First, Clayton's studio is well-located and easy to get to with good street parking. The studio itself is cozy and intimate, well-appointed and -equipped, and perfect for headshots. I'd contacted a few other studios and found his pricing packages were very reasonable, right in the sweet spot of what I wanted to spend. Second but more importantly, there's Clayton himself. He's very warm and friendly. I had never needed professional headshots sporting different looks including changes of clothes before, and I was uncertain of what the shoot would involve. But Clayton immediately put me at ease; he clearly knew his business, understood my trepidation, and erased any doubts I had about how the shoot would go. He explained everything he was doing, gave excellent direction for each shot he was taking, cleared every backdrop and scene change with me, and offered to show me each shot he took. I had signed up for the 30 minute session, but Clayton did not act like he was on the clock and spent a lot more time on my shoot than expected. He took lots of shots with different poses and with the different looks my three changes of clothing provided. He was exceedingly patient and encouraging. After my session ended, I felt I'd made a new friend in Clayton. Finally, the headshots. The shoot was on a Friday, and Clayton told me he'd have the proofs for me to review early the following week. Sure enough, on Monday he sent me a link to see the dozens of shots he'd taken. It was like magic; the photos were better than I expected--I liked how his shots made me look, and these were not even the finished photos yet! Next steps were to designate the headshots I wanted finished, which I've done. Communications with him were great throughout: he always responded very quickly and completely so there was never any question or doubt about what was happening. In sum, Clayton was a consummate professional who is also very personable. I'm now thinking that having him do a family photo shoot--something I'd never given a thought to before. read more

5/5. Clayton was amazing to work with. This is the first time I've worked with a professional photographer. I needed corporate headshots at a reasonable price point and Clayton definitely delivered. Not only did he make me photogenic but he also was extremely thorough in understanding what I wanted out of the headshots. His communication was on point throughout the whole process. I had a hard time choosing my favorite photo as he did such a great job. I'd definitely work with Clayton J Mitchell Photography again. read more

Clayton J Mitchell Photography - Session Photography Near Me - Alameda, California

Clayton is amazing, reasonable and always dependable. Best photographer ever. Have been using him for years and the product is always great, on time and he is joy to work with. read more

Clayton is professional, efficient, and friendly. I felt completely at ease and he got a lot of great shots in a short amount of time.

If you are looking for a photographer who does great headshots, look no further. I needed a photographer who could do a few headshots for the back of my book cover. I'm glad I went with Clayton. I contacted him late Saturday afternoon and he was able to accommodate my last minute request for a photo session for the next day, which happened to be on Super Bowl Sunday. His studio had different backgrounds and props that he used during the photo session. He chose a few different ones for me to use for mine. I chose the 1/2 hour photo session. Clayton was able to take many photos--- different angles and poses. The following day, Monday, he was able to send the file to me digitally. I was very pleased to see many photos that I liked! I chose my picks and within a day, he was able to retouch them and send them to me. Yay! Additionally, because I liked so many of the photos taken, I will purchase the entire file for future use. (Note: the photos from this file will all be originals that are not retouched but can be retouched for a small dollar amount per photo). Above all, Clayton is super personable and professional. From beginning to end, I felt comfortable and at ease with him. The photo session went smoothly. The quality of his work was perfect for me. His prices were reasonable. I highly recommend! read more

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these are some of the portraits from my granddaughters sitting. There was so many to choose from and the price was right within my senior citizen budget! read more

Clayton J Mitchell Photography - Session Photography Near Me - Alameda, California

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HIRE CLAYTON! This is the first time in my (long) life that I've worked with a professional photographer, and I'm absolutely thrilled with the results. I needed an author headshot, and he delivered beyond my wildest dreams. I didn't know I could look so good! He knows how to bring out the best in the subject (me), and in the setting. Plus, he made me feel so comfortable, confident, and capable. It was actually fun! I'm so happy that I hired Clayton Mitchell. I couldn't be happier with my new author headshots! read more

