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2024

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Best Portrait Photographers in San Francisco, CA

Our Recommended Top 19

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
  • User Reviews
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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored San Francisco Portrait Photographers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

284Reviewed

178Curated

19Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

1941 Noriega St, San Francisco, CA 94122

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (281)
Google
5.0 (79)

Why choose this provider?

IQphoto offers portrait and wedding photography to the San Fransisco Bay Area. The company’s founding photographer, Joseph Kohn, has covered numerous events at San Fransisco City Hall and is familiar with how to navigate the sometimes complex venue. Kohn uses photography to craft a visual story that does not lose value over time. Beyond just taking pictures, Kohn guides his clients through the venue-booking process and provides insight into the best options for incredible aesthetic outcomes.

  • LGBT Wedding
  • Short Films
  • Corporate
  • Family Portraits
  • Indian Wedding

San Francisco, CA

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (51)
Yelp
5.0 (20)

Why choose this provider?

415Headshots is a photography studio that accommodates people in San Francisco and the surrounding areas. It takes portraits and headshots for professional, business or corporate, and dating purposes. Its package options cover coaching sessions in the studio or outdoors. They also come with various backgrounds, outfit changes, image rights, and photo retouching. The studio, which has been in operation since 2021, aims to send all photos to clients' e-mail addresses within 24 hours of a session.

  • Dating Headshots
  • Professional Headshots
  • Business Headshots
  • Family
  • Couples

Alameda, CA 94501

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (68)
Google
5.0 (29)

Why choose this provider?

Clayton J. Mitchell Photography is a lifestyle and portrait photography studio that since 2006 has been serving clients throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Based out of the historic Bridgehead Studios in downtown Alameda, California, owner Clayton J. Mitchell creates a fun environment and exudes a positive energy in an effort to help get the best pictures. Clayton J. Mitchell Photography aims to create beautiful, vibrant images for corporate headshots, family portraits, and all of life's special events.

  • Lifestyle
  • Senior Portraits
  • Headshots

1572 1/2 Lincoln Ave, Alameda, CA 94501

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (21)
Google
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Emily Pillon Photography offers portraiture services in San Francisco. As a photography professional, Emily seeks to capture memories and preserve them through her works of art. A fine arts graduate, she strives to satisfy clients' needs while providing quality images. In addition, she has administrative experience in museums and art galleries. She also aims to be as creative as possible. Having been in the industry since 2013, Emily Pillon Photography also offers newborn, engagement, and maternity sessions and covers weddings.

Oakland, CA 94601

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (18)
Facebook
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Jennifer Graham Photography offers beautiful business & brand lifestyle and portrait photography services to her clients throughout the San Francisco Bay area from a gorgeous, light-filled studio and on location. Owner Jennifer Graham creates intimate and ‘real’ images that reflect the various sides of an individual. She has the unique ability to create unique images that reflect each client's personal passion, charisma, and essence. Jennifer offers her clients the wisdom and skill of more than 20 years experience photographing a diverse client base from Silicon Valley CEO’s to talented local chef’s, prominent politicians, and dynamic business leaders. , and she has been published in "Spirituality & Health", "Yoga Journal", "Risk Management" magazine to name a few.

San Rafael, CA 94901

Why choose this provider?

Kaare Iverson Photography is a lifestyle photographer and videographer that serves clients throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Vancouver, Canada, and beyond. Based out of San Rafael, California, owner Kaare Iverson infuses his love of nature, open spaces, and the outdoor lifestyle by capturing candid actions and raw emotions of people and their products out in the world. Kaare Iverson Photography aims to tell the unique story of each subject, be it a person, product, or business.

San Francisco, CA 94109

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (29)
Facebook
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Niall David Photography offers professional commercial and lifestyle & portrait photography services to individuals and businesses throughout the SF Bay area, the United States, and worldwide destinations. Based out of San Francisco, California, Niall David Photography aims to create artistic, compelling photos that show the unique nature of each subject, be it a family, a landscape, a building, or commercial marketing project. He loves finding and capturing the truth behind anything, from the fast-paced boardrooms of Silicon Valley to mammoth industrial facilities, to inspirational landscapes and cityscapes, to boutique interior design, to rocking live music, to intimate family moments.

499 1/2 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (66)

Why choose this provider?

Eddie Hernandez Photography is a bilingual, Spanish and English-speaking, portrait studio based in San Francisco. The photographer offers professional and dating site head shots with a special focus on lifestyle and creative portraits. Mr. Hernandez utilizes natural light and unique environments to create approachable and relatable client images for social media, blog posts, and artistic portfolios. Eddie Hernandez is also a dating coach and consultant, offering a photo shoot overview and dating profile review.

