iQphoto Reviews
Thank You!
Beyond the Lens: What Truly Defines a Good Wedding Photographer?
In my two-decade journey as a wedding photographer, I've come to realize that my profession is not just about capturing moments; it's about creating memories, building relationships, and understanding the deeply personal narratives that each wedding brings. As I look back, I find myself asking: "What makes me a good photographer?" Is it the 5-star reviews I've garnered over the years or the enthusiasm, experience, and personal rapport that I've built with my clients?
Reviews vs. Reality
Reviews are a helpful benchmark, a yardstick that clients use to gauge the quality of my services. They have been a testament to my hard work, my dedication, and my skill. But they are only part of the story. Each review is tied to a unique individual with unique expectations and perspectives. The same service can elicit a 5-star review from one client and a lukewarm response from another.
Reviews don't capture the nuanced understanding that is required to connect with clients on their most special day, or the intuition that tells me when to capture a fleeting moment. Reviews don't tell the tale of the long nights spent perfecting an edit, ensuring that each photo is a piece of art that the couple would cherish forever.
The Core of Wedding Photography
The essence of being a good wedding photographer lies not in achieving a perfect review score but in the enthusiasm and dedication I bring to my work. Every wedding is a new story waiting to be told, and my role is to narrate it through my lens. This enthusiasm is what drives me to continually improve my craft and push my creative boundaries.
My experience, too, is an invaluable part of my journey. Each wedding, each interaction has been a learning experience, subtly refining my technique, honing my instincts, and teaching me the art of being a part of the celebration yet maintaining enough distance to capture it objectively.
Building Relationships: The Unseen Skill
Lastly, personal rapport with my clients is a critical, yet often overlooked, aspect of being a good wedding photographer. It's about more than just being personable. It's about understanding their vision for their big day, sharing their excitement, and sometimes, managing their anxieties. This rapport is what allows me to capture their moments in a way that feels personal and authentic to them.
The Art and the Artist
In conclusion, the measure of a good wedding photographer goes beyond a 5-star rating. It's about the enthusiasm that drives us, the experience that guides us, and the personal relationships that ground us in our client's vision. In the beautiful chaos of a wedding, we are not just photographers; we are narrators, artists, and sometimes, confidants. And each of these roles adds a star to our invisible rating, a star that may not be visible on review platforms but shines brightly in the memories we help create.
Excellent
4.9
Eric Khar
4 days ago
Really appreciate our photographer Joseph here. Clear communication, great instructions, and friendly too. I was nervous about pictures and if things would be obvious. Completely hidden to my fiancée and completely clear to me.
Along with photos this organization also is great for ideas! Various locations, views, etc to capture the moment.
I cannot recommend this studio enough!
Christopher Winslow
7 days ago
We could not have asked for a better experience with Joseph and the team at IQphoto. From the very beginning, he went above and beyond in every possible way. He arrived early, coordinated clearly, walked me through everything I needed to know beforehand, and helped carefully plan the timing and location months beforehand to make sure the proposal felt private, intimate, and truly special.
What stood out most was how much care and attention he put into the entire experience - not just the photos themselves. He made us feel comfortable throughout the shoot, guided us naturally through poses and candid moments, and somehow captured every emotion perfectly. His coaching during such a delicate and emotional moment was incredible and made the entire experience feel effortless.
He also spent extra time with us and genuinely made this feel like more than just a photo session. It became a memory we’ll carry with us forever. The creativity, professionalism, attention to detail, and overall energy he brought were exceptional.
If you are looking for someone to capture one of the most important moments of your life, I cannot recommend him highly enough. Truly a 5-star experience from start to finish.
Milton Navarro
2 months ago
Any photographer can take pictures but a photographer that goes above and beyond is more than that. When we were late to our proposal sight they ensured they got the shot. I cannot thank them enough for saving my proposal. There is no need for second thought about them, they committed and they execute. If you need someone that’s going to go above and beyond book with them and don’t look back. From follow ups to ensuring they capture the moment these are the guys that make it happen. I love you guys your the best !
