I always volunteer to take photos at any gathering since I am utterly self-conscious in front of a camera. When I needed photos for a professional publication, the reviews, photos and ease of booking led me to Matt's site. I didn't expect to enjoy a photo shoot as much as I did. Even while taking numerous shots, Matt made intelligent small talk to get me at ease, talking about everything from the content of the book the photo was going in, to favorite TV shows. He gave gentle direction on posing to ensure a variety of shots without making me self-conscious at all. Looking at the photos from the shoot, I'm amazed how quickly they shifted from my stiff uncomfortable pose to a warm, relaxed portrait and even genuinely laughing pictures. I also want to appreciate Matt's technical ability. The studio is small, but well designed. Without going outside, we ended up with two color backgrounds as well as a "nature" shot with a bokeh effect of the beautiful greenery visible from his windows. Matt's skill at lighting and then photoshop resulted in photos in which my brown skin glowed. Touchups (like my chapped lips and other elements) were dome masterfully. He even removed green glare from my glasses lens in a way that preserved the full detail of my eyes. I've seen other photographers smooth out an unwanted pimple for instance, but leave behind a discernible blurring. Not Matt - he somehow managed to remove spots while retaining full texture of the skin beneath! I know where to go for any needed photos in the future. read more

Matt took the time to look me up before we met to get a sense of what I did for work and what types of photographs I would need. He gave good suggestions during the shoot to improve the shots and was generous with his time. Parking was easy and it was easy to get into the building on the day of my shoot. He confirmed the week of for the location. Thanks Matt! Glad I get to show off my new professional headshots! read more

Matt is a wonderful photographer and gave me many options for a professional headshot. He keeps the process simple, works quickly and the photos turned out wonderfully! Also gave suggestions for outfits etc. Lovely studio space, fast response time and very easy to schedule online. Also, great pricing options! read more

Matt offers a fair price, and his process is quick, easy, and reliable. A solid option.

I've worked with Matt Wong at Berkeley Portrait Studio several times for headshots, and I couldn't recommend him more highly. Matt is consistently professional, kind, and easy to work with. He has a great eye for capturing natural, flattering photos, and he always makes the experience comfortable and efficient. The quality of his work is exceptional, and his pricing is very reasonable. If you're looking for high-quality headshots or portraits in the Bay Area, Matt is the one to go to. read more

Matt is wonderful to work with! We got to work right away, he is friendly and put my mind at ease immediately. I needed a headshot for an upcoming project and found him on yelp. It's so nice to work with an artisan who is very concerned about his craft and pays attention to all the details to produce a Portrait that exceeded my expectations. Look forward to working with you again, Matt! read more

Portrait Studio 1.4 - Portrait for online use and book. - Session Photography Near Me - San Diego, California

Matt was responsive, available, easy to work with, and fast! Matt responded to my request via yelp within an hour, offered me an appointment the next day. I arrived at his home studio and we quickly got into the photoshoot. I hate being photographed and Matt assured me he was a pro at helping people feel comfortable and get past the shyness. It took me a while to relax, and get a few good shots for my website and Linkedin profile. Matt sent me proofs that same day, and retouched my favorites the next day. Overall very easy and smooth process. Thanks Matt! read more

Portrait Studio 1.4 - Here's one of my favorite photos from the shoot. - Session Photography Near Me - San Diego, California

Matt is fantastic to work with! I've been needing professional headshots for an agency I've been working with, and Matt fulfilled my needs perfectly. He was very easy-going and professional, complete with many different color options for your portrait background. We started off with a black background before switching over to purple, which was beautiful and vibrant. He changed backgrounds with ease, and was able to direct me on different poses and looks while complementing my own direction as well. Under an hour, the shoot was done! He was also very quick to send me the raw gallery the next day for me to pick out my favorites, and he was very quick with editing too! His lighting was so good to begin with, there wasn't too much editing required. Work with Matt for all your headshot needs, he's fantastic! read more

Portrait Studio 1.4 - Session Photography Near Me - San Diego, California

Matt had a calm demeanor, which calmed me down as I was understandably nervous of being professionally photographed. He used clear directions in every step while keeping an active conversation in order to put me at ease and bring out the natural and genuine expressions. In the short span of 30 minutes, he snapped close to a hundred photographs; some were test shots but most were candid, genuine, and very usable--other than the bags under my eyes. I'd use Matt again next time I need a professional head shot. read more

