[Disclaimer: I made the mistake going to Josh after thinking these high reviews were true...just makes me think they're really a bunch of his friends trying to beef up his profile!] I just wanted to take the time to provide my feedback here and share my worst experience ever with this photographer. First of all, this guy should be called a SCAMOGRAPHER and not a photographer - none of the shots he took even looked like me...his "experienced" makeup artist had pancaked an inch thick of makeup on my face. The studio mirrors were also really dirty, so I couldn't even see myself well enough to realize how horrible the makeup made me look. He spent about 3 hours taking pictures and calling them "money shots" throughout the session. Yet after I saw my proof gallery - I couldn't even pick a single one for print! I mean ZERO out of the 360+ images - not to mention the frames were totally off on 100% of the shots!!! So when I immediately expressed by email my dislike towards his work, he emailed back with beat-around-the-bush questions like "what are you talking about?" "what don't you like about them?" "I thought they were great". and this is after I specifically told him exactly what was wrong with them! He would continue in his responses by saying "well we can have a re-shoot for another $65" or that he can touch-up the 3 shots I paid for to "make it great". Well I gave him the go ahead to touch-up the 3 least offensive proofs - but when I got them back they were much worse!! So unbelievably fake-looking and unnatural! just not me at all. The worst thing is wasting all my money to get "3 good shots" that resulted in absolutely no headshots that I'd feel even close to okay with to send to any casting companies! So for a total of 13 days after my photoshoot he never called me once to talk about resolving these issues. Apparently this guy likes to hide behind his computer screen because he never would pick up my phone calls and made me feel totally avoided! He would respond to my emails after a day or so of my message, but only to continue to beat around the bush and never address my expressed unhappiness with his work. So when he finally indicated by email that he was able to pick up the prints from the printer (albeit only AFTER I threatened I wanted my money back!) I immediately went to his studio to pick up the prints- now when I say 'studio', I mean a garage space in the back of an Apartment complex - and HE WAS NOT EVEN THERE!! He just left my headshots in an envelope with my name on it hanging on the screen door of the garage!! What kind of "professional" photographer does this kind of crap? When I called him after I got there he never picked up! Not only was I trying to reach him to say how rude it was to not be there to personally hand over the prints - I also needed to pick up some personal items I accidentally left in the garage. So of course I didn't want to leave until I got those as well- especially after driving an hour to get there. I texted him about this and he texts me back saying he's going to be there in a couple hours. This was about 6:30PM. I texted him saying I'm not willing to come back so if he could please meet me so I could get my stuff back. I got no reply after that. I waited until 9:30PM outside the garage, and the guy still didn't show up!!! So he's not only a liar and a chicken who can't seem to face his unhappy clients, but he is also a THIEF! After this horrid experience and walking away with 3 crappy prints and my stuff not retrieved, I went to another headshot photographer. I got my proofs and they were AWESOME, and totally captured the looks I was looking for - SHE KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING. So if any one wants to see the difference between his gutter-level work and the great new headshots I now have, please let me know. Bottom line is - this guy is just bad news, a total douche and seems to enjoy sucking the blood out of the newbies and struggling actors in the biz. Again, what type of photographer does this kind of crap??? Obviously this one does!!! So take my advice - STAY AWAY FROM THIS FREAK! read more

