We all know that the economy can go through some hard times, and be somewhat reminiscent of past recessions. However, as people cut back on non-essential little luxuries here and there, one constant remains: weddings. People don’t tend to just stop getting married due to a poor economy, nor should they! So, in an industry that keeps on going through thick and thin, what are some things to expect for the future, and what is really necessary to still make that wedding day memorable and...Read more
Are you planning a short-notice, small wedding or elopement?
Many couples don’t want to wait. They are planning to get married in the very near future, eloping, or rushing a small ceremony with their photographer, some close friends, and family but dispensing with or postponing the reception party.
View WPJA photo stories from smaller weddings - WedElope | Choose love, not fear!
Hawaii Wedding Photographers
Wedding Photographers of Hawaii, United States
Big Island, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Nihau, Kahoolawe, Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, Hilo, Waikiki
Hawaii Elopement Photographers
In recent days, some of our North America photographers have expressed their desire to accommodate couples who don’t want to wait to be married and are rushing the ceremony.
Many brides and grooms around the globe are planning to elope and deciding to reschedule their original ideas for a big event. They are getting wed on a whim, but dispensing with or postponing all else.
The WPJA has an abundance of top-ranked, documentary-style elopement photographers who are available right now who understand that some weddings can’t wait. Find yours today!
Most Recent WPJA WedElope Story Awards
Elopement Photographers for Small United States Weddings
Shooting an elopement or small Hawaii wedding event is a wedding photojournalist’s dream: a fairly open schedule with lots of breathing space for creativity – it’s just the photographer, the couple, the officiant, and perhaps a few select companions.
Members are ready to document any justice of the peace, secret, town hall, or elopement wedding, even if it is a Monday-Thursday ceremony. Search for the “Can Shoot Weddings on Short Notice!” message on the listings below.
We are anxious to create a picture story chronicling your modern, boutique, intimate, small wedding from beginning to end. In this sense, it is no different from any other event that we have covered. The emphasis is on documenting key moments, capturing spontaneous displays of emotion, telling your real love story, as well as creating artistic portraits and details.
Map of Wedding Photojournalists Serving Hawaii Couples
11 Documentary Wedding Photographers...
Aloha! I'm Angie and I'm living the dream as a Hawaii wedding photographer. Truly, as a kid, I always wanted to be a lost boy and live in a treehouse surrounded by the jungle and the sea. And Hawaii is probably as close to Neverland as I will get. I always grew up with a sense of wonder and adventure, but my journals as a kid weren’t filled with grand ideas of living in Hawaii and photographing couples on one of the most important days of their lives. This career found when I was teaching high school in Maui. I moved to Maui, Hawaii in 2009 with my husband and was immediately inspired to pick up my dusty old camera and start photographing this beautiful place. What began as a side hustle quickly turned into a passion and eventually a full-time career. I began shooting weddings in 2010 and can truly say that I love documenting the real moments during the wedding day. Real moments + the beauty of Hawaii is what I'm always inspired by. I cry at every wedding and always aim to see the world differently for each day that I'm shooting. When I'm not photographing weddings, you can find me outside enjoying Maui or spending quality time with my husband and daughter. [Maui Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3400 (USD)
I don't take myself too seriously - but I do LOVE my job. When I’m shooting I’m a total goof, creating a fun atmosphere where it’s easy for you to feel comfortable being YOURSELF. The word “professional” in front of “photographer” is hard for me to stomach, since I lie in the dirt A LOT and have been known to swear like a sailor. But what I lack in dignity I make up for in sound effects. I have been shooting weddings full time since 2013 though, so I guess I must accept the title. I'm your built-in hype girl. I am also an “adult.” More about me: -I met my husband when I moved to Colorado in 2015 – literally, on my first night here- and now we have two terrible/adorable cats and a forever sleepover. -My favorite food is anything wrapped in more food. Pierogies. Ravioli. Potstickers. Tacos. Samosas. Empanadas. Give it to me. -I’ve danced contra, swing, lindy, blues, and fusion, but off the dancefloor, I’m a total klutz. I once cut myself on a bagel, which is the roundest object known to all mankind. It’s bad, dudes. -Still not over how cute bunnies are. Who is, though? -I’m a Highly Sensitive Person, (HSP) and I have Misophonia (which is, unfortunately, not a soup). -I previously worked in veterinary surgery and volunteered at spay/neuter clinics and a raptor rehab center. My feral cat wrangling skills rarely come into play at weddings, but when they do.. -I’ve traveled to New Zealand, Indonesia, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Germany & Austria, where I kept cheese in my pockets to lure stray cats into my arms. It was.. occasionally successful. If you have been to New Zealand, we are already friends. [Denver Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3800 (USD)
