Vivir Photography
Hālawa Heights, Hawaii
(33)
Hālawa Heights, Hawaii
(33)
33 customer reviews
Aaron
Anyone who has been married will tell you that the wedding day is stressful, for a number of reasons. Fortunately, Michael was a breath of fresh air and a calming influence as his style of photography is professional as well as fluid. My wife and I are goofy, love to laugh, and we wanted that reflected in our photos. We also wanted the "serious" shots as well. Michael was able to accommodate all of our wishes and did so with ease. Our final portfolio is incredible! It encompasses the entire event from getting ready to the final songs on the dance floor. Looking through our photos I am able to truly relive my wedding and the loving moments shared with my wife and our family and friends. 5 stars across the board, Michael and Vivir are the way to go. More...
Maddie B.
Michael is wonderful to work with and has a great eye for stunning photos! As part of a wedding planning company, I especially love hiring him for his professionalism, dedication for getting the perfect shot, his ease with with working with others and on top of it all the clients love him! He has a way of making everyone feel comfortable and relaxed around him as he catches special moments and details throughout the event, but still coming off as fun and happy to be part of the festivities. We have another event coming up with him in a few weeks and later this year, and I'm so excited to have him on board! More...
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Laurie U.
Although I know Michael as a wedding photographer, my siblings and I hired Michael to take family portraits for us at Puu Ualakaa lookout on Tantalus. Michael was always very professional and easy to work with. He responded quickly whenever I had questions about color schemes, group arrangements, timing of the photo session, etc. He is great with kids (we had 2 newborns and 4 toddlers) and knew how to draw their attention toward the camera. He didn't hesitate to lie down on the grass to get specific angles and was constantly taking opportunities to get candid photos of all of us. We also loved that Michael brought blankets with him to the photo shoot. We hadn't thought about bringing any but appreciated that he did because we incorporated them into several shots. We absolutely love the edited photos we received from Michael and have received numerous compliments on all of them! He provided us with a link to Dropbox so that we could easily access all the photos. We highly recommend Michael and would definitely hire him again. More...
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Cassandra G.
Writing this review after hiring Michael as our wedding photographer, spending some time getting to know him and just finishing up our engagement session with him. More to follow after the wedding...but there is no doubt in my mind that my opinion of him will only go up! He has been nothing short of amazing and worth every penny!I didn't want to spare any expense when it came to the photography of our big day....but lets be real - this is Hawaii. Wedding costs here are two or three times what you would pay on the mainland. So when I first started shopping around for a quality photographer, I was blown away by what they were charging. Michael is not only fair and reasonably priced - he is extremely professional. I met him through one of our mutual friends (who highly recommended him) and felt comfortable almost immediately after sitting down with him for the first time. He has a fun, easygoing personality but when he gets down to business mode, he is straightforward and professional. Which is a difficult balance to strike. My fiance and I were pretty nervous being photographed for the first time, but Michael put us at ease as soon as we started. Cracking jokes, asking us to tell stories about each other...there were times when it didn't even feel like we were being photographed...it felt like we were just hanging out together. He indulged my odd request to be photographed in a non-traditional urban environment vs the usual beach shots, arrived early at our location, scoped out the site and found some creative and unique angles to capture us. The whole session was well planned, incredibly executed and we never once felt rushed or silly. I would recommend him to my closest friends and family and truly can't wait to see what he'll create after our wedding night. More to follow in a few weeks!! More...
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Joshua F.
I've partnered with Michael for numerous projects over the past 8 years and can testify to his incredible photography skills as well as being an awesome human being. He's able to get clients to do the one thing that matters the most when being shot...that is to be natural. Eliciting that emotion from subjects can be difficult for someone who does not have the talent and experience as Michael does. Beyond that, his style is original and beautiful. Hire him for any project! More...
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Avid R.
