Josh is awesome! I needed some professional photos taken recently, and after a quick email, Josh was able to squeeze me for a shoot within two days. I've worked with him in the past and he was just as punctual and professional this time around as he was years ago. He shoots with both studio and natural light, so whether you're looking for business photos, acting headshots, or just fun personal shots, Josh is your guy. His rates are unbeatable and he's just an all-around cool dude to hang out with for a couple hours in beautiful Venice. Thanks, Josh! read more

I was extremely happy with Josh when I first hired him 8 years ago to do head shots for my website. I just updated my website and went back to Josh for new photos... and... I'm just as blown away the second time around! Josh is such a master at his craft that he made me look at good as I did in the original headshots! Somehow, 8 years of lines and wrinkles disappeared!:) If you want to look about as good as a person can look in your professional photos, you NEED to hire Josh! Plus... his prices are very reasonable. Aside from all of that, he is a super sweet guy and made the whole experience very pleasant and fun. Josh Monesson has my highest recommendation! read more

I needed a photographer for my two teenagers, 16 and 17 years old. I was very lucky to find Josh online after reading the wonderful reviews and seeing the beautiful pictures. He actually exceeded my expectation! He was very easy to work with, flexible, prompt and incredibly funny :)! He made the photoshoot truly entertaining and my kids loved every minute! We live in San Diego and we actually made the photo shoot nearby our house. He found the most creative and also unpretentious places to work with and he created absolute magic! The price for two kids were very affordable as well, because I searched for a headshot photographer around and the prices were outrages. If you are in the acting and entertaining industry you might need headshots every 6-12 months and it is important to have a trusted photographer. He captured the emotions we were looking for. Highly recommended! Josh, you are our first choice! We will be calling you again! Thank you so much! read more

Went back to Joshua again, this time for a wedding announcement picture. The NYT has very specific requirements (heads close together, eyes level, nondescript background, absolutely no editing) but he made us look good. Even without editing, he found great lighting for us and it turned out great. Very quick too--this shot literally took 5 minutes. Will come back next time I need a professional photo for sure. read more

Monesson Photography - Event Photography Near Me - Venice, California

I almost never leave reviews... but...if you want great headshots, he's your guy! I just got mine done... they are the best yet! ... this is my second time going back to Josh. He is kind and wonderful and the pics are great!!! read more

My daughter needed headshots quickly for a movie she is starring in. Joshua was quick to respond and fit us into his busy schedule. Home studio worked great with the lighting. He gave gentle direction and was funny and enthusiastic which helped my 15 year old feel comfortable to give her best. Next time we will try outdoor setting and clothes change for fun. We had so many great pics to choose from. Thank you Joshua, will see you next time we need updated headshots and event pics! read more

Overall, I had a GREAT session with Josh. I needed a headshot for my blog (www.fitslowcookerqueen.com). Nothing fancy just 1 or two pics so I went searching on Craigslist. I found Josh right away because 1) he was running a special and 2) he is located in Venice and I live on the west side. I emailed Josh and not even 20 minutes later I had set up my appointment. Josh's studio in Venice was easy to find and he was there on-time. Street parking in Venice is tight but luckily he has parking. I didn't use it but FYI. The last time I had headshots done were well over a decade ago so I was a little nervous. Right away I liked Josh's energy. He made me feel extremely comfortable. We shot 2 looks inside. Once it stopped drizzling we went outside down the street for another look. I only intended on getting 2 pics but I loved all the pics so much I ended up buying 6. Within 24 hours Josh had emailed me a link to all the pics. The hard part was narrowing down the final 6 I wanted! After I made my choices, I sent those back to Josh. Within 48 hours I had the final, re-touched images. I made 1 photoshop request and he had that done by EOD. I love his promptness!! I highly recommend Josh. He's a top-notch photographer. Check out my Yelp profile pic for an example. read more

Scam. Wish I could give 0 stars. Should've read His negative reviews before making an appointment. read more