I’ve worked as a professional photographer for more than a decade. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in photojournalism and started out in the newspaper industry. During that time, I shot everything from criminal court trials to Detroit Pistons games (I’m originally from Michigan); structure fires to beauty pageants; congressional debates to high school football games on Friday nights. Every day was a new challenge; every assignment a new learning opportunity. My time as a photojournalist taught me to be resourceful and to think on my feet, which has proven invaluable for wedding photography. In the summer of 2008, I started shooting weddings on the side and absolutely loved it. I was able to visit new places, meet new people, and was granted a very important and personal role in what was arguably the most joyful day of their lives. Plus, I started getting a ton of compliments on my work and how it was different from typical wedding photography. People would tell me that they could spot one of my photos from a mile away without having to be told who the photographer was – that I was beginning to cultivate a very specific style. So when my wife, Moira, and I moved to Colorado that fall, I decided to make wedding photography my full-time career; we started J. La Plante Photo and never looked back. When I’m not behind the lens, you can probably find me on the slopes. Skiing is one of the main reasons I moved west. I’m also obsessed with the music scene out here. Red Rocks is by far the coolest venue I’ve ever been to. I’m a craft beer nerd, a movie buff, an amateur screenwriter and an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction alike. And I love to travel. I’ve been to 18 foreign countries and all 50 United States. I drove all over the American West before deciding to settle in Colorado, where I immediately fell in love with the state’s blend of urban and outdoor lifestyles. The proximity of Denver to the mountains felt too good to be true and now, eight years later, it still feels that way. I can’t imagine a more perfect setting for a wedding photographer. [Boulder Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
4999 (USD)
Hi! I'm Shea. I'm a wedding photographer that loves photographing weddings and elopements all over the beautiful state of Colorado, as well as all over the world! I was born in Denver but moved to the midwest when I was very young. However, I always felt at home when I came to visit Colorado so I knew I would move back here one day. I've been in Colorado for just over three years now and I love everything that this beautiful state has to offer! - FUN FACTS ABOUT ME - In college, I drove from Iowa to Pennsylvania to be an extra in a movie with Matt Damon and John Krasinski. Have you seen "Promised Land"? When I'm not taking pictures you can find me in the mountains hiking or camping! I got married in November to the most wonderful human. I now know what you all are going through and am more understanding than ever when it comes to wedding planning! ;) I backpacked Europe for 3 months after college and ended up living in Spain for a year teaching English afterward! I've always felt like I am more of a dog person, but Jacob and I adopted a cat named Ophelia and I have officially become one of those crazy cat ladies. Every year I travel somewhere new. My most recent trips include Machu Picchu, South Africa, and Ireland. I love traveling and trying new things! This year we are going to Costa Rica! My favorite bands/musicians include Maggie Rogers, Gregory Alan Isakov, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Nightsweats, The Lumineers, and Johnnyswim I have been vegan for over two years! I've won two contests in my life so far: a coloring contest in 5th grade and a grape stomping contest at the Iowa State Fair! Jacob and I love to swing dance! We started taking lessons last year and had fun swing dancing for our first dance at our wedding in November! I have played piano for 24 years! [Denver Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3500 (USD)