Clayton is great. I don't know if anyone can be more friendly and professional simultaneously. Found Clayton on Yelp and contacted him through Yelp. He was super responsive and Honey liked his photos. His prices are cheaper than other vendors depending on the type of pictures you take. However, if you purchase your full album he is in line with others. We were looking for outdoor photos and wanted a studio option as a contingency plan which Clayton could provide. When I contacted Clayton I told him this was a surprise engagement shoot. Honey was aware of us taking couple pictures but didn't know the proposal was coming. Clayton was in on the whole thing and guided us to a part of the park where we could have some privacy for the moment. Per shoot: Clayton called and we had a consultation. I filled him in on the plan and he sent me a list of places he frequents. We went back and forth via text on some locations but we settled on Redwood Park in the Oakland Hills. Shoot Day: Redwood Park is remote and there is absolutely no cell service. Clayton's instructions were spot on and he was right on time. When I say professional, he had a towel, lint roller, and foldable stool, in addition to his camera equipment to ensure the picture came out perfect. We took some pictures at 3 different locations and the final one was perfect to pop the question. On our way back to the parking lot we found a few more locations to take pics with the ring. Post shoot: He takes all forms of payments and will send you a receipt once he is settled. It took him about a week to return the photos through a secure folder on his page. We purchased the full album and he was very responsive in turning the full album around. All in all, Clayton is your guy for photography. read more

Clayton J Mitchell Photography - Session Photography Near Me - Alameda, California

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Clayton took headshots for me recently at a work event and he was very nice and easy to work with. I'm a bit awkward when it comes to taking pictures but he made it very comfortable and an overall pleasant experience. I received the photos yesterday and loved how they turned out. I'm actually excited to use my new headshot now. Thanks Clayton! read more

Clayton has been amazing to work with! He is so patient with our kiddos and our pictures are always coming out amazing. We've been working with Clayton since 2018, and we're glad we found him to take our recital pictures in studio. read more

Our family has hired Clayton for multiple occasions, e.g., family portraits and professional headshots, and we couldn't be happier with the results! From the start, he was super professional and responsive. During the shoot, Clayton made me feel totally at ease--even those of us who are camera-shy. He gave great direction while still letting us be natural, and we ended up laughing a lot more than expected, which really showed in the photos! If you're looking for a talented, kind, and creative photographer who really knows what he is doing, I 100% recommend Clayton. read more

Clayton was great! He was patient with the kids and engaged them to get some great shots! We would hire him again. Thank you Clayton for your professionalism and flexibility! read more

We had such an amazing shoot. Clayton helped me out with my first professional photos. Highly recommend!

The entire experience and the final photos were amazing! From the initial contact to the final image delivery, Clayton was professional, responsive, and passionate about his craft. The studio itself is filled with cool, classy and ecclectric artwork and antiques to take cool IG worthy photos around. At the same time, Clayton also has the ability to transfer into the traditional photo studio background if you prefer that, as well. In addition, there are beautiful places within walking distance of the studio with nature backgrounds, as well. Also, some industrial. I chose pics from all 3 and I changed outfits. Clayton guided me through poses (i have no idea what to do and am shy and akward) that felt natural and brought out my best features, making me confident and glamorous and the lighting, composition, and attention to detail creating a piece of photoart that I will cherish forever. I highly recommended Clayton to anyone looking for an incredible photo experience. His talent, professionalism, and ability to make me feel like a high fashion model with those Ariana Grande "perfect poses" is unparalleled! I can't wait to book another session very very very soon!! read more

Clayton is responsive, fun, creative, and fast! I needed a new headshot and he helped me schedule within a week of our inquiry. He helped me secure a wonderful hair/makeup artist, and had the photos for me the following day. I booked a 15 minute session and he was flexible with allowing us to shoot in his studio and my home. We had an efficient session. Stellar work, Clayton! I would definitely recommend Clayton for your portraiture needs. read more

Clayton J Mitchell Photography - Session Photography Near Me - Alameda, California

Clayton was fantastic to work with. He listened to my preferences (I wanted outdoor/city scene shots), and was even accommodating to going over our allotted time a bit in order to get the best shots. Turnaround for the final images was super quick, and I couldn't be happier with them! Exactly what I was looking for. I also appreciated how Clayton lets you choose which images you want edited, so you get to see all of the shots and then choose the ones you're most happy with. Definitely recommend Clayton for anyone looking for quick, quality headshots! read more