Response from the owner:Thank you, Milton. It was an absolutely heartwarming experience to be a part of your celebration and to witness your beautiful proposal. I want to wish you an absolutely amazing life together, lots of love, and deeper connection every day.
Aniket Saoji
8 months ago
Boris and the IQPhoto team were incredible to work with for our San Francisco proposal photography. From the very beginning, he made the process seamless, helping coordinate the timing and location so I never had to worry about being “found out.” He blended perfectly into the background before the big moment, and once it happened, he guided us with just the right balance of direction and comfort so we could focus on each other instead of logistics.
Even with harsh sun at our favorite spot, the photos turned out stunning, better than we imagined. What stood out most was his flexibility and calm; he had backup plans ready if crowds or weather got in the way, which gave me total peace of mind. If you’re planning a proposal in San Francisco (Golden Gate, waterfront, or anywhere in between), I can’t recommend Boris enough. He captured not just the moment but the emotion behind it.
Response from the owner:thank you!
Roger Jackson
10 months ago
Joseph did a wonderful job of capturing such a special moment. Even losing cell coverage, he knew exactly where to be and took photos that we were so happy to be able to share with friends and family. Was also very timely in getting the edited photos returned back!
Response from the owner:Thank you Roger! So glad it worked out.
Brett Crane
1 year ago
Joseph nailed our engagement. I found him by googling “most romantic places in San Francisco to propose”. It never occurred to me to have this moment captured by a professional, but I'm sure glad I did. My fiancé was surprised, and now we have some incredible photos of the proposal. The process was easy, and I can’t recommend him enough.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Brett!
Joaquin Baeza
1 year ago
IN LOVE!! with how these photos came out. Our photographer really hit it out of the park capturing our core moment. If you guys are looking for a photographer trust me these people know what they are doing! Huge thank you 🙂
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your trust.
Sean Webber
1 year ago
Joseph and Marina were extremely easy to work with, communicative, and the photos turned out absolutely wonderful!
Joseph's style allowed him to professionally capture candid shots of my proposal and added a whole other level of "surprise" to the whole thing. I couldn't be happier with how it all turned out!
Also, she said yes 🙂
Response from the owner:Thank you, Sean.
Marco Dayrit
2 years ago
We had a great experience working with Joseph! Very clear process and communication, so it was not hard to follow the plan on the proposal day itself. Very capable direction for the extra photos, and super quick turnaround. Highly recommended.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Marco!
Anthony Malik
2 years ago
Joseph at IQphoto was such an amazing person and a true pro! His vibe was full of energy and put us at easy the moment our surprise proposal was over to take some posed pictures. His communication, attention to detail and very informative video overview of locations, timing and positioning which are vital to the process made everything go so smooth and I was at easy knowing that in advance! I highly suggest and recommend IQphoto and especially Joseph he is first class all the way!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Anthony!
Ian Chin
2 years ago
When I was thinking of proposing to my then girlfriend, I already knew of Joseph's reputation, skill, and experience as he is one of the top San Francisco proposal photographers and has been around for over a decade. It was a no brainer.
And knowing that this guy has been doing it for so long tells you he is consistent in his work, he does great work, and his clients love him (obviously he has 5 stars everywhere!)
When you want someone to photograph this once in a lifetime moment, you know you need the expertise of someone like Joseph, who has photographed hundreds of proposals himself.
I knew of his reputation as one of the best San Francisco wedding photographer companies, but can wholeheartedly recommend him for all photography needs as he puts a lot of care and time into all his clients.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Ian. Receiving it from a colleague is always a pleasure.
Maria-Ines Carrera
2 years ago
We are absolutely thrilled with our City Hall wedding photos from IQphoto! Joseph was amazing to work with, helping us feel so at ease despite both being a bit camera-shy. His knowledge of all the secret photo spots in city hall made the photoshoot such a fun adventure. The photos are just stunning and we're so grateful to have our wedding day captured so beautifully! Thank you Joseph and IQphoto! 💜💐💒
Response from the owner:Thank you! ❤️
G S
2 years ago
They are amazing at what they do - cannot recommend enough. The best part is that they went above and beyond what most photographers would do to make sure we got a great moment.
Boris (our photographer) helped me plan, stage and execute my proposal to my fiancee in front of the bay bridge. A non-exhaustive list of things he did to help me (but didn't have to) were:
- Came up with a location, and restaurants nearby where we could stage the proposal and take pictures (most restaurants don't allow this)
- Planned the step-by-step approach to the proposal (where I exit the restaurant, where I walk, where to position myself and my fiancee, how long I should stay kneeling, etc.)
- Checked the weather on the day of; went to the location ahead of time to confirm; spoke with the restaurant before we got there to prep them; and signaled to me when we started walking
- Took actual pictures of the proposal, took more pictures reenacting the proposal, more pictures of us walking around, more pictures of us inside the restaurant and of the ring
All of the above, and they delivered the photos (perfectly shot and edited) well ahead of time.
Again - cannot recommend them enough!
Response from the owner:I am glad it all worked out nicely. Thank you for your kind review.
Jing Han
2 years ago
We absolutely loved working with IQphoto! Joseph is very talented, professional, and fun to work with. He did a fantastic job capturing our wedding at SF City Hall and afterwards at the SF Botanical Gardens. We usually feel awkward in photos, but somehow he knew exactly what to do so that we look beautiful while looking like us. The results are stunning and we received them super quickly! Thank you, Joseph and Marina, for making this such a great experience. Highly recommended!
Response from the owner:Thank you. You share a beautiful love with each other. Pleasure to witness. 🙏
Kenny Vaswani
2 years ago
The IQPhoto team was absolutely fantastic, from start to finish! Professional, prompt, and accommodating! We had Ondrej as our photographer, who supported both the Deluxe package and Drone session, and all products came out great! He was professional, polite, engaging, and made our whole experience even more special. The same day sneak peak is definitely worth it, for those who want to see their images as soon as possible.
Marina provided great administrative support in the initial set up process and Boris provided the diligent, professional, and prompt correspondence post photography session. I believe Boris did the edits, so kudos to him for his editing skills.
Highly recommend! My fiance and I are extremely thrilled with the final products and the overall experience.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Kenny. Your kindness is really appreciated.
Ren Du
2 years ago
An update after 10 years:
Boris took our photo session for our 10 year anniversary. It was great to work with him, he has been very accommodating as we had some unexpected hiccups on our way to the city hall. My family took yearly photos, and the one with IQ Photo is one of the most relaxing, recharging, and fun sessions I've been to. Thank you for capturing the best moments of my life, and twice 🙂
Original review:
IQphoto team is gorgeous! Masha is extremely responsive in terms of coordination. Alex is so good at capturing the best moments from the best and unique angle. Thank You IQphoto for giving us gorgeous photos to remember and cherish this once-in-a-life-time event.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Ren!
val marquez
2 years ago
Very grateful for Joseph, he capture beautiful photos of our family, friends & loved ones on our wedding day. My husband and I are camera shy & felt incredibly comfortable and guided throughout the photo taking process. Joseph has an incredible eye and is truly gifted in the art of photography. We are so grateful! Thank you Joseph!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Val! 🙏❤️
Patrick Salli
3 years ago
I booked for a proposal photography and the experience was wonderful. They helped with the planning and provided great suggestions. Communication was great the day of the shoot and they were able to capture the magic moment without my fiancée even seeing them. The photo shoot afterward captured so many wonderful photos. I would I highly recommend and plan to use IQPhoto again personally in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Patrick.
Kelly Yung
3 years ago
We had such a great session with Joseph and both him and Marina were very responsive throughout the process. They were flexible and willing to work to accommodate us even on the day of the pictures. I have always been awkward with pictures but Joseph made it so much fun and we loved the results! I would highly recommend IQPhotos for any of your photography needs!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Kelly! I enjoyed the session as well! It was nice meeting you.
