Long Overdue Praise for Joseph Esser and His Incredible Team This review is long overdue for Joseph Esser and his phenomenal team of photographers and videographers. If you're searching for a wedding photographer and videographer in Hawaii, look no further -- Joseph and his team are truly among the best. From the very beginning, I was impressed by Joseph's professionalism, warmth, and incredible attention to detail. In the months leading up to the wedding, he collaborated closely with my amazing wedding planners, Fred and Kate, to review the timeline and ensure everything was aligned. That preparation paid off -- the entire day ran smoothly and stress-free, allowing me to fully enjoy every moment. Joseph and his team arrived punctually and were ready to capture the magic from start to finish. They didn't just take photos -- they preserved moments. Looking back at the images and videos now, I'm filled with joy reliving those memories with my husband. What truly sets Joseph apart is how much he cares. His energy and positive attitude were infectious -- he had us laughing all day, which naturally translated into joyful, candid photos full of smiles. Beyond his personality, it was his instinct and thoughtfulness that left a lasting impression. For example, during our grand reception entrance, we used a money gun that left fake bills scattered all over the dance floor. Before our first dance began, Joseph got down on his knees and cleared the floor himself -- not something you'd expect from your lead photographer, but it speaks volumes about his commitment to the perfect shot and a smooth experience. Similarly, during the ceremony, when my wedding train and cape needed adjusting, Joseph didn't hesitate or wait for a bridesmaid -- he stepped in and fixed it himself to ensure everything looked flawless. These small, meaningful actions showed just how much he truly cares about his clients and the quality of his work. Joseph and his team worked tirelessly for nine hours, and the final results were nothing short of spectacular. Every guest who's seen our photos and video has commented on how stunning they are. We also opted for a 10-minute wedding highlight video -- and I highly recommend it! The timing of the music, lyrics, and our vows were perfectly matched with the visuals. The attention to detail, from the transitions to even the placement of our names on the Cover page -- Everything was intentional, thoughtful, and beautifully executed. As someone who is very detail-oriented, I was blown away by how aligned Joseph and his team were with my vision. Their passion for what they do shines through in every frame. They don't just document a wedding -- they tell a story. Thank you, Joseph, for being such an integral part of our day and for capturing it so perfectly. You and your team are truly the best -- mahalo from the bottom of our hearts! read more

TL;DR: Joseph is a wonderful person and a stellar photographer with an eye for capturing the essence of his couples and the true magic of the day! He and his photo/video team were so much fun, and you won't regret getting a chance to work with them! The Long Story: Our wedding planner recommended Joseph after my now-husband and I told her how photography/videography were among our top priorities for our big day. During our first call with Joseph, we immediately sensed that he'd be a great fit. He was delightful and easy to talk with, and his extensive knowledge, thoroughness, and patience in walking us through our many questions made us realize we'd be in the hands of a true professional. So after reviewing his gorgeous portfolio of wedding photography, we ended up booking a 10 hour photo/video package (which included an engagement shoot and photo booth as add-ons). Our engagement shoot (which we highly recommend doing with Joseph before your wedding day so you can get to know him and get used to being photographed) quickly solidified our opinion of him as both an excellent photographer and an awesome person overall! He woke up bright and early to meet us for sunrise and even went above and beyond by helping me find someone willing to do my hair and makeup at the last minute, which I was incredibly grateful for. The session started out with some rain, but Joseph was super chill and suggested we wait and see what happens. Sure enough, the rain clouds parted, treating us to a gorgeous sunrise. My husband and I are super awkward when it comes to photos, but Joseph made us feel so at ease with his fun, infectious personality and his thoughtful approach to directing us. Funnily enough, this engagement rain experience repeated itself on our wedding day, when a seasonably late Kona low was pouring rain all over the island during the week of the wedding and into the big day itself. Despite the gloom of both the weather and the bummed out bride (aka me), Joseph and his team brought bright, positive vibes from the get-go. They showed incredible care and flexibility given the circumstances and pivoted seamlessly when the weather prevented us from doing our first look at our originally planned location. When we were running ahead of schedule, Joseph and his main videographer, Jimi, even made sure to get extra photos/videos of us in some cool locations nearby. And when the moment of truth came for our actual wedding? Pure magic--no rain for the ceremony and a stunning sunset! Joseph and his team did an incredible job at capturing just how unique that day was, and we're grateful to have had them there by our sides throughout. Thank you, Joseph and team, for capturing such wonderful memories for us! P.S. Check out Joseph's wedding podcast, Unveiling Paradise! We were featured on Episode 69, and in that episode, Joseph does a wonderful job breaking down how photography is handled when weather threatens your big day :) read more

Joseph Esser Photo + Video - Our engagement shoot at Lanikai! - Event Photography Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We really did not know Joseph besides his brief appearances on the Uncovering Paradise podcast. Our planner/aunty Tessa Gomes recommended we give him an audition, so my fiance and I hired Joseph for our engagement shoot.  Needless to say we were pleasantly surprised by how well we got along.  Joseph made the whole process alot of fun and the photos came out amazing, which made hiring him for our wedding easy.  We had Joseph for 10 hours, photo and video on our wedding day.  From beginning to end, Joseph and his team worked tirelessly to capture some really memorable moments for my fiance and I. We also got some amazing sunset photos.  We high recommend using Joseph, you will not be disappointed. read more

