who is J
I was born to a family of artists, designers, musicians, and storytellers in Puerto Rico. My great-grandfather, Juan E. Viguié, produced the first Puerto Rican film with sound, and that legacy of innovation continues to guide me today.
Photography became an early language and way of communicating how I saw the world since an early age, especially when life demanded resilience. After losing my father to ALS at 16, I poured myself into this craft—completing a four-year design & photography degree (in just two) while documenting families in luxury hotels across Puerto Rico. Those early years taught me how powerful visuals can be in sharing experiences and brand stories through storytelling.
In 2017, Hurricane María forced my fiancé (now wife) and me to start over. We left everything behind & landed on Maui with one suitcase, one camera bag, and hope. Hawaiʻi welcomed us with open arms, and in return I’ve embraced its greatest lesson: to honor culture, history & sense of place through my work. As a Puerto Rican in Hawaiʻi—a bridge between two islands with shared histories—I feel a deep responsibility to create work rooted in authenticity and respect. As a father to two boys born on Maui, community always comes first.
After some years of working for a "local" photography company I was let go in 2020 & took the opportunity to launch Hawaiʻi Media Collective, now a thriving creative team serving global brands across Maui, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, and internationally. With the agency flourishing thanks to an amazing team of content creators, I'm turning back to my personal brand—focusing on commercial and product photography.
Every project is more than visuals. It’s about relationships, creative problem-solving, culture and telling stories that endure. I want my clients to feel inspired, confident, and connected—redefining how to see things.
J's clients include:
Conveniently located at Queen Ka'ahumanu Center
275 W. Kaahumanu Ave., Suite 189, Kahului HI 96732