139 Stillman, San Francisco, CA 94107

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (16)

Why choose this provider?

Rebecca Wilkowski Photography captures portraits of residents of the San Francisco area. Over the past two decades, Ms. Wilkowski has created a diverse body of work that includes corporate headshots, house tours, dog portraits, and live music photos. She has worked with Google, Apple, and Time Magazine. Her clients also include PR firms and Fortune 500 corporations. Rebecca is licensed as a photographer by the City of Oakland. All photoshoots are fully insured and include high-quality camera equipment.

580 California St Fl 12, San Francisco, CA 94104

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (261)
Yelp
5.0 (32)

Why choose this provider?

San Francisco-based HeadShots Inc. takes magazine-quality photographs of professionals, students, teams, and others who need an image that projects their personal brand. Founded by experienced professional photographer Dan St. Louis, the company's headshots and group shots are suitable for social media, printed business cards, company brochures, and other promotions where the right image is crucial. Individual outdoor sessions are retained within the city limits, while group sessions can be conducted throughout the Bay Area.

Palo Alto, CA 94303

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Hagop's Photography offers portrait, and event photography services to clients throughout the San Fransisco Bay area. Established in 1993, Hagop's Photography is a husband-and-wife team of photographers based out of Palo Alto, California. The pair, Hagop and Ano, have photographed hundreds of weddings together and are available to shoot school and family photographs, engagement parties, professional headshots, and provide photo retouching services.

Castro Valley, CA 94546

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (32)

Why choose this provider?

Corinne McCombs is a portrait creator in San Francisco, who focuses her lenses on maternity and newborn photography. Ms. McCombs prefers to capture human emotions in the raw, without the use of too many props and embellishments, and she knows how to make her subjects feel relaxed during the shoot. Ms. McCombs holds the infant sessions indoors to keep them safe and comfortable, and she can recommend outdoor venues for anticipating mothers and fathers. Corinne McCombs Photography offers a simple pricing scheme for mini and full arrangements, and all packages come with a digital gallery of high-resolution images and a print release. Corinne McCombs Photography also photographs older kids, whole families, and even pets, and it features some of Ms. McCombs’ recent works on Facebook.

San Francisco, CA

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (4)
Facebook
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Bhavana Dut - Photography offers professional portrait services to residents in and around the San Francisco area. Photographer Bhavana takes photos of families, newborns, and expecting mothers. She caters to the needs of individuals seeking to have their portraits taken to document moments for upcoming generations to see. She holds sessions outdoors and in studios. Bhavana, who also documents weddings, is a member of the Professional Photographers of America. She has been featured on Unscripted, a photography app.

  • Family
  • Traditional

Berkeley, CA 94705

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
4.5 (7)
Yelp
5.0 (7)
Google
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Halbright Photography is a professional lifestyle and event photography studio that serves a diverse client base throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Based out of Berkeley, California, Halbright Photography specializes in photojournalistic engagement, wedding, and B'nai mitzvah photography, but is also equipped to shoot family portraits and corporate headshots. Halbright Photography is also available to document destination weddings, family reunions, and other special events throughout the United States and across the globe.

San Francisco, CA 94110

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (10)

Why choose this provider?

Kingmond Young Photography is a full-service photography and editorial studio that has been serving clients throughout the United States for more than 25 years. Kingmond Young Photography is based out of San Francisco, California, and is well-versed in conceptualizing and producing stock and advertising photos as well as large-scale productions in-studio or on location. Additional services offered by Kingmond Young Photography included casting, set building, hair styling, and makeup, and location scouting.

San Francisco, CA 94116

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

4Karma caters to people in and around the San Francisco community. The husband-and-wife team captures portrait images of individuals, families, and senior citizens and offers different styles for wedding photography. Clients can choose among traditional, bohemian, fine art, and photojournalistic approaches. 4Karma also utilizes vintage hipster, desaturated and matte, moody and dark, and editorial styles. Owners Will and Ilaria have more than 12 years of combined experience in commercial, live music, and private and corporate event photography.

  • Couples
  • Family

San Carlos, CA 94070

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (9)

Why choose this provider?

Teresa Halton Photography is a professional portrait provider offering services to clients throughout the San Francisco Bay area. She has been specializing in wedding and portrait photography for over 20 years. Teresa's forte is capturing weddings and documenting special family occasions. She creates family portraits and corporate headshots as well. She also photographs events, engagements, and individuals starting a new family. The goal of every session is to capture candid moments full of emotions. She also makes sure to establish a fun and relaxing environment during shoots.

680 8th Street, #266, San Francisco, CA 94103

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (33)
Yelp
5.0 (25)

Why choose this provider?

