Island Style Images

I just came across the box of pictures from our newborn photo session and remembered that I wanted to leave a review but forgot to. Yes it has been a couple years so hopefully things have gotten better. My experience was exactly like reviewer Jon B… fussy baby comment and all. I too paid big $$$$ for the DVD. The images were blurry, poor quality and washed out. I ended up color correcting the few good ones. We paid for an indoor and outdoor setting but because of our «fussy baby» she only did the indoor. My husband had to remind her that we didn’t get what we paid for so eventually she rescheduled the outdoor session weeks later. Never saw her again because only when our pictures were ready we met with her assistant.

Oahu will forever be my favorite photo memory with the help of Island Style Images. I had found her online via social network, and she/​her staff immediately responded to my inquiries and quotes. I made a special visit to her office during our stay on the island last December 2011. Also, explaining my travel demands, they were very accomodating and prompt with the photo viewing immediately the day after our photo session.
I had a wonderful eperience working with Joanne and I hope others will share in this as well and consider her work. She was very casual and easy-​going, and my son immediately warmed up to her. She was on the ground, or active and attentive to get his smiles on film. We had a sunset shoot, and yes, she had asked if I could hold one of her foil props to help with the lighting, but nothing I felt was unprofessional. We strolled a couple different locations and she prompted us to do what was comfortable and natural for our portraits. We received a fun-​filled photo shoot on the beach that didn’t feel unnatural or uncomfortable with a child. She knew we were returning the following day for our photo viewing and I was in for a surprise!
The next day’s visit, already excited for the photos, I was not prepared for the moving and beautiful experience as I had. It was far more professional than even engagement or wedding photographers I had known. We were welcomed into her business, which sits like a house just along the beach, and seated in a room with a large viewing screen display and a lot of her personal work displayed beautifully. Her staff was very warm and friendly. I’m sorry I can’t remember their names at the moment, but they were the same from my emails I recall that transpired over the course of this visit to Oahu. We’re seated comfortably and the presentation begins… dimmed lights, soft and theme-​appropriate Hawaiian music in the background… it was like I was watching a personal movie of my day on the beach, just the day before. It was such a beautiful journey on film of my son, especially, and I immediately knew it was going to be very difficult to choose just a few photos.
Originally I had gone in with a budget, and yes, their photography is on the pricier side, but if you are able to splurge on a photo session, and for a memorable experience in Oahu that captures a time in your life so well, I highly recommend Joanne and Island Style Images. I had priced several photo options at the time, prior to our trip, and from hotel photographers, to other social media photographers I tripped across, I couldn’t feel more glad that I found Joanne!
There is a distinct difference in one’s experience from a photographer with a $ 100 budget and with a photographer like Joanne of Island Style Images. I had used the hotel photographer in 2010 while in Maui, for a very last minute photo shoot, and had a completely different experience. The difference for me was the memory… from something quick and convenient, to now, a hallmark piece in our home that warmly invites a smile over and over again, in remembering our visit to Oahu. We were able to opt for a professional cd of all of our images and a portrait that would take a few weeks to receive back home. Because I had requested a few photos as soon as possible to share in our holiday cards once returning home, her staff promptly emailed those I had noted for this request along with our photo release form.
Today, Island Style Image’s work is beautifully displayed in my home and it is such a centerpiece; the heart of our home. It is always a conversation piece! I need to note that, upon receiving our order, I had kept our portrait in the original box she sent them, and we were in the process of moving. Once we were able to display our photo, we noticed one of the pieces had a wavy look on the canvas and even though it had been several months since our initial order date, Joanne’s staff immediately sent us a replacement piece for the one we explained had a defect on the canvas. Thank you, Joanne and to your wonderful staff for helping capture such a wonderful time in our life on our first visit to Oahu. I truly look forward to working with you again in the future.
I even tripped across what turned out to be my favorite dining spot the entire trip, so if curious, check out that review from my Oahu visit.

Overall this was a bad experience. I find this company to be dishonest and lack professionalism. They followed up with nothing accept the bill which was timely. I recommend you go somewhere else.
Photo session: 2 stars. I got to lug the camera equipment around while Joanne carried the camera. She doesn’t have an assistant so extra people at the shoot fill that role. Also she showed up late and was running late so she cut it short blaming it on the baby getting fussy. Reality was the baby had calmed down after eating.
Photos: 2 stars. Out of the 150 photos she took about 20 were shorta OK and about 3 good pictures. She isn’t bad, but there are better.
Photo Viewing: –2 stars. there is no office you got to go up to her house on north shore, which wasn’t very clean when I got there. if you want a CD/​DVD copy of your photos you have to spend 2100 dollars worth of photos, which actually gets you not very much. The lack of effort on Johanne’s employee/​roommate while showing the picture was ridiculous. Nice lady, but I felt like I was being deceived. They will not tell you why it cost so much for the photos other than quality. Straight up refused to explain or say where they print the photos. Then I was basically told I was a bad customer and she is the greatest photographer. I would stay away from this place.

My first dog was a member of the family and faithful friend. After his passing, I deeply regretted not having a good quality photo of him. Shortly after adopting my second dog, I made sure not to repeat that mistake.
Each year, Island Style Images partners with Hawaiian Humane Society to offer «Quick Takes» and «Santa Paws» photography events. Pet parents make a donation to HHS, and Island Style Images waives its sitting fee. The pictures are taken indoors at the HHS in a studio that has been set up for the day. You then have the option to purchase any or all of the photos from the session.
Photographer/​owner Joanne Barratt did a really nice job with the pictures, and I’m really glad I participated in a Quick Takes session. Everyone who has seen the photos of my dog has complimented the quality of the work. I also applaud Joanne for giving back to the community in this way.
On the down side, the customer service was definitely lacking. For instance, Joanne did not offer to allow me to pose with my dog, which I would have liked. (I later learned that others were allowed to do so.) She was talking on her mobile phone when I entered the room and then when she greeted me, she was brusque and offhand. She did, at least, treat my dog nicely.
Also, before starting the session, Joanne asked me to sign a waiver that would allow her to use all of the images taken of my dog for her own (commercial) purposes without compensation to me, which I refused. It was presented matter of factly like, «here, sign this before we begin» and had I not read it, I would have missed what she was doing – not nice. Lastly, I had to call repeatedly after the sitting to order photos. I kept getting the answering machine and then had to play phone tag with an assistant to complete the transaction.
Dealing with the company was a pain in the okole, but I love the photos. Five stars for the photos, 1 – 2 stars for customer service/​business practices/​price.
Unilocal 365 Challenge #011/​365