What Our Clients Have To Say About Us...

Family/Senior Portraits

“I was fortunate to stumble across Brett’s website for a last-minute shoot. His portfolio is full of stunning work from Hawaii, and I was thrilled to have the chance to work with him here in Spokane. We met at a beautiful park, and Brett immediately impressed me with his professionalism, creative vision, and thoughtful suggestions. My family and I live in San Diego, and with five children, I treasure every opportunity to capture memories together—time goes by so quickly, and I believe it’s so important to preserve these precious moments. Having professional photos taken is truly an investment you’ll never regret. As someone who enjoys photography as a hobby and has high standards I was happy with how our photos turned out. Brett has an incredible ability to combine natural landscapes with genuine, joyful moments. Whether you’re looking for family portraits, graduation photos, or just want to capture life in a gorgeous setting, I highly recommend Brett for all your photography needs!” Melissa F.

Senior Portrait

“Lightness Photography is hands down amazing. So glad we chose Brett to do my son’ss senior pictures. It's hard to find a photographer to vibe with but not here...he was relaxed, conversated, asked my son what he wanted, and was very personable. Pictures turned out great. I will be sending people his way and we will definitely be coming back. Thank you Brett for being awesome!” - Day

Family Portrait

“Absolutely amazing! For me at least it’s always awkward getting pictures taken but Brett was great to work with and fun! I feel like he did awesome capturing my family and me. He even took some super cute random pictures I was not expecting to see. I would definitely recommend Lightness Photography and use again. Thank you so much for capturing my family so well!” - Emily B.

Senior Portraits

“My daughter was lucky enough to be Brett's first client after his move back to Washington. He did a phenomenal job with her senior portraits. During the shoot, he immediately put her at ease and he had lots of fun ideas for shots and poses. We ended up with loads of photos to choose from and appreciated the amount of edited photos (70!) included in our package. Turnaround time from the shoot to final photos was extremely quick. We are very satisfied and highly recommend Brett's services!” - Shannon M.

Family Portraits

I reached out to Lightness Photography in June to prepare for our July Hawaii trip. Brett responded within the day and scheduling was super easy. He made recommendations on optimal times to get the best lighting/sun. The Lightness Photography website was user friendly and very informational. Brett provided easy instructions on where to meet and perfect suggestions on locations for the type of mood/look we were going for in regards to our family photos. He is very easy to work with and made us all feel very comfortable during the whole photo session. All in all a very great experience and we would definitely book with Brett again! He emailed a link to our photos the very next day as promised. We were extremely happy with all of the photos! -Samantha A.

Surprise Proposal

Brett, thank you so much for capturing me and Yotham’s special moment. I can’t believe how many photos you captured and delivered to us so quickly. They are perfect, technically and compositionally. Years ago I did photography as a side hustle and captured a few engagements, and I know they are physically and emotionally demanding, but you made it seem completely effortless. I’m so lucky Yotham selected you as our photographer. The photos and video you got of us are completely priceless. Thank you so, so, so much!!! - Emma A.

Surprise Proposal

Brett was extremely helpful in planning and executing my surprise proposal! My fiancee and I got engaged on Magic Island and Brett provided clear instructions about where to be and when. Everything worked perfectly and he was very professional in the way he coordinated our sunset engagement photo session afterward. The pictures turned out amazing and we'd highly recommend him to anybody! - Vish S.

Family Sunset Session

"We have had the pleasure of working with Brett not once but twice! His images are treasured by our family! I am super picky about portraits and I love, LOVE, what he creates for us. He is fun to work with and the kids love him! We will definitely use him again and again!" - Kristine L.

Engagement/Honeymoon Session

Brett, we can’t stop looking through the photos!! We love, love, LOVE them and are having hard time choosing which to display at our wedding because all photos are amazingly capturing the moment:)  Thank you again for your great work and giving us unforgettable time! - Michiru & Shuichi, Tokyo

First Born, First Birthday

“Once I saw Brett's samples on his website, I knew I had to hire him. He replied to all my questions right away. His customer service was excellent. The photos he took of my family were amazing. I should know, I am also a professional photographer. I highly recommend Brett. I will definitely hire him again next time I visit Oahu.” - Varon P.

