4 Days Till Christmas!

December 21, 2020 Nick Pugay

Happy Monday everyone! It’s not too late to save on last-minute gifts! With just 4 days left till Christmas, save 20% on prints and canvas prints on selected titles. Act now if you or someone you know and love could use new home or office decor or wall art. (Print Gallery)

Due to reduced operations caused by COVID-19, orders may have an extended delay in production and shipping time. Thank you for your patience while we work through these challenging times.

Have a wonderful day and stay safe. Mahalo!

Pierantozzi Family Portraits

October 10, 2018 Nick Pugay

I absolutely loved photographing the Pierantozzi family from California. Their son is definitely a firecracker and a handsome hapa boy (Hapa means half and half nationality in Hawaiian). For the past two years, the Pierantozzi’s celebrate Mia’s (mom) birthday by coming to Hawaii for a vacation. This year her birthday present was delayed by a month but the important thing is, they made it to Hawaii!

We met at the lobby of the Turtle Bay Resort and our original plan was to take pictures at Makapu’u Beach but the strong trade winds rearranged our plans so we decided to take their pictures near the horse stables. Their son, Bryce, was very curious to see and touch the sand here in Hawaii because where they come from, the sand is a bit harder and easier to walk in. He was mesmerized by the way his feet would disappear into the soft white sand, LOL!

It was a fun morning and I can’t wait to see them again next year hopefully. Mahalo Chris, Mia and Bryce!

Yamamoto Family Portraits

October 6, 2018 Nick Pugay

It was a year ago that Kevin and Morgan’s daughter, Paige, was barely a year old on their first family portrait shoot at Puu Ualakaa State Park at Roundtop Drive. This year, we used the beautiful backdrop of Waimanalo Bay Beach Park (Sherwood Forest). Paige has grown so much in one year. She now talks and walks and tells her furry brother, Koge, what to do (It’s so cute!). She also has a special word when ever you want her to laugh, “Dodo!”

Her furry brother, Koge, is also very energetic, photogenic (as you can see in the photos) and loves the ocean. At one point during the session, Koge was showing off to his human sister, Paige, by jumping as high as he could to try and take away the leash from his human daddy, Kevin.

I’m excited to see what next year will bring for this amazing family. Hopefully Paige will appreciate the sand crabs her daddy catches. Thank you Kevin, Morgan, Paige and Koge for having me capture your precious moments!

Hawaii Destination Wedding | Giorgia and Damon

September 30, 2015 Nick Pugay

September 30, 2015

Family and friends of Damon and Giorgia flew to Oahu from all over the world to witness their Hawaii wedding. Our couple from Australia had planned to perform two ceremonies to accommodate both religions: Christian and Persian.

The first ceremony would be a Christian ceremony, performed by the Pastor John Fuchigami, at the Akala Chapel. Shortly after the first ceremony, the second ceremony would be a short-version of a Persian ceremony. The Persian ceremony was performed in the Rainbow Suite, which was transformed to accommodate this amazing ceremony. With the help of family members and the staff from Savvy Weddings, a section of the Rainbow Suite was transformed into something I had not seen before. I was truly amazed at the detail work that was done for this lavish event. The details consisted of a variety of ornaments, fruits, cookies, a little bowl of honey, two cylinder blocks made of sugar, a white cloth to hold over the couple during the ceremony and a padded bench for the couple to sit on.

During the ceremony the bride is presented with gifts from the grooms family. At the same time, members from both families held the white cloth over the bride and groom. One person was assigned to rub two cylinders of sugar over the cloth and another would be doing some sort of sewing on the white cloth. Once the bride accepts the marriage, the couple would dip their pinky fingers into the bowl of honey and feed each other the honey to signify their marriage. Then the guests would shower the newlywed with flower petals.

The reception was nothing short of fun as well. The laughs, smiles and love for each other really showed on each and every persons face in the room. One thing that caught my attention was a knife dance performance prior to the cake cutting ceremony. In a Persian wedding reception, one person from the groom’s family would perform a dance displaying the knife to be used to cut the cake. Before the knife could be handed over to the couple, the groom would have to present the knife dancer with gifts or money. Once accepted, the knife will then be handed over to the newlywed so that they can continue with the cake cutting ceremony. The rest of the night ended with lots and lots of dancing!

Experiencing a Persian wedding was truly amazing. I can only imagine what it would have been like had it been the full version. Thank you Damon and Giorgia for sharing this experience with me! Aussie-Aussie-Aussie!!! Oy-oy-oy!!!

Thanks to the following vendors who helped make their day possible!

Coordinator: Savvy Weddings

Entertainment: David Asing

Cake Design: Cake Works

Videographer: Digital Expressions

Hair/Makeup: Faith and Beauty

Venue: Hilton Hawaiian Village

Officiant: Pastor John Fuchigami

Ceremony Venue: Akala Chapel

Florist: Spinning WEB Florist

DJ: Status Entertainment

Linen/Décor: Wedding Linen Company

Hawaii Wedding | Rachel and Ruffer

September 6, 2015 Nick Pugay

Wedding ceremony at Akala Chapel Hilton Hawaiian Village

September 6, 2015

Rachel and Ruffer’s hot Hawaii summer wedding started in the morning with the couple getting ready at the beautiful Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki.

At their dressing rooms, Rachel looked amazing in her wedding dress and Ruffer and his men were fitted in the traditional Filipino barong (white transparent shirt). Before the ceremony, their 1stLook took place just outside of the Akala Chapel. Ruffer couldn’t have been more excited to see his beautiful bride for the first time.

Inside the Akala Chapel, at the end of each pew along the aisle was decorated with bouquets. Once the ceremony music started, it was the queue for the wedding to start.

First to enter was the wedding party. Following the wedding party was our beautiful bride who was escorted by both her father and mother. Their minister, John Fuchigami, did an amazing job during the ceremony. After announcing them husband and wife, the couple could not wait to have their first kiss as husband and wife.

After the family and wedding party were photographed at the Akala Chapel, we all made our way to The Kahala, where high profile celebrities stay for vacation.

The lunch reception was in the Waialae Ballroom, which is the perfect venue for about 100 guests. The formal program consisted of a beautiful 1stdance of the couple, speeches from the Best man and Matron of Honor and ended with a simple cake cutting ceremony by the couple.

Before the day was over and saying our goodbyes, I took Rachel and Ruffer outside for a few more pictures on the beach. This awesome couple looked so beautiful and radiant together. It was a great way to start a Sunday morning!