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Joseph was the best decision we've made for our wedding! He did an amazing job! He and his crew were very kind, and genuinely friendly that makes it easy to smile for the camera. We loved every single pictures, and video. We can't thank you enough for your hard work! You made our wedding memorable one. We highly highly recommend him 100% :)!! Thank you so much Joseph and his crew! read more

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We had Joseph do our wedding (with photobooth), as well as engagement shots. Overall, he was amazing, the engagement shots were great and the photobooth was an awesome addition to our wedding. The wedding photo/videography was also very professional and got us a ton of beautiful, and sometimes epic, pictures. Joseph even provided us with a "preview" of a handful of images the **day after** our wedding! The only thing I would note, is that you should pay attention to and clarify what's included in the package you pick. We opted for one of the simpler photo/video packages, which was great for photos, but only included a short highlight video despite the videographer filming the entire wedding. Luckily, Joseph was gracious enough to provide the raw video footage to us so we could have full recordings of the ceremony, speeches, etc. read more

Genuine. Talented. Thoughtful. Joyful. FUN. Thorough. Patient. Resourceful. Joseph is INCREDIBLE! My husband and I hired him early into our wedding planning process and he was the best! Joseph and his team are incredibly kind, thoughtful, professional, funny, and truly masters of their craft. We got married at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and were assigned many of our vendors but luckily we got to choose our photographer (among others). Our wedding planner, Tessa Gomes of Fred + Kate Events, hosts the Unveiling Paradise podcast with Joseph so after listening to an episode and checking out his work (and Tessa's recommendation!), we reached out to Joseph. Off the bat, he was approachable and friendly which put us at ease and his great sense of humor made us feel very heard. 10 months later on our wedding day, we felt the same way and so much more! Joseph has an incredible attention to detail (he detangled two pieces of my jewelry in record time!), a contagious and joyful energy, and his style captures the beauty of the moment and location. I put together a pretty aggressive photo shot list and Joseph handled it like a true professional while keeping everyone laughing AND we stayed on time! He captured every last detail (and there were *so* many) with such a positive attitude and made us feel so comfortable. My husband and I have been in and to many weddings and Joseph truly stands out as one of our favorite photographers. We highly recommend hiring Joseph for whatever your photography needs are! read more

Trying to plan a wedding during COVID was nearly impossible, but Joseph was so accommodating with all the rescheduling and changes we had to make given the circumstances. We were finally able to have our wedding ceremony and Joseph did our photography. He was friendly and upbeat. He gave direction well and knew what he was doing. He was great with trying to get the kids to look/smile at the camera too! He edited our pictures and emailed us the link just two days after our ceremony! The pictures turned out amazing! I'm so happy he was able to be part of our special day! I would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a photographer. I'm hoping we can use him again in the future for another special event. read more

I can't recommend Joseph and his team enough!!!! For all brides searching for the best team to capture your wedding day, trust me when I say that this. is. the. team. I had done an engagement shoot with Joseph and he was so kind and made us feel super comfortable. My fiancé (now husband), absolutely hates taking pictures but Joseph made the mood light and funny so that my fiancé didn't feel so awkward in front of the camera. We also did an underwater photoshoot and the pictures came out amaaazing even though the water condition wasn't the greatest...and poor Joseph got cut up on some coral, but he was a trooper! That didn't stop him from getting the shot hahaha. And come wedding day, Joseph and his team comes into our suite and they went to work instantly. We had 2 photographers and 2 videographers (all were amazing) and they just spread out and started shooting. I didn't have to worry about anything. My fiancé was pretty nervous but the photographer who was paired with him, made sure he was comfortable with everything and he really appreciated that. The whole crew were all super sweet, loving, caring, and talented people. They literally captured every single moment and made sure to get specific poses that I wanted. They even stayed late to capture dancing shots after all our reception events were finished. I'm so so so grateful for Joseph and his team. They really were the dream team and I can't express my gratitude enough on how great of a job they all did, and how kind they were to us. You could tell they were all passionate at what they do and it really showed. I give my love and thanks to them!!! read more

Like all the other reviews, we absolutely loved working with Joseph and his staff. He was truly a joy to work with, because he was professional and made us feel comfortable in front of the camera. What more could you ask for?! Oh yeah, he also took some beautiful pictures, was patient with my family who had trouble following directions at times, and kept us on time with our schedule. He was very responsive to any questions we had and gave us some hints and recommendations for other vendors and things we needed for the wedding. Last year when we were reserving our photographer, he was the first vendor we booked, because my now husband and I knew that our photographer would be the most important vendor we'd have. Luckily, we had Joseph. When going to the bridal expos, we learned the types of photographers that we wanted and also did not want. This is a tip I have for any couple--go to the bridal expo even if you don't book anything. Anyways, from those experiences, we knew that Joseph was a match the moment we met him. We actually found him on Yelp and met him in Ward. He made us feel comfortable from the start and gave us a wealth of tips despite not officially working with him yet. We decided to go with videography as well, because I was online seeing people who regretted not getting videography. Joseph had a July deal where we could get a same day edit or a photo booth included with our photography and videography package. We ended up doing the same day edit. To our surprise, engagement photos were also included. He made us feel comfortable and took some nice pictures. He also didn't mind getting a little wet when he almost slid into a stream to get a picture. Anyways, on the day of the wedding, Joseph and his crew were professional, made our families and friends feel comfortable in front of the camera as well, and jammed out a beautiful video to show our guests for the same day edit. Many of our guests said the video made them cry. They included the set up of a screen and were very efficient with the set up and take down of the screen. Although we're still waiting for our pictures since we just got married recently, we are very happy with Joseph and his crew and know he won't disappoint. I highly recommend Joseph and his crew for weddings. read more

When we were in Hawaii, I proposed to my fiancé and surprised her with Joseph photographing the whole event! He was very accommodating and helped find a good spot for it all to happen during the time of year we went. The photos turned out wonderfully as well and my fiancé claims she did not cry when I proposed but i have photo evidence now stating otherwise. Cheers! read more

Brides and grooms, choose your photographer wisely. On your wedding day the person you will inevitably spend the most time with is NOT your spouse, but your photographer. Find someone who will capture the moments you won't even notice on your wedding day, but will cherish afterwards. Make sure your photographer is someone who works fast and does not intrude on private moments or slow down your busy timeline. So choose well and choose early. And choose Joseph. I can gladly recommend Joseph on every front: He's professional, friendly, punctual (actually he arrived at least an hour earlier than he promised and stayed far later than he needed to), flexible, dependable, affordable, and he takes absolutely phenomenal photos. He always responded to emails in less than 24 hours. He was kind enough to edit and send a few dozen photos for a special event just 2 days after our wedding. He brought in two assistants, even though we could only afford one. He was even kind enough to laugh at the awkward, mildly dirty jokes that my husband and I kept cracking. In the end, the proof is in the photos (get it?). The lighting, angles, color, and moments that he captured are breathtaking. Hiring Joseph was one of the best wedding decisions I made. read more

Joseph Esser Photo + Video - We felt kind of lame asking for the typical jumping-in-the-air shot, but Joseph was very encouraging. - Event Photography Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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If we could provide more stars to this review, we would! My husband and I found Joseph Esser at one of the Wedding Expo events. From the minute we started talking, we felt an immediate connection with Joseph! He understood what we were looking for in a photographer! Throughout the time leading up to our wedding day communication was easy with Joseph and Kelli. Selecting photo booth picture layout, background, props, and prints was simple and easy to do online. The day of was a very early morning for us and they were so professional and although you might think that having strangers in your hotel room taking pictures if you as you get ready is a bit invasive, they were awesome!!!! We felt like they were friends. They spent the entire day with us and truly captured every aspect of our wedding day from start to finish. Joseph, Keoni, and the rest of the team captured everything that we had asked for and more! We asked for specific moments to be captured. They went above and beyond our expectations. By the end of our wedding we gained new family members. Keala and I cannot thank you enough for everything that you did to make our day memorable! Thank you for your time, vision, and professionalism! read more

If you truly love your fiancé, you will hire Joseph Esser! My husband and I chose an outdoor wedding ceremony at Magic Island. And of course, I was late to my own wedding. But when I arrived, I was incredibly relieved... There was Joseph, extremely on time, in his Esser Photography uniform taking shots of my flowers, location, family, friends, and scenery! He is quick to recognize and capture a beautiful moment even when no one is looking at the camera! Before we started our ceremony, he quickly rearranged us so that the sunlight light would be favorable, Diamond Head would be just perfect behind us, and of course the gentle Hawaiian trades blowing my hair back just right! In short, Joseph has the experience to know how to shoot in outdoor environments to capture you in your best light! He can customize package deals, is straightforward with payments, responds via email, and has great communication on what your wedding expectations can be regarding time scheduling, lighting, and location. Following our wedding, it took about 3 weeks to post the images on Pictage. And about 4 weeks to receive my CD of images (which was impeccably packaged better than my own wedding invitations)! Joseph uses Pictage (although a little pricey) because they are the BEST at printing high quality photos in true color, clarity, and on paper that won't discolor or degrade if properly taken care of. Communication from Pictage was great, photos arrived earlier than expected, and wrapped beautifully in a black box and tissue. These are by farthest, the most beautiful images I own to date! I would hire Joseph again in a heartbeat and am thinking of making professional family photos with him an annual thing! read more

Joseph Esser Photo + Video - If you truly love someone, make sure Joseph Esser is there to capture it in a photo! (Tennile + Chad Wedding at Magic Island) - Event Photography Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Joseph Esser is absolutely wonderful! Our wedding was this past July at Turtle Bay and Joseph did a phenomenal job! My husband and I are huge dorks who are not at all comfortable in front of the camera, but from the moment I met Joseph, I felt at ease. He has such a warm and genuinely friendly personality that makes it easy to smile for the camera. We first found Joseph from his blog (www.esserphotographyblog.com) and really enjoyed the creativity and dedication that is apparent in every one of his photos. From the moment we saw just one of his weddings, we knew he was the guy for us. My husband contacted Joseph regarding availability as well as cost and he responded in such a timely manner with extreme professionalism. He was always happy to answer any questions and even worked with image creations to create a package that worked for our budget. Having him was so important to us that we actually ended up booking Joseph before any other vendor, even before I found a wedding dress! Fast forward to our wedding day. He arrived early with his second shooter Ryan and they were both so enthusiastic that you'd swear they were watching a friend get married. It's clear that Joseph is a seasoned photographer in how efficiently and fluently he can set up shots and transition between them, but at the same time he had the giddiness of someone shooting their very first gig. It's obvious that every job is special and unique to him. The entire day him and Ryan were everywhere, but nowhere all at once; we could always find them if we looked, but they were so unobtrusive. We thoroughly enjoyed having them at our wedding and were even able to convince Ryan to play some Jumbo Jenga with our groomsman (Ryan won!)! Eight short weeks later we received our pictures! All 1500+ of them :) Now the pictures: They are absolutely stunning! We can't stop looking at them! Joseph and Ryan were somehow able to capture everything that we could have ever possibly wanted without us even asking! Joseph combines both traditional portrait shots with documentary/candid photos resulting in images that are just so unique and artistic! It's crazy how well the photos make me, my husband, and our guests look, and trust me, I am in no way a photogenic person. I usually hate the way I look in pictures, but Joseph made me and my husband look so good! I don't think I've ever looked as good in my life as I do in my wedding pictures! They are just absolutely mind blowing! Joseph you are incredible!! read more

Joseph Esser Photo + Video - Event Photography Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Choosing Joseph Esser to be our wedding photographer was definitely one of the best planning decisions we made! From the day we contacted him to our wedding day, he was always so patient and kind to us. He responded to all of our questions promptly and never made us feel like we were asking stupid questions (even though we probably were, ha). On the day of our wedding, he showed up on time and was so nice to all of our family, friends, and other vendors. Even though I was running 30-45 minutes behind schedule (my florist completely messed up my bouquet and my mom literally had to make me a new bouquet), Joseph was super understanding and kept reassuring me not to worry. Despite the delay, he made sure to get all the photos that I had on my shot list without making us feel rushed. It was also a hot day and he made every effort to keep us in the shade for the photos so we wouldn't be squinting or sweating. Everyone in our wedding party told us that our photographer was awesome and made them feel comfortable, even those who tend to be camera-shy. Less than a month after our wedding, Joseph emailed us to say that our photos were ready! I had heard from other married friends that their photographers took 2-3 months, so this quick turnaround was such a pleasant surprise! Our photos are all SO beautiful. We did not have a fancy wedding, but Joseph made our wedding look like it belonged in a magazine. I am tremendously grateful to have beautiful photos to keep for the rest of our lives. Joseph is just a super talented, genuinely nice guy who wants to make sure your day is stress-free and that you have gorgeous photos to remember it. Hire him for your wedding - you won't regret it. Thank you so much for everything, Joseph!!! read more

The best there is. I have worked with Joseph and his team on multiple occasions and have been thrilled with the results every time. From family sessions to our wedding day (the original date AND the Covid postponed date), we could not have wanted more. We are so incredibly grateful to have such amazing photos and videos to remember these special moments. We just received our wedding photo album and were amazed all over again! The entire group was friendly, professional, timely and easy to work with. I really cannot recommend Joseph enough. read more

We first hired Joseph more than 3 years ago extremely last minute (a day or 2 before I needed to shoot) for a family photo shoot while on vacation. We were so appreciative of his quick response and clear communication. He secured a date with us immediately even though he was leaving on a personal trip to Japan later after the shoot! We just took another vacation to Oahu and the first thing I did was email Joseph to book another session with him. Not only does Joseph deliver amazing photographs but he is extremely easy to work with and talk to. We are not the most comfortable family in front of the camera but Joseph made it fun and easy. He knows how to work with kids and make them laugh too. He picks the most beautiful places to shoot near his clients even though they are not the most convenient locations for him. I highly recommend Joseph! read more

Joseph is simply the best!! I fell in love with his photos... but he is absolutely the person You would want for your wedding.... there is such a great vibe around him... he kept me calm n light... he kept us in time easing the stress!! He even put all the groomsmans' boutonnières on!!! He simply is the BEST!!! I don't know if my original review went through.... but that was my review immediately after the wedding.... n I am so compelled to write another review!! 1 n a half years later!!! N all I can say is joseph esser n his team really ARE the best!!! It's been over a year... n I haven't had time to put my album together... I couldn't pick the pictures because they were all so great! N I have been super busy with life...kelly was able to choose the pics to make a perfect album... n then help walk me through ordering the album!! She has been so patient n helpful!! Weddings are stressful... but joseph esser and his team were able to keep everyone comfortable... take beautiful pictures n then follow up with great after care! It would have been so easy for them to forget about us n our wedding... n I wouldn't have my album!! I don't write reviews.... but they were so great I jus had to!!! read more

Best photographer ever. We had so much fun on the day of picture taking. The pictures came out all beautiful & joseph was very professional through our experience. read more

Great photographer with actual people skills. He was great with our toddler and efficient with a group of 8! We got some amazing photos. Very happy and we highly recommend him. read more

