I had won a contest over Instagram for my pup. The Richmond is a little far off from home but we thought the trip would be worth it to get photos of my little guy. Cyndi was nice. She was great with my little guy. The studio was clean and well organized. Now the rub. After the photo shoot we received the samples with watermarks and no-edits, and offered to pay for just the digital copies of the photo which seemed like a reasonable request. However, she said she would only release them if we purchased the entire package (like $3.5-4k. There's no pricing on website and price only disclosed after the complimentary photoshoot on some website link) for 30+ photos and even if she sold us the digital photos, it would still cost the same. Are you kidding me? For my wedding in 2023, we had 2 photographers and videographer, for over 5 hours, and that price tag didn't add up. Seemed a little shady to get you in the door and upsell you at a RIDICILOUS rate. Kind of a waste of time. We just opted for the "complimentary" 5x7 photo which still took like 4 months to obtain and we had to pay for shipping. read more

Cyndi is great! We saw a promotion for mother/son photos online, and booked a session with her for the whole family. I have toddler twins, and getting a photo with all of us looking at the camera and smiling is a huge challenge. Cyndi was great with my kids--attentive and playful while snapping away, and quick to shift gears when their attention/mood changed. I was absolutely blown away when she showed us the photos--they were great and we ended up using a few for our Christmas card. Got a ton of compliments on the photos, and we'll be framing a few for the grandparents too! Highly recommend Cyndi--she does amazing work! read more

We used this studio to take family photos of us with our two dogs. We were really excited to take professional photos with our dogs because they're getting a lot older and we're not sure how long they'll be around! The photos turned out great, and more importantly, Cyndi, the photographer and owner (I think?) is so excellent from start to finish! From the second we made our appointment she was communicative, prompt and easily accessible when we had to change our appointment day and time. We then came to the studio and she was so friendly and patient with the kids and dogs. We have two very geriatric dogs who are obedient but don't have the strength or desire to stand or lay down in uncomfortable places. She made our photos work with them and we are very happy with the results! The kids are also another huge task to tackle, getting them to look at the camera and smile. You do have to wait and do a "viewing" of your photos online with a representative, ours was named Audra. I, personally, don't like these viewings, they feel very pressured and rushed and I feel bad keeping someone there waiting for my decisions while I go back and forth a bunch with my family. I think the anticipation and pressure is something that benefits the photo studio and they force the clients to make a decision right away as the photos won't "be available" after the viewing. Audra was also patient with this step and stayed on our meeting for like double what she said they normally took! We ended up getting an option that comes with 10 digital photos and this felt like the best choice for us. Most of the other orders don't have digitals with them. One nice thing Chickpea says they do is face swaps, and this is for humans and dogs. I utllilized this A LOT because it is extremely hard to get photos where the kids and dogs are looking at the camera and even harder to get the kids smiling. This allowed us to get 10 great photos where everyone is looking and smiling! There were a couple changes I asked Cyndi to make after I saw the final photos and-- I can't emphasize this enough!!- She was extremely gracious and patient with my requests (and there were a lot of them!). She also made sure to advocate for us because they actually source out the retouching and face swaps to someone else. In the end, we're very happy and used the photos for our Christmas cards and will put up some gallery photos in our house eventually. If I want in studio photos again and definitely ones with our dogs, I will be coming back to Chickpea and Cyndi in the future! read more

Chickpea Photography - Pet Photography Near Me - Richmond, California

Make sure to read the small print in the "complimentary photo shoot" that they email you after you talk to them. They don't tell you verbally that you have 72 hrs to cancel. They won't refund if you need to cancel (with 2 weeks notice). Total racket. Don't support business that do slimy things like this. Shame on them. read more

My dog and I had a delightful time at the studio. Cyndi was very welcoming, and her dog friendly studio was a fun place for my little pup to explore before wearing herself out and posing for a picture (she also got a whole bunch of treats, so you know she enjoyed herself!). Cyndi was quick to show me the photos (we met on zoom), and sent my choice out to me quickly. All in all, a really fun experience with a good picture of dog to treasure! read more

Cyndi is fantastic and her photos & ordering options are fantastic. She works wonders with humans and dogs alike to make everyone at ease. She always has great recommendations for locations for the photo shoot and we couldn't be happier with the results. read more