Monesson Photography - After asking for a refund. - Event Photography Near Me - Venice, California

Somehow my review has been completely deleted. It's been a few years since I went but I think it's important for people to know, I'm still that upset about my experience. I showed up on time but he had double booked himself, so my session was 30 minutes, the photos didn't turn out well, so I asked him if we could retake them. He got really angry. He sent me multiple emails in the middle of the night for months afterwards calling me the C word, etc. He told me he bought the domain address for my name and threatened to use it to embarrass me. He told me that he could find me at one of my open houses (I was a real estate agent) and to watch my back. I was genuinely scared of him, I went to the police. This man is volatile and years later as I write this my heart is pounding. I can't believe he is still in business read more

Josh's quality of work, professionalism and fun attitude made my experience a delight! The pictures exceeded my expectations. Josh quickly understood my facial dimensions and directed me on how to position my face and body for an outstanding outcome. It was my first time doing this type of photowork and his instructions were easy to follow and spot on. I felt very comfortable and the experience was really fun! I love that Josh is a local artist in Venice and knows the place very well. The whole session was very enjoyable and relaxed with results I am proud of. I appreciate Josh professionalism and guidance during the process. read more

Gave Joshua a call a week in advance and he recommended 8 AM at the end of that same week. I showed up on time and tried to call numerous times with no answer. At least I didn't pay him like I read so many others did but he wasted my time. I got up at 6 to be on time and gave him the benefit of the doubt. I wait an additional 30 minutes but he let me down. I don't want to sound bitter or mad I just wouldn't recommend. read more

Great shoot with Josh! Very pleased with my headshots, both professional and personal. Josh was a pleasure to work with!

Joshua Monesson did one fantastic job as a photographer! I found his advertisement online, and I called him at noon for a desperately needed pic of a "gruff detective" as requested by my agent. He fit me in that afternoon, and by 5:30, my agent had the photo. I loved the pic! His creative expertise is superlative- from compostition to lighting to angles to expressions. He has a very amiable personality as well; I would definitely work with him again! read more

SO GOOD! Josh took my husbands professional headshot several years ago and we were so pleased with the results I naturally emailed him for mine, which have equally awesome results. The skinny: - quick response via email - flexible with meeting times - studio in Venice has everything under the sun you might need (backgrounds, props) and he often takes clients outside and shoots in nature around the neighborhood. - Josh is kind, funny, approachable, and patient (he waited for me to get my hair positioned perfectly.. pointed out fly hairs, etc, so nice). - sent a file for me to choose my exact photo from the batch - quick edit time. he said 3 days but actually edited my photos in 1 day!!! So fast. And they were perfect on the first edit. - sends both a high quality and lower/smaller one for social media uploading, etc Overall EXCELLENT experience. Quick, affordable. $150 for two edited photos. I will be using him again for any and all excuses I can think of (baby births, birthdays, more professional headshots, family photos, you name it). Thanks again Josh! read more

My husband and I had professional photos taken by Joshua over a week ago. We had such a fun and positive experience shooting with him. From the moment we got to his studio, he made us feel very comfortable. My husband took indoor shots, and we both also opted for outdoor shots which turned out great! He even added some couple shots of us outside since we are newly married and never had engagement photos taken. Overall we had a great experience, and came back with excellent photos. From scheduling to finished product, he was very responsive and had good communication. read more

I had pictures taken with this Photographer about a month ago.Before the shoot he answered every text and email promptly. I had the shoot and then nothing! he has not responded to multiple texts or emails. So if you want to waste your time,lose money and have your verbal contract breached this is your guy!! Why is there so many 5 star reviews, maybe he is just soliciting clients who's photographs turned out good. Disgusting he does not have the decency to make the effort to respond. What a waste of time and money. Its now been 3 months and no photographs. read more