STAY AWAY FROM THIS MAN AND HIS "BUSINESS". I attempted to book Joshua Monesson on behalf of a client. I paid him through his website via his Paypal integration button and shortly after I sent him an email outlining the details of my clients needs, mood board and other info to confirm the photoshoot date since he doesn't have a system in place that is streamlined and convenient for clients to book with him. Joshua did not respond to my emails (I emailed him twice). Today I reached out to let him via phone/text to let him know that I'd emailed him and since I didn't receive a response I decided to go with another photographer for my client since we're on a time constraint. I politely requested a refund. I received a message from Joshua stating that he did not receive my email which I know for a fact is a lie. I use a system that shows me when my emails are received and when someone opens them. Joshua proceeded to dismiss my request for refund asking me to send him an email again. I informed him that I would just like a refund since there was never an appointment confirmed by him and because of that I needed to go with another photographer. In a passive aggressive manner, Joshua stated that he did not offer refunds but that I can use my submitted payment as a gift card and further stated I look forward to serving you and your clients again soon. I don't live in Los Angeles, I was booking on behalf of a client and based Joshua's inability to streamline his booking process, along with his unprofessionalism, there is not way I would be interested in using his services. I reiterated once again that I wanted a refund, not a gift card and there is no where on his site that states he does not offer refunds. He then replies that it states on his invoice that he does not offer refunds, which, again, is a lie. There was nothing on the invoice nor his site that says anything about a no refund policy. So, not only is he a liar, but he is highly unprofessional and from the looks of it I am not the only person who's had an issue with him. Also, keep in mind that he did not produce any work for me or my client, nor did we have anything scheduled so in integrity, there is no reason he should keep a payment for work/services that were not and would not have ever been performed. I am so glad I followed my intuition telling me that something was off about him and found another photographer. I could not imagine sending my client to him and risking her having a terrible experience due to his lack of professionalism and organization. My suggestion is to spend more money and go to someone who has a proper booking system in place and treats his clients with genuine respect instead of the passive aggressive behavior Joshua showcased. read more

I have always hated having my picture taken. I feel awkward and self conscious in front of the camera, so naturally I was wary about having much-needed headshots taken. Josh did an amazing job of making me feel comfortable. He was positive and relaxed, and over time I also became relaxed and started feeling confident. He really makes you feel like you and the pictures look great, and he consults with you consistently to make sure you're getting the look you want. He constantly stopped, showed me the pics, and made sure I was happy before shooting more. Another thing that was important to me, because of my inexperience posing, was direction. I wanted him to be able to guide me and use his expertise to get the best headshots possible for the acting industry. He is full of great advice and professional information that is SO helpful. He had so many ideas for so many different looks, he directed me without being critical, and I came out of the photoshoot with an amazing array of photos and feeling absolutely wonderful about myself. It was the best experience. And SOOO affordable for what I received! The quality of photos for the price I paid was astounding. This is the best deal you'll find. I'm going to use him again. I suggest anyone looking for headshots, portraits, etc, anyone uncomfortable being photographed, anyone looking for advice or guidance, or anyone on a budget, call Josh. read more

I have never done a photo shoot, thought I wasn't photogenic, but Josh proved me wrong! I needed some headshots for my business profile (linked in), and thought I might as well get some social media pictures while I was at it. I did the holiday one hour special and let Josh work his magic (was able to get about 3 different outfits in with well over a hundred shots). He really knows his stuff, will help you posture/pose correctly, and can turn something you don't expect (such as lighting, background of the outdoors) and get some really nice photos. I could've just taken shots in his studio, but I was glad I explored some of his tips/suggestions and took to the outdoors for some shots. I also appreciated that he expressed to me on multiple occasions to not be shy to speak up if I didn't like how I looked, and he was able to grasp and figure out what I might like and look good. I was really surprised to see some of the negative reviews below. Josh told me exactly how to get to his studio, I had no issues whatsoever in getting the service/photos I paid for, and the 5 retouches I chose looked great too. He was very friendly, wanted to make sure I liked the photos as we were doing it, and delivered on time after the shoot as he initially expressed when inquiring about his services. In short, hire Josh, and you'll love the results at a fraction of the price. read more