I'm THAT guy. My gf's daughter was getting married and I ended up being THAT guy. I'm the wedding planner..the wedding coordinator. We decide Kuliouou Beach Park as the place and I am looking for a wedding photographer. The thing about a wedding photographer is that he is a very important person for a wedding. A great wedding photographer captures memories of the wedding for the years to come. I give a shout out on Yelp Talk for "Wedding Needs". I am looking for a reasonably priced wedding photographer. Jerrene T. posted "Val! Go with Joe Esser Photography!" Not to say that I don't trust Jerrene but I checked out two other photographers either recommended by other Yelp friends or through Google search on the internet. I found that the price range for wedding photographer varies from $250 to $1600. To save money, I also thought of shooting the wedding myself!!! Nah! I just need a good photographer that fits my budget. Now before you jump to conclusions; low price does not mean bad photographer. Notes about me. I have a degree in fine arts. I'm artistically inclined. I am very particular and can recognize good quality and value when I see it. I am a hunter that is the envy of people because of bargains I find. I am also willing to pay a little more for quality if the situation dictates. I automatically eliminated the $1600 guy. After some consideration, I decided not to go with the $450 guy. The next decision was tough. I telephone interview the $250 guy and Joseph Esser. I meet with and interview Joseph Esser at Zippy's. What impressed me about Joe is that he is very "comfortable". I told him I needed someone to relax the couple before the wedding. I want to shoot the portrait session before the wedding and I think that a good photographer can keep the wedding couple loose and relaxed before the actual ceremony begins. This will help during the ceremony. I want this wedding to flow and want someone that can be in the right position to take those great candid shots without stopping the action. I think it important that the photographer be able to work with me and the wedding officiant. Joe is cool. I decide during this interview to go with Joseph Esser Photography. He attends a meeting with the wedding officiant Kahu Bruce and myself at Kuliouou Beach Park a week before the wedding. He just loves this park selection for the wedding. The blue ocean, the backdrop or Hanauma Crater and Koko Head; fantastic!! This is a great park to shoot a wedding. He and Kahu Bruce work out the details of where the ceremony will be held and the position of the bride and groom and family. I explain that the grooms parent are flying in from Germany and that I need at least 5 finished photos that I can print so that they can take them back to Germany to show family and friends. I need the photos on a SD card the day after the wedding; ready for printing. July 25th - Wedding Day Bride and groom-to-be arrive at 2:00. They meet Joseph Esser for the first time. 2:15: Joe and the couple start shooting the portraits. They canvas the whole park from the beach and the ocean to the green grass of the park. Click!!! Click!! The couple seems comfortable and relaxed. 3:00 the wedding ceremony begins. Kahu Bruce gives his opening Hawaiian blessing. Click! The bride and groom walk through the gathering. ... Click! The wedding couples backs are to the ocean and the ceremony begins. Click! Click!! Leis are blessed and the bride and groom honor their parents. Click!! Click!! Kahu Bruce give the invocation and Hawaiian Prayer. Click! He reads 1 Corinthians 13:4. Click!! Kahu Bruce address to couple and describes the "Meaning of ALOHA". Click! Marriage Vows - The groom was definitely nervous. Click!! Click!! Click!!! There is the blessing and exchange of rings. Click!! Click!! The wedding couple exchange leis. Click! Click! Kahu Bruce give an ancient Hawaiian lei chant. Click! Kahu Bruce says "I now pronounce me husband and wife"... There were smiles and cheers from the crowd. CLICK! CLICK! Kahu Bruce gives the Benediction. Click!! The Kiss - I think that this should have been done behind closed doors. It was a Kiiiiiiissssss! CLLIICCKK!! CLLIICCKK!! The bride and groom are introduced. CLICK! Kahu Bruce and the newly wed sign the certificates. Click! Click Joe took hundreds of photos that day. The next day I pickup the SD card and print 14, 8 X 10's at Sam's Club. That evening I give the photos to the groom's parents and they absolutely love the photos. Joe was able to capture the essence of the beautiful Hawaiian wedding and the beauty of the bride and groom in a complimentary way. Everyone loved all the photos. I think Joseph Esser is a great event photographer. I will be envied and you will be in awe if you knew how much he charged for the shoot and saw the quality of his awesome photos. P.S. Highly recommend!! read more

Joseph Esser Photo + Video - Jen and Mark at Kuliouou Beach Park - 7-25-11 -Photo by Joseph Esser - Event Photography Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Oh, Joe! If only you could teleport! My trouble of ever finding a great photographer in the bay area will be all gone. Joe is very professional, comfortable, and charming to work with. He know how to work his magic behind the cameras, and as well as delivering angles you never knew you had. He comes well prepared with his state of the art equipment, and his great personalities. He was our first professional photography shoot, and he made a great high standard for us of what to expect from others. We had our engagement photos taken by him, in Hawaii. He was beyond expected and way amazing. He knew the area very well, and knew where to take us for great Hawaii beach scenes, that looks unbelievable. He is definitely a man, who has real passion for what he does, and it definitely shows in his work. You can't put a price on a man who loves what he do and do a hell of a job at it! Only those who are passion enough will get you what you want even if it means going above and beyond! HIGHLY recommended!... "Highly" was CAPPED!!!! : ) read more

