*** Review based on the Groupon deal only ***…read more Recently I need a photoshoot for social poses and discovered Jack Randall Photography via the Groupon deal. [Groupon package]: One hour family portrait session with one 8X10, two 4X6, and 5 low resolution digital images - original price = $430 but Groupon price = $49. Must return to the studio to view the photos or pay $399 to release all digital photos over the phone (no prior notice & only learned about the additional cost few days after the session). Appointment required and must call business number (no email option upon the first contact) to make an appointment (open from 9 AM - 3 PM for scheduling). Customers will need to leave name, email, phone number, and Groupon redemption code over the call. [Caveat #1 - location]: The Groupon deal stated "capture memories at 9 scenic Orange County spots", but in reality the studio only offers 5 locations (Caspers Wilderness Park. Los Rios Historic District, able Rock Beach, Serrano Creek Park, and Mission San Juan Capistrano). Mission San Juan Capistrano requires additional arrangement and an extra charge. Over the call, Studio Manager Kimberly offered beach or park locations as soon as next day or the upcoming weekend & I took the next day option. [Photoshoot session at 7 PM]: I met owner Jack at Table Rock Beach exactly at 7 PM and he was friendly & easy to work with. He instructed me with couple poses and was able to take approximately 100+ pictures in 30 minutes. The sun set at 7:30 PM and we couldn't take any more pictures after dark, so the session ended and Jack said to give him a call in two days to finalize the process. [Finalizing process - additional package & payment]: Unfortunately this is where the miscommunication & blindside on additional cost happened. I called Jack to finalize the process and he said few options are available including paying additional $39.99 to download all digital copies. All I heard is $39.99 and immediately gave my credit card info over the phone. Jack said I will receive a link to download in few hours later and I went out to watch movies. After I came back home, I decided to check my credit card account and to my surprise I saw $399.99 charged to my card instead. [Caveat #2 - pricing]: Jack did reach out the following day after I had left a voicemail and he emailed me the description of the Digital Package which is listed $399 (high resolution digital download + additional free session at a preferred location within 180 days & can be given as a gift + 20% off all custom prints ordered on day of digital package purchase.) Essentially I was paying $49 Groupon deal + $399 for all digital copies for a 30-minute session. [Communication]: Honestly I didn't mind spending a little extra on top of the Groupon deal, but $399 completely exceeded the amount I was willing to spend or else I wouldn't accept the digital package. I was able to clarify the misunderstanding with Jack over the call and found a middle ground solution at the end. [Conclusion]: I reviewed my digital high resolution pictures and they definitely looked very professional, but I really wish the studio can just send out a list of additional pricing options over an email instead of discussing it over a call to avoid misunderstanding. 5-star on quality of photos, 4-star on communication & resolution, and 1-star on Groupon deal with a lack of transparency on additional costs.

Portrait photoshoot amazing beautiful! Captured my daughter's natural beauty…read more Very professional, letting my daughter to feel relaxed and confidence. He listened our request of none touched up pictures, ended up fabulous capture of her smile, which we will treasure forever.

Savannah took our engagement photos in Lake Tahoe (pictured) and will also be our wedding…read morephotographer next year. There are so many things I can say about how wonderful and talented she is (and the photos truly speak for themselves), but I will break down a few of my favorite qualities in the following categories: Communication: Savannah prides herself on being an excellent communicator, and I can see why! She is super responsive to email and answered all of our questions so quickly and thoroughly. We gave Savannah a few pointers about what our vision was for the location of our shoot (expansive views, nature, forest, etc.), and she came through with amazing, well-researched and thoughtful recommendations. We ultimately chose Lake Tahoe based on her suggestion! She also kept us apprised of the timeline for our photoshoot day and what to expect. After our photoshoot, she sent us sneak peaks almost immediately. We were so impressed, and obsessed over our photos for weeks! Photography: Her skills are off the charts. She captures the best, most natural moments and makes you feel incredibly comfortable while doing it (even in freezing cold weather!). If you think you or your partner may be awkward, you have nothing to worry about. She has poses ready to go so you don't have to think too much. You just get to enjoy the day while she captures the magic. She is also very receptive to your own suggestions! If there is a pose you want to try or a specific picture you want to capture, she welcomes it. Personality: Savannah is the sweetest person. We had so much fun hanging out with her leading up to, during, and after our shoot. She is extremely easy to get along with and you can tell she genuinely cares about her clients and making this the best experience for them. Her work ethic is amazing to see: she puts an enormous amount of time and effort into making your photoshoot come out perfectly, and she does this on top of her super busy schedule. She also goes above and beyond. From the beginning, she answered my millions of questions and even researched dress options for me! We honestly had so much fun during our engagement shoot that we regularly reminisce and want to go back and redo it! :) TL;DR - If you are researching adventure photographers and you don't know what to do, book Savannah ASAP! We literally could not be happier with our experience and CANNOT WAIT for her to shoot our wedding!

