UPDATED MAR 2020. Visiting Hawaii for the first time was an incredible experience. I never thought I’d live there, but now, after living here for three years, I can say that it’s nothing short of epic. If you are planning a visit to Hawaii, I want to encourage you to immortalize the visit in some way. Writing in a travel journal is a good start – I recommend using the one I created because it’s awesome, and I have another option as well. Book a photoshoot with a local photographer (and the best Oahu photographer in my opinion) Tony from Venture Hawaii. It’ll be the experience of a lifetime and you’ll have a collection of high-quality photos to take back with you.
The Best Oahu Photographer – A Photo Shoot Souvenir With Venture Hawaii
Disclaimer:
This post was written in partnership with Venture Hawaii.
FAQ for adventure photoshoots on Oahu
Where is the location?
Customizable – you can choose the type of location you prefer.
Which company should you
Venture Hawaii.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the location and type of shoot.
What skill level is required?
Photoshoots are customized to match your skill level.
Who is it good for?
Tourists, families, couples, trash the dress shoot, solo travelers, engagement, honeymoon – everyone!
How do you book a photoshoot?
Contact Tony on Instagram @tonysed or by using the contact form on the Venture Hawaii website.
Who is Venture Hawaii?
Venture Hawaii is a local brand founded by Tony Sedillo and Kyla Vida.
They have an Instagram page where they repost adventure photos from people who use the #VentureHawaii hashtag.
There is also the Venture Hawaii merchandise. There is a range of cool items in their shop including hats, bags, shirts and they have recently started making Venture Hawaii wetsuits.
What I admire about Tony and Kyla is their work ethic. When I first found their business, they were both working full-time jobs and had Venture Hawaii as the side hustle. They are true examples of people working hard to reach their goals and create success for themselves which is so admirable.
I’m very grateful to have been able to watch this business grow during my time here in Hawaii. I am excited to watch them grow even further in the future. With a pair of dedicated hard workers like these two, I know big things are coming.
Why I chose Venture Hawaii
I have a long-standing admiration for the Venture Hawaii brand. Their Instagram page was one of the first inspirations that helped me start my own adventures.
I was quick to realize that what made their page and brand different was the respect for the island. It wasn’t just another repost page with a ‘shop here’ link.
It was about promoting a lifestyle of adventuring, exploring, and enjoying the island life with the utmost respect.
They share the tradition of spearfishing in a respectful way by abiding by fishing regulations, taking only what is needed to feed their families, and removing trash and invasive species.
Dive to provide is more than a catchy slogan.
Photoshoot options
I chose to do an underwater photoshoot, though the packages are customizable.
If you are more of a land creature, Tony has you covered.
With a range of possibilities from cascading waterfalls to sweeping landscapes and of course the pristine beaches, there is certainly a setting to suit everyone.
If you are looking to build a portfolio or gain exposure, the photos will also be shared on their social media platforms which is the added bonus. The prices vary depending on which type of photoshoot you are looking to book.
What it was like to do an underwater photoshoot
As soon as I met Tony I knew it was going to be a fun shoot. Right off the bat, he explained a plan for the shoot, told me about the equipment he was taking out with us, and also gave me some safety tips in case we got stuck. I knew I was in good hands.
His warmth and genuinely kind personality shone through straight away making me feel very comfortable as if we were buddies going out for a dive.
This may not seem like much but it is actually HUGE when it comes to photography.
If the photographer is cold, harsh, or doesn’t make you feel comfortable then it doesn’t matter how talented they are behind the lens, your energy will show in the photos.
The end product won’t be as good. I believe a huge part of being a good photographer is your interpersonal skills and Tony is great in this area.
You will get great photos and have fun doing so in a relaxed atmosphere which is the best part.
A photoshoot with a tako (octopus) on Oahu
Tony is an avid diver and spearfisherman, so it was not surprising that he found a tako fairly quickly. He has the tako eye and actually spotted four during our dive.
Remember the slogan ‘dive to provide’ I mentioned earlier?
He eats what he catches in the water so if you are squeamish, you might want to let him know. I knew if he found a tako that was big enough to take from the water that it would be killed, so I asked him to let me know before he did it so I could turn around.
In the end, we didn’t see any that were big enough though.
During the photoshoot, he was not only concerned with getting amazing photos, but he was also attentive to the care of the animals as well.
The Tako he found were small and he knew they would tire easily. We held them for a few photos then placed them back down to hide in the safety of the reef before they got too tired.
He also found a huge Conch Shell which we took photos with before placing back to its home in the reef.
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The photoshoots combine adventure, photos, and love for Hawaii
The photoshoot was more than just a photoshoot. It was an experience. I watched as Tony searched for Tako, I listened as he taught me about the animals and his island lifestyle, and I bonded with nature throughout the shoot.
During the shoot, I was immersed in a learning experience where I walked away from it with even more love and respect for Hawaii.
I truly love photography and how capturing an image is capturing a moment in time.
When you get to combine it with an outdoor adventure and support a local business, it doesn’t get much better.
Booking a shoot with the best Oahu photographer, Tony would make the best memento of your time here.
It doesn’t matter whether you are visiting on holiday, live here temporarily, or were born here. You’ll get an amazing experience and incredible photographs that offer a unique Hawaiian flair.
I’ve done two now and cannot recommend it enough!
For more information:
Support the Venture Wetsuits merchandise store
Follow Venture Hawaii on Instagram
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Great post and awesome photos! I would love to do one at the waterfalls. How amazing would that be! This has definitely made it onto my list of things to do.
Thank you so much! The waterfalls here are so beautiful and would make for great photos! I hope you get a chance to visit and book a photoshoot!
I’m sorry to complain, but this goes against every rule of responsible diving.
You should NEVER handle & harass marine life:
Venture Hawai’i shouldn’t have allowed you do to this. They could be reported to any of the certifying membership organisations for unethical behaviour and loose their dive license.
While I respect your concern for wildlife and conservation, just so you are aware, spearfishing regulations are much different to those of scuba divers. We were both free-diving for this photoshoot and whatever we found that met the size regulations was going to be taken for food. Tony from Venture Hawai’i is well versed in the diving and fishing regulations here and, more importantly, behind the scenes showed a great amount of care and respect for all aspects of the environment during the dive.
I love these photos! And I would LOVE to get to Hawai’i sometime soon. It looks like a beautiful place 🙂
Thank you Sophie! Hawai’i is certainly a magical, beautiful place that I hope you get to see! xx