Shawn Hanshew
3 years ago
Joseph shot my surprise proposal to my Partner on 10/21/23 and the experience was absolutely PERFECT! He is a very talented photographer and I can see why he is one of the top rated photographers in the Bay Area. From the moment of arrival, to him getting amazing shots of our private beach concert from Maddy Hudson, to him using his creative talents with getting stunning drone footage, we couldn’t be happier with the end result. I was very nervous because I put a lot of planning into this proposal but Joseph and his team made me feel at ease and promptly answered questions leading up to this special day. The photos are beautiful and the drone reel he created is one of the most stunning works of art I have ever seen. Thank you so much Joseph, we will forever cherish our engagement day and the memories you helped create will forever be in our hearts! BRAVO!
Response from the owner:I'm so glad to hear you loved the final result! Witnessing the love, devotion, and commitment between you and Thomas was truly inspiring for us as well. It was an honor and a privilege to capture such a monumental moment in your lives. And I'm thrilled you enjoyed the drone reel—it was a bit tricky to get just right, but your reaction makes it all worthwhile. Congratulations again on your engagement, and thank you for letting us be a part of it!
Adam Jefferies
3 years ago
Couldn't be happier with the results and whole process! Even though we had an unexpected wave come in and soak everything we had as I was proposing, Joseph captured the essence of the moment perfectly and it made for a funny story and memory. The angles/etc were all perfect and I'm glad to have chosen them to capture the special occasion.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Adam.
Tanner McKean
3 years ago
I highly recommend IQphoto as a proposal photographer! Both Joseph and Marina were always quick to respond to my emails and answer my questions. Joseph also provided great ideas and helped make my proposal even a bigger/better surprise than I had originally planned. Our photos turned out fantastic and we absolutely love them. Overall, I am more than happy with how everything turned out and am glad I chose IQphoto as my proposal photographer.
Response from the owner:Thank you for inviting us to be a part of such an important milestone of your lives.
Brooke Schara
3 years ago
Our experience with Joseph and IQ will stay with us for a lifetime. Joseph immediately put us at ease and knew exactly how to navigate the operations and intricacies of San Francisco's City Hall to give us a memorable and beautiful experience. We could not be any happier with our photos and once in a lifetime experience. Thank you SO SO much 🙂 !!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Brooke! I enjoyed working with you as well. I wish you a lifetime of happiness!
Angus Chan
3 years ago
My husband and I hired Joseph as our wedding photographer for our City Hall ceremony and we could not be happier about our decision. He was very experienced, provided very clear directions, and even helped us navigate through the check-in process before the ceremony. We very much appreciate that he was very assertive while accommodating our requests, as well as having a keen eye on details. Prior to our wedding day, Marina was also very helpful administratively, providing detailed instructions about what to expect about a City Hall ceremony and not just focusing on the photography. We highly recommend IQphoto if you are looking for a wedding photographer if you are getting married at the City Hall - they really go above and beyond to make sure you're happy.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Angus! Your feedback is much appreciated.
Erin Vasquez
3 years ago
IQ photo was exceptional! To have someone so familiar with City hall and to direct us in such a comfortable way. The finished product brought me to tears and I will forever refer them for any future bride and groom for a city hall wedding. I will forever cherish these sweet moments with my groom.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Erin.
Meghan Green
3 years ago
This is well overdue (sorry Alex!!), but my husband and I got married at San Francisco City Hall in September of last year and we had a great experience with IQ Photography and Alex, our videographer.
He has a lot of knowledge from doing San Francisco City Hall weddings and was able to help us navigate the day and guide us through what he needed to create our video. We also had a photographer separate from IQ Photo and they were able to work well together.
It was beautiful, we watch our video all the time, and we will cherish it forever. We were able to pick out the song for the video and the video footage he used was beautiful and exactly what we were looking for.
