Jay is a gem! Not only are his photography skills top-notch, but he was extremely professional and courteous with all aspects of his business. Many years ago, my husband and I hired him to be our wedding photographer. Let's just say that my husband and I are not the most photogenic people, and we are not at all comfortable in front of the camera. Jay has an easygoing nature and made us relax in no time. To our utter delight (and disbelief, frankly), he was able to take great pictures of us. Fast forward a few years. Every year on our anniversary, my husband and I insisted we would buy our wedding album...and then life would get in the way. Unbeknownst to me, this year my husband reached out to him 1-2 months before our anniversary to put the plan in motion. My husband is not the type to sit patiently and go through thousands of wedding photos, so apparently Jay made the entire process painless for him by pre-selecting a number of pictures, providing options, designing the layout, and working with him to create a final product, on time. I was stunned that my husband pulled it off, and I know Jay put in a lot of hours to make it happen. (I've since told my husband that this is the best gift he could ever get me, so now he thinks he is off the hook for presents forever. I digress...) Bottom line - Jay is not only an amazing photographer, but he is a true professional in running the rest of the business. He understands project planning and sees things through to an on-time completion. It's important to be able to rely on someone has such skills, and Jay is wonderful to work with. Thank you for everything! p.s. Jay took my Yelp profile picture. It's still one of my favorites. read more

Hiring a photographer for a destination wedding--now there's a tricky proposition. For our wedding at Sebastiani Vineyards in Sonoma (http://www.yelp.com/biz/sebastiani-vineyards-sonoma#hrid:015iqwb2mOBu6HCPvo505A), the (then-)fiance and I didn't know anything about San Francisco area photographers. Luckily, our venue and our caterer (The Lodge at Sonoma) provided us a few references, and we absolutely fell in love after looking at Jay Kelly's work on his website. And after having him shoot our wedding, we feel exactly the same way. We felt that Jay had a very editorial style that differed from the other photographers we were considering. His pictures told a fun, somewhat whimsical story. His use of light is brilliant, and his ability to contrast colorful, vibrant palettes with stark, soft atmospheres was something that really excited us. Also, he loved fisheye photos. And we love fisheye photos. The day of our wedding, Jay was very focused and authoritative, which we thoroughly appreciated. He really has a vision of where the optimal light is and what type of settings he wants to shoot. We felt that it helped a ton that Jay "knew what he wanted" and was able to guide us into taking some wonderful photos. Though he was a bit reticent to take our big family photo shots--he was taken aback when we asked for a bridal side family shot that was 20 people over his recommendation of 10 max--we loved that he was game enough to step out of his comfort zone. Throughout the evening, he was laughing and joking with us, which really made us feel comfortable as we tried to ensure that our wedding went off without a hitch. His vineyard shots of us were beautiful. They came off as very serene and comfortable, though we were anything but, hustling and bustling around vines and through a ton of soft dirt. You can really tell that Jay has substantial experience shooting in wine country. Further, he did a wonderful job with the clarity of his reception photos. We were worried that the dark lighting wouldn't turn out well, especially when we looked through other photographers' portfolios, but Jay did a great job in making our reception, speeches, and dancing photos shine. Jay was a trooper and stayed through our last dance. He and his very helpful assistant, Joey, said they had a blast shooting our wedding. It didn't sound like lip service, and this isn't either. Many thanks to Jay for providing us with keepsakes we will treasure for a lifetime. read more

I reviewed Studio J Photo last year after we had hired Jay Kelly for our engagement photos. I was beyond happy and content with everything that was offered. From the awesome and fun interactions with Jay (he really makes you feel comfortable and like you are old friends) to the final product (our pictures were one of a kind), we couldn't have been more pleased. Every single interaction was clear, pleasant, detailed, and professional. I felt it important to update my review more recently as we used Jay again for a very important photo/portrait session a few months later. When we thought things couldn't get better, we were blown away by Jay's talent and warm presence. His natural ability and caring personality put you at ease when he is shooting pictures. The result is photos that are natural, fun, unique, and truly memorable. Thanks to him we have a set of wonderful photos that we will cherish forever. It's no question in my mind that we will turn to him again in the future when we want our next special event chronicled. Highly recommended! read more