Matt made the awkward experience of getting your photo taken so easy-going. He was very professional and able to capture great photos of me. The turnaround was also so fast. Highly recommend! read more

I have nothing but nice things to say about Matt! I booked a budget appointment with him because I needed a quick headshot for a job. Matt was very detailed and he gave great suggestions, from background lighting to posing. He also does his best to chat and loosen you up, and I think my getting more comfortable definitely improved my facial expressions as the shoot progressed. Matt also made sure to let me review the photos throughout the shoot, and he was very receptive to any thoughts and suggestions I had. Ultimately, I highly recommend getting headshots here. It was a comfortable, pleasant experience with a fantastic end product for a great price! read more

Matt exceeded my expectations and went above and beyond! He is very comfortable to shoot with and has a lot of great ideas and suggestions. I would definitely shoot with him again. read more

Very happy with my photos and found it a pleasure to work with Matt. He took the time to listen to what I was looking for, engaged with questions, provided excellent guidance, and made the entire experience low stress and fun. I highly recommend. read more

Portrait Studio 1.4 - Session Photography Near Me - San Diego, California

Taking headshots with Matt was a wonderful experience. A few things I appreciated: - I immediately felt welcomed and at ease in Matt's studio (his indoor studio space is within a Berkeley apartment). Matt's energy and warmth made the concept of taking headshots, which might have been overwhelming, into a fun and collaborative process. - Matt gave specific, clear guidance for posing. He gave suggestions and also had a mirror handy so I could see what I looked like in real-time. - Matt requests feedback throughout the shoot and iterates as needed. He regularly paused to confirm I liked the images we were taking, and I could make suggestions too! It truly felt like a collaboration that Matt was invested in. - After the shoot, Matt was quick to send a contact sheet with the images he liked best highlighted at the beginning. He also was prompt in sending the selected photos along afterwards. Highly recommend. read more

I did a professional headshot shoot with Matt earlier today and don't even need to see the contact sheet to give him a five star review. Matt really took his time with all the shots and gave me so many great posing instructions to make sure I could get the best pictures. He was incredibly warm and helps you feel as comfortable as possible in front of the camera. His work is also beautiful and extremely affordable for his skill level. Truly, no one else compares at this price point. He really captures the best out of his subjects by eliminating the awkwardness and tension most of us (like me!) tend to feel in front of a camera. Matt listened attentively and patiently to all my likes and dislikes about my photos without making me feel rushed. I highly recommend him to everyone and will definitely keep coming back to him for all my photography needs. I think you will, too! read more

I needed a new headshot for my new job, and fast! I was looking for a simple and convenient experience and I found it with Matt at Berkeley Portrait Studio -- I was able to book an appointment the next day. The studio is located on a hill over the Cal campus, and the diffused foggy light from the massive windows lit up the studio naturally. Matt is relaxed and conversational, and he made me feel that way too. He stopped often to show me the work as he experimented with several looks and styles. Although he took over 100 shots, we went with the fourth one. Matt patiently edited the final two shots to my liking. Not only is he a great photographer, but he's a really nice person too. read more

Matt was easy to schedule, easy to work with, and quick to return proofs and finalized images. I got exactly what I needed, with no hassle.

This was my first experience having headshots taken, and I am thoroughly impressed with the outcome. Matt demonstrated exceptional professionalism and skills with the camera. After providing him examples of the style I was aiming for, he executed the vision perfectly. His expertise and attention to detail were evident throughout the session. He also took the time to show me the photos as we progressed through the session. The final product exceeded my expectations. read more

I needed to update my headshot on our company website because it did not match the tone and color of the rest of the team photos. Also, since I was taking photos, I decided to also update my LinkedIn profile picture. I communicated these goals to Matt, and he came through! I love my new headshots. I met Matt at his home, where he has his studio set up in his living room. The whole photo shoot experience was great. Matt has a relaxed attitude and makes good conversation. He is professional, and knows how to adjust the lighting and background for the optimal photo. Also, his rates are very reasonable. He is a joy to work with, and I highly recommend him! read more