We just received our amazing destination wedding photos from Joseph just three weeks after the event. This is extremely timely, yet very polished, professional, stunning images. The pictures are breathtaking. We are already getting so many compliments from family and friends. Having spent many hours of my wedding day, from morning preparation with hair/make-up, to ceremony-reception and finally a sunset photo shoot, I can say Joseph is completely enjoyable to work with. This is a true compliment from a high maintenance NYC couple. He puts you at ease with his friendly, kind nature and honest communication. He is a natural talent with an insightful eye for capturing the joy of the moment. He is very knowledgeable about the secret locales on the island to get the best light and natural backdrop. We benefited from this on our evening trash-the-dress session. The portfolios on his website demonstrate this. We are completely delighted and thrilled with our wedding pictures. We will look back over the years at our beautiful wedding album and relive the bliss of our wedding day through Joseph's eyes. We are so pleased and grateful we found such a gifted photographer. We enthusiastically recommend Joseph Esser! read more

The search for the perfect wedding photographer is over. Joseph Esser is amazing and will not dissappoint. My now husband and I are so lucky to have worked with an artist and professional. Our wedding photos were beyond breathtaking! First of all, he responded was very promptly to any emails, questions or concerns that we had during the wedding planning. AND if you are planning a destination wedding like we did and are dealing with some of the little stresses that come with planning a huge event from afar, you should know photography won't be one of them if you chose to work with Joseph. He put our nerves at ease by instilliing confidence with his professionalism. On the day of the wedding he arrived with his partner on-time and started shooting immediately. At this point, things started happening very quickly for me, the bride, but he made sure to capture everything I wanted down to the small itty bitty details without me asking. He was great at directing poses for portrait photos and group photos with our Entourage while still capturing pure emotions throughout the entire wedding. Did I mention we had a total of 18 groomsmen and bridesmaids? He was very direct and I was amazed with how much he got our gigantic group to cooperate during the group shots. We could not be more thrilled and satisfied with the way our wedding photos turned out. Our wedding day was magical and we are forever grateful to have these amazing photos to look back on and be able to relive every moment and second of one of the best days of our lives!!!! read more

I met Joe at my workplace where he happens to be a customer. My husband and I were debating about taking engagement pictures when we decided, what the heck if we can find someone, we'll get them. So since I knew Joe personally ahead of time, I asked him about his services and he was more than happy to help and direct us to his website for further details. Eventually, he helped us find a location to get our pictures done at. We decided on a time and when we arrived, he was already waiting. Joe is GREAT to work with because he's got such a fun personality and it wasn't work to take those pictures. He kept us laughing and smiling the whole time. It was effortless taking pictues with him... unlike when I had to take senior pictures done... now that was a pain. A few weeks later and we got our pictures back... they all looked like Lary and I were having a great time... which we were btw. None of them looked forced and we got them in time to use them as our Christmas card pics! woot! Fast forward a month or two later... we ended up randomly getting married and since we had such a good experience with Joe the first time, we asked him to take our wedding pics. He was more than happy to oblige and again, they turned out great. We had lots of pics and he put them online and on a CD for us. It was easy to develop for us later. All of our wedding pictures with our people turned out great. His editing time isn't too long and the turn around time with him is wonderful! I'm an impatient person so just a couple of weeks was all it took him to get them done. I highly reccomend Joe for your photo needs... especially if you're getting beach wedding/engagement pics done... he knows the lighting and spots and how do them all =). Yay! read more

I had the unique experience of being a wedding planner professionally for several years and THEN being a bride. I knew I needed to find someone that was professional, responsive, easy to work with and reasonably priced. From the first time I worked alongside Joseph Esser I knew he would be a perfect fit for our wedding. He has an incredibly radiant personality, he is always smiling and connecting with his couples. He makes you feel comfortable behind the camera, guiding you and reassuring you on how to look your best. When it comes time for group photos (usually the most stressful part of the day) Joseph commands the attention of all the guests in a very positive way and creates a guided and relaxed atmosphere that allows everyone to connect naturally with his camera. Each time we work with him, the wedding day moves along smoothly without any sense of feeling rushed. Hiring Joseph Esser Photography was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding day. The photos turned out even better than we could have imagined! He books up quickly so if you are looking for an extremely professional and talented photographer that will contribute to keeping your wedding day running smoothly, you've found it in Joseph Esser Photography. Thank you Joseph Esser and team for being so amazing at what you do!! read more

Five stars Fo SHO to wedding photographer, Joseph Esser! The wedding vendor community is small in Hawaii, so we heard about Joseph early on in our hunt for a photographer. We immediately booked an engagement shoot with Joseph to see our couple chemistry with him. Our engagement photo shot was perfect! Joseph took the time to get the perfect shot and was actively engaging in telling us what poses would look best for the shot. I loved the attention to detail! He also brought along an assistant for no fee that helped with the lighting and was on wind duty at the beaches we went to. She was excellent! We loved, loved, loved our engagement pictures and they came out perfect! We wanted to book him as our wedding photographer, but unfortunately, he was booked! BUMMER! Be sure to meet with him early on and nab him right away! Awesome wedding photographer! read more

Joseph is awesome. Very great to work with! Our underwater photos came out great! If the water conditions aren't great, he will work with you to the best he can. I would definitely work with Joseph again for any photo op we need! Thanks again Joseph for all your hard work! Most definitely a pleasure working with you! read more

