Vanessa Hicks Photography
About This Vendor
Voted #1 Wedding Photographer in HI for '18 & 19
You probably have several tabs up right now of other wedding photographers, waiting for your stomach to give you those butterflies that you have found the photographer that will document your special day right, who will take the stress away from you, who will be your friend throughout this process. **pitter patter** YOU FOUND HER! It's my job to capture your special day. Your legacy. The images that not only you will love, but that your children and grandchildren will love. The images your daughter will look at and dream of her own wedding one day. The images your son will see and know how to look and love a woman. It's a duty that I don't take likely. That's why I was voted Hawaii's Number 1 Wedding Photographer in Hawaii by Hawaii Magazine for 2018 and 2019! Serving Hawaii and Cali
Details
Business Attributes
Black-owned Business, Veteran-owned Business, Woman-owned Business
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Photo Shoot Types
Bridal Portraits, Day After Session, Engagement
Photo & Video
Digital Files, Online Proofing, Photo, Same-Day Edits, Second Shooter Available, Social Media Sharing, Wedding Albums
Photo & Video Styles
Artistic, Classic, Documentary, Dramatic, Lifestyle
Wedding Activities
Getting Engaged, Rehearsals & Parties, After Party, Wedding
Awards and Affiliations
Pricing for Vanessa Hicks Photography
Curious to learn more?
Vanessa Hicks Photography Reviews
4.6 out of 5.0
75 reviews
5 Star
89%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
11%
My best friend was married 11 months ago and has been ghosted with zero photos of her wedding day. She has paid in full. Don’t risk dealing with her nightmare. She has recently learned other brides experienced the same. Heartbreaking!
I hope whoever reads this review reads it with an open heart:
Vanessa is who you want for your wedding, hands down.
Not only have we worked with Vanessa for our engagement session, our wedding, and our maternity session, we have loved working ...
with Vanessa all the years.
We also watched Vanessa very publicly and vulnerably shared her struggles with mental health the past year. While she shared details, I can honestly say from what she shared, it seemed devastating.
Our wedding images were delayed because of this. And you know what, we could have been mad. I can even admit that there was times that I was sad because I was ready to see our wedding and I knew she would have captured it so well.
Not only were they worth the wait, and not only are they absolutely AMAZING, but we are also very happy to see that Vanessa is doing much better.
It's been so sad to see how others have treated her, harassed her, and willingly tearing down a small business who clearly was going through something traumatic.
She was worth the wait.
I would trust her again and will use her again, just as we have done all these years.
Give her a chance.
I am honestly so sad that I have to write this but I want to share my story with everyone so that hopefully people will learn from my mistake. I was recommended VHP by my wedding planner who had said she’d worked with her multiple times in the ...
past and was great! With the package we got - it even gave us an extra photographer for part of our day. I was ecstatic and after that had an initial call and both my partner and I loved her and hired her within the same week as our call.
With our package, we received a free engagement session in LV and she made it to that, however..we did have to bug her to receive the final deliverables (she was a few weeks late past the due date) since we wanted to use it for our wedding guestbook. Red flag #1.
On to the wedding day - She was great and helped the day run smoothly trying to capture everything..however, the extra photographer that was promised didn’t show (they didn’t tell me until after because they figured it was best so fair enough) but now I’m even questioning that even if it was promised that this person even existed in the first place. But, that is my personal opinion.
We received 30 sneaks 4 days after the wedding, and then we’re supposed to receive the online gallery with final deliverables within 8 weeks. Our wedding was mid August 2022.
Since after the expected due date, I have been consistently following up via text, email, responding to socials, and now writing a review in hopes of an update or response. It seems that I’m not alone in this situation. She’s currently gone on a hiatus due to personal reasons which I respect and I hope she does heal fully and my heart goes out to her - BUT at the end of the day. This is a business, you’re expected to communicate and deliver. If you don’t have enough time, hire help. If you will miss the due dates due to sickness, personal issues, etc…COMMUNICATE. Clients are understanding (most are), but you need to let us know what’s going on with our photos and status updates. You are holding on to our precious memories!!! Our once in a lifetime day. We have you money in exchange for a service to which has not been competed. So we all need answers. Just COMMUNICATE please. Write us back and let us know that you received our messages. SOMETHING. To this day, now in 2023, I still only have 30 images only and nothing else. It pains me everyday.
To end, I want to say that Vanessa is a fun, sweet person with a great personality who also happens to be a very talented photographer. However, listening to other people’s horror stories, as well as my own - I cannot and will not ever recommend her to any future clients so please to anyone reading this, if you are planning to use Vanessa for your wedding photos - just keep all of these collective reviews on the back of your mind as she will be photographing one of the most important days of your life.
Any questions?
Buyer Beware!!! We paid Vanessa over $5,000 for our daughter’s wedding photography 6 months ago on 6/25/22. We’ve received nothing since except the sneak peek photos. After a variety of excuses, she has stopped responding to our daughter’s mu...
ltiple, polite inquiries. We are not the only clients she has ghosted. She is in breach of contract and we have initiated legal action. Avoid at all cost!!!!!
First I just want to say that I NEVER write reviews but I promise you Vanessa deserves more praise than I could ever put into words!!!
Right from the very first conversation I knew she was the right choice. I literally don't know what to spea...
k on first; who she is as a person or her professional work???
Who she is as a person? Vanessa is so down to earth and personality is out of this world! She listens to you to get a feel of what is important to you so she will know the perfect moments to capture for you! After 20 minutes of meeting her I felt as if I've known her for years! My wife explained to Vanessa that due to moving and a house fire my family lost all of our family portraits and Vanessa promised me that by the end of the wedding week my family will have plenty of photos to last us a lifetime and she meant every single word! I'm so thankful to have so many family photos and memorable moments captured that we will cherish for the rest of our lives!
As far as Vanessa's professional work? She is INCREDIBLE! Vanessa has a vision and knows exactly where to be and how to work every single angle imaginable! Her work is so effortless and efficient! She works so quickly and fluidly! We all know there will always be hiccups to every wedding and we definitely had our fair share! I promise you for every hiccup that occurred Vanessa had a solution instantly! I promised you she did more for my wife than the on-site wedding planner and not once did Vanessa ever complain. She would not let anything get in the way of my wife and I enjoying our big day! Every time we thanked Vanessa for going "above and beyond" she was quick to correct us that by saying she went above and beyond was like saying we didn't deserve to be treated like this!
Vanessa is truly ONE OF A KIND and my wife and I are truly honored to have her as our wedding photographer as she is now considered a friend of our family! Thank you Vanessa for EVERYTHING! I honestly feel bad because I can only give you 5 stars on google because you deserve soooo much more!!!!
If you are reading this review and still not convinced Vanessa would be the perfect choice for you then contact me and I will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have! Vanessa you are AWESOME and my wife and I are extremely grateful for you!!
DIDN’T SHOW UP - and refused refund. Vanessa didn’t show up to shoot our rehearsal dinner, which was heartbreaking. And she refused to refund what we paid for the shoot, saying it was our fault she didn’t show. We booked her because of great re...
views and her Instagram profile, something must have changed.
I wish I could have positive things to say about Vanessa because we really wanted to work with her. My husband and I struggled for several years to get pregnant, and we finally did so through IVF. We hired Vanessa after researching over 30 phot...
ographers to take maternity pictures of us in Walt Disney World. After our trip had to be postponed in November due to our IVF treatments, this was the SOLE reason we were traveling from Ohio - to get these pictures. We booked with Vanessa ahead of time, and two days before our flight, she reached out to cancel.