Matt did an amazing job with my head shots! He was very willing to incorporate my own ideas and vision for the photos, which I appreciated. Everything came out looking so good and I had a lot more fun than I expected. Highly recommend! read more

Great job here. I highly recommend this service for professional photos. The process was simple and I got in and out of there quickly with exactly what I was looking for. read more

Matt at Berkeley Portrait Studio provided me a great photo session. I really liked his unique approach to professional photos. Unique as in his quiet and comfortable workspace, his less than conventional posing techniques that create one of kind photos that stand out above and beyond the usual pedestrian professional head shot. I have no qualms in referring Matt for great shots! read more

I had such a fantastic experience with Matt! I needed new headshots for a career change, but I'm a fairly awkward person and I don't love having my photo taken. Matt did a fantastic job explaining the process to me, helping me understand what he was doing so I wasn't quite so nervous. And I really appreciated that he engaged me and kept me talking, putting me at ease. He provided helpful and clear direction for different poses, facial expressions, etc. The final set of photos--nearly 100 in about 30 minutes, provided a ton of good options for sitting vs. standing, smiling vs. serious, etc. I have exactly what I need for my new position! read more

Matt is amazing. I needed portrait photos for a business and there were certain requirements. There're barely any portrait photographers in the bay, not to mention the good ones. When I sent the reference photos, Matt sent me the exactly same style of photos right away so I booked his session with no hesitation. I'm very surprised and pleased with how the photos turned out. I myself is an amateur photographer so I tend to have higher standards when it comes to photography. Matt surpassed my expectation. Another thing - I hate getting taken pictures, because it makes me awkward. Matt doesn't make you feel like you're getting photographed; he's very easy to talk to and you'll have a great conversation with him and ta-da, the photos are done. Book a session with him before he gets so famous! read more

Matt is an expert at what he does. He was bright and personable which helped make the process more comfortable putting me at ease and helping me to smile more naturally rather than attempting to force it. He offered me an in studio or outdoor setting, I chose outdoors and he provided a beautiful outdoor space. I could not be happier with the finished product. It was exactly what I was looking for. I also found his price is very reasonable. read more

Portrait Studio 1.4 - Session Photography Near Me - San Diego, California

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I had a great session with Matt today. I appreciated his flexibility and willingness to squeeze me in last minute for professional headshots. Matt is super chill and a great conversationalist. He did a great job giving directions and walking me through each phase of the shoot. I never felt like I was awkwardly scrambling to figure out what to do in the photo because he was so proactive about giving guidance. I also appreciated his industry specific knowledge. I told him my photo was for a law firm profile and he was aware of industry trends and standards for how law firms liked their employee pictures. I also liked that he let me see the photos mid-shoot so that I could make adjustments. His studio was bright and relaxing. Parking was easy. The price was extremely reasonable for the area. I'm excited to see the pictures! read more

Search no more--Matt is the best portrait photographer I have personally worked with, having had photos done in various geographies in and outside the US. Matt is passionate about his craft, and it shows in his tips and feedback to help you get the most out of your session. Recommending to all of my friends and acquaintances looking for portrait photography in East Bay. read more

I found Matt and Berkeley Portrait Studio on yelp and once again I've been steered in the right direction. Upon arriving I did have a little trouble finding it but I figured it out. Right between 1780 and 1735 Highland pl. is a sort of driveway. Go all the way down and it's the green building at the end on the left. Go down that driveway and up the stairs to unit 2 on the right. Matt has a very professional studio set up in his living room. He has obviously had a lot of practice and has fine tuned his craft. The lighting, seating and background were perfect. He had a great high table on wheels that's excellent for helping you position your body for perfect headshots and even set up a full length mirror behind him so I could see what I was doing too. He also gave a lot of fantastic direction for facial expressions, head and shoulder positioning. During the 30 minutes we were together he took probably 40-50 photos and paused periodically so I could see them and make sure I was happy with them. Once the session was over, he explained how he would email a contact sheet to me so I could choose which ones I liked the best and then he'd retouch them. Matt is responsibly priced, responds quickly and delivers fantastic service. I look forward to recommending him to the company I work for so they will recommend him to others as well. read more

