READING TIME: 2 min 38 sec
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/19/2025
UPDATED: 08/19/2025
For Emily Choy, wedding photography is more than creating beautiful images—it’s about preserving the essence of a moment before it slips into memory. Based in Hawai‘i, she works throughout the islands and selectively in California, New York, and across Europe, telling love stories with a blend of fine art refinement and authentic human connection.
"Becoming a mother of three deepened my understanding of how fleeting seasons are, and how powerful it is to preserve a moment before it becomes memory."
Her journey began far from the wedding aisle. Before photography, Emily was an occupational therapist—work that honed her empathy and eye for meaningful details. Yet she always saw the world in frames, drawn to light, movement, and emotion. That vision became the foundation of a career now spanning nearly a decade.
Emily describes her approach as “elevated, emotive, and rooted in both artistry and story.” She blends refined composition and intentional lighting with a documentary style grounded in human connection. The result? Images that are luxurious yet honest, timeless yet brimming with life.
"My goal is always to create photographs that take you right back to how it felt in that moment—the energy, the expression, the emotion."
Her post-processing is equally intentional. Emily’s editing stays true to life, focusing on natural skin tones and soft palettes that will remain beautiful for decades to come.
Emily is a hybrid photographer, working with both digital and analog film. Canon mirrorless handles the digital side, while Canon, Mamiya, Pentax, and Holga bring her 35mm and medium format film work to life.
"I love film for the softness and depth it brings when the light and timeline allow for it. What I use depends on the flow and scope of each event."
This flexibility allows her to adapt to the unique rhythm of every wedding, from sunlit ceremonies to candlelit receptions.
While sweeping landscapes and couture gowns are breathtaking, Emily is most moved by the quiet, unscripted moments—a fleeting glance, a shared laugh, a gentle touch.
"The ones that aren’t planned often end up meaning the most. Those fleeting seconds quietly become part of someone’s legacy."
It’s these genuine expressions that anchor her work and give her images their enduring emotional pull.
Emily takes on a limited number of weddings each year to ensure every couple receives her full attention. She builds each collection from scratch, tailoring it to the personality and vision of the celebration.
"No two celebrations are alike, and they shouldn’t be. A couple who loves the spotlight will have a gallery that looks and feels completely different from one that’s more quiet and intimate—and I love photographing both."
Her offerings may include welcome or farewell events, engagement sessions, hybrid film coverage, honeymoon portraits, or heirloom albums—always designed to tell the complete story of a couple’s wedding journey.
If she could speak to her younger self, Emily would say:
"It’s tempting to rush or compare, especially in the early years. But depth matters more than speed. Focus on refining your eye, creating from a place of purpose, and building a business that feels aligned and sustainable with who you are."
Her guidance for couples is simple yet invaluable:
"Good light, great people, a beautiful space, and buffer in your timeline—that’s the sweet spot. Everything else will fall into place."
Emily’s artistry thrives in diverse landscapes. She’s photographed celebrations in the South of France, Tuscany, the Italian lakes, and Paris, as well as vibrant events in California and New York.
"Each place offers its own magic—its own way of telling a story."
In the hands of Emily Choy, wedding photography becomes a legacy—crafted with care, intention, and an artist’s eye for emotion. Her images are not just memories, but heirlooms—meant to be felt as much as they are seen.