Valentina Sadiul Photography offers professional headshot sessions to clients in San Francisco. It caters to individuals who need photos to promote their personal brands and use them in online resumes, portfolios, websites, and social media profiles. The studio provides its services to companies seeking corporate and expo headshots. Its owner, Valentina, uses her business portrait photography background, directing skills, and understanding of body language to put clients at ease. She believes in making her subjects comfortable to capture confident and captivating headshots.

  • Business Portraits
  • San Francisco Headshots
  • Head shots

2067 42nd. Ave, San Francisco, CA 94116

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (39)

Why choose this provider?

The Enloe Creative helps individuals and families in San Francisco in preserving memories through printed portraits. Photographer David Enloe uses authenticity in his digital sessions, allowing his clients to move freely and participate in their favorite activities with less directing and posing. In addition, he captures family outings and adventures. David also crafts woodwork frames made from locally-sourced and sustainable materials in the Bay Area. He is a member of 1% for the Planet, which supports environmental nonprofit organizations.

  • Family Photography
  • Environmental
  • Maternity

Compare our Top Portrait Photographers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
IQphoto Studio
1941 Noriega St, San Francisco, CA 94122Visit the website for pricing packages
415Headshots
San Francisco, CACall for Pricing and Packages
Clayton J. Mitchell Photography
Alameda, CA 94501
Emily Pillon Photography
1572 1/2 Lincoln Ave, Alameda, CA 94501
Jennifer Graham Photography
Oakland, CA 94601
Kaare Iverson Photography
San Rafael, CA 94901
Niall David Photography
San Francisco, CA 94109
Eddie Hernandez Photography
499 1/2 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Rebecca Wilkowski Photography
139 Stillman, San Francisco, CA 94107
HeadShots Inc
580 California St Fl 12, San Francisco, CA 94104
Hagop's Photography
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Corinne McCombs Photography
Castro Valley, CA 94546
Bhavana Dut - Photography
San Francisco, CA
Halbright Photography
Berkeley, CA 94705
Kingmond Young Photography
San Francisco, CA 94110
4Karma
San Francisco, CA 94116
Teresa Halton Photography
San Carlos, CA 94070
Valentina Sadiul Photography
680 8th Street, #266, San Francisco, CA 94103
The Enloe Creative
2067 42nd. Ave, San Francisco, CA 94116

FAQs

  • Introduction

    Portrait photography can be the perfect way to capture special moments for adults, children, couples, and families. It's a popular option for occasions, such as graduations, weddings, birthdays, and various milestones reached throughout childhood. However, you don't need a special reason to get a portrait professionally done, as there are many photographers eager to work with new clients at a reasonable rate.

    Professional portrait photography takes years of practice, and the right photographer can achieve results that go far beyond the typical selfie. A magnificent portrait can bring out the subject's inner qualities, allowing their unique personality to shine through for generations to cherish.
  • What is portrait photography?

    Portrait photography is the art of capturing a sitter's likeness with a camera. While this may sound as simple as snapping a quick shot with your mobile phone, the truth is that a truly good portrait photo is difficult to achieve. The goal of a high-quality photo is to capture the personality and emotions behind the subject.

  • What is the history of portrait photography?

    Since the invention of the first camera in 1839, portraits have been one of the most popular kinds of photos. However, way back when, photos needed an exposure time of 20 minutes or more, meaning you would need to sit completely still for that time or else end up with a blurry image.

  • Where can you learn portrait photography?

    Many art schools across the country offer degrees in photography, and some even have specialized classes in portraiture. This can be a good option for young photographers who want a well-rounded skill set. However, many dedicated portrait photographers are self-taught and rely on their portfolios to serve as their credentials.

  • How do you start a portrait photography business?

    Before starting a portrait studio, it's best to gain experience shooting your friends and family so you have a strong portfolio to show clients. Once you're confident in your work, try making a website where you can direct new businesses interested in having their pictures taken.

  • How to eliminate shadows in portrait photography?

    The secret behind many photographers' success is that photography is 50% editing. If you're working digitally, you can open up your pictures in editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop, and use its digital tools to manipulate shadows and highlights. If you prefer to work analog, the best way to mitigate shadows is proper lighting.

  • What are the four categories of portrait photography?

    The four categories of portrait photography are constructionist, candid, environmental, and creative.

    1. Constructionist photographs involve working with a photographer who will sit you in different poses and lighting to create the perfect shot from the ground up.
    2. Candid photos are taken with minimal setup, trying to capture their subject in the moment.
    3. Environmental photos try to capture subjects in their natural environment.
    4. Creative photography uses a variety of experimental techniques and elements to create an original image.