Photoshoots are already a very unfamiliar experience for me, so scheduling one in an entirely…read moredifferent state felt even more daunting than I had expected. However, it was as if I struck gold when Rachel reached out after my initial Yelp project proposal. With the utmost professionalism and kindness, she turned what felt like a foreign experience into one that was comfortable, enjoyable, and even fun. The entire experience was incredibly pleasant, and Rachel was an absolute joy to work with. I'd never done a photoshoot before, but she made it feel like a walk in the park. She took the lead on choosing the location and planning the structure of the shoot, making the whole experience completely turnkey. At the same time, she was always open to suggestions and feedback, incorporating every idea we had, no matter how small. I highly recommend reaching out to Rachel if you're considering booking a session or simply have questions. She responds quickly, communicates clearly, and makes the entire process feel effortless. Overall, the experience was fantastic, and Rachel is incredibly easy to work with. I'll update this review once we receive the full gallery, but based on the sneak peeks we've seen so far, we're expecting nothing short of amazing. 11/10 experience! UPDATE: The photos are beyond anything we've ever expected and the composition is unlike anything we've seen. Truly breathtaking shots. We can't thank her enough! 100/10 images!

Definitely choose Rachel! Leaving a rave review, we had such a great experience and of course the…read moreend product was fantastic. Reasonable pricing for excellent service, skill, and professionalism. Had wanted to book maternity and family portraits during our one week stay in Oahu and Rachel responded quickly, had great availability with only a few days lead time, provided spot-on guidance on selecting our outfits as well as shooting location, and was able to engage our 2 year old effectively so that he's actually smiling and looking at the camera! Her child wrangling abilities were really impressive. We love our photos and hope to return with our newest child for a follow up shoot in the future!

We hired Daphne for our daughter's senior photos and they turned out amazing! We were hesitant…read morehiring someone we've never met for this significant milestone, but we're very happy we took a chance on Daphne. She made our daughter feel comfortable and helped her pose. After mentioning that our daughter is a dancer, it was a bonus to learn that she has experience with dancers, and Daphne captured our daughter in beautiful dance poses too. We love the pictures. Thank you Daphne!

I honestly cannot believe I haven't written a review for Daphne yet! I've hired her for both a…read moreboudoir session and an engagement photoshoot, and she is truly incredible at what she does. I love her to death! If you are looking to capture a special moment or just want to feel empowered, here is why Daphne is the person to call: The Boudoir Experience: Pure Confidence First off, you do not need to be a model. Daphne makes you feel beautiful regardless of what anyone else says. She is positive, patient, easy-going, and an amazing communicator. She makes the cutest comments while shooting ("You look so sexy!" or "Hold that pose, it's perfect!"), which instantly boosts your mood. The Coaching: She guides your body into specific positions. Yes, sometimes the poses feel a little "uncomfortable" in the moment, but trust me--it is worth it! When you see the results, you'll literally think, "Wait, that's me?!" She helps every woman feel confident and fall in love with their own skin. Engagement Photos: Capturing the Love For our engagement session, the weather was on our side, and Daphne's cues produced the most stunning photos. It was my husband's first time in front of a professional camera, and he was definitely a bit nervous. I was there to help him smile, but Daphne's constant "cute comments" about us as a couple really helped him settle in and made me feel wonderful. Daphne has a gift for bringing out the best in people and making the process feel natural and fun. Whether it's a gift for someone special or a treat for yourself, you won't regret booking her!

Very professional and knowledgeable, excellent price. Cheaper then 15 other photographers in the…read morearea. Would definitely recommend!

Our family was on vacation in Hawaii and wanted a family photo and I found Barbi on yelp.  Barbi…read moreexceeded our expectations.  From our first communication to the final photos, Barbi was easy to work with and a real pro.  She was able to get all of the kids smiling and cooperating, and the photos were beautiful.  We enjoyed working with Barbi and highly recommend her!  Thank you, Barbi, for making the photo shoot such a fun family experience.

