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Weddings

About

Fine Art Wedding Photography – My Vision:

My vision is to create images that capture the essence of my couple: their love, laughter, joy, and style. My desire is to produce authentic, emotive imagery that encapsulate those relationships between the couple and their loved ones. My photography is inspired by natural and timeless imagery that reflect the true personalities and experiences of each couple’s wedding that can be enjoyed for years to come. As such, we specialize in natural light photography. I view my photography as a celebration of life. I strive to shoot the feeling of each particular wedding day so that my photographs will still hold their power decades later. In the end, I imagine that moment in the distant future when my clients are paging through their wedding album with their grandchildren and reliving that same love, laughter, and joy with them.

I prefer to photograph from inside the wedding, rather than as a detached observer. I am discreet and hidden when I need to be yet am directive when necessary, like when I'm gathering family members for a group shot. I like to think that my experience and personality adds a level of calm to the wedding day. My calm, fun, and easygoing demeanor sets me apart from other photographers. I believe my ability to genuinely connect and to get couples to relax in front of the camera allows me to capture real moments and candid images.

Cinematic Storytelling:

Storytelling is extremely important to me, and I film and edit each wedding to reflect our couple’s big day and their unique personalities. I am experienced in capturing sound, motion, and most importantly emotion. I tell each wedding story using the most advanced cameras and aerial equipment. I also use telephoto lenses to capture the ceremony and reception as unobtrusively and discretely as possible.

My Photo Booth:

My photo booth is an open-air style. We can easily fit a group of friends or family into an image without being confined to a small space. My photo booth uses high quality cameras, professional lighting, and an elegant range of backdrops to provide high quality 4x6 prints in a range of customized designs.

About Me:

When I don't have a camera in my hand, you will probably find me at the beach, hiking the mountains, or at home with my fam. I'm married to my amazing wife Jacquie and father to my incredibly talented 6-year-old daughter Valentina. I also have a lazy bones dog named Thunder, the English Mastiff, who prefers to sleep all day and our two Great Danes pups, Hoku and Beau, who keep each other well entertained. Yes, slightly obsessed with big dogs.

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Frequently asked questions

Which of the following are included in the starting price?

2nd Shooter
High-Res Images
One Event / Day

What primary photographic style do you identify with?

Contemporary
Film
Photojournalism
Traditional

What photography services do you offer?

Additional Hours
Destination / Travel
Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
One Event / Day
Second Shooter
Video
Wedding Portraits

What photography items do you offer?

Albums
Canvas
Digital Files
Flush Mount
Matted Prints
Prints
Proofs
Save the Date

Reviews of Joseph Esser Photo and Video

M
Murphy Sent on 07/16/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Joseph is a MUST hire for your wedding day!

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!
Christine
Christine Sent on 05/18/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Best. Vendor. Choice. Ever.

Choosing Joseph Esser to be our wedding photographer was definitely one of the best planning decisions we made! From the day we first contacted him to the day of our wedding, 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!!!
S
Steve Sent on 07/15/2018
5 out of 5 rating
We booked Joseph a couple months before our engagement photo shoot. We looked at his work through instagram and we both were amazed by his work. He was able to answer all of our questions and give us great recommendations in locations as to what we wanted as a backdrop. We went with his underwater photo session in addition to the land shoot. We were very anxious as to what to expect the day of the shoot. He was great in dictating us how to pose and what kind of shot he was trying to achieve When we arrived he was ready to shoot and with all the previous emails we had with him he knew what we wanted. He was extremely patient, professional and re-did a lot of shots to get that perfect moment. The water session was great. He had his assistant paddle us out to calm waters, worked on getting the perfect shot.
After the photo shoot, he gave us a sample of what we would be getting and the stand alone sample was worth the money IMO by itself. We asked other vendors on pricing and the value we got out of Joseph was so much better off the bat with our initial phone calls and emails.
Erika
Erika Sent on 11/12/2017
5 out of 5 rating
Joseph and his team captured in a spectacular video our vow renewal ceremony. My husband and I are sooo happy and grateful that we hired Joseph to film our special day. They were very professional, they kindly guided us to record the most beautiful footage. Thank you for the most magical video!!! :)
S
Siddhi Sent on 07/14/2017
5 out of 5 rating
Joseph and his team were absolutely incredible to work with. We ended up doing a last minute engagement shoot with Joseph a few days before our wedding, and did the most amazing shoot (he made two people who aren't very good at smiling smile a ton) at Lanikai Beach at sunrise themed to our favorite movie : ) We were so genuinely thrilled when we got teasers of the shoot the day of with easily the best photos we have of the two of us, period. Joseph put us totally in our natural element and we had so much fun. A few days later, Joseph and his team photographed our wedding at the Halekulani, and were amazing. The teasers look so good. We can't wait to see the rest. We would highly, highly recommend Joseph Esser and his team to anyone getting married, engaged, or just looking for portraits in Hawaii. As a photographer/filmmaker myself, the photos mattered most to me in this wedding, and I couldn't be more happy with Joseph's work.