Chickpea Photography - Pet Photography Near Me - Richmond, California

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I've had my dog, Obi, for 9 years and counting. Sure I have pics of him I've taken with the point-and-shoot and mobile phone but nothing worthy of gracing the walls of our home. Don't get me wrong, I've tried to capture Obi's rubenesque beauty but manage to fail miserably. Enter Chickpea Photography. Cyndi is not only a great photographer, she LOVES animals. She met us around our neighborhood to capture the swagger Obi has developed from urban living at Jack London Square. Obi has never looked so youthful and handsome. Cyndi was also able to capture some great shots with Obi and the rest of the family. Cyndi managed to capture Obi's naturally majestic nature. Equipped with toys and treats, she's keen to connect with her subject in their surrounding. We just got Obi a new sister. Looks like we may be giving Cyndi a call! read more

Cyndi was great. I purchased a shoot from GroupOn and everything was perfect. All of the Terms and Conditions were disclosed and the experience was exactly how it was outlined both on GroupOn and on the Chickpea website. Fast, Friendly, Transparent and Professional. Highly recommended. read more

I had been meaning to have my beloved 10 yr old mutt, Buddy, professionally photographed for the longest time. When I was referred to Cyndi, I was excited and immediately scheduled an appointment. Cyndi takes the time to ask the right questions about your pet's personality and disposition. She met with us near our residence so that Buddy was in familiar surroundings. Buddy was a ham during his shoot walking around and posing for various shots. Cyndi is a true dog lover and knew exactly how to capture his essence. I loved how the photos turned out! I've since blown up and framed several shots that now adorn my walls at home and cube at work! Thanks Cyndi, for capturing precious moments of my best friend. read more

Chickpea Photography - buddy the wonderdog - Pet Photography Near Me - Richmond, California

I went to Cindi to have some headshots (business portraits) taken, and it was one of the best sessions I've ever had (& I've been to many). She was prompt for our appointment. At first I was a little concerned about a home based studio, but she has a great set up there with plenty of back-drops & even a couple decent out door settings. During the session she totally put me at ease (I hate having my picture taken). She was personable and engaging. Her ability to put me at ease helped create some of the best pictures I've had. I highly recommend her. read more

I had a fantastic experience when I had Cyndi do my headshot. She is not just skilled at photography, but also has a way of putting you at ease while you sit for a portrait. She's great and so are her pictures! read more

Cyndi did an excellent job of making me feel comfortable during our photo shoot. The photos were edited well and captured exactly what I was looking for. I would highly recommend her as a professional photographer. read more

I found this in Yelp and the many five star reviews led me to book an appointment for my son's high school graduation photo session. The location was very easy to find, the photo shoot session was fun. Cindy has a good eye and makes the person feel comfortable and at ease so the pictures came out wonderful, I wish I could have bought them all. I definitely recommend this business, and we may come back if we ever need photos again. read more

We had a wonderful experience with Cyndi. We went over to her studio to have pictures of our two rescue canine girls taken. Cyndi was very patient with our youngest, who was very scared (Aivy does not like to be in new places and the lights etc were overwhelming for her). The pictures turned out so great and we were very happy with the results. I would highly recommend Cyndi for your puppy (and human) pictures! read more

Cyndi is great! She managed to capture our 16 year olds personality, as well as boundless ball obsessed much younger Jack Russell mix. Cyndi took a couple of great photos of them posing together + one of me with our older dog, which means a lot to us. She is extremely professional, detail oriented and puts together a delightful treasure. Thank you! read more

I got the Groupon. So anyone getting the Groupon please know in advance that you have to pay an extra $50 to get your session scheduled and at least another $95 for the digital images. It looks like this is optional from the way the Groupon description is written, but clearly you want to the pictures so you have to get it. So after getting the Groupon you will end up spending another $145 for the basic package. I wish I had known this before getting the Groupon. read more

I really enjoyed working with Cyndi to get author headshots done. She was wonderful to work with, very laid-back while also giving me great directions, which I loved because I always feel awkward and like I don't know what to do in front of a camera. She is very professional, and the head shots turned out better than I could have hoped! I am so glad I was able to work with her. read more