I have screenshots of our entire conversation and the weather forecast at various points of our conversation. She reached out on a Saturday morning, and our shoot was on Monday morning. At the time, the forecast was NOT looking good. However, I asked her if she could wait even just until later in the day to see if it would improve. I was willing to change the location to an indoor or sheltered spot if needed. I was willing to go to a completely different area of Orlando. By the end of that day, the forecast had improved to within the ranges of her contract.
Her contract states that, “If the chance of rain is less than 60%, Photographer will leave it up to the Client to decide whether to reschedule and Photographer will inform Client of the implications of shooting in light rain or inclement weather.” Vanessa refused to hold up this end of her contract. The forecast did improve to under 60%, and we asked her to keep her word. We offered to pay her more. We basically begged her to not cancel on us.
Her contract also states that, “In the event Photographer determines, in its sole discretion, that it cannot or will not perform its obligations under this Agreement due to circumstances including, but not limited to, injury, illness, death of family member, pregnancy, military orders, religious obligations, or other personal emergencies, it will:
1. Immediately give notice to Client;
2. Attempt to find another competent professional to take its place with the mutual agreement of Client;
3. If another competent professional is not available or Client does not agree to transfer of obligations to said alternate professional, Photographer will issue a refund or credit based on a reasonable accurate percentage of services rendered"
Vanessa also refused to uphold all of what's stated in this part of her contract. WE spent HOURS looking for our own replacement, feeling extreme stress less than two days before flying to Orlando, and we VERY luckily found one. We asked Vanessa to provide a credit (#3) so that we could pay the difference in booking the alternate photographer’s fee, but she refused. All she would do is refund us the deposit for a service she was no longer going to perform.
What’s most disappointing about all of this is that we felt we were dealt a dishonest hand. During our conversation on that Saturday, Vanessa revealed that other clients of hers had canceled their shoots and that it was no longer financially “worth it” to her to fly to Orlando to do our one shoot, even though she signed a contract saying she would do it. She reneged on her contract in multiple ways and refused to do anything to make up for it, other than simply issuing a refund for work she was backing out on.
We had been through so much to get to this point, for her to do this to us at the last minute showed her lack of empathy and professionalism. We want others to be aware of the way Vanessa conducts business.
From the moment I spoke with Vanessa on the phone, I knew she was the one ;) I knew she was the one that was meant to capture our special day. If you’re lucky enough to find her, book her. Her energy, her vibe, her kindness and her ability to c...
onnect was all seen just through our first phone call. Our communication throughout the following months was perfect and we were more than prepared on wedding day! Vanessa even did a quick photo shoot when she arrived in Mexico so my hubby and I could get to know her a little more before the big day! That photo shoot was incredible! On our wedding day, Vanessa was everything we needed her to be. She SHOWED up for us. She kept calm in the midst of any stress, she did whatever she had to do to get THAT shot, and she was the piece that held everything together that day. The pictures she took are absolutely amazing and I will sing her praises forever.. SHE IS THE BEST. I cannot imagine my wedding day without Vanessa. She truly is world class. My family and I would fly her anywhere because she is above the rest! I look forward to many more sessions with her in our future!!! Thank you for all you are Vanessa! We love you!
Logan and I met with Vanessa in Sarasota, FL for a couples shoot! We were both eager but nervous since we have never been in front of the camera together before. I had the expectation that it would take us awhile to get comfortable and hoped we...
would have a few photos to leave with. Within minutes Vanessa had us laughing and relaxed. She is the perfect blend of a coach, hype woman, comedian, stylist, and visionary! It was a joy to work with Vanessa and we can’t wait to use her services and skill to capture our next event!
VANESSA.IS.AMAZING! If your looking for a photographer, you found the right one! We originally booked our wedding with a different photographer who decided to no longer shoot weddings. Vanessa gladly swooped in to save me from my wedding nightm...
ares! Even without being able to take engagement photos, I fully trusted Vanessa, the chemistry we had over FaceTime, and her work… her work speaks for itself! I knew that she would come and get the job done and she did just that. But.. like.. BEYOND MY EXPECTATIONS!
Vanessa was so professional and was able to make us all feel beautiful and sooo comfortable! One thing I loved about her compared to past experiences is she didn’t really leave us hanging. She directed us in each pose and had us looking our absolute best with all her tips and tricks!
Thank you Vanessa, you truly were a dream come true for us! We can’t thank you enough!
In all honesty, the soft skills is what makes Vanessa one of the best in the business. She makes you and your friends laugh, feel comfortable, and have fun while going through the shot list. She also has great insights into vendors/venues and t...
ips and tricks for what shots to get (I presume for nearly all venues in Hawaii). She also did an amazing job capturing some of our favorite candid moments from the reception and speeches.
I would absolutely recommend booking Vanessa for your Hawaii wedding, and any other couple/family centric shoot!
Where do I even begin with describing what it's like to work with Vanessa?! Amazing doesn't even begin to cover it!! I still remember the very first time that I met Vanessa. She was genuine, kind, and like a burst of sunshine! I left our brief ...
time together just smiling nonstop. The first thing that you notice about Vanessa is her vibrant personality, fun energy, genuine attitude and a smile that lights up the room. Those characteristics instantly transfer into the imagery that she creates. Every portrait and image reflects beauty, vibrant joy, unique personality and timelessness. I've been so blessed to have worked with Vanessa quite a few times and every session is an absolute blast and joy, literally endless smiles and laughs the entire time!!! Vanessa is so amazingly talented and I'm always blown away by her talent, artistry and craft. She is truly so personable, professional, thoughtful, kind and just the BEST!! She has the biggest heart to serve others and each couple and it truly reflects in her work! She is a true joy to work with and any couple would be lucky to have her as their photographer!! I cannot wait to work with Vanessa again!!!
I was a bride in 2019 and Vanessa was actually hired as the second shooter by our main photog on our wedding day. I also happen to be a professional wedding photographer as well, so I feel super confident in recommending Vanessa.
Since Vaness...
a was the second shooter at our wedding, I didn't think to leave her business a review originally. But honestly, looking back on our wedding day each year, I STILL think fondly of our wedding photo experience with Vanessa bc she was such a JOY to work with!!!
Vanessa is a grounding, kind, patient, and gracious professional. She made me feel calm on my wedding day and I will always remember how she made me and my husband feel that day.
I learned a lot as a photographer being in front of her camera, but more importantly, she helped make our wedding day memorable. Not only is her work beautiful and high quality, the experience of working with her was so fun!!! And to me, that's equally as important as the actual photos themselves.
If you read this whole thing, take this is your sign to hire Vanessa!!!! Just do it!!
Vanessa is a literal ANGEL! Her ability to capture a couple's love for each other is nothing short of miraculous! Vanessa was willing to hike up a mountain to capture our engagement photos and by the time we were at the top, she felt like a lon...
g-time friend. She made me and my partner feel so comfortable in front of the camera and we had a blast together! I could not recommend Vanessa Hicks Photography enough!! Book her NOW while she still has availability!
My wife shared her review of Vanessa and I just wanted to come on here as a groom to share my perspective. Our wedding would not be what it was without Vanessa. I thought my fiance was crazy when she entered a giveaway online from a photographe...
r she hadn't met. When she saw she won, I still didn't understand why she was crying! I'm not going to lie to you, I wasn't in the mood to "be a model". We didn't go into it, at least I didn't, thinking we would be hiring her. It was just a free shoot. We left our engagement session in Hawaii knowing she was the one and would find the funds to make it happen. We've been with Vanessa for 2 years now, going through the most stressful thing ever, postponing our wedding twice due to a pandemic. And it was all worth it as we look at our photos. My wife has already printed them and we can't wait for our wedding album. Check out her instagram I think she has like 20k followers. She doesn't need followers. She runs a giveaway almost every year to bless someone. To have your friends leave these types of reviews for no reason just makes them look bad. My hope is people see right through that and know how lucky they will be to have a photographer and a friend in Vanessa. We will use Vanessa's services as long as she's in business.