Maui Family Sunset Portraits

"Insanely Amazing!" Those were our daughter's first words after seeing the preview pictures that Brett sent us shortly after our session with him, and we 100% agree!!

All the final photos were just as amazing as the preview pictures. We are very happy with how relaxed, professional, and patient Brett was with our awkward, uncomfortable-in-front-of-the-camera family. He was very open and interested in hearing exactly what we were looking for and if we had any preferences, offered creative suggestions based on the littlest of prompts.

We are very grateful Brett offers his services. We are also appreciate his attention to details - he actually arrived a couple of hours early and checked out different beaches to ensure we had the best conditions possible. Yes, there are a lot of photographers who are local and possibly cost less, but after viewing gallery after gallery, we were more than impressed with his work and expertise, making our decision to schedule with Lightness Photography a no-brainer! - Deb W.

Sunrise Surprise Proposal

“Brett is an absolutely phenomenal photographer!! I highly recommend him to anyone looking for the best photographer! I called Brett to get his prices for a surprise proposal that I was planning. He was the 5th photographer that I talked to, and certainly the most professional and most willing to help make my proposal come to fruition. I instantly knew this was the man for the job. He got up at 3am and made the climb up the mountain and staged himself for the surprise proposal. The photos he captured were brilliant and amazing! His attention to detail and professionalism is second to none. We now have amazing photos to remember our blessed moment. Brett is simply the best! He is worth every penny!" - Phillip

Family Sunset Beach Photos

"I am so happy with our family photos!!! I poured over pictures from various photographers before we headed on our family vacation. I absolutely loved what I saw on Brett's website. I have 3 young children, ages 8, 5, and 2. Let's just say, family pictures can be so stressful with a young family! I couldn't be happier with the shots Brett was able to capture. He brought bubbles for my two youngest children, and was able to get some amazing pictures of my 2-year-old. I really struggle getting good pictures of her, and I am overjoyed by the photos I have now! We decided on a sunset backdrop, and I was worried about the time being too late for my kiddos (we live in TX). Brett made the whole process fun, and the girls did surprisingly well. Thank you Brett!" - Cara L.

Family Vacation

"Aloha Brett, I just left a review for you on Yelp. We love our pictures! The colors are absolutely stunning! We are still trying to pick our favorites. Thank you again!" -Deanna M.

Large Australian Family

"We traveled from Australia for our mother's 70th birthday and Brett captured our family portraits on the beach in Waikiki. There were 15 of us, including 6 kids (ranging in age from 18 months to 13 years) and Brett was excellent. He was patient and helpful, open to suggestions but with a clear idea of what to do and was great at wrangling the kids. The end result was beautiful pictures we'll cherish forever!" - The Mayos

Family Portraits

"We hired Brett to do our family trip photo shoot when we visited Oahu. We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, all the pictures he took. He was so good at what he does and he did an exceptional job. He took many creative pictures that we would have never imagined taking. With kids, it is usually hard to get a good family picture. However, Brett was so good with the kids that we did not have any issues getting our photos taken :). Thank you Brett for the amazing photos and your professional, fun attitude! Highly recommended!" - Gana S.

Family Portraits

"First of all, I cannot recommend Lightness Photography enough!!! The photographer Brett was amazing and a delight to work with!! I was planning a vacation with my family and decided to add a photo session for our first time. I researched for a couple weeks and kept coming back to Lightness Photography due to the bright and colorful images. I knew this was the company I wanted to work with! I reached out and was responded to immediately. Brett was very professional and offered a variety of options and locations to best suit my needs, as I wanted a sunset shoot.

