“Our wedding took place in the summer of 2024 on the beautiful island of Maui, Hawaii. From the moment I saw Allen’s portfolio, I knew he was the photographer we wanted for our special day.

Allen is incredibly professional, with an amazing eye for detail and a talent for capturing real, authentic moments. But beyond that, he has this wonderful, easygoing personality that immediately puts everyone at ease. He didn’t just take beautiful photos; he brought so much energy and joy to the day that even our guests were talking about how much fun he made it.

The photos Allen delivered were breathtaking. Every image was filled with emotion and felt so true to the day. If you’re looking for a photographer who can perfectly capture your wedding while making the experience enjoyable for everyone, I highly recommend Allen. You won’t regret it!”

We had a wedding photoshoot with Allen in Oahu, Hawaii in Feb. 2026.
When we chose our photographer, we found Allen's style was exactly what we wanted, so we reached out him. Communication was super easy, and with his help we found wedding dresses and makeup artist we really liked.
Allen is very professional and easygoing, and also fun to be around. The whole shoot felt relaxed, like we were just enjoying the view while taking photos. He was very patient and guided us step by step.
He is talented at taking storytelling photos. When we got these photos, we were honestly so happy to see them natural, full of emotion, and really captured our day.
We’re very satisfied and would definitely recommend Allen to anyone planning a shoot in Hawaii.

If so, Allen is your guy. As soon as I walked into the getting ready room and met him in person for the first time, he was right there introducing himself, establishing rapport with the party and getting us comfortable and up to speed. Allen quickly identified my main weaknesses (I am not photogenic hahahaha), coached me on my posture, and provided simple signals to remind me what to do throughout the rest of the day. During individual shots, he issued a steady stream of gentle feedback and praise to coax elegant poses out of my uncoordinated frame, sometimes demonstrating poses himself as well.

Even before the wedding, Allen helped us out. I'd never planned a wedding before so going in, I didn't know how much time to account for (such as prep time, transition time, etc), and Allen's input was helpful in getting an idea of what was or wasn't as realistic. Once he pointed something out, it made a lot of sense, but he was the only one who caught those details.

Our whole party adored Allen and felt like he really *got* us. Every time someone asked me how was my wedding, the first thing I say is our photographer was really great, being our number one hype man. His chemistry with my partner and the best man especially was off the charts. I honestly don't know if I was stressed--ok, maybe spending my morning in the makeup chair with people blowing up my phone and a squad of moms chirping at me was a little hairy, but once we were in Allen's hands, it was a nonstop party.

Had an amazing time shooting our wedding photos in Hawaii with Allen. The whole experience was super fun and relaxed — it honestly felt like sightseeing while taking photos.
Even though it was crazy windy at Lanai Lookout, he stayed professional and kept shooting without missing a beat.
He also recommended some local food places for us, and we tried them after — 10/10, no regrets.
Couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Highly recommend Allen Cao if you’re planning a shoot in Hawaii!

We had an absolutely wonderful experience working with Allen Cao for our wedding!
Allen is incredibly personable and instantly puts everyone at ease — he quickly built trust with us and our families, making the entire day feel relaxed and joyful.

On the wedding day, he was highly organized and worked seamlessly with our videographer and other vendors. His calm and professional approach made everything go so smoothly.

We were first drawn to Allen by the creativity and warmth in his past work, and he absolutely lived up to that reputation — our photos turned out stunning, full of genuine emotions and beautiful storytelling.

Communication with Allen was effortless throughout the whole process. He’s sincere, transparent, and always made sure our vision was understood.

What truly impressed us was his dedication — even though he was still recovering from a leg injury at the time, Allen worked tirelessly and never compromised on quality. His professionalism and passion really shine through in every shot.

We’re so grateful for Allen’s work and would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for a talented, caring, and creative photographer!

Allen is incredibly skilled, and you can trust his professionalism 100%. I did a lot of research beforehand, especially since the light in Hawaii is so strong. I looked through many of his photos and saw how well he handles the harsh sunlight, so the pictures never looked overexposed. His style is all about capturing genuine, candid moments, not stiff, perfect poses, which left us with so many touching memories. On our wedding day, Allen was great at getting everyone excited and keeping the energy high. He really became one of the group, and the atmosphere was so fun and lively (he even won a prize in one of our games, haha!). He's also extremely dedicated. Our wedding was packed with events, and he made sure to capture every single moment. He even had his second photographer record a video of our first dance. We highly recommend him!

My wife and I just had our wedding in August with Allen (DAQI) as our photographer. He created such a friendly and comfortable atmosphere and was very flexible throughout the day with changes and photo requests. We could easily tell that he had a lot of experience and that he was genuinely looking to capture the best photos of us and our wedding party. Allen was also very quick at uploading the photos after the wedding, with some of them already available for us to preview the night of. The photos turned out fantastic and we have received so many compliments on them from our friends and family. We are more than pleased with Allen's services and would highly recommend him to any couple looking to capture their special day on camera.

Allen was truly the best choice we could have made for our Hawaii wedding. From the moment he arrived, he brought such positive energy, keeping us relaxed and making the whole process fun. He didn’t just pose us for photos—he captured the genuine joy, laughter, and little candid moments that made our day so special.
The photos came out absolutely stunning, full of life and emotion, and they instantly take us back to our happiest memories. We also found Allen’s professionalism, attitude, and value for money outstanding—he delivered far beyond our expectations. We can’t recommend him highly enough to other couples looking for photos that truly tell their love story.

I found Allen on social media and was immediately drawn to the life and energy in his photos. My wedding prep time was very short—just one month—but Allen took everything so seriously and even adjusted his original schedule to accommodate ours. He also recommended an amazing team for the venue, planning, and videography, so I didn’t have to stress about finding them myself. Every one of his recommendations turned out to be just as professional and talented as he is, and the results were incredible.

On the wedding day, I was a little nervous and didn’t know how to pose, but Allen guided us step by step. He showed us how to look natural and beautiful in front of the camera, and now I understand how those vibrant photos come to life! His eye for aesthetics is fantastic—he knows the best spots, the best angles, and how to capture people at their most flattering. He also has such a warm personality that made the whole atmosphere lighthearted and fun. My family and friends all felt so relaxed and happy, which really shows in the photos.

The turnaround time was unbelievably fast—by the time I got home from Hawaii, he already had the edited photos ready! Not only was he efficient, but the editing style was exactly what I loved.

I feel incredibly lucky to have had Allen as our photographer. If you want beautiful, lively photos and a wonderful experience, I can’t recommend him enough!

Choosing Allen as our photographer was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. His photos are stunning—not just in quality, but in the way they capture the most precious, fleeting moments. Looking through our gallery, I see real laughter, quiet tears, and so many little in-between memories that make the day feel alive again.

Allen has a rare gift for making people feel at ease. He was wonderful with our kids and helped our family and friends feel comfortable enough to relax, be playful, and truly enjoy the moment. When we needed guidance, he gently led us without forcing anything. It felt like he wasn’t just photographing the day, but co-creating it with us.

Beyond his artistry, Allen is simply a joy to work with. His communication is clear and kind, and even when challenges came up on the wedding day, he handled them with professionalism and grace, always finding common ground. His assistant was equally incredible—helping with my dress, supporting my kids, and making sure I felt cared for throughout the day.

What makes Allen’s work stand out is his realistic yet deeply loving style. Every photo feels natural, personal, and uniquely ours. They don’t just look beautiful—they feel like home. We’ll treasure them forever. I couldn’t recommend Allen more highly to any couple looking for a photographer who is both an artist and a true partner on their wedding day.