I wanted to come on here to talk about how INCREDIBLE Vanessa Hicks Photography has been for myself and my now husband, Frank!
First , I am so sad to see people trying to ruin her business because I was actually a person who booked her after w...
inning her giveaway in 2019! I was so honored and she treated myself and my fiance so well!
We fell in love with the engagement session in Hawaii! She never treated us like our session was free. She laughed with us, got to know us, and never once did I feel like I was treated less because it was free.
After our session, it was actually my husband who said he wanted to hire her! He hates taking photos and I saw how confident he was. She had him laughing so hard during it all!
When we got our gallery, we had 85 images! FOR FREE! She didn't pressure us to buy them, or even to book her for our wedding! She said she would love to chat with us if we were interested and we were.
We booked her a few days later!
Well then 2020 happened.
And we had to postpone our wedding not once, but twice.!
And Vanessa was there every single step of the way. One time, she just sat on the phone and cried with me. I know how hard this was on her business too. But she never gave up on us.
Our wedding day came last month and it was magical. it wasn't how we planned it to be but it was perfect and Vanessa and her team was perfect. My family ;loved her.
One moment stuck out was my grandmother was a bit cold during reception. I saw her grab her jacket and put it on her.
We found Vanessa Hicks because of her kindness to even do a giveaway, and now we have a lifelong Disney friend.
Guys, trust all of these 5 star reviews you are seeing. She is it. It was why she was voted number one wedding photographer in Hawaii for 2 years.
Dont let these haters ruin her . And they wont. You will not be ddisappointedb in booking her.
Vanessa, you were everything we could have wanted. Thank you for capturing our special day!
I am the actual person who won the giveaway. I did not want to write a review as I was afraid and didn’t want anything bad to happen, however I was made aware of the response Vanessa had. I have every email and dm of me trying to get in contact...
with Vanessa, multiple times. There were lots of times I had to email her more than once because she would not respond. My fiancé even told me to stop emailing her because I would come off as annoying which the whole situation has been stressing me out since March when I won the giveaway. I had tried to be as positive and understanding as I possible could with her situation. But the first instance of me finding out that you were going to be out of town on the day of our first scheduled shoot on your instagram story really upset me because I had tried to get in contact with you more than a week before to get updates from you. We bought clothes, got makeup done and everything, just to get cancelled on again (which I understood your reasoning and said family always came first) but you also told me that you’d get back to me the same day but never did. To see that you couldn’t get back to me but was able to post on your instagram story and instagram was upsetting and frustrating. My friend DMing you was her choice, not mine, which was why my attitude in the email had changed because I had not known what happened. If you really had the desire to fulfill your promise and do this engagement photoshoot with me, I feel that you would have responded to me first (instead of responding to new dms first). I understand that this was a free giveaway and I was ALWAYS always grateful because you came to me and my fiancé as a blessing which is why I tried to be so patient and so understanding….I really tried and even when I tried talk to you about it and get your honesty, it seemed like you jumped at the opportunity to say we weren’t fit to do the engagement photoshoot. I have all of my emails, all of my dms. Even the times and dates that I tried to get in contact with you so it upsets me that you are trying to turn this on me…I really tried to stay positive till the end but you even blocked me on instagram….
Worked with Vanessa for our engagement shoot and I couldn’t be happier!! In addition to being the most accommodating during the pandemic (with location and date adjustments), she put me and my fiancé at ease during our session and made it such ...
a fun time. An awesome person and a TOTAL PRO. You won’t be disappointed.
Vanessa is absolutely incredible! Not only is she an extremely talented photographer, she's also an amazing person. My fiancé and I were nervous to take engagement pictures in a public place (hi, introvert here) but Vanessa and her energy com...
pletely relaxed us and had us cracking up the entire shoot. It was so obvious to us that Vanessa truly cares about her clients and really does everything in her power to capture incredible images that you'll love. If you're looking for a photographer that's fun, kind, talented, professional, and cares about YOU as a client and not just about getting through a shoot, choose Vanessa!
Such an amazing experience! Very punctual, a down to earth person and such an amazing photographer that captured everything we ever dreamt of in our engagement session. We had a lot of laughs with this lovely lady, what a fun event we had. 🧡
First and foremost let me say Vanessa was absolutely AMAZING!!! We could not have asked for a better photographer. From the first phone call we knew that she had to be our photographer. Vanessa is very easy to reach out to for any all questions...
. Not only did she help with photography related items, she was ready to help with everything else. On the day of the wedding Vanessa was punctual, professional, organized and made sure to get everything done within the timeline. I can say this easily, out of all the wedding I’ve been to and been a part of, mine was the only one that started on time! She made the picture process easy, relaxing and funny. The whole bridal and grooms party loved her and her jokes. She even sent a few sneak peak photos the very next morning, which were breathtaking. From the few photos I got already I can say that they are truly beautiful and amazing. I cannot wait to see the rest. The quality of the photos is amazing! If you need a photographer Vanessa is the way to go. If you want some who is going to be there for you, make you laugh, and take the best and most organized photos she is your person! I would give more stars if I could!
MARCH 2020:
Vanessa is SIMPLY AMAZING! Her photos are flawless, her personality is contagious, and she made us truly enjoy taking photos (which is a first!). We completed our engagement shoot with her and she made the whole experience such a bl...
ast, even when I was under the weather. After we saw the sneak peaks, we knew she had to book her for our upcoming wedding! In addition to the fabulous experience, all of my friends have pointed out the quality of her photos. The clarity is so clear, that even our photos from FAR away, you can zoom in and see perfectly without any blurriness. XO Thank you so much Vanessa!
SEPTEMBER 2020:
Update after our AMAZING WEDDING PICTURES!!! I needed to add that Vanessa absolutely was the highlight of our wedding and you should ABSOLUTELY BOOK HER NOW. All our family and friends are raving about her photos and how awesome of a person she is!! You will NOT regret this decision!! :) THANK YOU! Taylor & Dan xoxo
Vanessa was amazing. She captured my wedding day with the most beautiful pictures. I’m so happy that she was still able to be our photographer even though our wedding did not happen in Maui as planned. She was the photographer I chose from day ...
one and stuck through all the ups and downs to get to our wedding day!
Vanessa in an amazing photographer. We are so happy with how our wedding photos turned out. She was so flexible and accommodating, we changed locations multiple times (including across the pacific ocean!) and she still wanted to take photograph...
s for us. She made us feel relaxed and we had such a fun day with her.
Having Vanessa take our engagement photos was a dream!! Our photos are STUNNING and we can't wait to use them for our save the dates! She was recommended to us by one of our friends who is using her for their wedding and we can't wait to work w...
ith her in the near future! From the beginning, we felt so comfortable with her and knew we could trust her with such special photos. Vanessa truly is one of the best in her field!!!
Vanessa made us feel super comfortable at our engagement shoot at Claremont Colleges! We aren't used to being photographed (but really, who is?) and she was able to talk us through the shoot with ease. She does her research, was able to relate ...
to us in regards to our hobbies and likes, and working with here was super easy!