We had the most amazing time for my daughter's senior portrait shoot. Clayton let us be as creative with locations as we wanted to and it was a spectacular shoot. I can't wait to go back to Clayton to get new headshots. He's an amazing talent and made my daughter feel totally at ease! read more

Easy to schedule and work with. Studio is located in a easy to park location in Alameda. Prompt turn-around and communication. Had a great time. read more

Where do I even start, I'd talk to 3 others before contacting Clayton, I had very specific ideas I wanted to bring to fruition. My thoughts were, I wanted someone who had a great imagination and a vision of what needs to be done to bring my ideas to life. Of course, I'd also have to be comfortable working with this person. While speaking to Clayton his excitement and passion jumped at me through the phone. He's knowledgeable and very experienced, working with Clayton was so much fun we would take so many inspired pictures at the moment and my ideas looked better than I imagined when I saw the final forms. I would recommend Clayton as he goes above and beyond for his clients and people like this deserve so much appreciation. It was such an amazing shoot and time we had. Thank you so much Clayton. I am very Grateful . read more

I needed a quick, professional headshot done. I hate having my picture taken but Clayton made the process so easy! Thrilled with how they turned out. read more

The plan was to be somewhere out of the country for her sweet 16, but plans changed due to the pandemic. So, we did a photo shoot instead. Clayton was GREAT! Very professional and quick response with great communication. He really took his time to capture the "perfect" shots! My daughter was really happy with the out come of the pics and enjoyed her session with Clayton. You can tell that he really loves what he does! The excitement he displays when he catches the perfect shot was contagious....and I wasn't even behind the lens.. Great job! read more

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Clayton has a great eye for capturing the best images. He is reliable and prompt. Clayton is easy to work with and has great concepts for the best angles. I have worked with Clayton on locations for photo shoots with my child as well as professional events. I appreciate his talents. read more

Clayton is a talented photographer who connects with such warmth. My experience was so very positive! The care and time he takes to set up shots and to make sure the shoot is filled with smiles and laughter made this experience special and fabulous. Clayton works hard but makes it all seem effortless. There is so much artistry and creativity that shines through -and he cares about the perfect shot, the most flattering angles, the best natural light - all so well done - to make things right. Highly recommend this talented man. Beautiful work! read more

Clayton was so easy to work with. Photos turned out great. Will definitely use him again!

Clayton is a wonderful photographer and wonderful to work with. He did our family photos and they came out beautiful. We had a group of six, youngest being under two - which I can't imagine is easy- working with toddlers, but he had enough props to keep the little ones engaged. We had a creative meeting of the minds and he listened to and understood my vision. He found the greatest locations. There were so many wonderful options of end result photographs, it was hard to chose from. I highly recommend Clayton Mitchell Photography. read more

Clayton J Mitchell Photography - Our family photo taken by Clayton. - Session Photography Near Me - Alameda, California

Clayton is fantastic to work with. I had such a fun time. He made me feel so comfortable and at ease. I'm looking forward to having our Family Pictures taken by him. He is extremely talented. read more

Clayton J Mitchell Photography - Session Photography Near Me - Alameda, California

Clayton is a true professional. He was also extremely personable and my son truly enjoyed his first photo shoot. The pictures turned out beautifully. read more

Clayton did an amazing with my team photo. We all need a little help ie photoshop lol. He was able to thin us out and take some of the wrinkles out!!! I love his work! Thank you read more

Clayton J Mitchell Photography - Team Kelly Lux - Session Photography Near Me - Alameda, California

I wanted a headshot at his studio but wood trees backdrop and also showed him my poses ideal. He suggested we could take pictures at the studio and the park behind the building, but I just wanted to be indoor. We took lots of poses and picked some I liked. I was beyond excited to receive my photos in two days. One of the pic looks confident and energetic so perfect for a business photo. Another looks so me lol. He added a lovely blurry forest to background while I'm in focus, and it turned out exactly what I wanted. Woo-hoo. The studio is clean and cozy, soft background music. I also got my makeup done at his place. His coworker is wow. They both fun and professional make you feel comfortable and joyful. Price is reasonable too. Highly recommend Clayton. read more

Clayton did a photoshoot of me working in my new office. He was easy to work with, got good shots. Would repeat.