Joseph Esser Photo + Video - Much credit due to Mr. Joseph Esser for the awesome work! - Event Photography Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Amazing doesn't even do Joseph justice! We needed a photographer within 2-3 days, he did everything possible to make himself available (for complete strangers) with no notice. He met us for a sunrise wedding on time (5ish in the am) ready to work. And boy did he work! The pictures, poses, suggestions were all so creative and incredibly gorgeous. Joseph was so passionate, you could see his love for photography in every shot he took. I would recommend him to anyone looking for a professional photographer with incredibly high end quality and finished pictures. Thank you, Joseph! read more

Joseph Esser Photo + Video - Event Photography Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Hiring Joseph was the second best decision of my day. The first of course was marrying my now husband :) I met Joseph two years ago when we had come to the island to meet with different photographers (we live in California, and were having a destination wedding). As soon as Joseph met up at Starbucks, I cancelled the other 4 appointments that I had set up. Looking through his books, listening to his style, and his calm voice I just KNEW that he was everything I was looking for in a photographer. Even my husband who was pretty much like "whatever you want hunny" for the wedding walked away saying "he is it, we have to hire him". Fast forward 18 months later, and the big day was upon us. Joseph showed up, and immediatly my wedding party swooned. Not only is Joseph incredibly talented, his personality is amazing! And, ladies he isn't bad on the eyes either! He was kind, and professional. He made me feel like a princess, and took all of the stress out of my wedding. My husband and I have decided that we want to continue to visit Hawaii as an annual trip and Joseph will be involved in these trips when we have pregnancy shoots, and baby pictures....HE IS WORTH THE FLIGHT! Joseph is professional, and kind, and a true artist at what he does. You will feel special, and not overly "posed" he captures natural moments, that make your eyes well with tears because he caught "it". Not only that but I never worried about anything with payments, or him showing up the moment you talk to Joseph you just know you're working with a professional. HE IS WORTH EVERY PENNY, Don't delay! HIRE HIM! read more

Joseph Esser photographed my daughter's 1st birthday party (3 years ago!) and I still get tons of compliments about those photos. He has a knack for capturing those key moments which really tell the story of the day. Just wonderful! Also, Joseph is an all-around great guy and such a delight to work with. Even with all the family members and the chaos that can accompany a fun-filled birthday party, he blended right in and effortlessly worked behind the scenes getting right to work. He even got my 80+ family organized into this big group photo! What a feat and it turned out to be one of my favorite photos. I wouldn't hesitate one bit recommending Joseph Esser for your photography needs. I just wished we used him for our wedding photos! read more

Amazing photographer! Very professional, quick responses, & amazing work! I am so pleased with all of my wedding photos!!!! I had two other photographers for my wedding & he was by far the best!!!! read more

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We hired Joseph Esser to take our wedding photos! He was a pleasure to work with and took great photos! Although it stormed the day of our wedding and the ceremony ran late he was very accommodating and definitely wanted to ensure we were able to take amazing and memorable photos! A must hire! read more

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I couldn't be happier with our photo session with Joseph! From the first phone call he was professional, informative, and a real pleasure to work with. My husband and I did 10 year wedding anniversary pictures with joseph, we never had a traditional wedding and I was so excited to be a "bride". He helped us pick a perfect location and had our children in some of the photos. But I have to say the best part was he added a tooth into my smile! lol I know it sounds strange, but I had to have a tooth removed right before our shoot so the corner of my smile had a big black hole in it! I was determined to find a photographer talented enough to photo shop a tooth for me and he did not disappoint! I had a wonderful time working with him and would highly recommend him to others looking for a talented photographer with great customer service! Thank you again!! read more

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Look no further, Joseph Esser is the photographer of your dreams! We fell in love with the images on his website while planning for our destination wedding on the North Shore of Oahu. We loved his journalistic style of capturing the moments with perfect lighting, clarity and genuine emotions. We contacted him with our plan for an epic skydiving entry into our ceremony location, and he responded immediately and enthusiastically. He loves to capture unique and original weddings, and between skydiving into the wedding location, having a photo shoot with a horse, and a cake made out of sushi, we were definitely planning something outside of the norm. He was just as excited about our plans as we were, and with his great sense of humor and friendly personality, we knew he was the right fit for us. He wanted to capture the entire story for us, so he came early in the morning and took pictures of the preparations, and stayed with us throughout the entire day, culminating in beautiful sunset pictures on the beach. He picked the location for our sunset couple portraits, and it was absolutely perfect. We received the beautifully packaged CD of pictures 4 weeks after the wedding, and our friends and family love that they can order prints directly on Pictage. It was a once in a lifetime celebration, but the memories will stay fresh forever through all of our beautiful pictures thanks to Joseph. read more

We originally contacted Joseph online but then sealed the deal at the bridal expo in person. Joseph and his assistant were both friendly, personable and helpful. On the day of the wedding he sat down with us to talk about what we wanted to accomplish with our photos, they were open to our ideas and they had their own great ideas. We chose Joseph because he takes wonderful scenic photos which was important to us at our Kualoa venue. The services were expensive but we knew what we wanted for our big day. The photos came out great, I only wish it wasn't so rainy on our big day and that we could have gotten some beautiful Hawaii sunset photos. read more