We were very fortunate to have Michael's services as our wedding photographer. One of the hardest things when planning a wedding is to do so from the mainland. Open communication is key, and from the start, Michael was easy to reach and always available when we needed him. He went above and beyond during our consultations by not only answering our questions but letting us know advice from what he had seen work well at other weddings. For the wedding, Michael will enlist a second photographer to make sure all the pictures desired are taken. Both showed up promptly to scout the area and find good areas for pictures. Michael had no shortage of ideas for group and individual photographs. During the ceremony, they were present but did not get in the way of the special event. One of the good tips was that oftentimes in this age of social media, people are caught up in taking photos on ipads or cellphones during the ceremony, and that can hurt overall group photos taken during the ceremony to see Grandma with a ipad up to her face! That was a good reminder to pass along to our guests. After our group photographs, Michael and the second photographer stayed in the background but kept snapping away during the reception. There was even time carved out so we could slip away to get some sunset photographs. Michael gave good direction, was courteous, and fun with the guests. Our photo preview came in within 3 weeks as discussed and Michael delivered on our photography list. The lighting and family intimacy was well captured, and we are very excited to see the final product. Michael meshed so well with our family-oriented wedding and was such a pleasure to work with. You could tell he obviously cared a lot about his work and wanted to be proud of the results he delivered. He also worked with our budget, which was a godsend. Highly recommended and we wish Mike much aloha! More...
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Anh
We were so pleased with Michael's work for our wedding! He was not only a talented photographer but he was so understanding and responsive whenever we had any questions or concern. When we needed a few pictures for our second ceremony 's display wihthin 2 days of the first ceremony and Michael was traveling for work, he was still responding so quickly with our pictures! During our wedding, Michael and his team were extremely patient and professional! We highly recommend him! More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Rosey
We came home with some lovely family photographs!
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Karen C.
Finding a good photographer for our wedding was one of my top priorities, because it's one of the only things left after it's all said and done. It was pretty overwhelming to find the right person for the job. You have to get along/vibe from them, they have to be within the right price point and definitely have a style that you like. It was pictures from a friend's wedding that tuned me in to Vivir Photography, I really liked the way he captured the event. So I asked my friend how she liked working with Micheal and she had positive things to say. We ended up setting up a meeting with him to get a vibe of his personality since we already liked his work and his fees were reasonable. He was really helpful right from the beginning, providing tips regarding our program and recommending people if we needed any other vendors, etc...Day of, everything went pretty smoothly and fast forward a few months post wedding..the pictures are amazing !! we love them !! More...
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User3744706
Michael impressed us from the very beginning. He was relaxed and professional and took interest in getting to know me and my groom. He was interested in all facets of us, not just our love story like other photographers. We found that we shared many interests and aesthetics and feel we formed a friendship along the way that made the day completely comfortable. Michael was prompt and attentive on our day and was able to give great suggestions for shots. We have beautiful, amazing memories thanks to him. I highly recommend him. More...
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Ajay
My experience working with Michael and Vivir photography was wonderful! I was planning a surprise engagement for my now fiancé and wanted a wonderful photographer to help capture the special moment. Michael was the right man for this! He was very prompt in replying with emails, and very professional. He worked with me to plan the surprise engagement and all our pictures turned out amazing. He made the photo session fun and engaging. He captured our candid proposal so beautifully. I would highly recommend him to anybody that is looking for a perfect photographer. More...
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Jade
Michael is utterly amazing. He won me over during our phone consultation with his personality. He was not a vendor that tried to sell me, he was genuine and easy to talk to. When choosing a photographer you want to make sure that you are comfortable with them and Michael did just that. He made our wedding day perfect. He made sure to always check in and see how we are feeling about the photos. The photo process was painless, easy, and fun. He did not make us feel too staged or fake. His work is beautiful and you will not regret booking him! More...
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karen
Finding a good photographer for our wedding was one of my top priorities, because it's one of the only things left after it's all said and done.