Michael describes himself as “a real-moments photographer”. He strives to create bold, artistic portraits that are worthy of celebration. His unique perspective and down to earth personality translates well with clients, and he takes time to get to know all of his wedding couples. Michael likes to push the limits of creativity and thrives off of spontaneity. He focuses on the story of the day and how it unfolds, documenting the romance and love. When Michael was in high school, his grandfather gave him his first camera, a Kodak Ektra 100 and he began shooting film. It was during this time that the seed was planted for Michael’s unique eye for composition. A lifelong soccer player, Michael played goalkeeper in high school and college. As a goalkeeper, you have to anticipate movements, much the same way you have to anticipate special moments happening at a wedding. His documentarian style captures these fleeting moments creating images that are authentic and timeless. Each year, Michael shoots around 50 full-day weddings, including many destination and elopement weddings. An avid outdoorsman, Michael enjoys traveling to new places and exploring the beauty of the natural world. He loves all activities on the water including fishing, boating, and surfing. Michael is inspired by nature, light, abstract design and the love he witnesses between his couples. [Key West Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3800 (USD)
Hi, I'm Tanya! I'm a Los Angeles and destination wedding photographer based out of Santa Monica. I live for documenting real moments and real couples. I have nearly a decade of experience photographing weddings, but a lifetime of passion for photography, especially photojournalism. I grew up being inspired by National Geographic magazines and wedding photographers' work whose style incorporated story-telling elements. As a photographer, I try to think outside of the box to create images that are unique, compelling and celebrate life. [Los Angeles Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3000 (USD)
Doug is an award-winning photographer based out of San Francisco Bay. His style is documentary with drops of lifestyle. He is known for his peaceful and positive demeanor, and ability to easily connect with family and guests. Doug has shot near 450 wedding events since 2002 from San Francisco to Seoul and Big Sur to Bangkok. Seen as an extension of the family, he gets in close and comfortable, being quickly accepted and forgotten, while framing the perfect shot at the height of the moment. Departing a bit from his days as a photojournalist, Doug prefers to photograph from 'inside the circle' instead of out... often ending up as a longtime family photographer and friend. Published in leading blogs such as NPR, Brides, Style Me Pretty, Snippet and Ink and Le Magnifique, his images are treasured by the professional community. Doug is listed as one of the top 30 photographers in the world by the Wedding Photojournalist Association and is a preferred talent on premiere venue and coordinator lists along the California coast. [San Francisco Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3750 (USD)
Since 2006 he has been engaged in full-scale wedding photography in Japan. Since 2010, mainly focusing on landscape photos that are conscious of light and shadows. Currently, he also works as a commercial photo and photo retoucher. [Osaka Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
600 (USD)
Professional documentary wedding photography based out of Seattle, specializing in photography that blends in an acute sense of the moment. In addition to providing local and destination wedding photography; Lightphoria also offers lifestyle, senior, family and child photography. [Seattle Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
4500 (USD)
I was raised in North Carolina, went up north to Boston College to study Studio Art, lived abroad in Florence, Italy, moved to Washington, DC, and now I have been splitting my time on both coasts between Los Angeles and Greensboro, NC. I truly love what I do. It is as much a lifestyle as it is a calling - and I am humbled by the recognition I have received within my industry. In college, I was featured in National Geographic for a photojournalism piece focusing on Americans in the rural Blue Ridge Mountains. For the past 10 years, photography has been my life, my passion, and an ever-changing, creative source of self-expression. By incorporating both love and art, it is an extreme honor to capture the big moments in people's lives. Weddings are the culmination of a love story and a start to a new adventure. What I love most about weddings is I often get to see a couple grow from engagement to marriage to starting a family. To maintain quality work and excellent client relationships, I only book up to 15 weddings a year (both local and international). The other work I get to delve into (mostly in LA) is documenting branding and decor for Hollywood studios and other companies. On those very special days off, I adore spending time with my husband, our new baby boy Julian, and our rescue Shepherd, Zoe. I am very passionate about animal welfare and spend a dedicated amount of time photographing shelter animals and helping place them in forever homes. [Los Angeles Wedding Photographer]
Starting Price:
3800 (USD)
Wedding Venues from Hawaii
Please select a venue below to view all associated winning photos.
