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Francesca Penko Photography

4.8 (19 reviews)

Services - Francesca Penko Photography

Family portraits

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Event photography

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Meghan C.

Francesca did a branding shoot for my fitness studio, and we had a terrific experience! She was flexible, professional, and kind. She helped keep our group organized and moving along so we made the most of our time with her, and the photos we received are absolutely fantastic - exactly what we wanted! If you are looking for gorgeous professional photos that showcase your brand - all at an affordable price - I definitely recommend Francesca! I will contact her again for sure when we need updated photos!

Marie L.

Absolutely blown away by Francesca and her photography! We recently had a maternity/family session with her in October and I can't say enough good things about her and the photos she took. It's not easy working with a 5 year old but our son loves her and she got photos of him and his personality that I will treasure forever. I can't imagine ever going to anyone else again and hope we never have to. I highly recommend her for your lifestyle photo needs!!

Francesca is a phenomenal photographer. Not only are her pictures absolutely beautiful and top quality, she is fun to work with, patient with babies and very creative. We are so grateful for the amazing photos she has done for our whole family. Francesca does not disappoint!

Love this orchard shot of my husband and I
mimi g.

looking for a creative photographer Francesca is the one to call . We called her to do our maternity photo session because we didn't want your typical boring photos . She went out scouting places in our area to shoot. She also came up with so many posses and props they are all to cute to chose from . I'm was so happy with the outcome !We called her back to do our newborn session at home . With a new born and all Francesca was so patience with shooting in between diaper changes and feedings. I also love love those pictures and all her unique ideas ! We found us a photographer to share and capture all of our life's happiest moments ;)

Even before I was engaged, the one thing I knew was that when my husband and I got married, Francesca would be perfect for our engagement and wedding photos. I met with Francesca to see if she was available for our wedding date and discuss details. I knew I was asking a lot of her with my wedding being in Yosemite on a Friday and then having a reception in the Tri-Valley on Sunday. But she didn't blink an eye and brought so much joy and excitement to the planning process. She never made it seem like a burden or "job" she was doing for us, rather it being an honor for her to capture this time. That made us feel so special. Francesca had great ideas for our engagement photo location and we followed her lead. During the photos, we felt so silly and honestly weren't sure how many of her photos we messed up. But we had such a good time (even my husband absolutely loved it). We were worried about being awkward in front of the camera, but Francesca gives just the right amount of direction that makes you feel like you have a task and know what you're doing, while still allowing you to be yourself. When she sent us our previews, we were so amazed! Her pose instructions were perfect, and she captured our relationship perfectly through her photos. At that point, we were instantly excited for our wedding photos and they did not disappoint either. On the wedding day itself, Francesca had such a calming presence, always staying collected and composed. She never made me feel rushed or overwhelmed, and she stuck with the timeline and if we were ever off, I didn't know. That day was so beautiful and special to us, and she captured it perfectly. Two days later we had our reception, and she even had photos from our wedding day printed and set around at the reception! She's on top of every little detail. We got our photos back and were in love once again. She has such an amazing talent with the camera that when you get your images back, you will love ALL of them, not just a few. Each image is intentional and different from the next. To say we were blown away with the results would be an understatement. We have probably become one of Shutterfly's biggest customers putting our wedding and engagement photos on all the things they offer--blankets, puzzles, ornaments, etc. They mean so much to us, we have them everywhere and have received SO many compliments on them. We are so happy Francesca was a part of our engagement and wedding. We will cherish her photos forever! Oh, and I feel like I must add...her response time is quick and she's always willing to work with you!!

we had so much fun taking our engagement pics at the beach!
Alyssa A.

If you want to have beautiful pictures taken of you and have fun taking them, then Francesca is the photographer for you! Francesca took my engagement pictures and my fiance and I could not have been happier with the way they turned out. She had some gorgeous spots picked out in Pacifica to shoot our pictures, and I really loved how the locations reflected our love for the outdoors. Not only did our pictures turn out wonderfully (we are using them for our wedding sign in book!), we had a blast taking them, laughing the entire time! Francesca is such a friendly, enthusiastic person and she brings such a fun, comfortable vibe to the shoots. She truly does beautiful work and I am so happy that we chose her to capture our love in photos. We are SO looking forward to having Francesca shoot our wedding in a couple weeks!!

Francesca has become a favorite vendor of mine... I am always more than excited to share her with my clients! In a world full of a lot of talented photographers, Francesca is not only at the top of the talent spectrum but she is also so fun to be around and work with!

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“She found multiple photographers on Instagram and would send me links to see if I liked them.”