I loved the pictures on Josh's website which led me to him. From my very first email encounter with Josh, he was warm and professional. We drove up to his unpretentious studio located in Venice, CA and were immediately put at ease. (We are not a typically laid back family). Josh immediately went to work doing the most amazing outdoor shots with natural light. The professional pictures for our business were beautiful just on their own. We selected several to be touched up and he did an incredible job of making my husband and I look "enhanced" rather than completely redone. This was at our request, although he is perfectly able to photoshop into model perfection if you prefer that look. Our second round was to go to the beach for family photos. It was a wind tunnel and we had the most fun laughing about the wild hair shots. Actually it was the most fun we have had in a long time. We received the "proofs" within a couple of days and the retouched photos in several more days, worth the wait for an artist's work. The pictures are beautiful and the experience was more than we could have expected. We will use Josh for any other photography needs that we have. read more

Josh is such a good photographer, I could not believe it took us total 30-min to get what we wanted! I needed executive headshots for a speaking engagement for an event couple days later. Not having taken executive headshots before, I was stressing about it and thought that I wanted indoor studio lighting. Josh suggested to try couple outdoor shots and the results were amazing. It was great to see that in the photos I come across as dynamic, confident and up-to-date professional which is exactly what I wanted. I'm so glad we did not go for traditional, heavy executive pictures. I am getting a lot of compliments for both looks!.. My 1st look was more blue/black tones and it does feel like as if the photo was taken in CNN's newsroom :) That's the one I used for the speaking engagement. I wanted my 2nd look to be more casual/warm. My background was an eclectic marketplace on Main street, Santa Monica. In the picture, it looks as if I am in somewhere in Spain!.. Love it!.. Finally, I am definetely going back to him in the future and strongly recommend for anyone who needs headshots or professional photos. Thanks Josh!... Filiz B. read more

The company I recently joined asked me to get a headshot done so they could add me to their website. I was not excited about this request because I don't tend to be very photogenic. I'm usually the one with my eyes closed or half way closed in pictures. I have to say that Josh was really incredible to work with. He is pretty laid back and easy going. His attention to detail and his encouragement about what he was seeing and little tweaks to where I was looking and how I was standing made me feel relaxed and not self conscious during our brief session. He definitely knows how to bring the best out in people. Honestly, the end result was absolutely the best photograph I've ever had taken. I'm still shocked at how great I look. I showed it to a few friends and colleagues and they asked for his information. I can't say enough about Josh! So if you are the least bit shy or self conscious about having your photo taken or even if you're highly photogenic and just need your headshot updated, I highly recommend Josh. Wonderful experience from start to finish! read more

Josh took my 3 yr old son's headshots last week. I was bit nervous about how the photoshoot will turn out since my son is only 3 and has never had a professional shoot. Josh was great. He made my son relax and enjoy the photoshoot,. He cracked jokes with him, promised him a nice gift after the shoot was done which made my son do all he could to be good boy during the photoshoot so he could get his gift at the end of the shoot. Josh gave him a water gun after the shoot. That was really sweet. He really knows how to work with kids at one point my son stepped on the edge of the back drop and the whole thing came down, I felt bad and was very apologetic but Josh took is very well, he never got upset with my son, he kept smilling at him and talking to him while he fixed the back drop. The best thing is 2 days after I got my photos from him I sent them to a really good agency that he recommended to me and they agreed to represent my son. Im very happy he got an agent so fast. All thanks to Josh, and my son's adorable face ofcourse. hahaha. read more

I have never had a very "warm" relationship with the camera, to say the least. For this reason I have always been a bit camera-shy. Even so, I have wanted some photographs for quite a long time. But I must be honest. I procrastinated because I was skeptical that even a true professional could overcome my special challenges in front of the camera. Still, upon seeing Josh Monesson's work I decided to give it a try. The results? FANTASTIC!! If you are seeking a photographer who really listens to you and who uses what he hears as he works his own creative magic to capture your essence at its own personal best... call Josh. He is extraordinarily fun, easygoing and communicative, so very accommodating and prompt, and upon first meeting him he makes it feel as though you are instant friends; something which is so essential to relaxing before him and the camera. In essence, Josh has his own innate way of helping you... help him... HELP YOU. Josh, I said it before and I'll say it again and again and again... YOU'RE A GENIUS!!! read more