Searches Related to Hawaii Wedding Photography Vendors
WPJA Communiqué: Features
Traditionally speaking, often times it is the couple’s families who help pay for their wedding. However, unfortunately that’s just not possible for everyone, especially these days when the cost of weddings can quickly and easily get out of control. Some couples find themselves in the position of paying for all of their own wedding expenses, which can be quite the financial burden to take on, and about 40% of Millennials end up in this boat. So, how can you stick to your allotted...Read more
While some of us were fortunate enough to be born as extroverts, not everyone feels the same way. For a good chunk of the population, any number of the typical wedding day traditions can inspire anxiety and existential dread. This day is all about you, yes, but does that mean all the attention has to be on you as well? FROM VOWS TO CHITCHAT, WHICH REMAINS SACRED? Traditional weddings often require some degree of performance on the part of the couple, whether that is in the form of reciting...Read more
Oftentimes when people are considering a venue for their weddings, they search for a location away from home, whether that be ten minutes or ten hours, all just to find what they already have: a place that holds meaning for them, that feels comfortable, or that they find special and memorable. But what could hold more memory, meaning, and importance than your own home? For those looking for that perfect venue, it may not be any further than beyond your threshold.Read more
Some couples, as they begin planning for their weddings, might think that they are limited to the classic locations: churches, gardens, beaches, or even Las Vegas. But in doing so they’re missing out on a multitude of unique options that might suit their personalities much better! Why limit yourself to a quiet, quaint ceremony when your adventurous heart may be calling out for something more? An entirely different genre of wedding, so to speak, is the adventure wedding elopement. This concept...Read more
WHAT EXACTLY DOES IT MEAN TO ELOPE? If you look up the definition of “elope” in the Merriam-Webster dictionary , you’ll find a plethora of meanings making it quite clear how polarizing the word has become, and how it has transformed and evolved with the passage of time and even personal preference.Read more
RAVES, REVIEWS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Christine & Bryan
Photo by Douglas Despres
"Doug these are amazing!! I can't even tell you how much I'm in love with them! You did such an incredible job and I cannot thank you enough! They're unreal!"
Frances & Bryce
Photo by Jesse La Plante
Thank you both so very much from the bottom of our hearts for being so wonderful to work with and for your talent and artistry in capturing our wedding day in a way no one else possibly could have. We are both so grateful and so appreciative of you and all your hard work and dedication. We love everything you have done and everything we have seen so far and are excited for more to come and more time with you both. We are so happy we have connected and we thank you for your friendship also. We just love you guys!! Thank you again for EVERYTHING!! Your talent is off the charts.
Courtney & Derek
Photo by Jesse La Plante
We don’t think we could ever say thank you enough! Every photo you took from our engagement session and our wedding amazes us. As you can tell it is hard to pick our favorite! We had so much fun going on adventures with you to take photos, especially hiking up a mountain in our wedding attire. Thank you for all your hard work on the photos and going above and beyond with your creativity. We will always remember trying to have a romantic moment and Moira always popping in. It gave us many funny memories. We can’t wait to go on our next adventurous photo shoot with you guys and drink some whiskey. If you need a reference feel free to reach out to us!
Jamie & Eric
Photo by Jesse La Plante
You two are just so incredibly talented! Thank you so so much for all of the hard work you put in to capture these amazing photos. We don’t think we have seen wedding photos better than these! Also thank you for coming all the way to Durango and celebrating with us! It was great to get to know you two a little better throughout the wedding process. We hope we get to hang with you two again sometime and hope you enjoyed your time in Durango as well. You guys rock!
Kristin & Grant
Photo by Jesse La Plante
WOOOOOOOO WWWWWWWwW. This is basically the highest form of verbal praise we can give, when we are so blown away by things, we add at least 7 o’s and at least the same number of whatever consonant letter follows the vowel. This is because the pictures leave us so incredibly speechless that all we keep saying is “this is amazing” “no, THIS is amazing.” Which dilutes the power of the amazing which is not at all fair. You guys must be photography ninjas because after the family photos, you were so stealthy I had no idea of your whereabouts, but clearly you were hiding in the best places to capture all these great memories!!!! I am so so happy with these sneak peek photos! Thank you for the gift of your craft. We are so happy you were there on our special day capturing all of these moments in such unique and beautiful form.
Patricia & Kevin
Photo by Jesse La Plante
We were so honored to have you share in our special day. The pics are absolutely amazing! We can’t thank you enough. Please accept this small token of our appreciation of your hard work and beautiful photos. We are so happy with the final product! You rock! Thank you again.
Aekta & John
Photo by Jesse La Plante
We can’t thank you enough for everything. Y’all were/are the BEST! From keeping me company while gettind ressed to the amazing photographs at the wedding, you truly gave us some amazing photographs that really capture our style. Apologies for basically running down the aisle! We’ll never forget the water balloons either! So excited to get the chance to work with you again, and it doesn’t hurt that you’re pretty awesome people. See you in January!
Cat & Bryant
Photo by Jesse La Plante
Bryant and I are so beyond amazed with the photos we received from not only our wedding day but from our engagement shoot! The two of you were so fun to work with and made both of us feel so relaxed that we could just be ourselves. We both look at our photos and ask “How did they get that? We didn’t even see them next to us.” Your work is truly amazing and we couldn’t be happier. Thank you again and please let us know the next time you are in Summit.
Eleanor & Dave
Photo by Douglas Despres
Doug you did the most FANTASTIC job! The photos are all so beautiful I can't even make a favorites list because they're all so great. I confess that I even teared up looking at them it was such a happy day and you captured everything. We're so grateful for all your efforts, we really can't imagine having had a different photographer there to share our day with us. Thank you so so much!
Kiley & Josh
Photo by Douglas Despres
Dear Doug, Thank you so much for sending these images, and for the images themselves which are outstanding. We love so many of them, the hard part is going to be selecting the ones that go in the album! We'll have more time to look and select over the weekend, so we'll probably write to you then or early next week. Again, many thanks for your work -- we are very impressed :) Best, Josh & Kiley
Kristin & Greg
Photo by Jesse La Plante
We can’t thank you enough for our amazing photos! There are so many perfect shots that I’m afraid our house will end up looking like a shrine of our wedding! You guys were easily the best decision for our wedding. Thank you so much for all of your help, advice, suggestions and recommendations. We love that we have ended up with new friends through this experience! Please keep in touch!
Jen & Robert
Photo by Jesse La Plante
We just got back from our honeymoon (talk about perfect timing ! We missed the polar vortex ! ) and we both just wanted to say thank you so much for everything ! We had such a great time and experience with you both. I remember talking with Robert and all I wanted was 5 non awkward photos through the wedding ( you should see our travel photos ... we are pretty non photogenic ...) and seeing your blog post ... oh my god ... those pictures ... were AMAZING ! Not to mention what you wrote... *sigh* ..also, amazing .... you guys just made the day ten times more memorable and I can’t thank you enough ! I can’t wait to see the rest of them (even the blooper reel lol ) and I just wanted to let you know I will be recommending you guys to all of United and then some. I’m so glad we found you guys and I hope to document more memories in the future with you as well :)
WPJA contest judges have been recognized by their industry peers, winning top awards as staff picture editors, staff photojournalists, and newsroom mentors while working for these and other leading publications and journalism organizations.