Friendly. Easy going. Humorous. Professional. My wife and I were looking to have some business headshots taken for our Coaching business. We had a not so good experience with a previous photographer but that didn't matter after we met with Clayton. He was friendly right from the get go and made my wife feel confident and at ease (very important to me). He showed up early and while he was setting up, he invited our two kids to "assist" him in adjusting the lighting and even pushing the camera button a couple of times. My kids loved that. He had them laughing. While taking our pictures he knew exactly what we wanted without our having to tell him. He extended his time with us and didn't even charge us extra. I probably shouldn't say this but he even threw in some extra shots by taking a couple of pictures from our little ones which they enjoyed since they were not expecting this (neither were we). Clayton's turnaround was less than 24 hours and we are very grateful to have crossed paths with him. We will definitely be working with him again in the near future and you should too! Thanks Clayton!! read more

Clayton came to our college scholarship awards ceremony and took beautiful photos! As someone who snaps a thousand photos before settling for one, Clayton was able to capture photos of me at this event that exceeded my expectations. He was also so kind in emailing photos I had requested not to have publicly shared. He was respectful and understanding of my personal request. Thank you again for the wonderful photos Clayton! read more

Our photoshoot was this morning so I haven't received the photos yet, but I wanted to go ahead and write my 5 star review now : ) Coordinating with Clayton was so easy and he was receptive to my ideas for the portraits. He was EXCELLENT with my little kids. He knew how to perfectly read their energy and switch things up at just the right time. read more

Above and beyond service. Not only did we go almost 30 minutes longer than our scheduled 1 hour time slot, he got the photos back to me sooner than originally promised and they look AMAZING. 10 out of 5 stars I can't recommend this man enough. read more

Clayton is professional and timely. Customer service and clear communication are his strength. Needed headshots at the last minute he responded immediately, performed the photoshoot on-site followed up the next day with a complete portfolio. We selected the photos we wanted w/touchups he responded immediately. There were requests for resizing, image compression and various other requests Clayton responded without hesitation. If you want a professional, timely photographer Clayton J. Mitchell Photography is the obvious CHOICE! read more

We just completed our second family photo session with Clayton. I can't recommend him highly enough. He immediately put our two young sons and ease and had them laughing at his jokes which also made it possible to get some great, relaxed shots of all of us. The most stressful part of the day was making sure everyone's clothes were ironed AND that they stayed dirt free on the drive over (two little boys, remember). He also very quickly got the photos to us to review within 48 hours. In sum, Clayton is both talented and genuinely nice and easy to work with - I'd recommend him to anyone looking for a great photographer. read more

Clayton was super quick to respond to my inquiry, got me in the next day, and was super accommodating and professional. He was able to bring out my natural smile by cracking jokes and delivered exactly what I needed extremely quickly. Highly recommend!! read more

Clayton is an amazing photographer. I wanted to get some portraits/photos taken and was a bit apprehensive as I had not done a lot of photoshoots before. However Clayton was super friendly, professional and made sure that I felt natural in my photos. His studio has some pretty cool props locations indoors, and there are some great locations then within walking distance. This allowed us to get photos both indoors and outdoors. I would highly recommend him to anyone who is looking to get their photos taken! read more

Clayton did an amazing job with our company headshots. We received our photos very quickly and they look great! He is very friendly and he communicated clearly throughout the process so I knew exactly what to expect. I highly recommend Clayton to anyone looking for a photographer! read more

I wanted to get professional headshots for myself. I recently moved to Alameda and so I wanted to support a local business. Clayton and his wife Michelle did an excellent job working with me. I've never done this before, so I let them do their jobs and the pictures turned out great! Clayton had them ready for me the same day! Excellent option for anyone in need of headshots. 5 stars! read more