Skip to main content
Weddings

Attributes highlighted by couples

Capturing memories
Seasoned with weddings
Pristine quality
Skilled photographer

About

Artistic. Refined. Style.

Premier destination wedding photographer, Derek Wong.

Derek has an extensive background concentrated in photojournalism, commercial and portrait photography. He has studied and worked with world-class fashion, editorial, commercial, and portrait photographers including Karen Moskowitz, Platon, Norman Jean Roy, Max Vadukul, Dewey Nicks, and Andrew Eccles. His past work includes engagements with RealNetworks Inc., Apple Computer Inc., Wallpaper, The Surfer's Journal, and Third Floor Design.

Today, his focus is primarily on wedding photography. What sets him apart from other photographers are his attention to detail, his commitment to quality, and his talent and professional experience for capturing moving images - images that are at once spontaneous and elegant, authentic and timeless, poignant and classically beautiful.

Respected and appreciated by his clients. Derek’s work continually evolves to maintain the highest quality and expectations.

Photojournalists from major newspapers as well as filmmakers and graphic designers have recommended his work. They appreciate his eye for seeing emotion and capturing the immediacy of the moment.

His work has also been featured in Pacific Rim Wedding Magazine, Hawaii Bride & Groom, Vancouver Magazine, Wallpaper*, The New York Times, The Surfer's Journal, and Style Magazine.

illustration popular

Vendors you may like

See other vendors that are popular with couples right now

Frequently asked questions

What is the starting price for your wedding photography services?

$3,000

Which of the following are included in the starting price?

2nd Shooter
Add'l Hours
Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
Multi. Locations
One Event / Day
Albums
Digital Files
Prints
Thank You Cards

What is the price of your most popular wedding package?

$5,900

Which of the following are included in the price of your most popular wedding package?

2nd Shooter
High-Res Images
One Event / Day
Albums
Digital Files

What primary photographic style do you identify with?

Contemporary
Natural
Photojournalism
Traditional

What photography services do you offer?

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

What photography items do you offer?

Albums
Canvas
Digital Files
Flush Mount
Matted Prints
Negatives
Prints
Thank You Cards
illustration question

Any other questions?

Message vendor
4.8 out of 5 rating
44 Reviews
  • Quality of service
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    4.8 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    4.7 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    4.9 out of 5 rating
97% Recommended by couples
C
Charisse S. Sent on 05/25/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing from start to finish!

This review is long overdue! Not to make any excuses but first wanted to wait til we received our final set of photographs and then, newlywed life got in the way. That all said, we hired Derek based on numerous reviews online to him being one of the top approved vendors at all our potential venues to seeing his portfolio and finally because we knew his laid back but professional personality fit us! We were lucky enough to have him photograph both our engagement and wedding photos and have ZERO regrets, fond memories and are 200% satisfied. He has a unique knack and eye to capture moments that look very natural but giving enough direction with poses that are un-natural for those of us not used to being photographed!

We were told by many friends and their wedding coordinators to book our preferred photographer FIRST. You can always find another venue (or room at preferred venue) or another caterer, but you can’t get another photographer that can shoot the style you want! Luckily for us, from the moment we met for our initial conversation, we knew he was “the one” and he never disappointed! He went above and beyond what a normal photog had to do by recommending our fantastic DJ and wedding coordinator and helping us secure our dream wedding venue, the Halekulani, which we thought at first wouldn’t be possible due to size limitations during covid. He carefully considered our guest list and recommended splitting our ceremony and reception allowing 140 guests to fit comfortably within air condition into two different locations (Hau Terrace and Grand Ballroom), something our initial hotel contact did not suggest!

