Who would you like to be photographed with?   Mothers and daughters, kids with pets, couples, fathers and sons, and the list goes on!  Memorialize your special relationships with a portrait session.  Amy brings over 18 years of  posing experience as a Bay Area photographer, and will pose you so you look relaxed and comfortable!

portraits

SERVICES BY SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER AMY DRAKE PHOTOGRAPHY

I was so nervous that the photos wouldn’t turn out well because I didn’t sleep great the night before, but Amy took charge and had amazing ideas for poses and outfits. Amy was great at noticing minor details in the way I smiled or moved.

-Grace Wathen

Ordered images are retouched with absolute detail and care.  Every purchased image is delivered as both a matted print and as a matching digital file.  I am so excited for you to receive images that you and generations to come will cherish forever.

your finished portraits

It's show time!  We will schedule a reveal session so you can see your beautiful images and choose which of our products will make up your final order, whether that's one of our stunning portrait boxes or a creative wall display.  My goal is for you to want them all, but you only buy what you absolutely love! 

ordering session

Once you're done with hair and makeup, we begin the photoshoot. We will create the most beautiful images that you have ever seen of yourself.  Not a model?  No worries!  I guide you through expressions and poses that allow your true personality to shine through.  This is my favorite part - making people feel relaxed and natural in front of the camera!  

Photoshoot

On shoot day, you simply show up and one of my hair and makeup artists will take it from there! We can go for a natural look with light makeup or go full glam like you're walking the red carpet. The choice is entirely up to you - we just ensure you are photo ready!

hair and makeup

You will receive tips for wardrobe & styling to make sure that your vision becomes a reality. I love to explore your personal colors and style so your portraits reflect an authentic version of you. I am always available to my clients via text or email so they are confident with their look on shoot day!

planning

My goal is to create a relaxed, stress-free photo shoot experience!  To do so, the first step is that I will come to you for an in-home consultation.  We will discuss your vision for the shoot, clothing, and location details.   We cover all of the details to ensure you have a flawless session!

in home Consultation

The Process

Every session, like every client, is unique. They’re also a lot of fun!
 Prior to your session, we’ll have an over the phone or in-person consultation to discuss clothing, props, hair and make-up, and other ideas you might have for your session. We will make an effort to get to know you so that we can capture and highlight your personality as best possible. During your session, Ill make you look beautiful and feel comfortable in front of the camera. So, you don’t know how to pose? No worries - I’ll give you plenty of guidance. I tend to steer away from stiff poses and formal backgrounds, so I’ll most likely situate you in such a way that natural expressions and positions are likely to occur. The end result is an amazing set of images that you'll be proud to share with friends and family. 

How do I prepare for my session?

What should I wear?

We suggest you plan four to six outfits.  Think about choosing clothes that repeat your eye color, especially a long sleeve shirt or sweater. We often recommend clothing that has texture, such as knitting, embroidery, dark faded denim, buttons, & ruffles. This type of clothing tends to photograph well and adds a lot of visual interest.  Don’t forget jackets, scarves, fur hoods, etc. We live in California and often forget about jackets, but they add variety and texture to your images. Girls, if you have a great prom, bridesmaid, or other formal dress, bring it! Shorter dresses limit our poses, so try to think of fuller, longer dresses you might have stashed away. Then add your favorite pair of jeans, tee and cool hat. Guys, pack a dress shirt and a tie in addition to your jeans and cool t-shirts. You get the idea!  Feel free to send us images of your clothing prior to your session and we’ll help you choose! 

What is a typical session like?

Your session will be FUN. Depending on the location, we may meet at the studio or at our destination. We will spend the first 20 minutes or so sorting through the clothing and accessories you have brought with you. Do not stress about posing - we give you plenty of direction and play little games to make you feel comfortable.  RELAX - these are no rush sessions. We usually spend 2-3 hours together, creating a wide variety of images.  The end result is an amazing set of images that you’ll be proud to share with friends and family.

How long before I see my images?

At the time of your session, we will schedule an ordering appointment for about 2-3 weeks after your session. Orders will take place in person at the studio or via a video chat so we can discuss crops, retouching, and other details that we find easier to move through in person. At the ordering appointment, we will sit down and view a slideshow of your images set to music. We will then revisit your favorite images and see how each would appear in various crops, layouts, etc. 

Can I have digital files of all of my images?

We do offer the high resolution image files for sale during your order appointment.  We also provide you with web-ready logo images of any images your purchase in printed format to share on social media, smart phones, etc.  We encourage our clients to order printed products in addition to image files as so many image files wind up trapped on computers and hard drives.  Printed products allow you and your family to enjoy your images every day!