My husband and I are from Los Angeles and recently got married in Maui this past Saturday. It was a magical day and Vanessa played a huge role in making it flawless from beginning to end. I absolutely couldn't have asked for a better photograph...
er than Vanessa! She was a photographer, counselor, yogi, timeline/schedule guru, big sister, and, just a force to be reckoned with. This is so important as a bride when everything is a whirlwind to have someone with Vanessa's experience be there to help keep everyone calm and keep everything on schedule.
Vanessa is clearly a master behind the lens. This is evident from her blog page, Instagram page, and other forms of social media. This review is not to state what is already obvious, she is beyond compare as a photographer! My review for Vanessa is to express my gratitude to her for the numerous roles she played during our wedding, in addition, to being our wedding photographer.
From the moment Vanessa walked into my bridal suite, her good vibes radiated throughout the room. I was sitting in my hair stylists chair and I suddenly hear my whole makeup and hair team gush with excitement as Vanessa enters. Apparently, Vanessa had worked with them before and they were ecstatic to see her and work with her again! My hair stylists whispered in my ear, "You are in good hands with Vanessa, in fact, I have a girl crush on her." This moment put me at such ease and set the tone for the rest of the day and established Vanessa's importance in keeping my whole wedding party and family calm, happy, and, in good spirits.
For weeks I researched Maui and Oahu based photographers. I had spreadsheets with pros and cons and costs and everything in between. Vanessa was always at the top of my list, and, I promise as a newly married bride with the memories of that day still lingering in my mind. Vanessa should be at the top of your list too, because, you will also be at the top of her list from the moment that you book her to the moment your magical day ends!!!
There’s a reason Vanessa was voted best of Hawaii. From the very beginning Vanessa went above and beyond anything I could have ever expected from a photographer. She was the best hype man and constantly checking in on us. She was nothing but st...
ress relief the entire experience. She was punctual and ready and willing to provide us with anything we needed. Thank you so much for your time and true professionalism Vanessa. You are the best!
My husband and I did our engagement shoot with Vanessa in San Diego. We started out at Torrey pines lodge and then headed over to the Torrey pines beach. Immediately after meeting Vanessa, Rodrigo and I knew our shoot was going to be amazing. S...
he made us feel so comfortable! She asked us about our vibe and wanted to learn about us before the shoot... I’m so glad she did this because i feel that her photos were representative of our personalities and our relationship! She made the whole shoot really fun and told us jokes throughout the session ( these helped get our “money” shots). I appreciate how she incorporates both the couple and the surrounding nature into her photos. I also appreciate how she showed us our photos on the camera throughout the shoot. A few hours after the shoot, we received our sneak peeks and were in LOVE with her work. I would highly recommend Vanessa to all recently engaged couples!
Vanessa is one of a kind! The first time I worked with her was over a 2 day period with 3 photo shoots completed. She made me feel completely comfortable & beautiful & that I could do anything. She effortlessly moved her body into poses as she ...
held her camera to help inspire & guide me. When she shoots she is your constant cheerleader making you feel like the only girl in the room! I would recommend Vanessa over & over again. There’s no question she knows what she’s doing. Her personality is beautiful & she genuinely cares about her clients!
Vanessa is just flat out AMAZING!! Not only is she fantastic at capturing your special moments, but she is also just an amazing person! From day one of booking her to photograph our wedding I knew that it was going to be a great experience. The...
day of my wedding the ceremony site I had dropped the ball on having my wedding coordinator there but Vanessa stepped up and was amazing at facilitating the day! She was such a life saver! She was also helping my mom finish up our flower bouquets! She's not just your photographer, she's the person that will be with you all day long, capturing those special moments but also going leaps and bounds beyond what you hired her to do! Thank you from the bottom of my heart Vanessa!! You are truly a gift to all your clients!
How did we get so lucky to have found someone like Vanessa Hicks to shoot our wedding and engagement?? I found Vanessa while browsing through the Knot. We checked out her website and we could instantly feel that she was something special! Added...
bonus.... she LOVES Disney just as mush as we do! So much so that she was able to work us into her (crazy, insane, how does she do it?!?) travel schedule and shoot our engagement session at Disneyland! We were extremely nervous that day... neither one of us is comfortable in front of a camera. All the nervousness went away about .002 seconds after meeting her. We can't express enough how comfortable she makes you feel! It was like she was an old friend we had met long ago. The pictures were beautiful, her direction is great and she works quickly and efficiently! We even had some time to grab Starbucks on Main Street on our way out :) A few months later we were in Waikiki for our wedding. She was on time and professional the whole day. This girl has the hustle to keep your day moving smoothly... not only was she our photographer that day but it felt like we had an extra wedding coordinator and bridesmaid! She made sure we were getting the most out of the day and that we were totally comfortable and happy. It was super hot that day so she kept checking on us to make sure we drank water, had some food, etc. She was on it! We could go on and on about her... we are waiting on pins and needles for our photos but are already in LOVE with the sneak peaks she sent us the day after the wedding. One thing that speaks volumes to her as a real PROFESSIONAL photographer is this—we got married in Waikiki, one of the most popular beaches there is. She took photos of us on the beach after the ceremony and WENT THE EXTRA MILE TO PHOTOSHOP THE PEOPLE OFF OF THE BEACH BEHIND US! She did NOT need to do that... but she did! Because she truly cares! OK we're stopping ourselves now... just book her already! It will be your best wedding decision you make!
My fiancé and I had our engagement photos done by Vanessa while we were vacationing & looking at venues in Hawaii and we were absolutely blown away by her! Vanessa’s truly a master at her craft, her photos are magical, and it doesn’t hurt that ...
she is the absolute sweetest soul! Obsessed. Just after seeing our engagement sneaks (not even the entire gallery) we knew we had to book her for our wedding — AND WE DID! Can’t wait to see you in 2020 Vanessa!
We did our engagement shoot and wedding with Vanessa and we LOVE WORKING WITH HER! She is an incredible photographer and person, she will go out of her way to get that shot that you requested. She will say "no" to your new mother-in-law when sh...
e is demanding photos that you never wanted to take and are dying to get out of the hot sun. Trust me, she is an absolute gem. She truly cares about her clients and cares about your well-being. Worth every single penny and more.
This woman is INCREDIBLE to say the least! Vanessa took our engagement pictures in Hawaii and after working with her I can see why she has repeatedly been voted Hawaii's #1 photographer! Not only did she wake up before sunrise to take our pictu...
res, but she also climbed a mountain with all of her camera gear, just to help our vision come to life! Talk about someone who goes above and beyond for their clients!!! I cannot thank her enough for doing all of this for us.
Taking pictures can be very awkward but we had so much fun working with Vanessa! My fiancé hates being in front of the camera and it's rare that I get a picture of him smiling, but Vanessa worked her magic and took so many incredible shots with him genuinely smiling and laughing. She turned an ordinary engagement session into a morning of adventure, many laughs, and lots of fun!
I also really appreciated how on top of her busy schedule, she sent us photo sneaks later that night! I can tell that she really cares about her clients and their happiness. I would book her 100000 times again!
My husband and I were recently married in December 2018 and one thing we wanted was amazing photos of our big day. Vanessa came highly recommended by our wedding planner so we immediately booked her. We emailed back and forth but never actual...
ly met face-to-face before the wedding but let me tell you! As soon as Vanessa walked in on our wedding day, it's as if we have been friends forever. She put a smile on everyone's face and made us laugh all day long! We truly did not want our time with her to end. Our entire bridal party kept telling us how much fun they had taking pictures (and there were a lot of pictures!).
Then we received our wedding gallery and my husband and I were just blown away with the quality and quantity of the pictures. They are everything we hoped for and then some! I couldn't recommend Vanessa enough and I am waiting for any excuse to book another session with her!