With barely having any referrals to great headshot photographers in LA & doing all the research on my own, I have to say I came across an extremely talented hidden gem -- Josh Monesson. The photo shoot was an awesome experience in that he made me feel confident in my photos & comfortable enough to shoot outside (because you always have those people who walk/drive by and stare for too long). He has an impeccable eye for what will make photos look their best from the right outfit to the best part of the brick wall. His sense of humor makes the whole experience even better & I wouldn't want anyone else taking my headshots any time soon if it's not Josh. I know how stressful it can be trying to find the perfect photographer, so believe me when I tell you that you have found the right one if you're reading this review for reassurance! :-) P.S. I also DEFINITELY recommend utilizing the hair & makeup artists at Wicked right down the street (they work with Josh) because they will have you looking your best, natural self! read more

I recently took my headshots with Josh and from the moment I emailed him about setting up a session, he immediately responded back. I tend to have a ton of questions but he answered every single one without a problem. When I went to go shoot with him, I was surprised at how smooth everything went. I am not a photogenic person. All I'm good at is smiling. Lol. But he directed me during the shoot and even let me see the photos to make sure I liked them as we went along. I especially liked the different locations that we took my photos in. Venice is really such a nice area and very pretty when the sun is shining. Anywho, once the shoot was done he went over the whole package in full detail and what I was paying for as well as how long it would take for him to process the photos. He even gave me references to where I can get cool business cards made and what not. They were so cute! Josh is definitely a man of his word, professional, affordable, and easy to work with. I would recommend him to anybody! read more

I needed to find a photographer quickly for my company's website staff head shots and a new LinkedIn photo. I googled "photographer in Studio City and Josh Monesson came up. I looked at his portfolio and felt the lighting was so good in all of his pictures all the pics had a great combination of feeling natural Yet professional and detailed as well. Its very difficult to capture that combination in a headshot or a pic for professional corporate shot. From the very first email I sent him it could not have been a better experience or a better result for myself and my staff! The pictures were all excellent. He was incredibly professional thru out the process and the shoot itself was seamless, efficient and fun. I have hired him to shoot the rest of my staff in several other locations and will be hiring him to do a family portrait for my wife and four children. Add on top of that his incredibly reasonable prices etc. Can't beat it. I could not give Josh a higher recommendation! Dan Markel read more

Wow! What an experience this was. I can honestly say that Josh was awesome to shoot with. He made me feel so comfortable and the whole experience was fun fun fun! He really cares about what you want and he isn't afraid to make sure you get exactly that. If you are looking to shoot just for yourself or a special someone in mind, Josh is the one to do it with. Josh is reasonably priced, easy to work with, and the whole process was no hassle at all. I contacted him on a Monday and I was in the studio with him that Friday. I was nervous at first but a few minutes in I had no worries and really let go. I trusted everything he had suggested and he was also open to what I had in mind. By the end of the 1.5 hour, I was amazed at how time flew by- I could have easily continued for another 3 hours! I will continue to recommend Josh to everyone and will most definitely being going back in the near future. Thanks Josh for the amazing Birthday gift my boyfriend will be getting!! Lots of love! read more

Anyone who can wrangle six 11 year olds and come up with beautiful individual photos and fun group shots in a 2-hour time frame certainly has a gift. Looking for something unique for a birthday party, i found Josh online. Throughout our planning, he was professional, enthusiastic, and accommodating. Best of all though, the girls had so much fun "working" with him. The photo shoot with Josh was definitely the highlight of the party. (They were fresh from having hair and make-up done at a salon) Being able to see the pictures that night after the girls got back from dinner had them all buzzing and reliving the shoot all over again, and worth the little bit extra to the very reasonable fee for our session. I'm so grateful to have found Josh, and so appreciative of his care and expertise with all the kids that afternoon. As for the birthday girl, her comment says it all. When asked what the highlight of the party was---"definitely the photo shoot!" read more