Chickpea is awesome. Cyndi did a lifestyle/headshot shoot for my small floral design business. It has already helped so much! Not only is she a fabulous photographer, but she really pays attention to what her clients would like. She asked questions, made suggestions, and made it clear that she wanted me to be happy with the end result. So happy I went with Chickpea. Thank you!! read more

I got headshots done for professional networking purposes. Cyndi was pleasant, professional, proficient and timely. I am not naturally photogenic and I don't usually like pictures of me, but I am satisfied with the end result. Her studio was easy to find and well equipped, and the whole thing was pretty painless. Recommended. read more

Cyndi did a fantastic job of getting my mostly deaf dog to play along during a photo shoot, and got great pictures that really captured his personality. read more

If you've seen her photos, you already know Cyndi has an incredible eye. But until you experience her in action you have no idea how lucky you are to have found her. Count your blessings! First, even if your pet is zinging around, sniffing this, jumping off that, Cyndi will still "find the shot." In fact, she'll find dozens. Where you just see your pet eating a shrub, Cyndi sees a certain look in his eye, a certain tilt of his head. She captures micro-gestures and moments within moments, and the result is photos that are less photos than 5x7 captures of pure emotion: love, loyalty, mischief. I get that this sounds corny, that I sound like one of those "pet people," but I'm serious: it's like she takes soul shots. Just look at her work. See for yourself. Plus, Cyndi clearly loves the challenge of what she does, adores animals, and has patience out the wazoo. There's a calmness about her when she's shooting, like she's found a way to slow down time so that she can see and snap all these fleeting moments. She was so focused when taking pix of my dog that she accidentally rolled backward down a hill, then just sat there for a few seconds, looking utterly relaxed. That calm and steady vibe? Your pet will pick up on it, and you'll get the best possible results because of it. If I could give a hundred stars instead of five, I would. Cyndi's wonderful! read more

THANK YOU CYNDI for our wonderful and memorable photo shoot-- THIRD year in a row! WE ALWAYS feel JOY being around CYNDI; and seeing my Bloodhound Wyatt so COMFORTABLE in front of her lens. Cyndi has AGAIN CAPTURED my strong feelings for my boy and it never looks staged. She just lets us do our thing and imprints our essence. Like the past two years, I will forever cherish our photos, and look forward to seeing Cyndi later this year for our FOURTH session! read more

Cyndi took author photos for me. She was really personable and professional and made me feel comfortable throughout the session. I received digital proofs promptly and it was easy to purchase a package. I highly recommend her for professional photos. read more

Cyndi was able to help me at the last minute with a much needed head shot. She was personable, professional, and easy to work with. She's a dog lover, and that alone is worth 5 stars. She was also kind enough to adjust the photos to a certain specification. (Hey, it's not easy being almost famous). read more

Yes Chickpea Photography is as good as it gets!!! I highly recommend Chickpea for your next pet photo shoot. Cyndi is an amazing photographer. She came to my house and skillfully and patiently took fabulous pictures of my three neurotic Pugs. She was gentle with my dogs and managed to capture some great shots which really reflected each dogs character, personality and beauty. I feel Cyndi performed miracles with my "not so" well behaved Pugs. I plan on using Chickpea again and again. Woof Woof to Chickpea Photography!!! read more

We first heard about Cyndi through some friends and once we saw her work, we made a date with her and every aspect was wonderful. We have one guy that is not at all camera shy, WOW did she get a lot of great shots of him. There were so many amazing shots it was hard to pick just a couple. The other guy (the big ole mute) was exactly opposite ... by 180 degrees. She was so patient with him and not only got several wonderful shots of him, but she snuck one in of him and me laying on the grass playing, one of my all time favorites photo's as it captured his personality to a T. Taking the pictures, while is the creative part and foe which Cyndi definitely has talent, is just one aspect of the process. From the first conversation to receiving our photos on time and as promised ... easy and a fun experience with no sticker shock! read more

I had head portraits taken, mostly for my professional CV, but also for less formal social websites and so forth. The overall experience was very pleasant yet productive. Cyndi keeps you relaxed with her engaging conversation style while getting you to mix up your "presentation styles" so you'll actually have a good range of choice for photos to select from. Last but not least, she obviously knows her way around the equipment. I am a very satisfied customer. read more