For our engagement photoshoot, we had some bad luck with the weather – SHOOTS! biggest rain storm in Honolulu for several years with Waikiki and all beaches being flooded ☹ Derek was nice enough to let us reschedule for 3 months later at Kahala Beach. Derek had an ease and comfort about him that made our session so relaxing and fun. It was also perfect for us to figure out what angles worked best so that during our wedding, we’d know what NOT to do!! Ladies, he also listened to my concerns when I said please do not photograph me with a double chin or a big belly! You know what I mean!! All of my girlfriends commented how great our shots came out and another friend that got married on the mainland even told me she wished he had photographed her wedding b/c she told her photog the same thing and that guy kinda laughed it off instead of understanding a bride wants to look AND remember how beautiful she was and not be sad seeing a fat side arm or unflattering side view with spanx/double chin!

5 months later at our dream wedding at the Halekulani Hotel, Derek was able to capture so many beautiful moments that we will cherish for our lifetime – from getting ready pics, to pre-ceremony family/wedding party to the ceremony, cocktails and finally our reception. He made sure to capture all of the sets we requested plus more! In fact, we had asked a few months prior to make sure he captured a black and white moment in front of the tea terrace that he had featured on his website, but completely forgot day of. During the middle of the reception as we were all dancing, he came up to us and said, let’s take that picture downstairs now – lighting is right and tbh, we were like what picture? But as soon as we walked downstairs, we remembered, and it was literally one of our favorite pictures of the entire set!

You will definitely be more than satisfied with Derek if you hire him to be your photographer and will have stunning pictures of your momentous occasion to pass down to generations.
R
Reyna Sent on 12/27/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Derek Makes Magic

I don't even know where to begin! Short background: My now husband and I are a Covid wedding couple and had been planning our day since 2019. We worked with Derek for over 2 years as we pushed our date back a year during the pandemic. Let me just say, that's a lot of time to build a relationship and Derek got to know us very well lol. We did some pretty extensive research when looking for a photographer. Our wedding venue (The Four Seasons Oahu) provided recommendations and Derek was top of the list. After looking, drooling, and oo'ing and ah'ing over his Instagram and website, we KNEW we had to secure him. Aside from Derek's undeniable talent and the way he captures movement and light, he's also one of the nicest people I've ever met. He took the time to really get to know us and we instantly felt a connection. He's relaxed, easy to talk to, personable, and we felt so at ease with him. These qualities are critical when picking your wedding photographer, as it allowed us to be natural and comfortable around him the entire day. This is apparent in the pictures- we never felt like anything was posed or forced, it was so genuine and really embodied the island vibe. During the wedding day, he had everything down to a science and I felt like I didn't have to lift a finger. He ran his operation smoothly and had no problem managing our rambunctious wedding party into position. Looking back I can't believe all of the shots he took because his presence was so subtle, we didn't notice the camera or feel overwhelmed it. Fast forward to us receiving the first preview pictures and all I can say is WOW. For additional context we were combatting rainy weather and overcast skies all day. The sun was nowhere to be seen and we were feeling slightly discouraged in how the pictures would look. That being said, you would never know by looking at the pictures that there was less than ideal weather. The colors and lighting from Derek's magical editing made it look like it was a beautiful day. This honestly got me emotional (I cried) because he still managed to make everything absolutely perfect. He was able to find magic in seemingly everyday moments (i.e. getting ready shots, laughing, candids, etc). He trekked to the beach with us when it was pitch black out and never missed a beat. I truly mean this from the bottom of my heart, please just book Derek. His professionalism, skill, and vision are so unique, we feel so lucky to have met and worked with him. Now we have the most beautiful pictures to remember a day 2+ years in the making. Thank you, Derek!!!
F
Farnoush Sent on 06/06/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Captured all the special moments!

My husband and I had the absolute pleasure of hiring Derek as our photographer on our special day. Right from the start, Derek was always professional, responsive, available for questions, thorough, detailed and very helpful. Derek even helped us put together a detailed timeline prior to the wedding, specifically for photo opportunities as sunset was approaching. He played a huge role in helping us plan for our destination wedding, especially during a pandemic, which would have been much more of a stressful experience had it not been for Derek. He additionally helped us with recommendations for our cake, officiant and even hair and makeup, which was a very important decision for photos.

