Portrait photography in the most genuine way.

Hi, I’m Joy -

a San Francisco Bay Area based lifestyle portrait photographer for over 12 years - capturing families, newborn + child, maternity, corporate headshots, high school seniors, weddings, engagements, and education and sports. With a BFA in Photography from the Academy of Art in San Francisco 2003, I have spent most of my career, over 20 years, as a commercial photographer and stylist, concentrating on lifestyle, product, interiors, soft goods, and kids on-figure. Fweew. Sounds like a lot. But it keeps me on my toes!

To be honest though, I can never figure out just which of these is my favorite. I am an advertising and retail creative junkie at heart, enjoy making things beautiful, and love seeing businesses thrive from my work. But I love love love photographing people, whether models or real people. The energy that is exchanged in the moments working with people is often very inspirational to me. I do feel extremely honored to be the trusted one to capture moments that last lifetimes. It’s a big deal!

The shy kid who comes out of their shell because we are just straight having a blast. The couples who shed the layers of fear during our engagement shoots because they realize they just get to be themselves. The larger multi-generation of family members that come together to capture heirloom photography. The father of the bride speeches. The look on a new mom and dads face while holding their 5 day old babe. It’s raw. It’s personal. It’s intimate. It’s life. It’s love. It moves me.

 
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What they are saying…

β€œThe finished product is absolutely gorgeous and gives us so much JOY looking through our album and photos. We will absolutely use Joy again for future family events!”

~Alley

These are a few of my favorite things…

  1. Any floor is a dance floor to me. I am regularly trying to teach my daughters all the good moves. One day, they will understand just how cool I am.

  2. Peanut butter. And lots of it. We love it so much at our house that we have our own store grade peanut butter grinder. Ask me about my favorite ways to eat it.

  3. To be outdoors amongst the trees. We love to escape to the local woods for a day hike or up to our small little slice of forest in Trinity County. Tree huggers at heart.

  4. Our goldendoodle pup, Dexter. Oh my. He is the center of our world and is just so. much. fun.

  5. Psycho thrillers and action packed movies. Bonus if they have seriously good fight choreography.

Where I started and where I’m at.

 
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Where I started

It all began when I was about 9 years old and would borrow my fathers camera to take pictures. I would take my stuffed animals and dolls and arrange them on the couch for group portraits.

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Along the way

My first major in college was psychology, and loved my human behavioral classes. Something about these courses and knowledge moved me but at the time I didn’t understand how it fit into my life. And as I continued to explore my interests, I studied floral design, interior design, photography, art, and dance. After receiving a BFA in Photography, and learning all of the roles creatives had on set, I began my styling career alongside my photography journey.

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What now?

I could sit and philosophize for hours on how our experiences in life lead us to where we are at. But the short story for me is - that between the human behavior studies, the varied design work, and having comprehension and skill in multiple roles of commercial photography - has brought me here. It has inspired my approach to my photography. It has supported how I interact with my clients, and helps me see design and composition quickly. I have the pleasure of meeting so many people and creatives in the commercial, wedding, and family portrait worlds and am grateful for all the work I get to do and the folks I get to meet.

let’s make magic!

Drop me a line and let’s get this party started!

joy@joycoakleystudio.com | 415-505-5794

Joy Coakley Studio is located in Alameda, CA.


**Studio hours by appointment only.