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Melissa Ohms Photography

Melissa Ohms Photography

(29 reviews)

I can't recommend Melissa highly enough! I had lots of extended family members in town and wanted…read moreto get a group family photo. Melissa was really easy to coordinate with and very flexible. All my folks felt very at ease and the pictures speak for themselves. If I could, I would give Melissa an extra star for going the extra mile with helping us narrow down our wardrobe choices. Thank you Melissa! I'll forever treasure the memories from our foggy Half Moon Bay photo shoot and you can expect me to be calling you in the future!

First, I want to say that Melissa is very kind and makes the experience comfortable, even if you're…read morenervous or shy in front of the camera. She's warm, welcoming, and easy to work with. I received around 80 edited proofs to choose from, and there were plenty of great options for my final selections. She also offers a wardrobe with beautiful dresses, as well as some clothing options for men. The location suggestions she provided were excellent, and she did a great job capturing the style and vibe I had in mind. That said, I do feel the need to mention some concerns about professionalism and turnaround time. Her contract states that proofs will be delivered within 2-4 weeks. While 4 weeks already feels a bit long, I was patient and checked in about once a week for updates. When the 4-week mark passed without receiving anything, I was disappointed. I ended up receiving the proofs after 4 weeks and 3 days. I reviewed and returned my selections the same day, but her contract didn't specify a timeline for final edits, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The final images were delivered 15 days later. When I received them, it seemed like the only changes made were removing the watermarks. Some photos still had bags and other items in the background, even though she had mentioned those would be edited out. Communication was also inconsistent. There were times when my messages were read but not answered, and at one point--about two weeks after the shoot--she indicated she hadn't started editing yet. It left me feeling like my time and excitement weren't fully considered. By the time I received my maternity photos, my baby was already three weeks old, and I had already shared photos of her arrival, despite scheduling the shoot at 34 weeks as recommended. Would I recommend Melissa? Yes, but with some expectations in mind. Her pricing is fair, and you do receive a large number of photos. However, turnaround time may be slower than expected, and communication can feel a bit casual at times. (She did provide 5 additional images to make up for the delay in delivering the proofs.) I had originally intended to do a new born shoot with her as well but I was waiting for my maternity photos to make sure I really liked them and unfortunately by the time I received them my baby was outside the 7-14 day old window she wants for newborns. Between that and the turn around time I decided against it.

Dani G Photography

Dani G Photography

(27 reviews)

Our experience with Dani was so great! We are new parents and weren't aware of how far in advance…read morewe were supposed to book a newborn photographer (months in advance apparently!). We reached out to Dani when our baby girl was 12 days old and she was able to squeeze us in 4 days later! She was very flexible in the scheduling process, which we very much appreciated being brand new first time parents. She was also very professional and her studio had everything we could need! From all the props, swaddles, costumes, baby accessories ... to a changing table and extra diapers in the restroom for baby! Her photographs were also beyond what I could have expected. She even made me look refreshed despite how I was feeling at the time, having had very little sleep. Overall, would highly recommend!! We will for sure be returning for our girl's future milestone sessions! Thank you, Dani!

I definitely recommend coming to Dani for your baby photos and family photos!…read more When it came to booking these photo shoots she was very quick to respond. Prices vary on the photo shoot that you would like and all of her prices are posted right on her website. I love the transparency! So far I have done my maternity shoot, my baby's new born, and my baby's 1 year photo shoot! Dani is patient and kind which is definitely helpful when working with little one! She has plenty of wraps and baby outfits to choose from. She has her own studio in downtown Nile's but is also willing to shoot outdoors which is nice. Her style of photography is definitely what drew me to her and I wasn't let down.

Meli Miller Photography - Photo shoot at the Lavender field

Meli Miller Photography

(9 reviews)

Meli Miller Photography is the best! I found her on Instagram and decided to take a chance, and I'm…read moreso glad I did. We chose her to photograph our son's baptism, and she was amazing from start to finish. She was professional, so easy to work with, and made the whole process stress-free. She captured all of the moments that were most important to us, and when we got our gallery back, we honestly loved every single photo. We couldn't have asked for anything better, and we'll cherish these memories forever. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a photographer. We can't wait to have her capture more of our family's special moments!