Thank you for the beautiful memories, Alex & IQ Photography.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Meghan.
ocean petersen
3 years ago
David is an amazing photographer. He spent his whole life surrounded by nature and in the elements, this has given
a deep understanding of what is needed. In any situation. We have used many photographers in the past, but we always go back to David because of the wonderful customer service and the overwhelming stunning pictures. Can’t recommend this guy enough. You won’t be disappointed.
Response from the owner:Hi Ocean, I believe you’ve reviewed a wrong studio by mistake. We don’t have David here at iqphoto.
Millie Leguizamon
3 years ago
Our experience with IQphoto was absolutely amazing. Our photographer Joseph was so fantastic. We loved his personality, professionalism, and humor! I was amazed at the turnaround on receiving our photos after our wedding - it was super speedy! The images are incredible! We got all the pictures we could have wanted and then some! I cannot stop looking at them. We got married at SF City Hall and he knew all the beautiful and best places to get the perfect pictures. We also have family out of town and they were able to stream our ceremony for us and then immediately airdrop the video to my phone. I was so impressed and so happy with their work. Thank you so much Joseph!!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Millie.
Prabha Ravi
3 years ago
We had our engagement photography with the IQ team and got the most dreamy and creative photos in the end. They were so flexible with our outfit changes and multiple locations. The quality and outcome was so amazing, we will cherish them for years to come.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much! Your feedback is appreciated.
Jonathan Ayres
3 years ago
Extremely helpful, patient with last minute venue changes and other details. Straightforward with what it sounds like the client may want in terms of options. But let's be clear, posting because... absolutely great photographer!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Jonathan!
Krista Granen
4 years ago
Highly recommend! It was wonderful working with Josef, both for his readily apparent skill and his dry sense of humor. My husband and I have received multitudes of compliments on the photos Josef took of our wedding at SF City Hall, and he was worth every penny. Also a pleasure working with Marina, the studio manager, who was very responsive and thorough in clarifying information needed to make our day go seamlessly.
Response from the owner:Thank you! Your wedding had an amazing vibe!
Ronnie Lau
4 years ago
I would highly recommend Alex! He was our videographer for our SF City Hall wedding in September. He was easy to work with, easy communication, timely, and made us feel comfortable. The reel and longer video was perfect. Thank you for documenting so many special memories!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Ronnie!
Brawni Isbell
4 years ago
Joseph was so helpful with the entire surprise proposal for us. I am from Texas and have never been to San Francisco before, and Joseph helped throughout the entire process! He was very responsive when I was trying to decide the best place to pop the question and gave his honest opinions on everything. Very knowledgeable of every place around and what would be the best times for the photos. 10/10 all around!
Response from the owner:Thank you!
Andrew McAlister
4 years ago
Great experience with IQphoto capturing my San Francisco proposal in Ina Coolbrith Park. The booking process was super easy despite not being local to the area and Joseph's location guide was amazingly helpful. If you need a proposal photographer in San Francisco use IQphoto!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Andrew!
Tarah McCoy
4 years ago
We had the best experience with IQphoto studio when we got married at SF City Hall on the Mayors balcony. The attention to detail, direction and overall attitude of the team that day was incredible. We couldn’t have asked for better photographers and intend on using them again in the near future. Look no further and book them!
Response from the owner:Thank you Tarah!
Chanakya Valluri
4 years ago
I was looking for a San Francisco Proposal Photographer and IQphoto did an exceptional job from scheduling, rescheduling, communication, suggestions and guiding us through the shoots. The entire crew is super helpful and very quick to get us our pictures and initial reactions from friends and family has been great!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Chanakya!
Terrie Adams
4 years ago
Joseph is top notch! He knows City Hall very well and he knew exactly what to do to capture the best images for my shoot. I chose him because of the artistic expression his images captures. He went above and beyond my expectations. I absolutely love my images. I’ve been in awe ever since I received them. Communication with Joseph and Marina was very easy, laid back yet always professional. I highly recommend!