Savannah is awesome and has a beautiful eye for photos! She was so gracious to take on the task of…read morenot only dealing with our entire family (8 adults and 1 baby) but let us bring our 7 dogs to the photoshoot. She stayed cool and calm during the entire process, even when a few of our motley crew were barking and wanting to play! She was so kind and was up for any photo we wanted to try. I would certainly love to use her again for my own personal family photos! Thank you so much, Savannah! You are such a talent!

I can't recommend Alex enough! She took our family photos & they may be my favorite photos ever…read more She helped me coordinate our outfits and picked a location I had always wanted to take photos at. She was so attentive and sweet with my 2 & 3 year old. My kids loved her! We all did. I will forever be thankful to Alex and treasure the moments she capture with my little family!

From the owner: I am a Southern California couples and family photographer based in Orange County. I am here to…read morefreeze those timeless moments and capturing the raw and intimate fragments of your day. Whether it's the laughter shared between newlyweds, the tearful embrace of a parent, or the spontaneous dance moves on the reception floor, my lens is always ready to immortalize these fleeting instances. Each click of the shutter is a promise to deliver a visual story that speaks volumes, one that will transport you back to the magic and emotion of your special day. My approach is a blend of artistry and authenticity, ensuring that every photograph reflects the true essence of your love story. I believe in the beauty of natural light and candid expressions, steering clear of forced poses and staged scenarios. Instead, I focus on creating an environment where you can be yourselves—comfortable, joyous, and deeply connected. I travel across the Golden State to document love in all its forms. My passion for storytelling through the lens has taken me to breathtaking locations, each with its own unique charm and romantic allure. Together, let’s create a visual heirloom that will be cherished by generations to come, a collection of images that not only showcase the grandeur of your celebration but also the tender moments that make it uniquely yours.

We hired Vienna Rose for my daughter's Sweet 16 and could not have been happier with the entire…read moreexperience. From communication prior to booking, during the event and the final product, I was thoroughly impressed by Brittany and Connor's professionalism. Connor was hilarious and really connected with the teens and the guests. He got specific shots I had requested and kept me on a timeline to make sure I would get the best pictures. His work was amazing! Super quick turn around too. I look forward to working with them again.

We've had the pleasure of working with Brittany three times now, and those experiences have been…read moreabsolutely wonderful! Booking is simple and straightforward through their website. We follow their instagram for updates on available sessions and new locations :) Both Connor and Brittany have excellent communication! They always reach out with detailed emails and texts of expectations, weather changes/updates, and important info for our shoots. They're responsive, clear, and make the whole process seamless. From start to finish, everything felt easy, relaxed, and enjoyable. Brittany has a natural way of making us comfortable during the shoot and provides great feedback. They offer a great selection of outdoor locations with beautiful backgrounds and lighting! Another thing we really appreciated was how quickly the photos were delivered each time. We received a link to a photo gallery, and got to choose our favorites from those. The turnaround time was just a few days! We're so grateful for their talent and professionalism, and we would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for stunning, heartfelt photos!

Working with James was a fantastic experience! He was personal, professional, very easy to work…read morewith, and HE IS FAST. Just 2 days after the wedding, he already shared the sneak peeks which we are completely in love with. Can't wait to see the whole gallery. 10/10 recommend!

