Photo...Shoot??? - Authentic Island Photography

“E kiʻi i nā puaʻa mai nā mea hahai holoholona, nā iʻa mai nā lawaiʻa.”

Get pigs from hunters, fish from fishermen.

This is something I learned from my mauka kāne (father) during our fishing and hunting trips. It’s a simple Hawaiian proverb — and while it may sound self-explanatory, the deeper meaning carries into many areas of life. In English, we might say, “You can’t get blood from a turnip.”

In the world of photography, this idea translates beautifully. There’s a huge difference between a photoshoot and a photo production. A hunter doesn’t produce pigs. A fisherman doesn’t produce fish. They capture what’s already there — but they can’t capture what doesn’t exist.

The Difference Between Shooting and Producing

At Hawai‘i Island Photography, we live by that same principle. If you’ve read our mo‘olelo on our About Us page, you know we value authenticity. We believe the magic lies in the tiny, honest details that give life its flavor. When we talk story with people, we’re not just making small talk — we’re looking for those micro-expressions and subtle gestures that reveal the truth of who they are.

When couples ask us to take their photos — especially wedding photos — we start observing from the moment we meet. During consultations, I often wish I could photograph what I see right then: the groom’s quiet skepticism mixed with love, the way he sits patiently through wedding details because he knows how much it means to her.

And then, that moment comes — the one where he looks at her, and his eyes glimmer. That single, fleeting sparkle tells the whole story. It’s often comical in the sweetest way — his face takes a few beats to catch up with what his eyes already said. That’s when I tell the couple, “Yes, I’ll do it.”

Why? Because that glimmer can’t be produced. It’s genuine — a moment of truth that simply exists.

Capturing Mana‘o — The Heart of Authentic Photography

That’s what we aim to capture at Hawai‘i Island Photography — the mana‘o (true thoughts and feelings) of our clients. When we wala‘au (talk story) with our island neighbors, we might start with surface topics, but when we ask for someone’s mana‘o, we’re inviting honesty and connection.

So when someone asks us to shoot photos, we don’t just see it as a job. We see it as an invitation to capture their mana‘o— those real, heartfelt moments that can’t be staged or scripted.

That’s the essence of authentic island photography — capturing life, love, and laughter as they naturally unfold here on the Big Island of Hawai‘i.

Genuine Connection 22 Years Strong