It was pretty overwhelming to find the right person for the job. You have to get along/vibe from them, they have to be within the right price point and definitely have a style that you like.
It was pictures from a friend's wedding that tuned me in to Vivir Photography, I really liked the way he captured the event. So I asked my friend how she liked working with Micheal and she had positive things to say. We ended up setting up a meeting with him to get a vibe of his personality since we already liked his work and his fees were reasonable. He was really helpful right from the beginning, providing tips regarding our program and recommending people if we needed any other vendors, etc...
Day of, everything went pretty smoothly and fast forward a few months post wedding..the pictures are amazing !! we love them !!
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Daniel K.
I needed to take some professional photographs for my business webpage. I came to Michael and he did an amazing job on the photos. The shoot itself was quick and enjoyable. Michael has a great personality and gave excellent direction during the shoot.When I saw the edited pics, I was amazed at how good he made me look. No small task! He gave me a lot of options to choose from.Since that time, I've got a lot of compliments on the webpage and the photos. Very professional looking! I'd definitely recommend Michael and Vivir! More...
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Cara
My fiancé and I won an engagement photo session with Vivir Photography through The Wedding Café and are thrilled with the photos! Working with Michael was a pleasure from start to finish. He is friendly and professional and easy to be around, which greatly helps with relaxing during the shoot. We wanted an outdoor nature setting for our photos, versus and urban setting, and he made great suggestions and was very flexible and accommodating with our vision. Thank you, Michael! We will be recommending you if ever our friends are in need of a professional photographer in Hawaii. More...
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Jay K.
Michael is an amazing photographer. We have now used him twice for family photos and the photos are just stunning. He's super patient with kids, knows the angles, captures the mood and works with you to get the right shots. We first used him in 2014 -- we were staying at Disney aulani -- a) he made time for us b) extremely patient with out then 3 and 6 yr old and c) took some amazing photos of the family and kids. In 2016 -- we were back at Disney aulani and called him for family photos ... exact same experience. Amazing as always. Looking forward to seeing him again next year as we keep capturing family photos through michaels lens and photography. Highly recommended. More...
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Cara B.
My fiancé and I won an engagement photo session with Vivir Photography through The Wedding Café and are thrilled with the photos! Working with Michael was a pleasure from start to finish. He is friendly and professional and easy to be around, which greatly helps with relaxing during the shoot. We wanted an outdoor nature setting for our photos, versus an urban setting, and he made great suggestions and was very flexible and accommodating with our vision. We will be recommending Vivir if ever our friends are in need of a professional photographer in Hawaii. More...
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Becca L.
Michael is awesome! He shot our wedding photos and we loved him so much we called him to do our family photos too! He is professional, courteous, and pays great attention to detail. He pulls amazing candid shots that become instant favorites. He was very patient with our 10 month old and his lack of smiles and was able to get shots out of nothing! He's magic. Hire him for anything you need. He can do it all. More...
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Emily B.
Michael helped me take photos while transitioning and rebranding my business. He made my entire team and I feel comfortable in front of the lense, even though it can easily be such an artificial experience. By the end of the day of shooting, we were all gathered by our parked cars talking story and having drinks (kombucha drinks of course)! Michael is genuine, warm-hearted, and super chill. It was refreshing to meet someone like him in the small local photography industry. I will definitely hire him again for website, social media, and family photos. More...
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Kristen M.
Michael is a fabulous photographer!!! He's efficient, extremely versatile, and experienced. As an event coordinator, it's important for me to have someone professional, reliable, quick, value-rich and who takes AWESOME photos for my clients. He fits the bill on all accounts. I especially love the shots he took of our Wa'ahila Ridge photo shoot that was a complete hit on social media. He's able to capture the true ambiance and essence of the event in a tight time frame which is important for a professional wedding photographer. So many things happen quickly and if you don't have a professional, many of those moments will pass and not get captured (or you'll get them, but the picture isn't very nice). Michael is super talented and all about catching those moments that you'll never want to forget. Cheers to Vivir!!Tips for hiring Michael - Michael is easy to work with and responds within 48 hours. Pop him an email to get a quote and to book. You can even email him for tips on how to get the best photos during the best times of day. More...