Great photographer, highly recommended! My fiancee and I wanted photos that look natural and beautiful and Joseph did exactly that! He's very professional and great at directing our pose while capturing the interactions between us. And we even went a little over time just to get the perfect light. The results look amazing and are flattering, esp. for the bride : ) In addition, Joseph is great to work with. We had to reschedule the shooting time and he was very accommodating. He also helped with our bouquet as I had trouble finding a florist that would take the order (I didn't have my wedding at Hawaii and a bouquet is too small an order for the vendors I like). The only thing is that the wait for the processed photos was a little longer than I hoped for (it was still within the timeline that we agreed upon before the photo shoot, but I was just really looking forward to seeing the results). Anyways, the wait was worth it and we are really happy that we chose Joseph. read more

Photos came in and I was blown away. Joseph has a way to make poses look natural. He is a true artist. When I got my pictures in I was overcome with emotion. I laughed and cried reliving the day through pictures. He captured details I missed because it's a busy day for the bride and groom. I cannot express how lucky and grateful we were to have Joseph as our photographer. read more

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15 years ago my wife and I eloped and we never had any pictures taken to look back and that capture moment. Fast forward 15 years and we finally decided to have a wedding of our own so you can imagine photos of our vow renewal were everything for my wife and I. We did a lot of research for the perfect photographer and our search stopped the moment we saw Joseph`s photography. Here are the key things that separated Joseph from the others: Photography. It`s very difficult for my wife and I to agree on anything, but when we saw Joseph`s pictures they were works of art! His angles, perspectives, lighting, etc. all told a story and put you in that moment. Response. We decided to contact him and to our surprise, his replies were immediate! Prior to finding Joseph, we tried contacting a few other photographers and their response time was lacking so we moved on. Joseph was there to answer all our questions promptly! Involved. From the start, Joseph was very drawn to OUR story and plans. He made great suggestions and provided pivotal information that led us to choose our ultimate location. So now that we locked him in as our photographer for OUR day, the following are key areas which told us that Joseph was definitely the right choice: Personable. Nerves are flowing and our minds were scrambled trying to take it all in, but Joseph`s welcoming demeanor helped us stay calm. His cordial attitude kept things smooth and enjoyable while we all shared a few laughs and had fun with it. We didn`t feel like just another customer when communicating with you, we felt like ohana! Patience. Joseph was very patient with us! Even if you`re not a photographer, you should know that direct sunlight kills photos. When the sun was beaming straight down on us, he had a plan for that and took his time waiting for cloud coverage and the right lighting! We didn`t feel rushed at all, he took his time capturing us and what he likes to call, `The money shot!` Devoted. The dude is flat out devoted to photography! He does what it takes to capture great angles and perspectives. He was literally in the bushes trying to position himself in the right spots...lol! In closing, you just can`t go wrong with Joseph. Everything you need in a photographer is right here. I don`t throw out five stars much, but this one was a no-brainer. Enough with the review though, we really want to give a personal `Thank you!` to Joseph for all his hard work and dedication to our moment. You paid attention to the details of our wants and flowed with it. We honestly couldn`t have asked for a better photographer to capture it all! See you again on our 25th anni! Lol! read more

Joseph Essner was amazing to work with! I was planning a destination wedding last October and had no idea where to even start. Joseph was the first vendor I booked. I picked a few photographers I thought I might be interested in and gave them a call. Joseph Essner was the first place I called. Joseph was full of suggestions and information. Not to mention his website was the best I had seen from anyone in Oahu. Im from Los Angeles and I had never been to Hawaii, I wasn't planning on getting a wedding coordinator even though I should had, and needed all the help I could get. Before I had eve said yes to him, he was answering questions that honestly didn't even relate to photography. I really liked how he was so friendly and personable and just full of answers and did anything to help. We had a few phone calls, but everything was mostly done via email. He was very efficient and got back to me in a timely manner. On my wedding day, he showed up before he was scheduled. He brought a second photographer, which was awesome. We got some pictures of both sides getting ready. I was so thankful for that because thats where most of my pictures of my 8 month old are. I didn't have many of her. I loved his style of pictures, how he was able to direct everyone, suggest different things and just make everyone feel so comfortable. He sent me some teaser photos a week later which was awesome because I was dying to see them. I was so happy to receive our wedding photos 7 weeks after our wedding. They were amazing. The only complaint I really have is that there was a beautiful sunset that was pink and purple (it was amazing) and the most important pictures I wanted were sunset pictures. When received our wedding photos I had not one single photo of us with that sunset. However he did get a few other pictures of my guests tossing their kids up in the air and my husbands brother and his wife with the pink and purple sunset in the back. I was a little bummed Im not going to lie. When you are planning a wedding you are already going in thinking about so many other things you don't remember every pose or picture you want. I advise people to think of certain pictures that they would want and that would mean the most to them. I do wish there were more pictures of my baby, I don't have her in any of our family photos. Also one of my dad and I, I have one with my mom and its beautiful, I would of liked to have the same with my dad. Also, more group pictures with family and friends. The pictures of my husband and I are on point! They are amazing and incredibly beautiful. Seriously, Joseph and his team are amazing and if anyone is looking for a photographer in Oahu he is your guy. read more