about

Welcome to the new HIYA PAPAYA blog.

We are long-time friends Cristi B. and Jessi Safsten. You’ll notice from our self-portraits that we love to laugh… at ourselves, at life. We enjoy the little things.

We both have ties to the “papaya” world– Jessi grew up on the beautiful island of Oahu and Cristi once lived there as a missionary. We are islanders at heart.

Our hiya papaya name describes our style perfectly–FUN, quirky, fresh, gutsy, original. We tend to shoot loosely, giving little direction so we can capture the more natural state. We’re not really into the rule-following thing. We are two truly unique individuals and we show that originality in our work.

We like to push our limits, try new things, experiment with different styles. We aim to make each photo session completely original. That way, no two events are alike. Because, really, no two people are exactly alike! This constant challenge of ‘changing things up’ is one reason we love what we do.

We like to get a feel for you–what you envision for yourself, any likes and dislikes, and who you are as a person. We aim to photograph you in a totally natural state–in your element–so we can capture the real you. Believe us, you’ll feel comfortable in no time once you learn how unintimidating we are. (Is that a word?)

We love what we do. All of it. The highs and lows, the good and bad. We embrace the work, shape it and transform it to our liking… and that changes us for good. It inspires us, strengthens us, motivates us to work harder than ever.

THANK YOU for checking out our blog! Leave us a comment and let us know what you think, or send us an email!

We are HIYA PAPAYA!