Jay and I worked together on some professional headshots a few months back and it couldn't have gone any better. He's got an amazing eye AND has a fantatsic way of making you feel comfortable and completely at ease. In moments we'd already shot enough remarkable shots to print and send out to casting agents (though we happily kept shooting for a bit more to go with the momentum...). I'm planning on hooking him up with my brother and his fiance for their upcoming wedding. They'll love him as much as they love his work. YOU'LL love him as much as his work. ...Really, I promise... read more

First thing I want to mention is that I don't like taking pictures and it's a huge effort on my part. Second, I absolutely love Jay! He made it very comfortable for us during our engagement photo session. I was a freezing cold and shaking (yes, I'm always cold and shake like a Chihuahua on a chilly morning), but I started to forget about the foggy cold air when our photo session began. It was so much fun and the horrible weather felt like a distant memory. Needless to say, my husband and I had a fabulous time in the freezing cold! Jay was also the photographer at our wedding and he did an amazing job and I have beautiful pictures to prove it! While I was planning the wedding, I have heard and read some horror stories about vendors being late, some not even show up at all or doing something crazy during the wedding, so I always try to mentally prepare myself for the worst case scenario. Like any "normal" Bride, when something doesn't go as planned, I will panic. My wedding was at the Ritz and since I know Jay was coming from a distance, I was somewhat concerned he might be late. My worries were short-lived because he arrived on time and he was ready to shoot the photos right away (no fumbling around)! He knew exactly what he was doing and since I was a nervous wreck, his calm demeanor helped me BIG time... kudos to Jay! read more

My husband and I decided to work with Jay as our wedding photographer in July, 2009. We met with Jay before the wedding and talked with him several times on the phone. The day of was, as expected, very crazy. The location of our ceremony was a distance from where we lived and traffic was horrible. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Jay beat everybody to the site. He was on time and ready to shoot by the time my party and I arrived. The ceremony site was rather plain and I was not sure how many good photographs Jay would be able to achieve. When I saw the photos afterwards, I was awed by how beautiful they were. They made our ceremony look like something out of a magazine. There is no question that Jay is a talented photographer with an amazing eye. But what sets him apart from others in his industry, is his professionalism, laid back nature, and sense of humor. Neither my husband nor I are models and we had no idea how to pose or what to do. Jay gave us direction without coming across as bossy. On ones special day, one spends quality time with their photographer. Thus, it is all the more important to find someone who is compatible, professional and talented. For my husbands and my needs, Jay was that person. I sincerely believe that Jay is the best in the business. Don't give it another thought, if you are looking for a photographer for any event, look no further, Jay's your man! read more

I had great experience working with Jay! I don't like posing for pictures and felt weird at first. He made me feel completely at ease and I finally got into it. After I was more comfortable the pictures started looking better and we went back to the beginning where we started. He was very patient which I really appreciated. Not only that, but his team also did touch-ups to make me look even better. I highly recommend working with this man to get your business portraits looking professional and polished! read more

Hi! I had a fantastic experience! Jay was very kind to reschedule our meeting when I got sick. During the photoshooting he was excellent! Always made sure we had the right light and position. The pictures turned out great, I even recommended him to a friend! 5 STARS! read more

Jay shot our wedding at Wente Winery in Livermore. He did a wonderful job. He captured every moment of our wedding. He was easy to work with and his assistant was very professional as well. His prices seem right on for the quality of work he produces. read more

We hired Jay to photograph our wedding and the results are phenomenal! We looked at several photographers before selecting one and once we saw Jay's work the decision was clear. We were really impressed by Jay's pictures - he goes beyond the standard portraits and takes amazing and truly beautiful images that capture the memories and emotions of the day. Working with Jay has been a pleasure and I'd highly recommend you book him now before his schedule fills up! read more

Jay Kelly was a great choice for our wedding. He knew the location (Thomas Fogarty Winery) well, and utilized its natural beauty in our photos. He came with a couple very capable assistants who were unobtrusive and also took some great photos. He wasn't very demanding in terms of our time and was respectful when we wanted to get back to our party. The proofs came back within 6 weeks and we were super happy with the results. You'll have a good time and get some nice photos. Why wouldn't you choose him?! read more