The day of the shoot, it was raining (not the pretty rainbow rain) dark, gray and no sign of sun. Brett gave me an option to shoot another day, and that’s exactly what we did. I am so happy he was willing to accommodate our shoot with the unpredictable weather conditions. Our shoot was everything and more that we could have asked for! He worked very well with my four year old daughter and our pictures came out AMAZING!!! I am so glad that we chose Lightness Photography and you will be too!!! Five Stars all the way!!!" - Marissa I

Couples 1st Anniversary

"Brett is so incredibly talented. I booked our session with Brett for my husband and mines' anniversary and because we are leaving Hawaii in the fall. We've had professional pictures done before, but I cannot express how much fun this session was. It felt natural. The photos looked candid and natural. They looked like us! Brett strives for the right shot and right moment every single pose. Every time. I was so happy with our gallery we received. Once we started shooting, I was a little nervous and overthinking basically every movement, but Brett made us both relax right away. If I could give 10 stars I would! You won't be disappointed if you book with Lightness Photography." - Kayla C

Sunset Engagement

"OMG, thank you so much for capturing our engagement! We had the best time during our session and our pictures are absolutely stunning!" - Cristen & Charles

30th Anniversary!

"We had such a great experience with Brett. We were planning a trip to Oahu for our 30th wedding anniversary, so I wanted photo’s of us in this beautiful place (paradise). I was very impressed with Brett’s photo gallery on his website when searching for a photographer. He was extremely professional, friendly and helpful throughout the entire process. We absolutely love our photos!! Thank you Brett, for capturing our special time in Hawaii and making it such a fun experience." - Kim N.

Family Portraits

"Brett was great! I really wanted to get some family photos while vacationing in Oahu. When I researched for photographers, I came across Brett 's site and loved his pictures. Even though the weather didn't work out for us (we had gray skies), Brett still managed to take some awesome pictures. He patiently worked with us and got a lot of great shots. Thanks Brett!" - Lisa W.

Large Family Sunset Session

"I would HIGHLY recommend Brett at Lightness Photography! You can immediately tell that Brett knows the area and where the best shots are going to be. Honestly, the photo shoot was the best part of our trip!" :-)  -Kari P.

HUGE Family Portrait Session

"Our family created a “huge” challenge for Brett and he came through! We had over 50 adults and children in our group and we could not have been happier with our photos. Some people think they are photo-shopped because they look so amazing!

Thank you Brett!" - Donna S.

Family Holiday

"Our family was all together for the first time in over two years, so having a family portrait in Hawaii was on the top of our "to do" list. We chose to do the one hour photo session because we have 3 young grandchildren and did not think they would last much longer than that... and yet Brett delivered over 300 great photos to choose from! We took Brett's suggestion on the location, and we were so glad we did. He was very prompt at uploading our photo gallery and we were all so excited to see the final project. My favorite ones are of the kids running on the beach and playing in the waves. They turned out so amazing we bought them all!" - Nancy V.

Mini Family Photo Session

"I wanted to let you know personally that my heart is just full looking at our photos. ❤️   It was a last minute idea to update our family photos here and we were very fortunate to find you. Your website is a true representation of your work and you delivered exactly what I wanted. We truly enjoyed the session and we are thrilled with our photos!" - Susan L.

Family Vacation Photos

"I found Brett online when I was looking for a photographer who could capture our family on the beach, our first time to Hawaii!  As I narrowed down my search for a photographer, I really loved Brett's galleries online.  I loved the way he would capture a family with drops of water flying as children raced through the water or a wave crashing on a rock as a family stood in a perfect rosy glow from a beach sunset.  When I contacted photographers with our available dates, I was really impressed with Brett.  He responded in less than 24 hours, sent an email with pictures as examples of what he could do based on my inquiries and had specific location ideas.  I also loved that he would edit ALL the images in the package.  It really sealed the deal too when he was willing to do TWO locations and TWO dates to get the perfect shots for a very reasonable price.

I was so pleased to meet him and he was such a joy to work with.  My kids had a great time splashing around in the water and he captured gorgeous shots that are very natural and full of movement and life.  He had a really artistic eye, and his editing was so stunning (without looking fake).  You could tell Brett was having fun with our family, it was fantastic. Finally, he was professional from first contact to the actual shoot and afterwards.  He was on time (even early!) both days and he immediately had photos up and edited on the gallery to choose from.  My only complaint... there were too many wonderful shots to choose from! I would absolutely recommend him and would use him again in a heartbeat!" - Mandy B.