Vanessa did a photography session on my wife and my wedding day. I thought the session went well. My wife on the other hand was a little stressed for a few different reasons. So after we got home from our honeymoon she made a review that was fo...
ur stars instead of five. I understand that this is Vanessa’s lively hood but in no world is it acceptable to reach out to a customer saying “Thanks for the review! I’m sorry I was only 4 stars worth! I’ve always received 5 stars for the work and effort I put in on my sessions!“. Not cool. So now my wife is worried about the photos, and that when they get here they won’t be up to the standard we expected, and as expected we received photos with the photographers bag in multiple shots, tilted shots (and not like the artistic kind), and people in the background she had previously claimed she could remove. All in all we were kind of disappointed. The last thing, if you mean business days the contract should specify that they are business days. When asked for an approximate delivery date is not the appropriate time to specify that detail.
Response from the Vendor on 06/06/2019
Good evening Jeffery.
Again, as I mentioned in your wife’s review A few hours ago that I find all of this copy and paste reviews a little odd because I have not heard from you guys in eight months, with multiple gallery Downloads and the last...
emails that I received from you guys stating how you were happy with them and couldn’t wait to have another photo shoot.
Here is the actual response to your wife’s review and the FULL emails that we corresponded with each other:
Good morning Kayla and I hope you are doing well!
I am so very sorry that 8 months later after wonderful wedding, a review like this was how you felt. I take my job very seriously, so it’s truly why i felt the need to respond to this review as there are complete inaccuracies in it :(
Per your email on October 14th, Hi Vanessa,
“The sneak peaks you sent were lovely. Thanks for the role you played on our special day. I'll definitely be filling out some reviews for u! “
Then, after you had left me a 4 star review, I sent you the following email, nowhere intimidating or passive aggressive:
October 17th:
Thanks for the review! I’m sorry I was only 4 stars worth! I’ve always received 5 stars for the work and effort I put in on my sessions!
Rereading of our messages , you had mentioned if it was hot you would be in the AC at the visitors center, but as many LDS weddings, I meet them right outside of the temple, which is what I assumed. As that was never fully mentioned. I believe being at the top of the temple only only took away maybe 3 mins of the session.
We did get the family shots as well! I didn’t mean to “forget” , I just believe with the heat and such, we were in the midst of a lot. And made sure we got a lot of those as well, as well as some with mom at the beach.
I do feel I did 5 stars worth of a session, but I do appreciate you taking the time to write a review!
Can’t wait for you to see the final gallery!
On October 25th, you responded:
Hi Vanessa,
I reviewed our emails and I didn't specify when I wanted photos with my family so I had it removed last week. I enjoyed the photo session and am looking forward to receiving some beautiful photos soon. I wish that there was no assumption as to where we we're meeting and that I had gotten the link for printing with the sneak peeks because the picture didn't come in time for the reception. Those we're just minor thing that created more stress and lessened my personal experience.
I look forward to seeing the rest of the photos and possibly doing another session next time we are in Hawaii.
Best,
Kayla
Again, I have not been made aware AT ALL until today, 8 months later;, there was an issue with your gallery or images.
The gallery was absolutely sent and edited! When going through thousands of images, if there are images with a bag on the ground, please let me know as I edited a ton of people and stuff out of backgrounds to give you the perfect looking day.
Again, this response is to just show that there was never any intimidation of any sorts. I would never want to defame my character like that!
I feel that if there was any issues with your gallery, I should have been made aware via email and given a chance to correct any issues instead of this way, 8 months later.
I am sorry that again, this was your experience with me! As I have not heard any words for 8 months and see you images have been downloaded over 137 times on your gallery, I figured you were very happy with your gallery. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do! Have a wonderful day!
Vanessa Hicks
Vanessa Hicks was the only bad part of my wedding and I’ll tell you why. She did not come prepared for our elopement session. She did not become familiar with the venue our shots like she stated should would and the session started late with he...
r assuming where to meet us when we told her the day before that we would be at another spot at the venue. She didn’t use the day of contact either so when she was a no show, I had to send someone back to the can to grab my phone. When she did make it our fist set of shots had her bag it in which she did not edit out along with people later in the background of some shots that she said she would edit out and then didn’t. Our venue had a grassy area which is ideal for photos, but she thought we could not be on the grass because she never gave herself a tour of the venue like she said she would nor ask us if we knew it was allowed. She forgot that we had requested photos with our small wedding part and after 45 minutes of them following us around I had to bring it up because she again did not come prepared for our session. After a few photos with our wedding party she realized she lost her phone and started scrambling around looking and worrying about that. Due to the time lost to that we ended up having to go to the last part of our session that was supposed to be at a beach 10 minutes away at the nearest beach. She did not know any of the public access point for the beaches in the area and thinks that you can not go to some beaches because people own them when Hawaii law states that people can only own beach access not the shore itself.
So that was our session. Regardless I gave her 4 stars on my initial review, but she tried to intimidate me to take it down which I did because I had only received my sneak peaks. She was passive aggressive after my review despite my removal of it which resulted in her not editing our photos before sending them and breaking the contract by sending them late. So just be warned that you may have a wonderful session, but you may end up treated like garbage with garbage photos. Luckily, I higher a kind up and coming photographer for my reception who gave us much better photos at a fraction of the cost.
Response from the Vendor on 06/04/2019
Good morning Kayla and I hope you are doing well!
I am so very sorry that 8 months later after wonderful wedding, a review like this was how you felt. I take my job very seriously, so it’s truly why i felt the need to respond to this review as...
there are complete inaccuracies in it :(
Per your email on October 14th, Hi Vanessa,
“The sneak peaks you sent were lovely. Thanks for the role you played on our special day. I'll definitely be filling out some reviews for u! “
Then, after you had left me a 4 star review, I sent you the following email, nowhere intimidating or passive aggressive:
October 17th:
Thanks for the review! I’m sorry I was only 4 stars worth! I’ve always received 5 stars for the work and effort I put in on my sessions!
Rereading of our messages , you had mentioned if it was hot you would be in the AC at the visitors center, but as many LDS weddings, I meet them right outside of the temple, which is what I assumed. As that was never fully mentioned. I believe being at the top of the temple only only took away maybe 3 mins of the session.
We did get the family shots as well! I didn’t mean to “forget” , I just believe with the heat and such, we were in the midst of a lot. And made sure we got a lot of those as well, as well as some with mom at the beach.
I do feel I did 5 stars worth of a session, but I do appreciate you taking the time to write a review!
Can’t wait for you to see the final gallery!
On October 25th, you responded:
Hi Vanessa,
I reviewed our emails and I didn't specify when I wanted photos with my family so I had it removed last week. I enjoyed the photo session and am looking forward to receiving some beautiful photos soon. I wish that there was no assumption as to where we we're meeting and that I had gotten the link for printing with the sneak peeks because the picture didn't come in time for the reception. Those we're just minor thing that created more stress and lessened my personal experience.
I look forward to seeing the rest of the photos and possibly doing another session next time we are in Hawaii.
Best,
Kayla
The gallery was absolutely sent and edited! When going through thousands of images, if there are images with a bag on the ground, please let me know as I edited a ton of people and stuff out of backgrounds to give you the perfect looking day.
Again, I had shot at the LDS temple multiple times. You respect the grounds of the property, which is why I was hesitant to step on the grass. And you do typically meet at the temple for LDS weddings, as i was not aware you would getting married after our photos, because it wasn’t mentioned.