Jay Kelly photographed our wedding in September - he was both friendly and professional - and made the picture taking experience SO much fun! Me and my bridesmaids had a great time hamming up the camera. Jay was also great in telling me when I looked stiff (I had other things on my mind than thinking about my picture posing!) and to put some hip action in or relax my shoulders. His photos are absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Stunning - the most gorgeous photos I ever could have asked for - they look like they could be straight out of a bridal magazine. Just beautiful. I highly recommend Jay - he's amazing. He's a little more pricey than some wedding photographers - but he is WELL worth any cost. The cost of having beautiful photographs that are works of art to have and show/display throughout your lifetime are priceless. Thank you, Jay!!! read more

Jay shot our wedding in fall 2011. Pros: The try-before-you-buy shots, which were taken in Jay's neighborhood park, turned out very well. Photos of the groomsmen and groom were well-exposed and nicely composed. Jay took some nice "golden hour" photos after the ceremony. When faced with the shortcomings (see below) of many of the wedding photos, Jay tried very hard to fix them afterward. Jay is personable and gives it his all. Cons: A fairly narrow sweet spot (full shade) means that shots taken in full sun or indoors generally did not turn out well (a problem for us, since half our wedding was outdoors in full sun, and the other half indoors!). The flower bouquets were very overexposed (red channels clipped). This affected almost all photos with the bride/bridesmaids. Jay attempted to salvage some of these photos using Photoshop, but there wasn't much that could be done. Jay was unfamiliar with the venue (although we were led to believe otherwise), and didn't arrive in time to scope it out. He couldn't figure out where to take good pictures--we were in a beautiful country club in the mountains, but he shot the majority of our wedding party photos in the parking lot. Jay was resistant to taking large family photos and claimed that it was difficult/impossible to get more than 8 or 10 people in a single shot. In the end, many of the family photos turned out fuzzy, though some turned out fine. Smaller family photos, which were taken indoors, also were not well-composed. This was especially problematic since Jay took very few reception photos of our close relatives. Conclusion: Jay has the potential to take very good photos, as evidenced by the demo shots he took in his park. Unfortunately, the wedding photos did not come close to the quality of the demo shots. We give Jay credit for trying to fix the photos afterward, but there was little that could be done to fix major issues. read more

Jay is awesome! We had him come in twice because the attorneys couldnt get their schedules together to take headshots and he was very flexible. Came in with an assistant completely prepared and ready in a matter of minutes. Took tons of shots of everyone until they were happy (including the picky ones) and we got some great shots out of it for our website. Very professional and yet so friendly and easygoing in typical SF native fashion :) Prices are extremely reasonable and he was even willing to rush it to us so that we got out shots within the week and ready to upload. Would definitely use him again. Thanks Jay! read more

Jay was incredible to work with and we couldn't be happier with our pictures. Everyone who has seen them has raved about them, many saying they are the most magnificent wedding pictures they have ever seen. If you want amazing memories from your big day, without hesitation, book Jay Kelly asap! read more

I feel so lucky to have had Jay Kelly be the photographer for my wedding. He was so organized and made the whole "taking pictures" thing so comfortable. He was able to capture all of the important moments of my wedding without me knowing he was there. His style was modern, creative, and romantic. He knows his stuff. Every person in the wedding party and the majority of the guests commented on his style and fun attitude. I love his work from our Engagement photos, to the wedding, to how our album turned out. I always highly recommend him to every person looking for a photographer. He is the best as it gets! read more

We chose Jay as our wedding photographer back in 2006. After doing some research on the internet, we met with 3 finalists to view their portfolios and understand their 'style'. After seeing Jay's work, we were convinced that he was our guy. Jay uses top of the line equipment and is not afraid to try different lenses, angles or equipment to capture a specific moment. One of the best things about working with Jay is that you don't realize he's taking photos. He manages to etch himself into the backdrop so that you can act naturally. Therefore, when you see the final photos, they seem very candid and real. I highly recommend him; he knows what he is doing and shoots photos as if you were part of his own family. We decided to ask him to photograph our one year old daughter. Once again, the photos really evoke so much emotion that when we look at them everyday, we just smile. We intend to ask Jay to photograph us throughout the milestones in our lives and we look forward to growing older through his own camera lens. read more

