book: contact Mariah here
Big Island Wedding Photographers
Shelly Lynn (Shelly & Max)
- Pricing: $600-$1,000
- Time with the photographer: 30-60 minutes
- Wedding info: Contact them, they offer elopement, wedding, and vow renewal photography and videography
- Location: Unspecified, let them know if you have a preference during booking.
- Number of photos you get: 25-75+
- How you receive photos: online gallery
- Paid add-ons: expedited editing
- Editing style: natural, soft, bright
- Why we love them: they do a lot of things right, but especially if you’re wanting to have a Big Island wedding, Shelly was previously a wedding planner, so she can help with referrals for every aspect of your big day. LGBTQ+ friendly.
- How to book: contact Shelly & Max here
Sam Guerpo
- Pricing: $600-$1,000
- Time with the photographer: 30-60 minutes
- Location: client choice, with assistance choosing if you’d like
- Number of photos you get: 40-125+
- How you receive photos: online gallery
- Paid add-ons: additional people beyond what your package includes
- Editing style: clean, vibrant, natural
- Why we like her: she really delivers quality simply. She doesn’t over-edit, and her process is very transparent from pricing and booking to what to expect during your session with her.
- How to book: contact Sam here
Ann Ferguson
- Pricing: $600-$1,200
- Time with the photographer: 25-70 minutes
- Wedding info: $2,000+ elopements, $4,000+ weddings
- Location: by client request with input from Ann
- Number of photos you get: 25-100 depending on the package
- How you receive photos: online gallery
- Paid add-ons: Haku Lei $75, 10×10 Layflat Photobook $300
- Editing style: natural, light, clarity focused
- Why we like her: authenticity is a driving factor in her style, she is far more interested in encapsulating moments than chasing perfection, which actually makes her images flawless. LGBTQ+ friendly, and makes her services more accessible by offering payment plans.
- How to book: contact Ann here
Kauai Wedding Photographers
Kaui Photo + Video (Jordan & Emma)
- Pricing: $495+
- Time with the photographer: 45+ minutes
- Wedding info: contact for pricing, limited availability
- Location: client choice, photographer input as desired
- Number of photos you get: entire collection, at least 50+
- How you receive photos: online gallery
- Editing style: light, earthy, natural
- Why we like them: Jordan and Emma offer a lot of value. You’ll be hard pressed to find another photographer that offers a comparable time/price combo while getting all of your photos. Jordan is a Kauai native who has studied under famous photographers, so you are in fantastic hands.
- How to book: contact them here
Bre Rae
- Pricing: $600+
- Time with the photographer: 30 minutes – 3 hours
- Wedding info: $3,200+ for 4+ hours
- Location: Client choice with guidance from Bre as needed
- Number of photos you get: entire collection
- How you receive photos: online gallery
- Restrictions: Bre specializes in couples and wedding photography and is not accepting family photo sessions at the moment.
- Editing style: warm, bright, clean
- Why we like her: Bre makes the process easy, especially for wedding planning as she has vendor recommendations. She is based on the Big Island, but most of her packages include inter-island travel which is hard to come by. LGBTQ+ friendly.
- How to book: contact Bre here
Mami Wyckoff
- Pricing: $850+
- Time with the photographer: 1 hour for couples, tailored to family & weddings based on need
- Wedding info: contact for details
- Location: client choice
- Number of photos you get: 50+
- How you receive photos: digital download
- Editing style: bright, natural
- Why we like her: Mami has a talent for setting her clients at ease and her creativity is showcased through her editing style. Most of her photos are cleanly edited to capture the subject and moment, but she also has a vintage flair that comes out beautifully.
- How to book: contact Mami here
If you’re looking for somewhere romantic to stay on Kauai, check out The 7 Best Kauai Hotels for Couples.
We hope this list of Hawaii wedding photographers helps with your special occasion. When you aren’t getting your photograph taken, we will keep you busy with our Wayfinder Itineraries. The download-and-go itineraries will finish your trip planning!