Prior to our wedding, Derek made sure to collect the names of each individual we especially wanted to take photos with, which was most important. We had assigned two of our guests to help direct the guests to photos, so as to remain efficient. Derek went above and beyond on the day of the wedding to make sure to capture everything we had asked for. He was incredibly detailed in capturing photos, making sure all individuals in the photo were aligned with his beautiful and creative vision. His sample photos of weddings clearly showed his talent, so I made sure he had plenty of creative space throughout the day. We felt very confident in his work. He was very familiar with our venue and even knew which part of the landscape allowed for the best backdrops.

We were so incredibly pleased with our photos, we had such great difficulty choosing our favorites for printing purposes in our home. The way Derek captured our entire wedding, the special moments, the gorgeous venue and the beautiful backdrop - it was all so perfect. Derek, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your photos mean everything to us.

We had the pleasure of working with a phenomenal team of vendors on our wedding day.

I could not have asked for a better team.

We loved all of our vendors. Below is a full list of our other vendors, for your reference:



Wedding coordinator Melissa Veenstra

Venue Royal Hawaiian Golf Course in Kailua

DJ Neekz

Officiant Kahu Bruce

Florist Todd Oshiro

Cake A Cake Life

Hair and Makeup Sarah from Whik’d Hair

Hula dancers and ukulele player Kawena from Kahiapo Talent

Wedding singer Maile Booking Manager Quinn A. Miyashiro
illustration stars

Are you interested?

Message vendor

Awards

44
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2012 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2011 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

2 Endorsements
Face Art Beauty Face Art Beauty Wedding Hair & Makeup

Derek is not only talented in photography, but he is also wonderful at responding to your questions and concerns almost immediately! Its amazing how fast he response back to you, and he is such a nice person too! We always say that Derek is like a Ninja on your wedding day. You almost feel like he isn't there taking your photos lol. He produces beautiful photos without that awkward "in your face" feeling, making every experience comfortable.

Elysium Events Inc. Elysium Events Inc. Banquet Halls

Derek is an amazingly talented photographer! He has a unique style and always manages to capture the most special moments of a couple's wedding day. His easy-going nature, positive attitude and professionalism make him really great to work with, and we look forward to more opportunities to work with him in the future!

Preferred Vendors

Cherished in Hawaii Weddings
5.0 out of 5 rating , 206 Reviews
· Wedding Planners
DJ Troy Michael
5.0 out of 5 rating , 229 Reviews
· Wedding DJs
The DJ Hawaii, Tony So
5.0 out of 5 rating , 74 Reviews
· Wedding DJs
Maleana Cosmetics
4.6 out of 5 rating , 49 Reviews
· Wedding Hair & Makeup
Parasol Events
4.5 out of 5 rating , 14 Reviews
· Wedding Planners
Mango Muse Events
5.0 out of 5 rating , 29 Reviews
· Wedding Planners

Map

Derek Wong Photography frequently asked questions

Derek Wong Photography includes the following photography services in the starting price:
  • 2nd Shooter
  • Add'l Hours
  • Engagement Shoot
  • High-Res Images
  • Multi. Locations
  • One Event / Day
  • Albums
  • Digital Files
  • Prints
  • Thank You Cards
Derek Wong Photography includes the following photography services in their most popular wedding package:
  • 2nd Shooter
  • High-Res Images
  • One Event / Day
  • Albums
  • Digital Files
Derek Wong Photography offers the following photography styles:
  • Contemporary
  • Natural
  • Photojournalism
  • Traditional
Derek Wong Photography offers the following photography services for weddings:
  • Additional Hours
  • Destination / Travel
  • Engagement Shoot
  • High-Res Images
  • One Event / Day
  • Second Shooter
  • Wedding Portraits
Derek Wong Photography offers the following photography materials for weddings:
  • Albums
  • Canvas
  • Digital Files
  • Flush Mount
  • Matted Prints
  • Negatives
  • Prints
  • Thank You Cards
Derek Wong Photography is recommended by 97% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.8 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in quality of service, 4.9 in flexibility, 4.9 in professionalism, 4.8 in average response time and 4.7 in value.

Other vendors in Honolulu for your wedding

Wedding Vendors