2 years after our wedding my wife and I are finally ordering our photo album from Jay. That process could be 5 star review in itself, our interaction with Jay was like we just got the proof book! But as we were re-looking through all the pictures and making final decisions we both realized we couldn't be happier - it was impossible to pick which pictures to put in the album because they were all so good. Seriously, amazing. On top of Jay's photos being amazing, he is totally awesome to work with. He was organized, patient, had a great shot list, we were never worried, we were comfortable, it was fun and just an overall great experience. Jay is a great guy, he clearly tries to put his heart and soul into his work and it definitely came through in the prints. Highly, highly recommended, we couldn't imagine our pictures any other way. Thanks Jay! read more

He is so professional yet, super fun to work with. We had Jay for our good friend's 50th birthday. The angles and moments he took was beyond our expectation. Thank you again for doing this special event for our friend. We will definitely tell people for your work and hope to have Jay again for any event for the future! Kazu read more

I could go on and on about how great Jay is (and I will), but the gist is this - Jay is the best. If you need a photographer and want a great one, Jay is it. Whether it's for a wedding, portraits or an event - he's your go-to guy. When I started planning my wedding, I worried most about finding a photographer. I hate having my picture taken, but this day of all days, I wanted to have pictures that I would want to look at for the next 50 years or so. I did my research and met with other photographers, but the photos on Jay's website stuck with me. As soon as I met him I was sold. I was instantly at ease with him - he's funny and comfortable in that way like you've known him forever. Jay did both our engagement pictures and the wedding. He suggested two great locations for engagement shots, and while I never thought a whole photo shoot starring me would be fun - I have to say we had a blast. The pictures came out better than I ever could have imagined. And they are unique, with a distinct style - not just any posed shot anyone could have taken. I highly recommend doing engagement shots for more than the pictures. The bonus was, that come the day of the wedding, we were incredibly comfortable with Jay and the camera so it didn't add any extra stress - it was like having another friend there. He took a ton of pictures - both posed and candid - and they are just amazing. Words will not do justice to the beautiful and creative pictures he took. Every time we show off the album, the response is just overwhelming; and most often the response is "I've never seen a wedding album like this." I recently took on a new project to help plan a large community event at a local winery and quickly realized we needed a photographer to help capture the event. Without a second thought, I called Jay. As I expected from my previous experience, he was professional and fantastic to work with. Like I had done before the wedding, I provided him a list of "must have" photos before the event. We reviewed it together and then the day of my event, I was happy to see he had the list with him so I didn't have to worry about anything. As with most large events, there were a million things to do during the event, but I never once worried Jay wasn't getting exactly the shots I needed. And he did just that. He got gorgeous wide shots of the event, close ups of the details, and followed the schedule we had discussed like clockwork. Jay is fun to work with, very professional, and takes amazing photos - really, what more could you want? read more

Jay was terrific. He was able to be flexible with my schedule and had a great plan to get my head shots just right. The hardest part was picking the best one! Highly recommend!!! read more

Jay Kelly is As Good As It Gets! I got married less than 5 weeks ago and I have to say that Jay Kelly was the best vendor/partner I hired for my wedding. So as a recent bride I know that details are very important. I am a 34 year old woman who works in PR so I'm used to reviewing photos for my company on a daily basis. Jay's album does not do justice to his work. I thought it was beautiful but when I saw my photo's I realized that I had underestimated is talent. Jay came to my suite on time and ready to work. He was attached at my hip but discreet. Even if he weren't discreet I wouldn't of cared because he has a fun attitude while getting his work done! He took me on the city streets and had me work it! He even got a firetruck to pull up behind me at one point for my "city" pics. During the hour between ceremony and reception he took the most beautiful photos on the piers. After awhile I was ready for a drink so he even took pics of my hubby and i in a bar! I got the proofs back within 3 weeks. What an amazing vendor/partner! He captured every moment perfectly....the light, the imagery standing over a puddle, the moment when my friends were laughing at the church...everything. There are a lot of people out there. I'm telling you -- I'm a low key bride who had a big fancy wedding and Jay Kelly made EVERYONE happy. Snap him up now -- really -- before his prices soar through the roof. He is a master and is undercharging. Oh and for those of you that are having sticker shock while wedding planning --- I scrimped and saved for him -- I don't have a lot of dough -- but looking back he's worth his weight in gold. Really -- I'm not kidding. Skip on the cake or the flowers (i got deals on those)....get JAY. He's a deal and a half! THANK YOU JAY FOR CAPTURING MEMORIES (oh and for that racy shot on the pier -- jay has a sense of humor! read more

