Joy Coakley

I am a San Francisco Bay Area based lifestyle portrait photographer for over 12 years - capturing families, newborn + child, maternity, corporate headshots, high school seniors, weddings, engagements, and education and sports. With a BFA in Photography from the Academy of Art in San Francisco 2003, I have spent most of my career career, over 17 years, as a commercial photographer and stylist, concentrating on lifestyle, product, interiors, soft goods, and kids on-figure. Fweew. Sounds like a lot. But it keeps me on my toes!

To be honest though, I can never figure out just which of these is my favorite. I am an advertising and retail creative junkie at heart, enjoy making things beautiful, and love seeing businesses thrive from my work. But I love love love photographing people, whether models or real people. The energy that is exchanged in the moments working with people is often very inspirational to me. I do feel extremely honored to be the trusted one to capture moments that last lifetimes. It’s a big deal! 

The shy kid who comes out of their shell because we are just straight having a blast. The couples who shed the layers of fear during our engagement shoots because they realize they just get to be themselves. The larger multi-generation of family members that come together to capture heirloom photography. The father of the bride speeches. The look on a new mom and dads face while holding their 5 day old babe. It’s raw. It’s personal. It’s intimate. It’s life. It’s love. It moves me.