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Jason A.
Vivir Photography is the best wedding photography company in the business!! If you don't believe me, please go onto vivirphotography. com. Michael is a true professional and he creates priceless photos look magical. A brides wedding day is the most important day in her life and she can often be stressed out for numerous reason, Michael helps her stay calm and true enjoy the unforgettable experience. People will be looking at these pictures for the rest of the lives and remember this special moment, its important to hire the very best in the business. I highly recommend Vivir Photography!! More...
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Brent K.
Michael was truly wonderful. He did such a great job with our engagement photo shoot. He was professional, prompt, creative and made the entire process a lot of fun. He even helped us set up the shoot! I love the finished product and can't wait to have him at our wedding! Thank you so much Michael! More...
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Quyen N.
My fiance and I had found about Michael through one of our hiking buddies. We were interested in getting an engagement photo shoot done, especially given my fiance's secret dream to be a model (just kidding! kind of! always practicing the "blue steel" look). Michael had done the engagement photo shoot for an acquaintance of mine (Coty G) - the couple's theme was vintage with an urban vibe (Chinatown! pretty cool!) - those photographs had stuck in my mind. For our photo shoot location, we picked Lanikai Beach where our relationship had blossomed early on. Michael suggested sunrise or sunset for the time given the lighting. Though we live in the area, this was my first time catching sunrise on Lanikai Beach - pretty amazing and beautiful! Michael was really good at coaching and directing us through different shots since we didn't have a specific idea and he's clearly the professional. We just received a DVD of the photos. Pretty awesome! Just trying to figure out which photo (out very many many super ones) to include on our Save the Date card. We're hoping to work with him on The Big Wedding Day as well! More...
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Coty G.
It was a pleasure to have been able to work with Michael during our engagement shoot, on our wedding day, and even during our post-wedding day shoot. He was always professional, courteous, and thoughtful. Before doing our engagement shoot, he called us and allowed us to share some of the ideas that we had brewing in our head. It was great to be be able to freely brainstorm with him, and from this we picked out a really awesome engagement shoot location. Michael mentioned to us that he had prior experience as a fashion photographer, and so he encouraged us to dress up. We made sure to follow his advice (and we encourage you to do the same), and we were blown away with the results. He has the keen eye of a seasoned photographer, and his photographs will leave you no less than impressed. My wife and I definitely look forward to our next shoot with Michael. He is a great photographer, but more importantly, a great person to work with. If you are looking for an excellent wedding photographer, then I highly recommend Michael of Vivir Photography. A bazillion thumbs up! More...
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Lindsay P.
Having Mike as our photographer was one of the best choices we made for our wedding. He was so easy-going and personable that he mixed right in with the crowd at our ceremony and reception in Mijas, Spain. And of course, it goes without saying he did a beautiful job capturing all the little moments of our big day. From my husband spending time teaching my younger brother the Ukulele (seems the guys always have more time for fun on the wedding day, right?) to my father building a bamboo backdrop for our ceremony, Michael was able to catch it all. On top of that, he made our small wedding look intimate and unforgettable. Mike also did a wonderful job with our day-after session, which produced some of our favorite shots from the wedding because he did such a great job of showing off the small Spanish village that we'd chosen as our destination. After a year of living in Spain, we really wanted our wedding to look quintessentially Spanish, and Michael was able to capture just that!We would recommend him to any couple looking for a great photographer. More...
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M. J.