Jay was our photographer for our wedding in May. He took amazing photos and captured our big day perfectly. He was very organized and fun to work with. He took us to picture perfect places for our photo shoot between the wedding and reception. The whole evening was documented beautifully by Jay's excellent photographic talents. read more

Jay photographed our wedding August 7, 2007 at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay. Our photographs are breathtaking!! He brought out the best in us, our guests, and the scenery. He made our beautiful surroundings one of the stars of our pictures, the colors are amazing. He was so much fun to work with....relaxing us, making us feel even more terrific and happy about our special day. Everyone I have showed our photographs to can't believe how beautiful, unique, and artistic they are. They are so different yet classic. He captured our happiness and laughter perfectly. We highly recommend him to all couples planning a wedding! Sharon Cady Washington DC read more

Our May 1st wedding was hosted by friends at their San Francisco home. Jay found interesting, sometimes unusual shots in the backyard, in the house and especially on a walk on a nearby street . Jay's enthusiasm and his sense of fun helped put me at ease. He is a real professional- I highly recommend him. read more

My man Jay!! I don't know where to begin. Every year on my wedding anniversary I send Jay a thank you note for the wonderful memories he created for us. End of 2007 I called Jay up doing a search for photographers. Our wedding would be different in that it was going to be a weddingmoon on the Italian Riviera in Portovenere Italy. After 2 minutes on the phone I told him hold on so I can get the wife to be on the phone for the final decision. She loved him and I knew it was the right decision! Early 2008 we meet Jay on location in San Francisco with our 18 mos old and shot lovely portraits. Very professional and very easy to relax and laugh with. We spent more time laughing than smiling I think. Week of the wedding is stressful. Flying to Italy, going to consulate for paperwork to meet timelines etc. By the time me and the wife got to the hotel all the family were already there and checked in and the next person I see is Jay! He is already out doing a recon of the area. He was taking pictures already and it was 2 days BEFORE the wedding! We had Jay at our wedding dinner the night before the big day, again more pictures, unobtrusive, but captuing the spirit of the moment. Wedding day was sooo much fun. Captured all the moments. The wedding was in a castle over looking the Italian Riviera. We took a couple of hours after the wedding take shot after shot well over 1000 total. I got everyone of those shots as part of the package. The montage he put together is tear jerking. We look at it every year on our anniversary and cry like it happened yesterday. Can't go wrong with my man Jay! read more

Jay was our photographer for our wedding in May at Viansa WInery in Sonona...we choose Jay because we fell in love with his creative eye and his ability to capture beautiful memories, which he did for us. We were over joyed to see our proofs...to be able to re-live the moments of the day again! Jay is very professional, very knowledgeable, and designates his time to work with his clients to meet their needs. We recommend Jay for not only a wedding but for any special or professional event needing skilled, beautiful documentation. Thank you Jay! ~Jaime and Jason S read more

Had a great experience with Jay at our corporate event in San Jose! He was timely, and captured great in the moment shots. He was super friendly and the quality of photos were on point. He is accommodating and willing to go the extra mile to satisfy the customers needs! Thanks again, Jay! read more

Jay has been the consummate professional when I have worked with him for executive photoshoots at my company. He is very accommodating when it comes to scheduling the sessions, and arrives early to provide plenty of set-up time. He is also very cordial with our executives and meticulous throughout the process from start to finish. The final quality of the executive pictures we receive from Jay definitely meet our needs each time we use his services. read more