We had took quite a while to walk and eventually get a ride to the top of the cemetery as requested , which is why it was best time wise to photograph at the Beach across the street then the location you had chosen. And yes, there are Hawaii rules and laws that does not allow commercial activities at certain beaches, and as a reputable photographer, I don’t like breaking rules which would cause fines and get me in trouble as a business professional.
Again, this response is to just show that there was never any intimidation of any sorts. I would never want to defame my character like that!
I am sorry that again, this was your experience with me! As I have not heard any words for 8 months and see over 137 image downloads on your gallery, I figured you were very happy with your gallery. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do! Have a wonderful day!
Vanessa
Vanessa Hicks is an incredible photographer and person! Immediately I could tell how experienced she was. She made my husband and I feel so at ease on our special day. She is hilarious and knows just what to say to get a reaction and capture sp...
ecial candid moments. When it came to planning our wedding I researched photographers the most and I am so glad that I chose her! She is so dedicated and passionate about her work. After we left our wedding she immediately went home and gave me a few sneak peeks (I was blown away!). She was very flexible with my schedule and so much fun to work with!! She is the type of photographer you want to become good friends with.
I cannot even begin to express how special Vanessa has made this last year for my husband and I! Vanessa was both our engagement photographer (in Hawaii) and for our wedding (In Arizona)! Last May, hours after we got engaged, we reached out to ...
Vanessa via Instagram to see if she would be available to take engagement photos during our Hawiian vacation. She lives on Oahu and was out to Kauai two days later! I really don't like taking pictures but Vanessa immediately made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera and had us laughing the entire time. After getting our engagement pictures back we knew she was the one we wanted for our wedding. January came around and Vanessa made the trip out to see us. She spent the day laughing and joking with all my friends and family and capturing the most authentic pictures ever. I trust Vanessa so much that she even helped me transport my wedding dress to the venue! All of our guests commented on how much they loved our wedding pictures and how great Vanessa was to work with. I could not be happier with how the pictures turned out. They captured our day perfectly and are such a beautiful way to look back on our wedding day. Thank you Vanessa!!!
Vanessa was truly amazing to work with and saved the day! We originally had a contract in the works with another photographer who had to cancel due to her baby due date being so close to our wedding and although overjoyed for her were quite sad...
we had to start the search over. On her recommendation we found Vanessa and couldn’t have been happier with the end result. Added bonus she is a military spouse and was prior military! Leading up to booking she was very reasonable and timely. Everything in her contract was standard and payment process was a breeze.
We had an outdoor wedding and weather was horrid. From flooding to road closures the day was quite a mess. Vanessa jumped right in and helped fill the gaps and I mean literally any gaps. She corralled my bridesmaids- even helping to tie their dresses when they were in a pinch, kept the mood upbeat, and got the perfect shots of us. Everyone commented on how wonderful she was and people who didn’t make the wedding had no clue we were weathering a storm. Her pictures were flawless and she even braved taking her equipment out into the drizzling rain to help us get the shots we wanted of the valley and the ocean. Do not hesitate to book her should you have the chance and definitely follow her on Instagram to see all her amazing work.
If you are looking for a session where you will laugh the whole time and photos that will be a combination of romantic, sexy and fun, then look no further. VANESSA IS YOUR GIRL. My fiance and I were on vacation in Hawaii and midway through our ...
trip realized what a great idea it would be to take our engagement photos while we were away. We decided to message a few wedding photographers we found on the Knot that were based in Hawaii, and see if someone could help us out last minute. Not only was Vanessa my first choice for a photographer, but she was the first to respond to our request. She answered the same day and was so friendly and excited for us, I couldn't wait for our session. She agreed to fly out to Lanai and meet us (on New Year's Day no less!) just two days after we had contacted her. Her enthusiasm and positive attitude are contagious and her sense of humor not only made the entire photoshoot go by so fast, but eliminated any of the awkwardness you might feel posing for photos for two hours. She sent us sneaks from our shoot just two days after meeting us and checked in with us throughout the process (even making sure to comment on my Instagram photos! Seriously, follow her on Instagram, her page is amazingly beautiful and inspirational). Vanessa even let us know she would be in New York, where we live, in April and offered to take more photos for us. Vanessa is a joy to work with and actually takes the time to form relationships with her clients. Honestly felt like we left our session with a new friend!
Vanessa takes the most stunning photos and edits them with quality! We loved meeting and working with her - She's hilarious, knowledge and so genuine. She helped my mom feel at ease about having a destination wedding. Can't wait to share our we...
dding day with Vanessa!!
My Fiancé Tristan and I shot with Vanessa at Disneyland about a month ago, and the whole experience was fantastic! Vanessa is an amazing person, so sweet, bubbly, and she has a beautiful contagious smile. From the moment we met her she made us ...
feel so comfortable. She is so talented at what she does and knows how to really capture the best of her clients. We love our photos and feel like we have a new friend! Thank you so much Vanessa! We hope to work with you for other special occasions soon. Xx
Vanessa was so fun to work with! We did our engagement shoot in Kauai and she was absolutely flexible with us as we tried to decide our shoot location, letting us decide once we got to the island and got a chance to check a few places out. What...
we hadn't realized when we picked our locations was that it was man'o'war season, but even with that constraint she was able to work with us to get some really stunning shots! She was so utterly careful and made sure we wouldn't get stung. I would highly recommend Vanessa to anyone looking for a photographer, especially if you'd like some beautiful keepsakes from your vacation!
Have I known this woman forever? NO!? Well, it sure felt like it ! My fiancé and I had Vanessa take our engagement photos in April and OMG!! When we received our gallery, we were absolutely amazed! The moments that she was able to capture even ...
when we didn't realize she was there were so beautiful! We had such a hard time deciding which picture(s) to use for the save-the-dates. Vanessa gives off the most amazing vibes, so booking her for our wedding was a no brainer. She has such great energy and her work is brilliant!
Vanessa is WONDER WOMAN! She came in on my wedding day and ran everything with ease, calmness, and comfortableness that made my wedding day better than imagined! First, the sneak peaks that I've received so far are AMAZING. We had a very windy ...
day, and she worked with it to make it in our favor. She ran through my shot list like a pro, and when someone got on my nerves, she reigned me back in and reminded me about what the day is really about. She is someone that you want to have on your side for your wedding, and I am SO HAPPY about my choice to book Vanessa. You will not regret booking her, and I'm sure that you'll find a friend through it too. #wonderwoman
Vanessa was worth every cent, not just in photos, but in her ability to keep me calm before and during the wedding (I was a very jittery bride) and to relate to us and our guests. She shot a gorgeous complimentary engagement session for us at t...
he location of our choice and made us look incredible. The day of the wedding, she showed up with a present- two champagne glasses for toasting with my husband after the wedding. It is these small, and even large, thoughtful details that made her absolutely incredible to work with. We would hire her again in a heartbeat and look forward to keeping in touch <3
Stop your search - this woman is THE BEST photographer out there! We loved working with Vanessa for our engagement shoot last year and our recent wedding. She is professional, easy to communicate with, fun to be around, and will get you exact...
ly what you are looking for in your wedding album.
When we started our search, we were looking for someone who's portfolio met the look we wanted and who we could afford. We were operating with a tight budget, and communicated that to Vanessa early on. She was very clear and up-front with us off the bat and immediately gave us her prices and options. We were so impressed, and felt that we could trust her immediately. That level of communication, honesty, and clarity continued throughout our time working with Vanessa.
Not only was she extremely professional, she is SO FUN to work with! She had us laughing and feeling great throughout both our engagement session and our wedding! She truly goes above and beyond for her clients - she followed us into the water for our engagement and out onto a cliff at our wedding, she was running to get certain shots and climbing on chairs to fit our whole family into the group shot. She is incredible!
As if that's not enough, Vanessa was there for me when a bourbon cocktail got spilled on my dress minutes before the first dance! She was on her hands and knees alongside our wedding coordinator scrubbing on my dress - and they got the stain out! She not only took the most beautiful photos, she helped me feel beautiful and SAVED my dress for the rest of the evening. I cannot say enough good things about this talented human! Thank you Vanessa!
If Vanessa is available for your wedding and/or engagement, don't hesitate, book with her immediately! You will not be disappointed!
If you’re looking for someone who completely understands your vision, someone who goes above and beyond all expectations, and someone who can document your special moments better than you could have imagined - all while bringing the fun, energy...
, and a gorgeous sparkle - well, Vanessa is your girl!
There’s nothing like finding out that your wedding photographer was voted #1 by Hawaii Wedding Magazine a week after your wedding... and while using your own wedding photo to showcase her!! What an honour! 🤗💃🏻
We honestly could not have imagined a photographer as incredible as Vanessa for our wedding day. She completely made our most special day *perfect*. We feel so lucky that we found her and that she was available!! Thank you so so much again for EVERYTHING! We will definitely see you again whenever we get to visit that gorgeous island again. Sending you so much love - The Davey’s xoxoxoxo ❤️
Seriously, STOP YOUR SEARCH FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER!!
You found it right here with Vanessa Hicks!
I am sitting here in TEARS looking at my wedding gallery that she just delivered!!
And it was worth the wait!
Not only are her photos romantic and ...
amazing, but her personality and help not only through the wedding planning process but the day of my wedding was so needed!
She took better care of me than my wedding coordinator did!
She went completely ABOVE AND BEYOND, and even brought me a gift on ny wedding day!
She was/is no longer just a wedding vendor, but a family friend now! EVERYONE loved her at the wedding, but most importantly, she made my new husband and I feel like we were a king and queen!
Just hire her! I promise she’s worth it!!
Vanessa, we love you!
I don't even know where to begin. The shoot with Vanessa was beyond amazing. She was so easy to talk to and was a blast to work with. She brought such a fun atmosphere to the shoot. The pictures came out amazing and were even better than what I...
had hoped for. Worth every penny and then some!
Let me tell you, there is a reason that Vanessa was voted as Hawaii's #1 Photographer! She is AMAZING! We had the pleasure of having her photograph our engagement pictures in Maui when we were visiting on vacation and we are so thankful we had ...
the opportunity to work with her! From the moment I reached out to her to the day of our photos, she was quick to respond, made our time with her so fun and relaxing, and the pictures we received....just...WOW! Vanessa, thank you for capturing our love in our most favorite place! If I didn't already have our wedding photographer booked we would be asking you to come to Arizona for our wedding! If you are considering booking Vanessa for your photos, be like Nike and JUST DO IT. You won't regret it!!
Vanessa, thank you so much for everything you did for us during our wedding day at the Hyatt Regency. You helped make us feel so comfortable and you were genuine, honest, candid, organised and an absolute blast. I would happily recommend you to...
anyone who asked!!
I LOVE Vanessa's combination of talent, wonderful energy, and her prompt and sweet e-mails! She really does care about her clients and the experience she gives them! I contacted Vanessa while I was in Atlanta to prepare for a honeymoon session ...
in Hawaii with my husband and she made the process so easy! I connected with her before we even met because she was so stoked about our session before it even began! Not to mention, We LOVE our images! What a wonderful way to capture memories of our time in Hawaii on our honeymoon! Thank you, Vanessa!!!
Vanessa is amazing! I booked her in June of 2017 for my honeymoon in December of 2017. She was super quick to respond, and very helpful with coordinating the perfect location for our photos! I told her what kinds of spots I liked, and she picke...
d the most amazing location (since we had no idea where to go). She even gave us suggestions on good places to eat afterwards!
Vanessa made my husband and I feel so comfortable, which is a difficult task to say the least. Not only did we actually have fun, but in a quick session, we got sooo many beautiful images. I was just amazed!
Thank you so much Vanessa and I hope to see you again soon because we miss Hawaii! Mahalo!
Vanessa was so enjoyable to work with and we had a lot of fun with her during our photoshoot. The pictures she took of my wife and I were extremely flattering and beautiful! The turnaround for receiving the pictures was also fast. I didn't e...
xpect to get them back so quick. Next year I'm bring my whole family out to Hawaii and you better believe I'm hiring he to do our family photos. She is the best!
Vanessa is amazing. Very professional and helpful. My husband and I had our 5th year vow renewal. We never had a wedding. So this was both of our first time getting our pictures taken professionally. Enjoyed the experience, loved our pictures a...
nd grateful for all our questions being answered. I would recommend her to everyone I know and strangers!
We traveled to Maui recently and arranged for Vanessa to take some maternity pictures. She traveled long and far from a different island during peak season just to spend time with us. She made us laugh so hard our cheeks hurt. The photos are be...
autiful, and she is simply a wonderful human to spend time with. Truly passionate about her work. Would recommend 10/10 to anyone in Hawaii looking for an experience with a beautiful reward.
Seriously - I love Vanessa. I’m a wedding planner and work with tons of different photographers but she’s top five of all time for me (and I’ve been planning events for ten years!) you won’t be disappointed.
We traveled to Maui recently and arranged for Vanessa to take some maternity pictures. She traveled long and far from a different island during peak season just to spend time with us. She made us laugh so hard our cheeks hurt. The photos are be...
autiful, and she is simply a wonderful human to spend time with. Truly passionate about her work. Would recommend 10/10 to anyone in Hawaii looking for an experience with a beautiful reward.
Also her pricing is very fair in comparison to her talent and taste.
Vanessa is amazing!! Her bubbly and sweet personality immediately calms you and makes you feel like you've been friends for years! She was just as excited about our photos as we were! We did a quick elopement on the big island and she moved her...
flight due to a storm no problem. I can't wait to see more photos!! Highly recommend her!
Where do I start? Vanessa is such a genuine and caring person. I knew this before I met her and could see it in her work. Years before my wedding (little did I know I’d actually hire her someday), I saw a photo of Vanessa’s. I hit the “like” bu...
tton and followed her for about 3 years. After my fiancé (now husband!) proposed, we planned to get married in Hawaii. We are from NC, so this was a huge trip for us. That very same day, Vanessa announced she was moving to Hawaii and would be continuing her business there. I immediately messaged her and asked if she could photograph my elopement ceremony. I got a response within minutes! Vanessa is a great communicator and really knows just how to help you. Vanessa and I stayed in touch throughout the months before our ceremony. We emailed, we messaged, and we planned everything. It was super smooth and very convenient, especially since we are 6 hours apart in different time zones. The day of our wedding, Vanessa was early, and excited to shoot! She checked out the lighting to make sure we would have great photos, and she helped us relax. She is a highly skilled, witty, friendly, and funny person. This made our elopement so much more special. As it felt like we had a friend, and she always looked out for our best interests. If I was uncomfortable in a pose, she adapted. She tested out the water and made sure we would be safe. She knew when the tide was coming and going so we got some awesome shots of the waves in the background. She knows how to pose you in flattering positions. We had high expectations for Vanessa, and she nailed them all! We couldn’t have imagined how beautiful our photos turned out. We are so thankful for her skill and her character while we were in Hawaii. I would highly recommend Vanessa Hicks to any couple or person seeking any kind of photos. Vanessa can do it. And she will exceed your expectations! Thank you Vanessa!!