Response from the owner:Thank you!
Louise Fontillas
4 years ago
Joseph was great at communicating before, during and after the actual session with us and his photos/video look incredible. Instruction during the whole shoot after the surprise engagement was very helpful. His expertise was able to create an incredible moment for us and family to look upon for years to come.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Louise!
Swagata Chakraborty
4 years ago
My husband and I had been searching for our pre wedding / engagement photoshoot for a while and looking through several portfolios. When we came across the IQphotos portfolio we knew that was exactly what we wanted because we found it standing out, artistic and unique. Seeing the quality of work by Joseph we were ready to push our photoshoot budget up just because we absolutely wanted his way of capturing moments and details. Seeing the pictures now we are so happy that we came across this portfolio that day and decided on this.
Communication with Joseph and Marina Kohn was very easy and quick. We actually had to do a last moment rescheduling because of covid scenario and they were extremely supportive with working on new dates and even extending the duration of photoshoot. Joseph also got our pictures ready before the promised timeline and surprised us. We would definitely recommend IQphotos to anyone looking for photoshoot of special moments and days!
Thanks!
Response from the owner:Thank you! It was pleasure photographing you and I look forward to many more sessions in the future!
Samantha Poon
5 years ago
My Fiance proposed to me at the top of Ina Coolbrith park and Joseph was casually taking photos without any suspicion, I thought he was just taking cool pics of the beautiful scenery. Little did I know, he was hired to take AMAZING PHOTOS!!! to capture a very special day! He was super professional but was also very personable, funny, and made us feel comfortable with taking the pics (although we were obviously awkward). I would highly recommend him, the turn around time for the images were quick and I couldn't believe how awesome they came out. They are also very responsive to emails and friendly. Thank you so much Jospeh and Marina!
Response from the owner:Thank you Samantha for your kind words! It means a lot.
Julian Pulido
5 years ago
My experience with Joseph at IQ photo was phenomenal. I did extensive research looking for the best photographer in the Bay Area and I was glad I went with IQ. Joseph was super easy to work with and really helpful. My pictures all came out amazing. I highly recommend them!!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Julian for taking the time to write the review. It was great meeting you and the crew 🙂
Jonathan Miller
5 years ago
From the 1st communication with Joseph, I knew I was getting top notch service. Every step of the way he made the process smooth, easy and user friendly. Planning a proposal shoot from over 1000 miles away can be a little stressful. Joseph removed that stress with above bar professionalism, different location suggestions and insightful collaborative ideas. We couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. Even after multiple emails, edit and change requests Joseph made sure that we got exactly what we wanted. Our photos and video are exactly what we asked for and we are 110% satisfied. I would highly recommend Joseph for capturing any moment you want to live forever. He is a master of his craft and the best in the business.
Response from the owner:Thank you Jonathan! It was amazing experience for me and Kate as well! We look forward for many more sessions in the future and can't wait to learn about your "travel" plans!
Joseph & Marina & Kate
Rahul Sharodi
5 years ago
My fiance and I recently commissioned IQ Photos for an engagement shoot, and they were fantastic! Coordination to schedule the shoot was smooth, and Joseph and team were fantastic photographers. He made the experience fun, creative, and special.
I would highly recommend them for special shoots like engagements or other occasions. We also have friends who used them as their wedding photographers and similarly felt great about the experience
Response from the owner:Thank you, Rahul! Kate and I had fun photographing you! Looking forward to working with you in the future!
JL Mitra
5 years ago
I had an uncommon, indoor proposal idea that, in many ways, was not ideal for good photo quality. Many photographers cautioned me regarding the lack of good lighting, but I stubbornly insisted the moment happen as planned. Joseph worked with me to make the best of the situation, offering his input every step of the way. Our photos turned out phenomenally well! His expertise and professionalism were top-notch, and I would highly recommend IQphoto to anyone insisting on quality.
Response from the owner:Thank you! It was pleasure being a part of this incredible moment.