I'm am new to the HOLLYWOOD SCENE, but I have dealt with different types of professional photographers in the past. Their talent & personalities range greatly! Josh is not only EXTREMELY TALENTED, but his personality allows for a VERY EASY & COMFORTABLE photo session, where you, yourself, feel like a professional (even if your are not). He treats his clients with dignity, sensitivity, and his work is AS GOOD AS IT GETS - you seriously feel like you are in good hands and he really cares about your satisfaction with the ultimate finished product. I initially called him due to his "economic sensitive prices", as opposed to others who I called. I am so glad I did! Not only did I get a HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL head shot for a rate that was in my budget, but my boyfriend and I had a great time just visiting with Josh during the session. I would recommend him 1000 times over to anyone looking for a professional photo shoot with a photographer that doesn't allow his ego to get in the way of him communicating with his clientele. Thanks Josh. May you continue to thrive in your art! You are truly a Master! read more

I am someone who does not even like to look in the mirror, so posing for photos sounded like pure torture to me. I needed them for work, but had been avoiding following through for a long time. Well, I was worried for nothing, because Joshua made things so easy and comfortable I forgot about being self-conscious. Josh helped me choose the best colors to wear (I brought a few choices with me) and took photos outside in different locations on the block. He was very easy-going and calm and really nice to work with. He was so kind about meeting my timeline and went out of his way to get me everything I needed. Most importantly, the photos are absolutely awesome! They look professional but relaxed and friendly. I don't know who that person is in my pics, but I want to work with her! I would recommend Josh to anyone in need of good photos. I am going to call him again in month or two to do our family and a separate session for our dogs. read more

Good photographer, nice guy, not so good followup and editing -1 star for slow (4-6 weeks) response lag when it came time for photo touchups. edited on my own when i didn't hear back but he did eventually follow up. read more

Down-to-business, no frills, just great quality deliverables. Yeah, the studio is in a garage, but who cares? It keeps prices lower than others and the quality is top notch. Josh was professional, paid attention to my needs (and the little details) and it's clear he knows what he's doing. I will go back to him when I need new headshots, for sure. read more

I recently had Josh do professional photos for me as I'm branding and needed them for web sites, brochures, and social media. I chose him first because of the quality of the work shown on his website and secondly because his site was clear about rates and offered an attractive package that fit my needs. I was expecting a indoor shoot but Josh has a whole slew of great spots around his studio location that offer a variety of interesting backgrounds and lighting. He gave good direction on posing and how to best highlight my features, which expressions were suitable for my needs, etc. All in all, he was great to work with and I'm very pleased with the results. read more

Josh is a total pro! From my first call to getting my retouched photos, it only took a week. On top of that, he's fantastic. There is absolutely no doubt he knows what's he's doing, and I said several times "this is way easier than I thought!". For reference, I came to him for professional business headshots, but I would recommend him to anyone. read more

Monesson Photography - Head shot from Monesson Photography - Event Photography Near Me - Venice, California

Need a great headshot/portrait photographer on the Westside (of LA)? Joshua Monesson is photographer you can trust to capture quality photos! **Disclaimer** I've never personally used Joshua...mostly because I've never needed head shots or a portrait photos (I'm still using a couple of pix I had taken for previous corporate gigs). Several of my clients, however, have worked with Joshua. And their experience provides the basis of this review. LOCATION Convenient and easy to find, right near the beach in Venice, with onsite parking (a HUGE plus!). SETTING & VIBE Joshua's home studio is situated in a converted garage (attached to his house), that's very comfortable, accommodating and un-intimidating. Never-the-less, the space still functions as an effective photography studio, i.e. it produces great results. WORKING WITH JOSHUA By all accounts, Joshua's demeanor is totally inviting and his direction very friendly and easy-going. But at the same time, he's capable of eliciting effective possess, reactions and the right emotions to capture excellent photos. THE FINISHED PRODUCT All the photos I've seen by Joshua are nothing short of fantastic! Crisp, clean, clear, well composed and beautifully rendered images. COST $100 buys you the photo shoot + two edited photos. Pricing goes up from there, depending on the number of images you desire (each image you select comes with basic editing). The standard package, however, is perfect for most who need a simple head shot or two for promotional purposes. OVERVIEW Convenient location? Check! Good vibe and pleasant setting? Check! Easy to work with? Check! Quality photos? Check! Affordable? Check! I can't recommend Joshua's photography services enough! read more

