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Essence Photo Hawaii

5.0 (18 reviews)
Open • 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Services - Essence Photo Hawaii

Boudoir photography

Couples photography

Engagement photos

Essence Photo Hawaii Photos

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Recommended Reviews - Essence Photo Hawaii

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Johnny has been with us since day one! best photographer ever!!!
Pri L.

Johnny has been there for me since day one. I was lucky enough to be introduced to him six years ago when I was in the process of looking for wedding photographers. He was so easy going, yet very professional and the images from our wedding could not have been any more perfect- thank you Johnny for capturing our special day, especially that dancing crotch shot LOL (inside joke). Over the past few years, I have gone back with my family (now with two kids) and taken "annual 808" photos so that we could hold on to our memories. Not only has he been our cherished family photographer, he actually photographed my brother-in-law's wedding and also shoots his "annual 808" family portraits as well Now, we just consider him part of the family and enjoy meeting up with Johnny whenever we go visit. He is one-of-a-kind and does amazing work! Thanks for everything, and see you again next year :)

Ikaika Classic 2019
Alexxandria V.

I am extremly happy with my competition photos! I competed in the Ikaika Classic and Jhonny was the photographer on site. He was very organized, polite and knowledgeable. I was so impressed with the way he maintained composure the entire time while working with numerous competitors. I would definitely recommend his services to everyone.

Hondo E.

Trying to plan a surprise proposal purely on the phone sounds daunting, but Johnny went above and beyond to make it a fun and exciting process! My now fiancée and I are from Los Angeles and fortunately a friend of a friend plugged me in with Johnny as I was setting up a surprise proposal for our upcoming trip to Oahu. He was very accessible and responsive as we coordinated plans over the past few months. He went out of his way to scout out the perfect location for what I was looking for. My fiancée and I are not naturals at posing whatsoever, but Johnny made the photo shoot experience extremely comfortable for the both of us. Overall, he's just a very down to earth guy who I would recommend for any of your photography needs - my fiancée and I sincerely hope to work with him again in the future!

Johnny was determined to get that perfect shot and stopped us along the most breathtaking trail for this shot
Candace C.

I don't know any other photographer that would shoot us in a thunderstorm while being ambushed by a flock of mosquitos. Johnny was attentive and detailed and flexible. Whether it was splitting up our session, following up with questions and even making sure every side was my "good side". Johnny and Mitch captured the most important day of my life in an unforgettable way. Mahalo for everything :)

For my website: taoenergy.com
Louise M.

Working with Johnny was the easiest and most efficient photo shoot I've ever experienced - and yielded the best photos possible for my needs in creating a new website! He captured my energy - and we just met - and understood what I was trying to achieve. I had 277 photos that were all usable!! He made me feel comfortable and would coach me subtly on more flattering angles...he is amazing!!! Out of five stars I'll give him six!

Essence Photo Hawaii took my wedding photos at Kakaako Beach Park. We had a small group of family and friends. Johnny captured many priceless photos! I then had him take my pregnancy photos, kid's birthday photos, and Xmas photos! I'm never using anyone else! Johnny is the best!!!

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Review Highlights - Essence Photo Hawaii

“Johnny, Ed, and team did an amazing job shooting our wedding photos, as well as running the photo booth!”

Mentioned in 16 reviews

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Daphne Hargrove Photography - Candid shots are so fun for beautiful family photography! Capturing a brother & sister as they play hide and seek with me...

Daphne Hargrove Photography

(206 reviews)

Waikiki

It was my husband and I's first time together in Hawai'i and we are also celebrating our 10th…read moreWedding Anniversary. We decided to do a photoshoot and I started searching over google. I had 3 photographers that I was undecided to choose from but for a reason Daphne's website, work and blog caught my eyes. And it turns out we made the right decision. This is our first photoshoot and we don't know what to do or how to pose for the camera and she helped us so much. She was instructing us the whole session on what to do and was very cheerful about it. From the start, during and after the photoshoot, she made us feel comfortable and at ease. We love how our pictures had turned out. It was exactly what we hoped for. She has a very reasonable price for an amazing work. She was also professional with the scheduled time. We love the pictures and this is something we will treasure forever. It was quite a memorable experience for us specially having to do it in a beautifilul and magical island.

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!