Family Photos - Remembrance

"Hi Brett...not sure if you remember us. We were the huge family whose photos you took last summer. Anyway...I have been thinking of you because our beloved Jaxon was killed in February. Do you remember him? Anyway, it was a very tragic accident and has been so painful for all of us. I am writing this though to THANK YOU.  You have no idea how many times we have been just so beyond grateful for the photographs you took and to have those memories captured on film. I just wanted you to know how meaningful your job is to others for their lifetime. We have learned that we can never take our time here on earth for granted. Again...thank you beyond words." - Laura G.

Family Beach Portraits

"Our extended family of 20 people traveled from Utah to vacation in Hawaii. While we were there we wanted family pictures on the beach. Brett was amazing!! He was prompt in his communication before the shoot, he was on time, knew right where to go for the best backdrop, patient with all the little kids we had and was very professional. He was fun, kept the little kids excited and got them to smile. He was kind and we all felt very comfortable. We will definitely use Lightness Photography again. Thank you, Brett, for an amazing experience!" - Maxfield Family

Dedication & Family Portraits

"Omg!!!! They are amazing!!!! Thank you so much Brett! Your work is absolutely amazing!! I will write a review for you once we get back home. I'm so glad I hired you. You are the best. :-) 

Hiring Brett to take professional photos during our holiday from Australia was absolutely one of the highlights of our trip. Brett captured some of the best memories that I could have during my son’s Hawaiian Dedication and then during our Sunset shoot. Brett was not only amazing with my 5 yr old but he made the photo shoot so easy and fun. We had such a great time. I could not commend him more for the results of the stunning photos and even more for the beautiful memories that I now can hang on my wall at home. Thank you so much Brett, I am truly thankful for your talent." -Viona & DeVanté, SYDNEY, Australia. September 2016

Kailua Family Photography

"Brett was incredible! We were visiting the island for a family vacation, and not only did he give us a beautiful recommendation of where to shoot, but he knew both sides of the island very well. His quote was better than I expected, and later, when we ordered prints and canvases, the price again was below what we have paid in the past. The quality of these photos are outstanding, and he managed to get all of us smiling at the same time! That never happens. Thank you Brett, I will be using you again and again!" - Angela

Surprise Proposal

"I recently decided to propose to my girlfriend while on vacation in Hawaii and hired Brett to take surprise photographs of the proposal (on a beach on the North Shore) as well as staged pictures during the sunset after we were finished. I live in California, and Brett was willing to talk with me on the phone multiple times to recommend specific perfect locations, the best times for sunset pictures, how to best set up the "sneaky" element of the pictures during the proposal, etc. He was beyond accommodating and a joy to work with. The pictures turned out beautifully. Incredibly professional and artistic - you can tell he really knows what he is doing and has mastered this craft over the years. You can also tell he loves his job - it shows in every picture he takes." - Matt H.

Engagement Proposal Photography

"Brett went above and beyond on our engagement pictures and they turned out beautifully! We couldn't have asked for a better experience. We went on a morning hike on Makapuu trail and Brett met us at the top for a surprise engagement and photo session! He suggested the location and even brought champagne! The photos were easy for us and our families to view, download, and share afterward. We can't say enough good things! Highly recommended!" - Sarah M.

Creative Sunset Family Photography

"Out of three photographers, I finally picked one to capture the moment of our lifetime visiting Oahu and going back home. I reside in Vegas now but half of the family lives on Oahu and with our busy schedules and my parents getting old I figured I had one chance to capture one special moment with all of us! Look no further...I picked the right guy! After talking over the phone for hours describing what i wanted down to tips on location, background and even clothes, Brett finally came up with a solution to all and then stated hopefully mother nature would be on our side and she was! The pictures turned out amazing and better than I thought!! Brett was professional, prompt, patient and pleasing! He pleased me and that was hard to do! LOL. Good job, Brett! - Lizette Q.