Have you ever tried to capture that perfect moment of your cat or dog? Well, I had tried for years without success to take a few perfect pictures of my loving Siamese cat: I had neither the skill nor the right equipment (camera) to do the job. Then, I found Chickpea Photography through a friend. The photographer (Cyndi) came to my house and spent almost a good half day patiently following my cat around and snapping hundreds of pictures of him in his most natural states: at rest or at play. She saw my cat's most endearing, beautiful, and playful features and attributes through the camera lens, from his big blue eyes to the whiskers, and seized them all in high-resolution pictures. Cyndi's professional-grade equipment combined with her instinct and genuine affection for animals enabled her to see my cat exactly as I see him: with love! In the end, we had hundreds of pictures to choose from, which made narrowing down to a small number of photos very difficult. I trusted Cyndi to the task, and I'm proud to say I now own a dozen pictures of my cat that are worthy of a commercial coffee-table art book. As a matter of fact, had a calendar made of these pictures. Some of them are artfully black and white, some in life-like colors and sharpness. Cyndi put in delicate touches and played with her lenses to make some of these photos absolutely unique and eye-catching. If you have a pet you love, I highly recommend Cyndi. Contact her right away for an apppointment. read more

Cyndi did an amazing job with the pictures she took of our kids as well as our family portrait. We had our session at Arlington Park in Kensington and she had a sharp eye for good spots in the park. She also put our kids, who were very reluctant at first, quickly at ease and they had a great time. (Afterwards they kept telling us how much fun they had.) She had me fill out a questionnaire before our session and that was really helpful as not only did it give her things to talk about with the kids and get them engaged, but it also helped her get a sense of they type of photos we were looking for so our time together was efficient. We definitely recommend Chickpea Photography! read more

Getting a head shot was more nerve wracking than I expected. The idea of someone looking closely at me through her camera lens was almost as bad as getting x-rays. But Cyndi's charming studio located in a lovely garden and her friendly manner quickly put me at ease. The half hour passed quickly, and I ended up with images that I'm happy to share with the world. Also, I did a fair amount of research before choosing Chickpea, and Cyndi's rates are much more reasonable than most of the photographers offering the same service. read more

I had my two cats photographed at my house. Cyndi took the time to ask about their personalities through a thorough questionnaire before she arrived. She also asked plenty of questions about what I was looking for regarding my session. I would recommend going to her website and view her video montages to see what she can do/and has done. Also at the bottom of her web page there is an "archive" button to go back to other sessions that she had posted. This is how I knew of specific shots that I was hoping to duplicate with my animals. Even though one of the shots of hers that I loved was initially with a dog, no problem. I have the shot of my cat and I going for a walk on the leash (: One thing I wish I had known before she came.... Clean your animals face! The photographs are so vivid that the smallest piece of fuzz/ lint/ eye junk shows up. I also hadn't noticed that their collars were a bit crooked and their tags were backwards. Cyndi is very accommodating and easily could photo shop things out that you don't like, like the crooked tag. I opted to keep the tag crooked because it really is more of "our" personalities. I love the "acrylic" style print I had made, and I love the "metal" print. The metal one I love because it doesn't have the reflective glare that some prints have. The acrylic one is beautiful for the color and clarity, and they both are very modern and don't need a frame. I highly recommend getting the prints that come framed unless you are motivated to go and search frame shops. I am looking forward to making some cards with her connection to "Tiny Prints" but haven't done so yet. I also am excited to have her make a coffee table book for me of the session. These photos have warmed my heart and captured the "look" of each of my animals in a way that I knew existed, but would have failed to capture. read more

Working from photos, Lisa created a poster of my dog Topo to my specs. She was patient and open to making changes according to my requests. Her work was painstaking yet creative and the result is amazing! I really think that Lisa captured Topo's spirit and personality in the poster, in which he is a one pup circus. The poster has become a much-sought after holiday gift for special friends. I highly recommend Lisa for her professionalism, perfectionism and artistry. Check out her posters and see what I mean. read more

Cyndi is a delight. She put my grumpy, non photogenic self at ease and took lovely pictures that I can use for professional purposes. She turned something I dreaded into a pleasure. Her magic with four legged beasts also works with us two-legged critters. I thank her and recommend her wholeheartedly, regardless of the species that needs a photo. read more