James is the best! If you want to enjoy your big day stress free, choose James. If you want to…read morecapture every important moment of your big day, hire James. If you want to re-live your big day over and over again years later, James is your guy! My wife and I had never done a professional photoshoot. Neither of us are particularly comfortable in front of the camera. After interviewing 5 different photographers, we knew from our first conversation that James was the one. He is incredibly friendly, easy going, and knowledgeable. We agreed to do an engagement session, 1 location for 90mins to see if we'd be comfortable working with James. It couldn't have gone better. Initially, we were a bit stiff, but James gave us tips on how to act naturally, suggested poses and hand positions that made us feel and look relaxed. The time flew by and we actually ended up going to a second location with a wardrobe change. Overall, it was about 2 hours. James did not mind at all. In fact, he probably could've gone longer if the sun hadn't set on us! Our photos were edited and received in less than 2 weeks! James was kind enough to print a large poster and sign that shipped to our house in just a few days. He price matched any package/prints from other photographers. Having gone through our engagement session seamlessly, we hired James to shoot our wedding as well. He and an assistant were on site for 10 hours, tending to our every need and keeping us on our timeline. After our planned family/wedding party photos, we hardly even noticed them working as we proceeded with wedding events. After the wedding, we received many compliments on how great James was and several guests asked for his contact information. Within a couple of days, we received a preview of about 20 photos highlighting our big day. We were thrilled! Every important moment was captured so elegantly! The full magazine of photos was available for download in about 1 month. James then worked with us to print a high quality photo book for our coffee table. You can't go wrong with James--his high quality work and work ethic speak for themselves. There is no substitute for how easy and stress free he made us feel, so that we could truly enjoy ourselves knowing that he would capture every single moment candidly. Do not hesitate to hire James, it will be the best decision you will ever make.

Laurel is the ABSOLUTE BEST!! She has taken photos of our now 3 children since they were born…read more We've been so lucky to get to do a variety of photos from infant head shots to newborn, maternity, family with Santa, motherhood, etc. so we've had a lot of wonderful moments with her :) What I wanted to share for other fellow review readers is just how calm and sweet Laurel is. Photographing children is no easy task, and her peaceful demeanor makes it much easier for everyone during the photo shoot. And after every shoot when it feels like no one sat still and we didn't get the perfect shot as the mom on the other side of the camera lens, she always seems to capture the magic and gets the most beautiful perfect photos!! She's a master!! We couldn't be happier with her and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a photographer for their family. Many thanks to you our dear Laurel for being so good to us for so many years! We cherish you!!

We have been taking our holiday photos with Laurel for many years. We have done her studio and…read moreChristmas Tree Farm sessions and both are fantastic. She hires the best Santa - he's very authentic looking with a real beard and a great actor. Both she and Santa are really good at getting timid/resistant kids to open up and smile. It's so good, that we are able to skip the mall Santa experience (without the lines and crowds). The photos come out great and her turn-around is impressive. She always has treats and activities for the kids while we wait. The session is very short (15 mins) but for anyone that has young kids, they know that's about as long as they can pull it together for photos. (I think my husband appreciates that as well.) And she gets great shots in that time. It's pricey but well worth it! We'll continue to make this our holiday tradition. Note: She books up fast! So when she sends out the link for her holiday session, book ASAP!

We did family photos for a group of 11 that included some toddlers. Leading up to the photo shoot,…read moreTrynh was very organized and communicative. During the shoot, she was SO patient and good with the kids that they went from crying to being the stars of the show! My family and I will treasure the photos from this day forever.

My son had his senior pictures taken at the beach. Trynh was super accommodating and easy to work…read morewith. We got lots of beautiful pictures. Definitely recommend.

It was such a great experience working with Michaela for our family photos. From planning to the…read moreactual shoot it was stress free. She's truly a kind and talented photographer

Michaela has the most amazing and gracious energy. Every step of the process from the very first…read morephone call, to how comfortable she made me feel during the photoshoot, to the quality of photos she took was exceptional. I was hoping for a few good photos and was amazed and how many great shots she got! She is very gifted at what she does and it was such a lovely experience.

Jamie is phenomenal! She shot our wedding last week and it was such a wonderful experience! Before…read morethe event she took time to meet with and get to know me (since we had already done engagement photos and didn't need an engagement session), and checked in the week prior and ran thru all the details of the day with me. Day of, Jamie is on top of everything! She made the day such a wonderful experience and ran with all the punches, even the inevitable unforeseen hiccups, she was so wonderful to work with, as was her second shooter Shaun. I'm so glad to have worked with her, highly recommend as a wedding photographer!!

I can't even describe how great Jamie is. She is such a great photographer. My family has been…read moreusing her gifted skills for about 5 years now and I aways look forward to see how our photos come out. I've definitely put her to the test by requesting not the norm style sometimes and she always delivers. She is always patient and knows how to get my 9 and 13yr old boys to give a good smile. To anyone in the fence about booking with her .. do it! You wont regret it. The return time with her getting the photos back is pretty quick as well.. with lots to choose from. Jamie Brinkman Photography is the way to go!