I really enjoyed working with Matt to take headshots! He was efficient, friendly, and took beautiful photos. His studio was a bit confusing to locate at first but I would highly recommend Berkeley Portrait Studio (Matt)! read more

Matt was great to work with. Super responsive and flexible in providing me lots of photo options. Really easy to work with and definitely appreciate his approach and thought to our photo session! read more

Literally the same day I uploaded the photo Matt took of me to LinkedIn, I was offered a job interview that turned into my new position. Matt is a kind and talented photographer. I am extremely grateful. read more

This studio was a recommended by a friend for professional headshots. The prices are fair and the quality surpassed my expectations. Matt makes you feel at ease and shows you how the photographs are coming along during the session. He also has really beautiful background colors to choose from. This is the place to use for your next headshots in Berkeley! read more

Matt is masterful, a true professional, and has an unparalleled creative intuition that impressed from the very jump. I really appreciated how Matt carefully listened to and considered my ideas, I also appreciated the honest feedback he gave on said ideas on top of adding on some ideas of his own to make the photoshoot a huge success. I genuinely don't think that any other photographer would be able to turn my crazy ideas into such a masterpiece like Matt did. I'd also like to add that Matt was a great communicator and personable. I appreciated how patient he was with me during the shoot which made the shoot a breeze and seemingly go by so quickly. If you are looking for a versatile and compassionate visionary to capture you and your ideas at your best, you have found the man! read more

I had a wonderful experience with Matt. He is patient, flexible, and a good listener. I also really appreciate his style (not cheesy) and all the variations of poses we did. He's also incredible responsive and has a very easy (technology enabled) process for booking/paying. I highly recommend him! read more

Matt was great to work with. He took great pictures, was super responsive, affordable and I was 100% happy with how everything turned out.

Had a very positive experience working with Matt! Matt was very attentive in readjusting the lighting and camera angles according to feedback during the session. The 25 min session was a bit short in retrospect and I'd opt for a longer session for more time for exploration. read more

So glad I found Matt on Yelp. His reviews are legit - the photos he produces are fantastic. I needed a photo for my work profile and it was the first time I've taken headshots. Like other reviewers mentioned, Matt is great at making you feel comfortable and getting a variety of angles that are flattering during the session. The whole process from walking to the site, selecting photos for processing, then smoothing out the details for the final photo was super easy. Highly recommend him! read more

Matt is personable, talented, and easy to work with, and he provides incredible value in his package offerings for very reasonable rates. I booked a Standard (VIP) package with him on same-week notice to update my LinkedIn/professional headshot from a now outdated university graduation photo. Matt prioritizes making you feel comfortable in front of his camera and is distinct in his use and understanding of different colors, lightings, and angles to draw the eye to all of his clients. Every headshot in Matt's portfolio is interesting to look at. This is not something you can say of every headshot photography portfolio. As someone who has always felt awkward in front of the camera, Matt was quick to work at putting me at ease and helped me test multiple angles, expressions, and poses. He provides a tall barstool for you to be seated at and a rolling table prop to rest your arms to help you be placed in a more comfortable and natural position for what is decidedly the unnatural act of posing for photos for an extended period of time. He stages a mirror in his set so that you can actually see yourself (I don't know why more photographers don't do this) as you adjust, and I was able to review the photos at increments throughout my session. He was very responsive via email before and after my shoot, and I was very happy with the multiple photos I received. I would not hesitate to recommend Matt as my top choice to anyone for their photography needs. read more

My daughter recently had her high school graduation pictures taken by Matt. It was our first time meeting him, and what a great experience we had. Matt was friendly, kind, and very professional. My family and I felt like we had known him for quite some time. Not to mention, my eldest daughter and Matt were born in the same year. My youngest daughter is very pleased with the pictures, and I have already referred five people to him. Matt, thank you again for such a wonderful experience. The Holly's read more

Matt is fantastic! He knows what he is doing, extremely easy to talk with. He has a great studio, understands lighting editing, and has creative ideas! I had him help me with shots for my website and was very impressed. I had several outfit changes and needed specific shots, which he could accommodate with ease. His studio is a little hard to find, so give yourself time and arrive early. I highly recommend Matt for professional photos and website photos. read more