A trusted friend recommended Vivir for our wedding photography. We loved the layout of the website, and the photography was elegant, so we decided to go with them. When we met with Michael, I had A LOT of questions. He was very patient and thorough in helping us plan for photography on our big day. Michael enhanced our wedding day and we are so grateful to have these beautiful photos to help us remember the entire day! We've recommended him to our friends and family. Michael is a very pleasant guy, easy to work with, and very professional. We consider Michael a friend, and we still keep in touch with him. More...
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Francine
I totally recommend Vivir Photography. They are true professionals and pleasant to work with. Michael really helped keep us calm and have a good time while being photographed and he's pretty funny. My husband and I enjoyed having him there as a part of the wedding day. Now I see why our coordinator recommended that it's important to get to know your photographers personality before you hire them. Besides his amazing photography, Michael has the best personality for a wedding photographer; fun, laid back, respectful and also not shy- we were very impressed how well he worked with our families for the family photo time. He and the coordinator were our best vendors that we had and we are happy we went with Vivir. More...
Reviewed on WeddingWire
Marlon
My wife and I had an amazing and enjoyable experience working with Mike. He was our lead photographer in our wedding and sole photographer for our engagement photos. What sets Mike apart from other photographers is his ability to set a fun and engaging environment. We are very satisfied with our photos. I would recommend Vivir Photography to my friends and family. More...
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Kelsie
Deciding on Michael as our photographer was one of the better decisions we made for our vendors on our wedding day. We were happy with his service from start to finish. Our big day was a perfect success and Michael was a part of making it so great and to getting all of the photos which we loved. We've recommended him to all of our friends. More...
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Cyndi
Vivir was awesome to work and Michael is very personable. We chose Vivir because we liked the natural, storytelling style and because Michael shot our friends wedding and we thought he was pleasant and we liked their pictures. He is a top talent for photography. For the wedding date he and his other photographer really engaged everyone, made us feel comfortable which made for pictures where we looked out best. Michael seems to really love what he does. Best of all, when the wedding was over and we had a terrific set of wedding photos! More...
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Nikki
Michael was fantastic and we would recommend him to anyone in a heartbeat!
Photography was on the top of our list for our wedding day, right after we booked our venue I set out looking for the "right" photography company for us.
We found a few companies that we liked but nothing that really "wow'd" me until we found Vivir Photography. I loved how real the emotions looked in his photos and after we met with Michael we found out why.
He's such a nice and down to earth guy, we ended up talking with him for two hours at our first meeting and it just felt like talking to a friend, someone who really cared about us and wanted to make sure we got everything we wanted out of our wedding photos. On the wedding day he was so easy to work with and he helped everyone stay relaxed while we were taking our photos. I thought the family photos were going to feel like a routine but Michael was laughing and smiling the whole time as he moved people a little here and there and, before I knew it, we had everything!
Once we got our photos I loved all the candid moments he was able to capture too, there were times where we completely forgot he was even in the room until we saw the photos! It was such a great experience and I'm so happy we made the right choice going with him as our photographer!
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Rebekah
When we were in the throes of wedding planning, we were told that the photographer was the most important element of your day because those photos will be with you for the rest of your life. We were so lucky that we chose Michael to help capture our special day. He is an excellent photographer and a delight to work with. We were stunned by the perfect photos, even though the day was more overcast than we expected. From the posed family portraits to ones of just us to candid shots of our guests, Michael captured everything we loved about our wedding day. More...
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Kristina
I was very Lucky to have found Michael for our wedding photos two years ago. I live in Australia and had to choose everything over the internet, and was very lucky it all worked out. I was looking for someone who could catch our wedding in a natural, fun carefree way. Michael did this perfectly. Everyone who sees our photos always comments on how natural and wonderful they are. We loved them so much that when we traveled back to Hawaii again in April 2014, and organised for Michael to take photos of us again, but this time we had an additional little 9 month old baby with us. Michael drove to the location we were staying on the Island and we have lovely memories captured with the growing family. I would recommend Vivor Photography to anyone!! I only wish he lived in Australia so we could use him more often! More...
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