Anna Tsenta Photographer - honolulu photographer. Bright sunny day

Anna Tsenta Photographer

(11 reviews)

Waikiki

We had such an amazing experience working with Anna and her team! Anna made the entire process so…read moreeasy, and our photographer, Andrew, was absolutely wonderful to work with. He was so accommodating and made us feel comfortable throughout the entire shoot. Despite the hurricane, our photos turned out absolutely beautiful! My partner and I usually feel pretty awkward in front of the camera, so we honestly had no idea we could ever have photos like these. We are beyond happy with how everything turned out and will cherish these photos forever. Anna was also incredible throughout the entire editing process. She was so quick to send over our initial photos, and after I selected my favorites, she had the edited photos back to us in no time. She was extremely communicative, accommodating, and flexible with any additional edits I requested, always returning the photos in a timely manner. It was such a seamless and positive experience from start to finish. We couldn't be happier and highly recommend Anna and her team!

I contacted Anna through yelp while we were visiting Hawaii this summer. She was very quick and…read moreknowledgeable about the location she picked for us. Also, she was very accommodating of her budget. As a matter of fact, she was very accommodating of the three teens we were taking pictures with as a family. She made them feel super comfortable.. and the session was quickly done without a fuss! I would recommend if you have young kids or teens to go with Ana for a family holiday pictures

Jenna Lee Pictures - Gorgeous sunrise proposal on Oahu

Jenna Lee Pictures

(61 reviews)

Waikiki

We had the opportunity to shoot with Sean of the Tribe within the Jenna Lee group and it was an…read moreamazing experience. He was extremely accommodating given the weather and timing for our shoot. Now, I am not the most photogenic and feel super awkward posing behind cameras, but the poses and interactions that Sean directed us to do led to very natural, joyful moments in the photos. We came in not knowing what to expect, but left feeling the experience was really fun and engaging. What drew us most to this group was their editing, and they did not disappoint. The resulting pictures were phenomenal. They kept well within the timelines they told us to expect, as well. Thank you to the Jenna Lee team for making this an overall great experience.

We are beyond thrilled that we had Jenna Lee & her tribe for our wedding day! From start to finish,…read moreshe made the entire experience fun, engaging, and stress-free. Her approach was far from the standard "stand and smile" routine; instead, she and her team made sure every moment felt natural, joyful, and full of emotion. She took the time to understand what we wanted, and her attention to detail truly captured the essence of our wedding day. The photos are vibrant, full of life, and each one tells a beautiful story of our special day. When I was first booking, what stood out to me was that Jenna herself called me at a very odd hour because of my schedule. She was so flexible and accommodating, taking the time to chat about what she offered. That conversation was a game changer--it completely altered the way I wanted to approach our wedding day. Initially, I was hesitant about doing the first look and family photos before the ceremony, as I thought it wasn't the traditional way to do things. But Jenna shared her prior experiences, and since we wanted to be present for cocktail hour and fully enjoy the day, we decided to take her advice. It was MAGIC. When I first opened my photos, I was with my new husband, my mother-in-law, two of the groomsmen, and a bridesmaid, and we were all brought to tears with how phenomenal, powerful, and stunning the photos were. She truly captured so many important moments, and the amazing part is, it was FUN. Every photo radiated emotion and joy, and we'll cherish them forever. What also really stood out was how thoughtful and generous Jenna and her team were. The entire team was not only professional but also incredibly fun--honestly, I would be friends with every photographer there! They made the experience feel like we were surrounded by love and family, creating moments full of joy, laughter, and genuine connection. They were there when we needed them but never intrusive. Jenna and her team's responsiveness was another huge bonus--they were always quick to answer calls and texts, which helped us feel at ease throughout the process. I can't tell you how many times I was adding and subtracting hours and not once did they make me feel bad or like it was a burden. Additionally, the turnaround time for the photos was incredibly fast! We felt like we had the images in no time, and every single one exceeded our expectations. We feel INCREDIBLY lucky that Jenna was the photographer for our wedding; her team was just as phenomenal. She captured beautiful memories, kept the experience lighthearted and meaningful, and we will treasure her work FOREVER. 10/10 would recommend her! Amazing! Thank you Jenna!!!! -- Ashlie

Joseph Esser Photo + Video - Our engagement shoot at Lanikai!

Joseph Esser Photo + Video

(87 reviews)

Joseph was one of our favorite vendors to work with! He made us feel comfortable and captured our…read morewedding day beautifully. I was impressed at his speed and ability to get through all of our requested portraits and family photos, many of them with just one take. His team is fun and professional and we are thankful to have so many amazing photos to relive our wedding day through!

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!

Essence Photo Hawaii - sessionphotography - Updated November 2026

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