Amazing! She does well with a few people that just don't…read moreknow how to pose or awkwardly stand in front of the camera. She even got the cutest images of my little grumpy toddler! Can't wait to call her when we return this year!

Anna was amazing! She went above and beyond for our photo shoot! We had limited time to take the…read morephotos and we wanted to take it at another venue and she accommodated our needs without hesitation! We got the photos in a timely fashion and even without editing, they looked great! But she edited the ones we picked and they came out even better! I would recommend her for all potential clients to take the most professional photos! Thank you, Anna! Appreciate all your hard work!

We reached out on short notice and was able to setup a time on sunset a few days out. Rita was…read moregreat, making our little ones feel at ease during the photo shoot. Despite taking a little extra time to prepare the final edited photos, she took care of us and we're grateful for the gesture. Ultimately, the final shots were gorgeous and we have a lovely memory for our postcards.

We chose to do a maternity shoot with Rita and we couldn't have been more happy!…read more Rita was knowledgeable and offered several gem locations for our shoot! She was very friendly and made our shoot fun! Would highly recommend Manawa Creative to capture moments that will last forever!

If you want a photographer who will work is quick to respond to your initial inquiry and every…read morefollow-up question or email you have, work with your quirky family dynamics, and make you feel like youʻre family have known each other since ever since, look no further!   From the first contact until the photos were delivered, Lyn was absolutely amazing! Her daughters were also so helpful when we were taking photos. One of my son's is on the spectrum, so keeping his attention and getting him to look at the camera can be a challenge. Lyn made sure everyone else around him was set and then she worked on getting his attention. It was perfect! We are so over-the-moon satisfied with our photos. I'd also like to mention that her session promised a certain amount of edited photos. She took SO many photos, and ALL of them captured memorable fun, interactions . We ended up with a gallery with way more than the promised amount of edited photos. Lyn and Co. are warm, friendly, and they make you feel like family from the get-go. I highly recommend booking her for your next set of family photos!

Lyn was super helpful during the entire process. My husband's cousin did her maternity shoot with…read moreLyn and recommended we use her for our family shoot. We booked a mini-session, which she said is perfect for families with babies as we only have a short window where baby is in a good mood. She was so right. In 95% of our pics, our baby was smiling! Lyn was super professional yet casual so we felt very comfortable during the entire shoot. She made sure to guide us to the perfect poses and facials so that we'd get the shots we wanted. Thank you Lyn! Would definitely book again!

Long Overdue Praise for Joseph Esser and His Incredible Team…read more 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!

TL;DR: Joseph is a wonderful person and a stellar…read morephotographer 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 :)

In November 2025 I had such an incredible experience with JP Moulin Photography! From the moment I…read morearrived, getting my hair and makeup done by Rosie, I felt completely taken care of Rosie was so warm, friendly, and talented it really set the tone for the entire shoot. When it came time to work with JP, he was the perfect balance of professional and personable. He created such a comfortable, safe space and knew exactly how to guide me in a way that made me feel 100% confident in my body. What started as a simple clothed shoot naturally evolved into an implied nude session and I never once felt anything but empowered and supported. If you've ever thought about doing something like this, don't hesitate! This is an experience you won't regret. I can honestly say it's more than just a photo shoot; it's a confidence boost, a moment of self-love and a chance to see yourself in a whole new light. Fair warning... you'll probably want to book another session just to feel that magic all over again and capture even more stunning photos!

I cannot say enough amazing things about this husband-and-wife duo! I booked them for a very…read morelast-minute shoot with a tight deadline right before my wedding, and they absolutely blew me away. From the moment I arrived, the wife did an incredible job with my hair and makeup. She is so personable, warm, and immediately put me at ease. The husband was the photographer, and as someone who can be quite shy, I was a little nervous. He completely transformed the experience for me--making me feel comfortable, safe, and genuinely confident throughout the entire session. The experience went way beyond my expectations, and the results speak for themselves. They give you the option to have a certain amount edited or keep all the photos, and we decided to keep them all. My husband LOVED every single unedited photo! If you are on the fence or nervous about booking a shoot, trust this amazing team. They are professional, talented, and pure magic!