Meli is one of those rare photographers who not only takes beautiful pictures -- she captures…read moremoments. Real, raw, emotional moments that tell your story in a way words never could. We've had the pleasure of working with her twice now: first for our newborn photos and later for our daughter's six-month session, which we combined with family portraits. Each time, she exceeded every expectation. When I came to her with a vision for a strawberry-themed milk-bath shoot, she embraced it with so much enthusiasm and creativity. She helped bring every idea to life -- from the setup and colors to the little details that made the session feel magical. The photos turned out better than I could have imagined: soft, natural, and full of light and love. Our newborn session was equally amazing. Meli has an incredible gift for patience -- she never rushes, never forces, and always goes at your baby's pace. She creates such a calm, warm atmosphere that makes you forget about time completely. Feedings, diaper changes, little naps -- she just rolls with it all and somehow catches the most beautiful moments in between. You can tell she truly loves her work and genuinely cares about the families she photographs. What I value most about Meli is her attention to detail and her ability to make everyone -- parents, babies, even camera-shy partners -- feel at ease. She captures those in-between moments, the laughter, the tenderness, the real life that happens behind a smile. Her work isn't just technically perfect, it's emotionally rich. We're endlessly grateful for the memories she's given us. These photos aren't just pictures -- they're treasures we'll look back on forever. If you're looking for someone who puts her heart into every frame, who brings both artistry and empathy to her craft, Meli is the one.

Kree Photography - class of 2025!

Kree Photography

(141 reviews)

My family and I love Kree photography. I did my graduation photoshoot with Kree and it was the…read moresmoothest experience of my life! She's so sweet and knows exactly what to do and how to tell you how to do it. If I need more photos for anything I would come to her!

I was looking for a photographer in the Brentwood area as a graduation gift for my niece. She was…read moregraduating high school, and I wanted to make this moment extra special for her. I came across Kree's Yelp page because of how close she was, but what really stood out was her website--the caliber and vibrancy of her photos were incredible. I knew right away she'd be a perfect fit for capturing my niece, both in her cap and gown and in her super colorful prom dress (which I was confident Kree could do justice!). From the moment I reached out, Kree was super responsive and easy to communicate with. The contract was simple and straightforward, pricing was fair and the breakdown of her packages were awesome. and she helped us agree on a time and location that worked perfectly, not far from our house either, which was a huge plus. On the day of the shoot, Kree arrived right on time and immediately made my niece feel comfortable. Since it was my niece's first time being professionally photographed, I appreciated how Kree guided her with poses and gave her direction to bring out her best angles. She was friendly, patient, and made the whole experience fun. We received the edited photos about two weeks later, and they were amazing, better than I could have imagined. Kree truly captured my niece's personality and the significance of the moment. Highlights for me: super responsive communication, an easy-to-understand contract, a convenient location, her friendly demeanor, and of course, the beautiful final photos. Thanks so much Kree!!!

Desirae Marie Photography - Hello! I'm Desirae, your lifestyle portrait and intimate wedding + elopement photographer!

Desirae Marie Photography

(29 reviews)

Desirae is seriously THE sweetest! I've followed her for quite some time on social media and she is…read morealways wanting to do nice things for the community- bonus in my book! Before we even started the session she asked what vision we had and if there were any poses we wanted (we literally didn't have anything in mind, I just wanted pics of us) Boy oh boy did she knock it out of the park! She gave such great, thoughtful instructions and made us feel so incredibly comfortable even though we had no idea what we were doing. She was able to capture us- truly us in a nutshell. (THANK YOU) She was insightful and considerate of limitations and used her talent beautifully! She made us feel like we knew her as an old friend instead of someone we just met. Her pictures are beautiful and I actually cried when they arrived because she gave a vision to the shoot that I didn't think possible. Her session gave my heart so much joy and gave us as a couple a little umph of love we didn't know we needed. She is a wonderful photographer and person! Highly highly recommend you go to her!

I've hired Desirae for our maternity photos and another mom and me mini session and can…read morewholeheartedly recommend her services. She has captured SO many priceless pictures that we will hold dear for years to come! I can't wait to book her again for all our family photo needs. I should also mention that she is AMAZING with babies and made our feisty 5 month old smile in most of our photos with ease. I can't say enough good things - you're in such good hands and I only wish I had met her before our wedding so I could have hired her for that too!

Studio 22381 Photography - Maternity Photography

Studio 22381 Photography

(8 reviews)

I've had several great experiences with Laurie at Studio 22381. She has done family photos for me,…read moreI was very stressed about finding the right clothes that would coordinate with my family of 5. Laurie gave me great advice and I was able to get us looking great without buying anything new. She is creative with light and background and we all looked our best. My friend loved my photos so much that she also booked a session and loved the outcome. Another friend used her for their wedding and the photos looked fabulous!!

