Y Studio Photography

510-965-1564

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5.0 out of 5.0

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9 reviews

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Categories: el cerrito photography Address: 10330 San Pablo Avenue
El Cerrito, CA 94530
(map) Phone: 510-965-1564

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Reviews for Y Studio Photography

Karina and Dennis
GUEST

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08/27/2010

Barbara and Wayne are the perfect couple. we are so happy and satisfied with the result of our engagement picture as well our Wedding pictures. they are so professional and reliable. Thank you!! Barbara & Wayne

Vendor response to review

Karina, we too were blessed to have captured such an amazing and complete wedding experience! We will be sharingsome of your images with the WeddingWire world SOON!! Love ya guys and Little Collin too! Besitos!

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Karen.
GUEST

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06/04/2010

I had Y Studio Photography do my Maternity shoot & they are the BEST. The pictures came out PERFECT. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone. The photographers are professional & very nice. I will also be having them do a future shoot for my upcoming wedding. yeah, they are that good. :)

Vendor response to review

Karen thank you for choosing YStudio Photography. It was awesome meeting Baby Michael a few weeks back, can't wait to go back soon with my camera!

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M&B
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05/20/2010

They are the Best : )

Vendor response to review

As were you! Many congrats to you both and looking forward the the BIG Celebration!

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aschultz
GUEST

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4.8 out of 5.0

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12/28/2009

They traveled far for us to have our special day way up in the mountains, and were a pleasure to work with.

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Thank you Amber & Jake, both of you as well as everyone at your wedding were a true pleasure to work with. I am so happy you are happy with all of your wedding albums! Keep in touch with us, we look forward to hearing from you soon!

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Theresa
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09/26/2009

We LOVED Y Studio!!! They documented our special day beautifully!

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Thanks Theresa & Mike for entrusting your day to YStudio Photography, looking forward to seeing you again soon!

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jbucini
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03/01/2009

We could not be happier with the services provided by Y Studio. The photographers were great and really talented. We love our pictures and highly recommend them to everyone.

Vendor response to review

Jackie, you, Christofer and your entire family and bridal party were a BLAST to work with, thanks for keeping in touch! I am so glad you LOVED your photo albums, we put extra special TLC when we design them.

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Phil and Grace
GUEST

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06/14/2008

"My wedding seemed like such a whirlwind that I missed so many events throughout the night. It was only after I received our photos from Barbara and Wayne that I was able to experience the details of my wedding through her camera lens. I will never forget the priceless snapshot of my new nine year-old cousin, Sofia, as she hugged me in congratulations. Her angelic face pressed against my pink wedding gown. What I saw in the photo almost made me fall over in my chair. As far as I could remember, sweet Sofia was dressed in an elegant white dress. The photo revealed a few more details, including the pair of black & white Converse she decided to wear to funk up her look for the evening! So many memories that I have now to keep...for this I am eternally grateful. Thank you so much Barbara and Wayne, for your eyes, for your skills, and for your romantic sentimentality, the combination of which has given Phillip and me a lifetime of memories". -- Grace Valdovinos, Los Angeles, CA

Vendor response to review

Grace thank you for your kind words, I have been meaning to write to you and Phil. How are things!? OOH I just LOVED LOVED LOVED your Rock n' Wedding in Southern Cali! Spread the word, YStudio goes everywhere! We just got back from shooting another Destination Wedding, this time in Oahu! Aloha!

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livlafluvlynn
GUEST

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05/27/2006

SHEER PERFECTION!!!
I just finished a pin-up style photo shoot with Barb and Wayne this past weekend. It was my first time working with them and I couldn't be more impressed with absolutely every aspect! They were professional, yet I still felt entirely comfortable and at ease during the shoot. They are wonderful people...we all just "clicked" and got along so well. We were having a blast the whole time! We shot for nearly four hours and I never once felt like I had had enough. They made me feel absolutely gorgeous and my confidence showed in the photos. All of these aspects combined to create a set of SENSATIONAL photos! Perhaps most impressive was the fact that I didn't have to wait a month or more for the proofs (as I've had to with other photographers). They had them posted on their website the very next day!!! I got to preview the images and Barb said she'll have the edited copies posted very soon...I'll post some on here so that anyone who reads this can see for themselves how incredible they are. I cannot wait to work with Barb and Wayne again very soon. I'll be hiring them time and time again! Thanks so much you guys for EVERYTHING! I'm looking forward to more photo shoots with you!

Vendor response to review

Lynn you are a dream to work with, and such a photo dare devil! I LOVE IT! best wishes! Looking forward to our shoot on October 1st!

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Lee Balthazar
GUEST

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01/12/1996

All I can say is WOW (tearfully by the way). Thank you so much for the beautiful photos. You captured an emotionally complicated ceremony magnificently. Many look like they were from Life Magazine. It made all of us look much better than we were. Wayne, your skillful touch with digital software brought out the beauty of these photos even more. Several look like paintings worthy of hanging as wall portraits. Thank you so much for doing this for my family. I will always be indebted to you for the time and effort you devoted to capturing this very emotional and significant time in our family history. YStudio is the best there is.

Lee Balthazar
Crown Point, IN

Vendor response to review

All I can say Lee is wow, you always get to me, and yes, with tears! Aloha and many mahalos over and over again!

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Vendor recommendation from Teresa Reynolds Designs

Barb & Wayne are superb photographers, they work diligently and they are dedicated to working with me on my designs. We have collaborated on several wedding, fashion and portrait sessions...we have a lot of fun and work well together. I just love them!

Photos for Y Studio Photography

About Y Studio Photography

YStudio Photography is a San Francisco Bay Area based business serving this area as well as Napa Valley,Southern California, Miami, and Hawaii. Established in 2007 by husband and wife team Wayne & Barbara Yasuhara, they are committed to each client with the enthusiasm, dedication and energy. The happy couple met in 2006, and learned that they both had experience and shared the same passions in photography. Barbara had become a photography hobbyist with her overwhelming work schedule, but Wayne inspired Barbara to get behind the lens once again, and together were inspired to launch YStudio Photography. Being a such a giving and loving couple, they feel these are ingredients that form a perfect recipe for beautiful wedding portraiture to be cherished for many generations to come.

They offer a complimentary Engagement Session to all couples who book a Gold or Platinum Package, because they are dedicated to their clients, and getting to know their clients is key in creating a perfect wedding story by photography. YStudio knows that the wedding photography is among the first heirlooms of the wedded couple and they will work diligently with their couples to create a beautiful wedding album, thank you cards, and more. Anyone can own a camera, but not everyone can create lifelong images to be cherished for many generations to come.....dedicated, and committed to creating your beautiful memoirs. Seeing the beauty in everyone and everywhere!

"We want our clients to have a complete experience with us and we work hard to make it happen!", says Barbara. After all, as one of our clients once told us......" it was more than a photo shoot, it was an awesome experience!"

FAQ for Y Studio Photography

What primary photographic style do you identify with?

Contemporary, Photojournalism, Portraiture, Traditional / Posed

What do your packages include?

Albums, Custom Graphic Design, Digital Files, Flush Mount, High Resolution Images, Matted Prints, Prints, Proof CD of All Images, Thank You Cards, Video Montage

Do you have liability insurance?

Yes

Do you offer special techniques such as hand-coloring or toning?

Yes, our studio staff works very closely with the photographers creations and are knowledgeable and skilled with post processing which may include hand-coloring and toning. We are also proud to announce we are now offering HDR image processing to our clients, and the LOVE It!

Do you have experience shooting in various lighting situations?

The photographers have more than 30 years experience and are highly skilled and can work in low light and ambient lighting situations. All associate photographers will have a minimum of 5 years shooting weddings and events. (Associate photographers shoot in the event the Barbara & Wayne are already booked). Please ask about Associate Photographer pricing.

Is your media preference film or digital?

Every photographer loves film transparency, however, digital photography is a wonderful asset to all photographers. It is an integral part of the fast paced and modern technology and it saves our clients hundreds if not thousands of dollars. However, if a client prefers a wedding captured in film, YStudio is ready to oblige, as their training is extensive and also includes film photography. Film coverage starts at $10,000.

How many photographers do you work with?

All of our packages include husband and wife team Wayne and Barbara if they are available. Larger weddings 150+ guests or more will always have 3-4 on staff 1-3 photographers and one lighting assistant.

Do you guarantee your presence at the actual event?

We would LOVE to be at every event, but as wedding season is upon us it can be an issue. This is why we encourage clients to book early in the year. Our associate photographers are fabulous and have worked with us on many weddings and events, you can rest assured that you will be in good hands.

Do you sometimes book yourself for more than one event in a day? Weekend?

Never. Our clients day is precious and we are dedicated to them. We have several photography associates on hand in the event we receive a double booking.

Do you have a replacement photographer in case you become unavailable on the day of the event?

Yes, and we will work with you during the entire process. Our photographers will contact you and if at all possible meet with you prior to the big day! Remember, we offer more than photography, we offer an "experience!"

What kind of equipment do you typically bring with you on the day-of?

We only work with the higher end professional Canon and Nikon DSLR's. Each photographer brings 2 camera bodies, all f2.8 or lower Canon and Nikon lenses. On and off camera lighting as well as additional gear such as light stands, reflectors, and light diffusers. On special events, photographers will also bring a laptop in order to display "selected" images of the day with our clients and guests. THIS is a popular option and we find that it creates a celebration itself! Many emotions....and jsut another part of the "experience."

Do you bring back-up equipment to the event in case of malfunction?

Yes, each photographer has 2-3 camera bodies with them at all of our weddings and events.

Do you charge hourly or full day?

Weddings are serious business, and as much as we would like to help everybody especially in today's economy, we are not able to offer hourly for wedding bookings. Please ask about our "Simple Ceremony" Packages available for City Hall, Beach weddings etc., these are affordable and available Sun-Thursdays (outside of Wedding Season May-October). Simple Ceremonies start at $500.00 for 2 hour coverage in San Francisco. Wedding collections start as low as $2800.00.