Joshua at Monesson Photography took my real estate head shots. Joshua was the first to respond to my inquiry and was prompt the entire time. He was very easy to talk to and knew exactly what I needed. I absolutely loved that he was open to my ideas as well. He also recommended a fantastic hair/make-up artist, Annaliza Galo. He was on schedule when shooting and made me feel at ease the whole time. He was great at advising me with my posture, poses and even my outfits! After the shoot, Joshua took care of my edits so quickly! He really went beyond my expectations. I appreciate Joshua's great sense of humor and his dedication to his work in photography. I look forward to working with him again in the future. read more

Josh really is as good as it gets!!! He has an eye for light and space that totally transformed the pictures he took of me from what would be your normal ho-hum, run of the mill ordinary head-shots, into artistic, brilliant photographs that truly captured my personality. He takes time to get to know your personality, so that it comes across on camera. He is patient, which was important to me, as we shot numerous photos, which required several changes of outfit. He gave great direction, and he has a talent for seeing the beauty of everyday angles, placing you in-front or beside it, and create magic. He played with the light and shadow of each venue we used to create beautiful visual art. I feel very lucky to have found him. He has everything that any professional would need to create the perfect headshot. I loved that fact that he has a private studio, yet numerous outdoor venues as well. Best of all, he has an extremely relaxed personality, which made the experience all the nicer. Thanks Josh! I cant say it enough. I am VERY happy with your work. read more

Josh is the man. Extremely professional, laid back cool guy. My headshots turned out phenomenally for an extremely reasonable price. Took less than an hour, I got 5 looks and had a high res DVD in my hand before I left. If I'd grabbed more of his business cards I'd be handing them out all day. Seriously, hit him up, you won't be disappointed. read more

I needed a head shot urgently for a newspaper article that was being written about me and my company. I had about 48 hours to make it happen and another photographer friend of mine recommended Josh. I emailed him and he responded right away. His prices were reasonable and he was able to see me that day. I explained that I needed a retouched photo by the following day and he agreed. This was my first professional photo shoot so I wasnt sure what to expect but everything went great. He was honest about my hair/make up/ wardrobe and took a ton of photos until I felt there were enough to choose from. He got me the proofs right away, I picked out which I wanted, and I got the retouched photo within a few hours. I felt I looked good and was really happy with the retouching. The only teeny tiny hitch was that was some confusion about how many retouched photos were included in what I had paid but it was straightened out quickly. I will definitely go back to Josh for my photo needs in the future! read more

Josh is great for professional headshots. Reasonably-priced, communicative, and sends out the final product quickly. He's a really great resource for the westside! read more

I have never done headshots before but my agent said I needed them quick so I was incredibly fortunate to find Josh. He was very accommodating with his schedule and we were able to meet up quickly after our first contact. He took the time to listen to what I wanted and really captured my personality in the shots. I never knew I was this photogenic. Maybe I should do modeling instead of comedy- ok, now that's going a bit too far! =) Highly recommended! read more

Josh is an amazing photographer. He took headshots of me 10 years ago that I used for 10 years for work. I knew who to go back to again when I changed jobs and needed an updated profile. He came on location, spent an hour taking 100s of shots that turned out fantastic. Would highly recommend him. read more

Josh is wonderful. I took my granddaughters , visiting from Atlanta , for headshots! He was so good with them! He asked questions, gave them guidance. They had so much fun. The pictures were phenomenal!! We will go again!! read more

