Michael Darden Photography specializes in commercial, advertising, editorial, sports, wedding and portrait photography and videography/cinematography.

Darden has numerous editorial, news, sports and commercial photography awards to his credit throughout his more than 40 year career. Most recently 2016 Best of Hawaii – West / Best Photographer.

Darden’s editorial photography has been published by leading print and digital news organizations and magazines worldwide. His commercial photography and videography work has been featured by numerous companies and corporations.

“My father and grandfather were both advanced amateur photographers who hand developed color and black & white film and printed pictures in their home makeshift darkrooms.”

“At age 8, I got my first box camera,” but, my photographic career began in earnest in San Diego, CA. as the photo editor for my high school newspaper in the mid 1970’s. After high school I became a U.S. Navy photographer, where I continued to develop my passion and photographic skills and education before leaving the Navy with an Honorable Discharge. With 7 years of military service under my belt I pursued a photojournalism career, working 17 years as a daily newspaper photographer covering news, features and sports including prep, college and NFL football, prep, collage and Major League Baseball, prep, college and NBA basketball, NHL hockey, professional golf, professional motocross and the Ironman Triathlon World Championship for newspapers in both San Diego, California and most recently in Kailua Kona, Hawaii.

Darden was considered by his peers to be one of the best photographer / videographer's in Hawaii.

The scope of his work ranges from high end architectural and advertising photography and videography to portrait, wedding, landscape and aerial drone photography and videography.

With Hawaiian roots that extend for generations, Kailua Kona Hawaii was my home for nearly 30 years before settling in Fernandina Beach, Florida in 2021.