Vanessa was nothing short of amazing to work with from the time we booked up through our wedding day! Always quick to respond to all my questions and she made sure contact me the days before to solidify our time line for the day in order to get...
all the photos I had envisioned. She arrived early to find the best places for us to shoot photos as well as kept us organized and on schedule. When we couldn't have our ceremony outside due to pouring rain, she already had a backup plan and assured me the photos would still turn out great. She even kept an eye out during our reception for breaks in the rain and we were able to get photos on the rocks down by the ocean, which was something that was very important to me! My husband hates posing for photos and even he was impressed with her skills, organization, professionalism, fun attitude, and vision for our photos. We cannot wait to see how they all turned out and would recommend her to anyone looking for an amazing wedding photographer!
First of all, Vanessa is amazingly talented. I can count on one hand the number of photos of me I actually love before getting married, and I love every photo Vanessa captured for us! Second, Vanessa rescued me. We lost our original photogra...
pher and Vanessa was so prompt and fantastic in response and understanding our accelerated timeline. Third, Vanessa is an absolute joy to be around! Her personality and infectious enthusiasm made her a favorite on our day. She cracked up the bridal party, wrangled my difficult grandpa for a great set of family pictures, and captured the whole vibe of our wedding! We could not ask for a better photographer, and cannot recommend her highly enough!
Vanessa was awesome! My fiancé and I traveled from SC and had our engagement pictures done. She made the entire experience so much fun! Highly recommend!!
Wow! Where do I even start?! Vanessa is beyond talented. When my husband and I got our first sneak peak picture, we were speechless. It was beyond beautiful. Our pictures turned out perfect and beyond anything I had imagined. When I told Vaness...
a I wanted all the beauty of Kauai in a fun honeymoon session, she delivered. She found the MOST beautiful spot, which my husband and I would have never known to visit. She also made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera and like we had known her for years. Vanessa was kind, professional, joyful, fun and HILARIOUS. We loved getting to work with her and are so happy with how our pictures turned out!
Vanessa made my wedding process so much easier and I wish I would have booked her earlier! She is extremely easy to work with and makes sure you are the number one priority at all times. She is punctual and responsible, and ensures that she is ...
well-prepared for her appointments. She scoped out my engagement photo location before I arrived and planned our shoot to a tee. She also visited my venue before my wedding and got the inside scoop for my big day. Not only is she an AMAZING photographer, she also helps out with wedding day coordination. Additionally, she does a very quick turnaround for her galleries, as we only had to wait a week for 80, yes EIGHTY, photos! I am so happy I booked her as my photographer and you will be too! I will definitely be reaching out to her in the future and would recommend her to anyone.
I have worked with Vanessa on styled photography for my Bridal Boutique and I can't say nothing but amazing things about Vanessa and her work. She is detail oriented, considerate and a lot of fun and knows how to make anyone relax behind the ca...
mera, and very professional. Cathy Montante, Owner, Celebrity Stylist, Collezione Fortuna Fashion Boutique and Bridals, Carmel, CA 93921,
So I should have written this sooner, haha, but here goes! I have loved everything about working with Vanessa from our very first Facebook message. She was funny and totally all into our Disney wedding theme; I had the perfect photographer! Thr...
oughout the planning Vanessa was there keeping things on track and come day off, it could not possibly have been so smooth had she not been there. She handled any problem and was 100% there for anything needed! Astonishing photos, she is truly talented and I could just swoon over her for days! � right after picking the perfect man to marry, I definitely picked the perfect photographer to capture our memories!
Vanessa was the best person to have as my photographer. Me and my now husband wanted a photographer that understood us and our Navy themed wedding. Being a Navy spouse and a Navy vet herself she was onboard with us from the first time we talked...
. She is so much more then a photographer though. She helped the day go smoothly, danced with us at our reception and even when the rain tried to ruin my day made me feel like a princess. Thank you so much. The pictures are beautiful and you are as well.
Mr and Mrs Joseph Haley
Vanessa was the best person to have as my photographer. Me and my now husband wanted a photographer that understood us and our Navy themed wedding. Being a Navy spouse and a Navy vet herself she was onboard with us from the first time we talked...
. She is so much more then a photographer though. She helped the day go smoothly, danced with us at our reception and even when the rain tried to ruin my day made me feel like a princess. Thank you so much. The pictures are beautiful and you are as well.
Mr and Mrs Joseph Haley
I am writing this review to try to convince anyone at all thinking about booking Vanessa to absolutely go ahead and do it. It was seriously a lifesaver for me. Not only was Vanessa extremely easy to work with and helpful, she also genuinely car...
es about making your proposal go smoothly and as possible.
On my planned proposal date, when I was about to lose service and start my drive into big sur, I received a phone call that my dinner and hotel plans were cancelled because of a mandatory fire evacuation. I pulled over and went into panic mode because I had no idea what to do. However, I was able to text Vanessa without my then girlfriend knowing. Vanessa went ahead and made suggestions as to an alternative proposal location in Carmel, made suggestions for dinner plans, made dinner reservations for me, and offered to try to find a hotel room for us for that night because she knew I was driving and wouldn't have service. She also told me to relax, enjoy big sur, and that her and I were going to make everything work.
So basically on top of all of that she had offered to drive another 30 minutes out of her way to still make sure she captured the moment of the proposal - a moment she audibled the location on with less than half a days notice. The location was absolutely stunning and so was Carmel. All I'm saying is that there is no way I would have been able to make the proposal happen without all her help and I cannot thank her enough. Vanessa you are the best. Again, anyone trying to chose between photographers, look no further. I was extremely lucky to have chosen her.
Oh also, Vanessa takes great pictures. My mom and fiancé kept crying every time they looked at them. I'm very happy to have had the moment I proposed captured and the pictures really did turn out extremely well.
Thank you again for all of your help Vanessa, we hope to have you there to capture our wedding too!!
Where do I begin? From the very first correspondence with Vanessa my (now) husband and I knew we were working with a professional and talented photographer. Vanessa was prompt in answering our questions and provided guidance and recommendations...
for vendors along the way. Being unfamiliar with Big Sur (where our elopement took place) Vanessa was the perfect person to work with as she had many experiences with and knowledge about the area.
On the day of the wedding she was early, prepared, calm, cool and collected. While I felt wedding-day stress she was a very calming and fun presence. She helped everyone feel at ease and comfortable. My family still gush over how amazing she is and how wonderful it was to have her capture our special day.
Vanessa was prompt with communication after the session and the photos were sent to us on a private, password protected website. The website was easy to use and the photos.... oh the photos... were absolutely breathtaking <3
We have received so many compliments on our photos and feel that Vanessa was able to capture our special day and us as a couple perfectly. We highly recommend Vanessa and would work with her again in a heart beat.
I have nothing but praise for Vanessa as a person and her talent as a photographer. My husband and I wanted a casual shoot on the beach before we moved out of California, so we booked a mini session for 30 minutes. She took over 200 photos in t...
hat little of time, and ended up sending me over 30 perfectly edited photos only 2 and a half weeks later. She is very outgoing, bubbly, and funny. This all makes her so easy to work with and she makes you feel comfortable the entire time. Not to mention she is not afraid to shower you with compliments which gives you a nice confidence boost during your shoot! Her prices are also incredibly reasonable for the area, and for the quality of her work. I would recommend her to anyone!
Response from the Vendor on 01/26/2017
Thank you so much for this kind review!!!!
Vanessa
Contact Info for Vanessa Hicks Photography
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Vanessa Hicks Photography