I needed a professional headshot for my business and he delivered!!! I booked him for 1 hour and was able to squeeze in 5 styling changes. I drove almost 3 hours to use him and it was worth it! He travels and will be taking photos of my daughters where I live next weekend hopefully. He is my professional photographer for life! Not to mention I did get my headshot I needed, but with Valentines coming up we were able to get some sexy shots in with everyday wear for my hubby for a nice Valentines gift. He made me feel very comfortable and confident while he was extremely professional. The turn around time was a lot faster than I expected being that he had customers there when I got there and waiting when I left. He is a gifted photographer!!!! read more

Monesson Photography - Event Photography Near Me - Venice, California

Don't be fooled by the low price, Josh is an excellent photographer, obviously he's very experienced and talented. When I needed headshots for real estate - Josh responded right away and was available the next day. I would recommend Josh to anyone who's looking for an amazing headshots for amazing price. read more

Josh is professional and make it easy! The result of my shots were amazing and on target. He send me a copy of DVD and the images are up to par. Headshots...great! Fashion shots...fantastic. Profile shots....outstanding! He made me comfortable the entire shoots as all were done outdoor. Definitely recommended to all! read more

I went to Joshua a year and half ago to take some professional photographs. He was amazing to work with and his rates are competitive and reasonable. He has a great eye for background and lighting and was able to catch some great shots in unconventional outdoor areas. He also has a true artistic eye for photography because the angles that he took were amazing. In addition, I was having such a great time trying different outdoor areas that I opted to take some casual shots which turned out amazing and are my favorite. Thanks Joshua for a great photography experience! read more

Updating my review after another awesome session with Josh. I really like working with Josh. If you need a quick photo session and/or a great retoucher, then work with Josh. I have worked with Josh since 2012 and he always is consistent. I love getting my kids' headshots print-ready. His photoshop skills for retouches are excellent. read more

I decided to go all the way over to long beach from los angeles because of such good reviews but, i am disappointed. Unresponsive and i have to bug him or send him multiple emails to get a response back. Just overall experience after the photoshoot was disappointing for me. I did the business photoshoot. All my coworkers are saying he took the photoshoots too close and should have reminded me or given me an advice to take the whole upper body at least so in any case i can zoom in and crop it later instead of taking it up too close and not being able to use my whole upper body in my business card. Ones that i like my facial expressions only shows one side of my shoulders or dont show my shoulders at all because it was taken too close. Sure he gave me a choice but what do i know better? Im not a pro. I want the professional to give me some advicee before i make the decision. He is a nice guy but maybe my expectation was too high. read more

I hired Josh to do some family portraits and a few photos of myself for a business card. The negatives of working with Josh: - His studio is a dirty converted garage - It took a few weeks for him to get us all the photos - His touch ups are very minor. The positives of working with Josh: - His pricing is quite reasonable - He's a nice person Why 4 stars: Despite the negatives, the bottom line is that the photos came out well and it was at a price that was lower than what other photographers quoted me. Also, for some reason, a lot of photographers are unwilling to give you high-resolution originals, but Josh gave us any of the originals we wanted. read more

I needed a business headshot quickly. I'm not an actor and not experienced at being a subject. But I am experienced with photographers and can quickly tell how good someone is. I called 3 places. Josh called me back quickly, and within 24 hours, we had done the shoot and Josh worked with me to put a rush on a couple of the best photos. The other two places called me back after I was already done and had a finished and retouched picture from Josh! He is clearly an experienced and professional photographer. He understands his kit and is excellent at assessing environments and lighting. His manner as a photographer was polite, friendly, and clear. He gave me simple instructions which I was able to follow and the results are fantastic. And as a bonus, his pricing is very reasonable. I've found "my photographer", and will be referring to him whenever I can. Rare to find that kind of customer service these days... read more

Josh took the time to explain what to expect on the day of the shoot. I read all of the information on his site but of course had questions about wardrobe. Josh answered all of my questions by email or phone. The shoot itself was actually very fun. Josh explained the looks he was trying to achieve and ran everything by me before we moved on the next look. I received the proofs online on Monday as promised. That was 2 days later! Josh was able to capture the looks that I wanted with much better lighting than in a courtroom. read more