Are you available to shoot extra hours? If yes, how much do you charge for extra hours?

Extra hours truly depends on the location and if we go into over-time, we have an amount that is affordable, however we ask our clients if they anticipate overtime to purchase overtime credits prior to the day of the event as day of rates differ from pre-purchased credits.

What is your policy on taking breaks? If you require a meal break, do you require that the client provide your meal?

We do not require our clients to do anything that does not come from within. If we are not included in the meal, I make sure to bring a picnic basket for myself and the staff and we can eat in an area that is separate from the main dining room. We only require a sit down mealtime break, never to exceed 30 minutes for a 6 hour period, as this will be the ONLY time we can sit and have our meal.

Do you charge for travel?

We don't like to charge extra but travel fees will apply to certain weddings out of our immediate area. It is however, negotiable. Please note that extra fees may apply to travel to different photo locations if outside of the radius.

How soon after the event are the proofs ready for viewing?

We are a busy studio, but we also know that you are anxious to re-live your day, with this in mind, we work hard and diligently to make it happen as soon as possible. 

Generally, 2-6 weeks is a basic time line we can promise to our clients, however there are many instances where are clients are enjoying a sneak peek as soon as they return from their honeymoon.


In what format are the initial proofs offered?

lOur studio will arrange a "Presentation Appointment", where clients and their parents or members of their wedding party return to our studio to experience their wedding day on a large flat screen and a tray of goodies and champagne! Yes, another great part of the YStudio experience! If you prefer a more private experience, arrangements can be made with the studio. However, we know we will become good friends, and it is a moment that owe look forward to sharing and re-living with our clients. 


How long can the client keep the proofs?

There is never a deadline of such, the studio will make recommendations for the couple's wedding album, however we encourage our client's to get involved! It is your life long treasure and YOU should have the images that touch you in your book as soon as possible.

All of our wedding packages include proof sets as well as a high quality leather album. Album upgrades are also available in the event you prefer a more "upscale" album and/or products.

We also encourage our client's to choose images and order their wedding album while the emotions are still fresh, it is such a wonderful time and we want all of that emotion to be present in your book.

Do you retain the copyright for the photos?

Yes, all copyright belongs to the photographers, however, all of our clients have the right to post and display images on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc., we only request that the photo courtesy be extended to YStudio. (i.e., photos courtesy of YStudio Photography c. 2010)

All wedding packages include all of the client's images on a web optimized CD/DVD.

Do you reserve the right to publish the photos?

This is all part of proper copyright laws, however, we always check with our clients if it is alright with them. If so, we will then ask our clients to complete a "Model Release."

YStudio NEVER sells images to stock photography, but from time to time we submit details and real weddings to local and nationwide Bridal Magazines, of course again, with the client's consent in writing.

We are happy to announce that we are being published in popular wedding magazines this summer! More to come soon!

Do you provide the digital files and/or negatives (or copies of the negatives) to the client?

We do offer all of the clients images on a web optimized CD/DVD. Limited Medium -Resolution files are available to all clients with the purchase of the "upgraded" wedding album.

The photo proofs are solely for our clients use and should not used as gifts for family or guests. Photos are available for purchase for family and guests through the online gallery of each event.

Will images be available for viewing online?

Yes, once the wedding is released to the clients, the clients will then choose when it is appropriate to share with family and guests, and our clients can release the images to whom they wish.

What kind of albums do you offer?

We work with only the best professional album printing and binding companies, we guarantee the work and the designs are yummy!

When will the client get the final album?

Our high quality albums which comes with each package iships within 24 hours after placing the order. 

For upgrade album and products, this can take 6-8 weeks after the album is submitted to the printers/binders. Our albums are Made in Italy so shipping time should also be considered in the time frame.

Additional Advice

Q: How much does it cost to have you shoot our wedding?

A: We understand how important it is to stay on budget, and keeping this in mind, our wedding packages start as low as $2500.00. Our Simple Ceremonies are priced at a very reasonable rate, please inquire.

Q: Can we meet the actual photographers who will be shooting our wedding?

A: We would not have it any other way! Whether it is Barbara & Wayne or our associates shooting the wedding, we always make it a point to meet with our clients prior to the event.

Q: Which package would you recommend if we wish to have getting ready, ceremony, portraits and reception?

A: Your day will fly by before you know it you will be whisked off to your honeymoon. I would have to recommend either the Gold or Platinum package. The Gold Package is an 8 hour package which includes two (2) locations, and the Platinum Package is a 10 hour package with an included Engagement Session as well as the full day coverage of your wedding.

Q: What other languages do you speak besides English?

A: I am of Cuban descent, and I speak fluently in Spanish and English.

Get to know your photographer and allow your photographer to get to know you and your fiance. Let us know all of the dynamics and details, this way everything and everyone is covered on one of the most exciting day of your lives! Trust me, you do NOT want to miss a thing, and without professional photography, YOU WILL!