My husband and I have had an exceptional experience with this photographer on three different…read moreoccasions. She came highly recommended from my primary photographer that I hired for my wedding. I met with her during the engagement shoot and absolutely fell in love with her. We hit it off and I couldn't wait for my big day. On the day of my wedding, I couldn't have asked for a better turnout. She kept me calm and laughing leading up to the aisle, and she brought tears of joy to my eyes when I saw the photos after. Her photos captured the night so perfectly and will forever be cherished. Now the hard part is deciding which photos to include in the album. It is going to be a tough choice with so many great shots to choose from. Shortly after my wedding, I had an engagement with an organization I belong to at work and was in charge of finding a photographer. It was an easy task for me having just had my wedding. So, she worked with me within the parameters needed, as our organization was a non-profit, and came up with multiple packages for the attendees to choose from. Throughout the night, I watched as the line grew longer for the photos and was pleased to see everyone laughing and smiling and seeming to be enjoying themselves while they were working with her. She and her staff were non-stop that night and all of the photos were sent out in a timely manner as promised. Since then, I have had nothing but positive feedback from those that had their photos taken and have even heard from others that they regretted not taking photos that night as they had seen her work and wished they had. If you're in the market, I highly recommend this photographer!!

Twig & Oak Photography

Twig & Oak Photography

(94 reviews)

This was our second year doing a family photo shoot with Amy. Her photos are pure magic. She is…read moresomehow able to get amazing shots of two insane toddlers with no attention span whatsoever who can't seem to sit still at all during a shoot. She is able to put them at ease and draw out lots of laughs, and is so easygoing and kind. She makes the shoot experience much less stressful. It's clear that she really knows the sites she picks very well. Both times, she knew exactly when and where to stand for the best light and shadows and the most beautiful settings. She is so good at capturing truly magical shots where the light is hitting everybody's faces just perfectly-- they look like they belong in editorials in magazines. She does a really lovely mix of both posed and more candid shots. And, if it matters to you, she doesn't use AI to edit her photos. This is all her own skill. Last year, when we sent out our holiday cards using Amy's photos of our family, so many friends and family were floored by how lovely the photography was. Her work really is a cut above. I cannot recommend her enough!

We did a maternity sunset photoshoot with Amy and her work is top-tier! She sent links for styling,…read morecolor palettes and location guidance weeks before our shoot which was incredibly helpful. On the evening of our session, she made us all feel comfortable like we were hanging out with a friend. She was amazing with our 4 year old son and Shiba Inu. My son was so comfortable that he started doing his own poses and giving suggestions on how we should pose next. Amy also has an eye for all the small details that matter - where to place hands, positioning each individual, making sure clothing and hair is right, etc. I was so impressed! The turnaround time for the pics was fast and we are so happy with how they turned out. Amy is an EXPERT in capturing natural lighting. The lighting in our photos is stunning!! We would highly recommend Amy and will turn to her for our future photo sessions!

Images By Lori

Images By Lori

(59 reviews)

My family and I just finished up a family/sibling/newborn session with Lori, and without even…read morehaving seen the photos yet, the experience alone was amazing! Lori has such a fun, friendly, and upbeat personality, which greeted us upon entrance to her adorable studio. She even had our newborn baby's name written on the sign outside to welcome us, which I regrettably forgot to take a picture of. :( We knew to plan for about a three hour session, as all of the information we needed to prepare was sent by Lori via email as well as conveniently available on her website. Lori was so patient and really took her time in order to get the best shots- immediately recommending that the baby be fed so she would be sleepy for photos. Watching Lori at work was inspiring- so meticulous in her posing of the family and baby, making sure that every last hair was in place and every little detail was captured. She was also great about ensuring adequate time for diaper changes and nursing, understanding that these elements are critical in the ability to capture a beautiful photograph. I'm beyond excited to see the final resulting images, and overall extremely happy with our decision to work with Lori in capturing such a precious time in our lives- the welcoming of our newborn daughter. It's no wonder that she was voted Pleasanton's Best Photographer for two years in a row! She is deserving of both awards and so much more! Thank you, Lori!

This review has been a long time coming. Lori is phenomenal! She captured my wedding in June of…read morethis year and I was so grateful to have found her through my venue's list of preferred vendors. She was shocked that I hired her having only looked at her portfolio, but I knew from the photos she had of another wedding at my venue that she would do a great job. And after our initial conversation I knew she would be perfect! She's a professional through and through. I appreciate her working with my husband who is camera shy and managing to document beautiful moments with our chaotic (but sweet) families. I know we made her nervous because we were pretty laid back and I am so appreciative she kindly made us take certain photos even though we said they were not important. I would highly recommend her to anyone!

Francesca Penko Photography - sessionphotography - Updated October 2026

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