Award-Winning Photographer || Honolulu, Hawaii

Aloha!

My name is Raymond Enriquez.

I’m an award-winning photographer from Honolulu, Hawaii.

I began my journey in photography at the age of 15 when I was given an analog disposable camera that required me to complete a ‘Day in the Life’ class project. It wasn’t until years after graduating High School in 2007, that this craft would find it’s way back to me.

After being randomly placed in the camera department when applying for a job as a stock clerk, I rediscovered my love for this medium of art. I soon was presented with opportunities to learn more about the ins and outs of digital photography from my coworkers that have worked there years before I showed up.

After finally purchasing my very own Nikon D3000 DSLR camera, I pushed myself in ways unimaginable. Experimenting with anything and everything that I could take a picture of. When I started improving and allowed people to see my work, I began receiving requests to do photoshoots that actually paid a decent amount.

I decided to enroll in online courses at the Academy of Art University in Photography after realizing that I could actually get a degree in something I felt passionate about. I spent endless days in coffee shops and libraries learning what it took to become a professional artist and photographer.

While going to school online and working part time at the NEX Camera Department, I landed a weekend job as a secondary photographer for a reputable wedding company in Honolulu. Not knowing that a few years later, I’d find myself being fired for undisclosed reasons.

Fast forwarding, I obtained my AA degree in Photography online and my BFA in 2018 after relocating to the bay of area San Francisco for about 3 years.

I was surrounded by artists that shared the same passions and learned the true essence of what makes you a professional artist/photographer. The most valuable aspect of attending Academy of Art University in-person was that I gained experience with professional equipment and industry-practices. This included the use of Phase One Digital Cameras and Broncolor studio lighting. Not to mention, the endless resources available to me from being surrounded by like-minded artists.

At the core of it all, what we were urged to accomplish and in order to understand the true essence of being a professional photographer, was to create memorable images.

A memorable image consists for 3 aspects:
1. Subject
2. Technique
3. Concept

It’s basically conceptualizing a piece of art with a subject-matter that can tell a story that you want to portray visually. No words, just visuals. This was done by ideation, subject-matter, lighting, and post-production. All of which I would’ve dismissed if it weren’t for attending AAU in-person.

During my time at school, I worked as a freelance photographer, digital technician, and professional art installer. I even earned a certification twice as a Phase One Certified Professional.

The growth that I encountered being away from Hawaii was an endless list of failing and learning. Getting pushed down to only forcing myself to get back up. Traveling to different areas of the west coast of the United States opened my eyes to the world and the possibilities of success that can come from placing yourself in uncomfortable situations.

A list of clients that I gained as a photographer living away from Hawaii includes Oath(Verizon), Yahoo, REVEL Consulting, and Smilebooth.

At the end of 2019, just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, I decided it was time for me return to Hawaii.

At a young age, I turned to the ocean and nature as a source of inspiration, fun, and healing. Growing up on the islands is different. You learn to appreciate the more simpler things in life like spending quality time with your loved ones. Long days spent near the shoreline, catching waves in the water, or hiking through the tropical forests made me truly appreciate the world we live in.

Suffering from endless days of depression and anxiety during my time in the mainland made me realize that I needed to get back to paradise. I needed the ocean, the waves, the humid weather. I also yearned for my family, friends, and Hawaii’s kind, warm, people, that shared a life living in unity.

What helped me cope mentally was art and photography. Particularly Nature photography. When I’m out photographing nature, I feel at ease with my thoughts and emotions. I am able to quiet down negative noises in my head and become truly present. Silence surrounds me during this time and allows me to be one with the universe. Almost as if I go into a trance when I place my eye against the viewfinder of my camera and click away. It is this calm, and tranquil feeling that you get from nature that I wish to share with the rest of the world. Simply stating that nature is an abundant resource of healing that I want the world to have access to through my photographs.

Today,

I am a professional photographer and award-winning artist with a print studio located in the beautiful city of Honolulu, Hawaii.

I print, cut, and mat all of my photographs with a sense of gratitude for the subject matter in my images and the kind people that support my efforts in my craft. I’m hoping that one day I’ll be able to showcase more of my work to the world and own gallery space in the Honolulu or surrounding areas. Until then, you can find me at different craft fairs and markets throughout the island of Oahu. Or you can click here to view my entire inventory of Limited Edition Prints.

2023:

“It’s Elemental” (Susan Rogers-Aregger Gallery)
“Landscapes Exhibition”
(Glasgow, UG – United Kingdom)
“Botanicals” (Light Space & Time Gallery)

2022:
“H2o 2022 Exhibition” *1st Place* (J. Mane Gallery)
“2nd Annual HI Statewide Juried Photography Exhibition” (Hilo,HI)
“Landscapes & Seascapes 2022” (Laguna Beach, CA)
“ReFRESH Juried Exhibition” (Dayton, OH)
“Virtual Gallery”(TheCreativeCity.org)
“Elements of Nature” *2nd Place* (J. Mane Gallery)

2021:
“LAA National Juried Photography Show”
(Louisville, Colorado)
“1st Annual HI Statewide Juried Photography Exhibition” (Hilo, HI)
“Surfing The Pacific Rim Art Exhibition” (Huntington Beach, CA)
“Annual ‘555’ Art Competition”(Light Space & Time Gallery)
“Water Exhibition” (Grey Cube Gallery)

2016:
“This is San Jose” (San Jose City Hall, San Jose, CA)

2013:
“eXposure” (Honolulu, HI)

• CAMERA:
  • Nikon D850
  • Nikon D90
• LENSES:
  • Nikon 20mm f/1.8
  • Nikon 50mm f/1.4
  • Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8
  • Nikon 24-47mm f/2.8
  • Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII
• LIGHTING:
  • Nikon SB900
  • Nikon SB910
• UNDER WATER
  • Aquatech Elite Sports II
  • Go Pro Hero 4
• PRINTING
  • Canon Pro 1000

2020:
“From Around the World” (CovidPictures.org)

2018:
“38th Annual College & High School Photography Contest Finalists” (Photographers Forum Magazine)

Being a professional photographer in Honolulu requires you to be skilled in software that can enhance the aesthetics of digital images. Below is a list of my expertise in software that are catered toward my digital design skills.

• Adobe Photoshop (11 yrs)
• Adobe Camera Raw(11 yrs)
• Capture One(8 yrs)
• Adobe InDesign (8 yrs)
• Adobe illustrator (8 yrs)
• Adobe Premier Pro (8 yrs)
• Adobe XD (8 yrs)

A list of world-renowned clients that I’ve done work for as a photographer or who have invested in my works:

• CBS (NCIS: Hawaii)
• Highgate Properties
• REVEL Consulting
• Oath (Verizon)
• Smilebooth
• Yahoo
• Kona DEEP
• Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties