About — Berkeley Portrait Studio

We are a client-focused photography studio, based in Berkeley CA.

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[4862] Melanie Loya (36 of 83)(3k)(2k).jpg
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[4943] Jonathan Heyne (134 of 199)(3k)(+0.5 exposure)(2k).jpg
[5100] Taiya Tkachuk (18 of 73)(2k).jpg

Portraiture 101

We start by a brief studio tour, and by asking you a few questions…

Final Destination       

⚡️ “Where will your new image go?” (e.g. book sleeve, LinkedIn profile picture, corporate website, social media, etc.)

⚡️ “What is the optimal size, resolution, or aspect ratio?” (e.g. ERAS requirements for medical residency, square, 4:5, 9:16, and so forth)

⚡️ “Who is your intended/primary audience?” (potential clients, readers, friends, dating apps, etc.)

Color, Affect     

⚡️ “How much Smiling v. Serious would be best?”

⚡️ “Which lighting style works best?” (we have a variety and this is fine-tuned per person)

Fine-tuning       

⚡️ You will examine images incrementally, during the shoot.

⚡️ Access to image proofs (.NEF images) on the same day (~11pm)

⚡️ Make your selections at home, when convenient.

  • portrait of lady in red looking curiously up, on black

    Cover Replica of "A Life" (Mike Nichols)

  • Portrait of lady in white gown on a tan backdrop

    "Mocha Grey"

  • Lady who is a realtor in Berkeley CA dressed in white, with pearl necklace, posing on a beige backdrop, headshot

    "Amber"

  • Young woman posing on robin's egg, seated, hands clasped over knee

    "Robin's Egg"

  • portrait of graduate student looking confident

    "Light Blue"

  • portrait of business lady in a powerpose

    Executive Portrait (8x10)

  • young french man wearing blue sweater, reading a book, on a black backdrop

    "Midnight Black"

  • portrait of a young woman from Malaysia wearing all black, dramatic lighting, on a white backdrop

    "Seamless White"

  • portrait of a young lady with tassel and graduation clothes

    College Portrait

  • Young man with white collared shirt and black weather gazing comfortably into the camera

    Soft Focus

“Real Quick!” (FAQ)

01. Where are you located?

Berkeley Portrait Studio is a photography studio located near the UC Berkeley campus, just south-west of the Greek Theater. We have experience and expertise in portraiture and portrait replication.

Reservations must be made in advance (see calendar).

02. Why new picture?

Pictures play an important role because they provide a heuristic indication of personality.

If you would like to discuss a new profile picture, schedule a call here, or send us a message.

03. Can I read about past experiences?

Recent testimonials can be found at Google (>170) and Yelp (>90).

04. Describe the experience.

Berkeley Portrait Studio offers a high-spirited take on personal and career portraiture.

We’re influenced by 20th-century NYC fashion photographers like Richard Avedon and Irving Penn, blended with sartorial styles popular on Instagram.

Most of all, we think getting your picture taken should be a fun and personalized experience.

05. Who are your typical customers?

Most clients are seeking an image for personal or career purposes.

We work frequently with postdocs, grad students, solo entrepreneurs, start-ups, as well as authors and large companies with employees in the SF Bay Area.

“Sometimes I enjoy just photographing the surface because I think it can be as revealing as going to the heart of the matter.”
— Annie Leibovitz