Meet Stephy & Tommy | Founders of Okii Studio

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephy & Tommy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephy & Tommy, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
We started Okii to keep great ideas whole, from brief to final export, and to make work that feels human and travels globally. Coming up through marketing and agency work taught us that branding is a system, not just a logo; strategy, positioning, and tone only land when they’re visible on camera. That’s why our core is branded photography and video; most of what we do and everything else we offer exists to make those images and films connect.

We wrote a few rules: listen like researchers, design with intent, craft like filmmakers, and create work that connects globally, so every frame reads fluently without borders. We built a multidisciplinary team to remove friction and keep one creative heartbeat. We say no to projects without heart so we can say a louder yes to the ambitious, the joyful, and the useful. In the end, coherence beats complexity: lead with pictures and films that move people, and you don’t just get content, you get a brand people can feel.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Our biggest takeaway is simple: when we align with brands that share our values and heart, the work shines brighter. That alignment is also what sets us apart; it keeps the story coherent from brief to final frame. We’re proud of the quiet craft that makes products feel human, and excited that we’re still professional students, learning every day. Getting here wasn’t easy; we’ve faced tight timelines and creative blocks, and we’ve overcome them by choosing value-aligned partners, communicating clearly, and iterating with care. If there’s one thing to know about our brand and story, it’s this: we lead with shared values and relentless learning so the work doesn’t just look good; it connects.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When friends visit, we skip the Hollywood shuffle and keep it coastal in the South Bay. We’ll ease into the day at Caravan Swim Club at Hotel June; coffee, breakfast, poolside breeze, then roll down to the Redondo Beach Pier for a wander on the boardwalk before sneaking onto the cliffside trails in Palos Verdes (think Bluff Cove, Point Vicente’s bluffs, and, when conditions allow, Abalone Cove’s tide pools). It’s mellow, photogenic, and very SoCal; just check current trail/tide conditions if you’re aiming for the coves. Then dinner at Izakaya Hachi in Torrance, grilled skewers, sashimi, small plates, and a cold beer that tastes like vacation. It’s our favorite “this is why we love the South Bay” combo.

Truth is, we tailor the day to our friends; our favorite itinerary is the one that matches their curiosity and appetite.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We owe our progress to our first-hand-me-down camera and the brands that chose to bet on us, especially the ones who said “yes” when all we had was a sketch, a weird prop idea, and too much enthusiasm. They let us turn everyday spaces into whimsical worlds, ship boxes of decor and fishing line to set, and chase that one light sparkle that makes the image feel alive. If our work has a heartbeat, it’s because they kept believing from frame one to frame eighty.

And a special nod to our north star of inspo: Studio Ghibli, especially Spirited Away, taught us to linger, honor quiet details, and find wonder in everyday objects; to value ma (間), the meaningful pause; and to stay true to who we are, lead with kindness, and never give up. That sensibility shows up in our product work: the way a highlight wraps a bottle, the way steam curls off a cup, the way a simple gesture can feel like a memory.

Website: https://www.okii.studio/

Image Credits
Okii Studio