I was born and raised in Hawai‘i, and growing up there shaped much of who I am. The aloha spirit, strong family values, compassion, and sense of community I was surrounded by continue to influence how I move through the world—and how I approach the people who trust me with their stories.

 

Believe it or not, becoming a photographer was never "the dream." My aunty gifted me a point-and-shoot camera while I was in college (for something completely unrelated, btw) and I ran with it.

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It went something like this: free camera > hobby > side hustle > expensive side hustle > business.

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I photographed my first wedding in Hawai‘i in 2017, but my perspective shifted after moving to San Jose in 2019. During an engagement session, I watched a couple gradually relax and become more comfortable with me as we got acquainted, then fall into the kind of candid moments that cannot be forced.

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As I was editing their session later, it all came together. I realized I could give couples an outside perspective on the intimacy, emotion, and connection they may not always see for themselves—and that feeling is what led me to fully pursue couples portraits and ultimately wedding photography.

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As of today, I've photographed hundreds of weddings – from Hawai'i to the East Coast (though mostly in CA). Every celebration has looked different, but the reason I keep doing this remains the same: there's nothing ordinary about being trusted to document a day people will return to for the rest of their lives.