Jay has an incredible eye when it comes to knowing how to create the perfect shot. He has the instinct to know how to capture the emotions in a picture and does that extremely well. He is passionate about photography and it shows in his work. You will never got a bad shot with Jay behind the lens. I would highly recommend him to anyone needing a photographer. He is the best in the business! read more

Jay is very professional and the quality of his work is outstanding. He helped me out on short notice and was very easy to work with and I highly recommend his company's service. read more

Jay did my corporate photo (head shots) for my business. He was great and the best photographer that I have ever worked with. He made me feel at ease and was patient until we got the "right shot." He is a very nice guy and made me feel at ease. I recommend him highly. read more

Jay is awesome to work with! My husband and I both felt really comfortable working with him during our highly stressful wedding day, Honestly it was the best part of our day! The Best part was when he flagged down a passing cable car and got them to let us take photos on it, which are utterly AWESOME! It made our wedding day really memorable and unique. I mean if that's not CREATIVE I don't know what it is! Jay really knows how TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. And at the end of it all we got unique, one of a kind works of art to forever remember our special day by. read more

Jay photographed our wedding at Hotel Valencia. He is an extremely talented photographer, and we absolutely love his work! He is very professional, responsive, punctual, and easy to work with. He goes above and beyond to get the perfect shot. Our photos were amazing! read more

Jay is fabulous! We never thought that we would be able to take photos so comfortably, but Jay made it possible. My husband and I are very happy with both our engagement session photos as well as our wedding photos. All our guests loved him as well as he was great to be around. Jay is professional and has high standards on his work, which is great because you know you will get the best work from him. I love how he is able to capture the essence of the moment. It's great how proud he is of his work and he definitely have reasons to be. I definitely would recommend him to anyone who wants quality photos. Wedding is something you don't want to mess up on and with Jay you don't have to worry. read more

Jay makes me look very pretty. I have two sets of portraits from him. He has an artistic angle. He carefully considers the lighting and background which creates a perfect backdrop of my pictures. He also suggested some postures for me to capture the best part of me. I have no reservations to recommend him to the people I know. read more

I am so thankful that we chose Jay as our wedding photographer. He was such a joy to work with, very professional and warm. My husband and I are both shy people and don't usually like to get our pictures taken. Jay made our engagement sessions so relaxing and easy. At the wedding, he even made my usually reserved family feel at ease and relaxed. Jay's talents are also tremendous. He has such a great eye for beautiful shots. He is so aware of the surroundings, ambiance, people and light that every shot is filled with warmth and depth. All of his photos of the wedding came back so beautiful that we had such a hard time picking photos. Even my husband, who is a photographer as well and is usually very picky, is very impressed by Jay's skills and talent. Finally, Jay is also very accommodating to each client's needs. He has bailed me out of a very tough situation with my family. When I was freaking out, Jay calmly reassured me that he will do all he can to help. Thankfully, crisis was averted and everyone was happy. My husband and I will be married a year soon. We still look at our photos and just can't believe how beautiful they turned out to be, and how accurately Jay has captured the feeling of every moment. Thanks a million, Jay!! You are the best! read more

I hired Jay recently to take some professional headshots for me for use in my law practice. Jay met me in South Park and used the historic buildings along the park as the backdrop for the photos. They turned out wonderful. Jay was really professional and took his time with me (listening to what I wanted and delivering terrific results). He has a great eye for lighting, backgrounds, and color. I'd recommend Jay highly to others seaking professional-looking photos for business purposes. read more

Jay is a professional. He is super easy to work with and takes the most beautiful photos. He did an exceptionally amazing photo shoot with me for my professional photos, which will go on my website and other social networking sites. The photo shoot did not take long, and Jay made me look very beautiful. I felt relaxed and confident during the shoot, and I am someone who does not like having photos taken. I highly recommend Jay as a photographer. read more

I have worked with Jay for almost five years on executive headshots and onsite event photography needs the company I work for has had. Jay is amazing! He is very professional and is always on time (if not early). Jay has an ability to make our executives feel very comfortable during his photo shoots and the quality of the photos is outstanding. He makes sure that the individuals being photographed are happy with the end result. I always look forward to working with Jay as I know it is going to be an easy and fun experience. read more