Top Family Photographers in Oakland, CA

Growing up, almost everyone comes to cherish their baby pictures. Some of us even had the privilege of going out to take ensemble photos with our parents and siblings. Today, we can look back to those pictures to appreciate our younger years.

The importance of documenting family moments with photography cannot be overemphasized. Parents see their children growing up so fast, and if they don’t freeze time by taking pictures of the kids’ milestones, the moments are gone forever.

Oakland is one of the largest cities in terms of population in the northern part of California. It houses thousands of old and young families willing to invest time and money into putting together their pictures from time to time.

Ready to start your search for the top family photographers in Oakland? Check out our list below for the most intriguing photographic storytellers in the city.

Nancy Alcott Photography

As a mother of two, Nancy Alcott got into photography to capture the key moments in a baby’s growth. Though she prefers shooting with natural light, the baby and family photographer delights Oakland families with artfully captured images of all kinds.

Nancy believes finding those little, fleeting moments of childhood is important for both the parents and the child. She aims to capture the ethereal beauty of a child’s world as they grow up.

L.A. Pincus Photography

L.A. Pincus Photography is owned and operated by lifestyle and family photographer Leigh Ann Pincus. She provides photography services to families in Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area. Her photos give stories to tell one’s children and grandchildren; Leigh's goal is to fill in the gaps for families through her pictures.

From her portfolio, it is clear that Leigh is able to connect with the families she photographs. Her family sessions include posed photos and candid, fun images. Clients have lauded her for the expertise evident in her fantastic work.

Stilwell Photography

Stephanie Stilwell is a local photographer serving Oakland and its neighboring cities. This on-location photographer specializes in lifestyle and family portraits that celebrate the beautiful nature of familial life.

Stephanie makes excellent use of tight focus, natural lighting, and close-up shots to create portraits that cast emotional narratives within the frame.

Xilo Photography

Kati Douglas is a talented Oakland-based photographer highly revered in her city for her work. Her specialty lay in creating an authentic newborn, lifestyle, and family portraits. A woman of color, a wife, and a mom, she uses her lens to produce newborn photographs that capture the warm bonds that babies and mothers share.

Kati’s photography style includes mixing and matching colors subtly to create raw images that reveal the love between her subjects. Altogether, shadowed backgrounds make for photographs that are part natural, part artful.

Carly Tabak Photography

After the birth of her first daughter, Carly decided to start taking family portraits for Oakland and San Francisco families. Over the years, Tabak has evolved to become one of the best family photographers in the city.

Her specialty lies in her ability to create golden hour, natural light images that distinctively highlight the love and camaraderie between her subjects. She also ensures to connect with her clients in order to get a clear understanding of what they would like to achieve during their photoshoot. From there, her clients can just relax and have fun

Nightingale Photography

Christina Hernandez is the creative brain behind Nightingale Photography. The uber-talented family photographer is a native of Oakland who has gained knowledge in photojournalism for over a decade at the San Francisco Chronicles. After starting her own photography company, she has leveraged those years of experience and skills garnered to create rich, memorable, and candid images for families.

Christina's gallery of pictures represent beautiful celebrations of life. Her playful way of bringing every family member together in her shoots is fun and emotionally striking.

Julia Christina Photography

With a Master’s Degree in photography and a passion for newborn and family photography, Julia Christina been able to cultivate her own brand. For over seven years, she has photographed numerous families at different milestones – pregnancy, childbirth, and so on.

Julia also ensures newborns and their parents are comfortable throughout the entire photo session in her boutique photography studio. Some of her works have been featured in magazines, and she has won several awards.

Sarah Christensen Photography

Sarah Christensen is a visual storyteller who thrives on finding the raw beauty in everyday connections. She has a flair for documenting the genuine and unique emotions that come with authentic relationships. Sarah uses the stunning landscapes of Oakland to her advantage. Hence, her love for outdoor, natural lighting photography is born.

For over five years, Sarah has provided family and child photography services within Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area. Her impressive photography works have been featured on websites like Life & Lens and The Little Umbrella.

Swaddle Photography

Swaddle Photography is another premier newborn and family photography brand serving Oakland for over a decade. Swaddle offers fun and relaxed photo sessions to help subjects get comfortable enough to get into their natural state during photoshoots.

As an inclusion advocate, Irja welcomes and celebrates working with people with disabilities, LGBTQ+, people of all races and ethnicities, regardless of their religions and beliefs.

Find a location in Oakland for your next film or photo shoot, meeting, or event.