G
Gina Sent on 12/04/2016
5 out of 5 rating
joseph & his team were amazing, as soon as he walked in the room I remembered why it is helpful to hire professionals to do their thing. he had everything under control, even minor things like a stray paper or something out of place they noticed and took care of. he had a good vibe and I think some of my friends had little crushes on him which was pretty cute. would definitely recommend to any bride not only for his obvious talent, but for his professionalism and positive vibe which is definitely helpful on your wedding day:)
R
Rena Sent on 10/29/2016
5 out of 5 rating
joseph was so great to work with! he was very flexible, accommodating, and had great ideas for photos (especially given the last minute parade they had near our venue). i'm sure he realized how awkward in front of the camera we were so he made us do a bunch of interactive things to put us at ease, which translated to genuine emotions in the photos. they looked great and captured so many great moments throughout the day! we would definitely recommend him to future clients.
L
Lauren Sent on 10/28/2016
5 out of 5 rating
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!!
K
Katie Sent on 07/29/2016
5 out of 5 rating
My mother-in-law actually found Joseph via Instagram and decided then and there that he was to be our wedding photographer! I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of getting my picture taken, especially by a professional who is going to make be dance around and do a bunch of poses, but that's what your wedding day entails right!? That being said, Joseph is a true professional and he's got a great sense of humor and an awesome personality. The moment we met him I knew he was our guy. All of us clicked, and I knew we were in good hands (hey, I know it's all about the bride, but I wanted to look good too!). Joseph did a fantastic job scheduling the photos and kept us on track so we had plenty of time to hang with our guests and enjoy our own wedding. I told him from the start, I can't smile for more than a few frames or I start to look like a total goober. Dude had some serious jokes and just his natural demeanor kept everything light and fun. Needless to say, the end result was out of this world. In fact, his photos were so good, our entire house is covered with prints from our wedding day. You've been warned: Joseph is the real deal, and your walls will be filled with his photos.

Mahalos Joseph!

-Danny
J
J Sent on 06/02/2015
5 out of 5 rating
I was referred to Joseph Esser Photography by Oahu Event Planner (Annie) for a photo booth. Originally, I didnt think that this was a must for my wedding, but I am so glad I was wrong. Joseph and Kelli were amazing. Kelli's customer service was unparalleled and her smiles continued till the party was over! This kind of professionalism is rare indeed! We even got our guests pictures the next day!! Can you believe that? Talk about efficient service! Our guests were so relaxed and happy because the photobooth brought them out of their shell - they had a great time at our wedding and got a keepsake to take home. Dont waste your time on expensive favors that collect dust. Get a photobooth! I recommend Joseph for ALL your photography needs. Great job! Thank you - Andrew & Sher
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

38
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2012 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2011 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

5 Endorsements
Aloha Bridal Connections Aloha Bridal Connections Wedding Planners

Joseph Esser is terrific at what he does! He makes you feel comfortable around the camera and captures the natural chemistry between each couple. He is very responsive in emails and always professional! We love working with him!!

Savvy Weddings Savvy Weddings Wedding Planners

Brides and planners love Joseph. He is easy to work with, efficient with his time and his photography is amazing!

Blush Makeup & Hair Blush Makeup & Hair Wedding Hair & Makeup

Beautiful photography, very friendly and easy to work with.

Map

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Joseph Esser Photo and Video frequently asked questions

Joseph Esser Photo and Video includes the following photography services in the starting price:
  • 2nd Shooter
  • High-Res Images
  • One Event / Day
Joseph Esser Photo and Video offers the following photography styles:
  • Contemporary
  • Film
  • Photojournalism
  • Traditional
Joseph Esser Photo and Video offers the following photography services for weddings:
  • Additional Hours
  • Destination / Travel
  • Engagement Shoot
  • High-Res Images
  • One Event / Day
  • Second Shooter
  • Video
  • Wedding Portraits
Joseph Esser Photo and Video offers the following photography materials for weddings:
  • Albums
  • Canvas
  • Digital Files
  • Flush Mount
  • Matted Prints
  • Prints
  • Proofs
  • Save the Date
Joseph Esser Photo and Video is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.

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