Vanessa Hicks Photography

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 reviews 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 photographers 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 connect 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 nightmares! 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 tips 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 Vanessa 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 long-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 photographer 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 winning 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!

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 completely 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 blast, 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 photographs 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 with 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 photographer 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 stress 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. She 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 she 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 pictures, 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 actually 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 four 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.

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 her 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.

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 special 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 wedding 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 the 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 exactly 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 picked 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 expect 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 and 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 beautiful, 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 beautiful, 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.