Kevin Neilson Photography
Professional headshot and family photographer in the San Francisco Bay Area
Photo Essay: San Francisco
Posted on September 22, 2023
Photographs of San Francisco on any given day when human subjects don’t figure very prominently, and it’s neither foggy nor rainy nor loud.
Captive audience
Ecological succession
A cell with a view
Ideology: binds and blinds
Someone’s always watching
Smirk
Corrugations
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Of Time and the River
Posted on April 15, 2019
In the heart of Los Padres National Forest, the Big Sur River is carving steep gorges and sharp-crested ridges. Sykes campground—where I captured the image above—is a 10-mile hike through untamed canyon wilderness. It was a challenging destination to reach even when there was an established trail. But now in the wake of fires, road closures, and erosion damage, this lovely little spot is next to impossible to reach.
Contact me for kids, teens, family, and corporate photography in the Bay Area.
New Yorker Abroad
Posted on March 25, 2019
I’ve shared photos of this NY ballerina before. At the top of the year, we kicked off a half-day collaboration, working deliberately to achieve certain effects. Here are some of my favorite images from the collection, each introduced with a verbal cue only:
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Color is Black and White
Curves and Lines
Living Green Frame
Life without Beautify is Empty
Determination
Thanks for visiting, hope you enjoyed!
Contact me for kids, teens, family, and corporate photography in the Bay Area.
Woke
Posted on December 16, 2018
When I arrived, Baby was sound asleep.
But when my shutter began to click, she woke.
She took one look at my ugly mug and drew the right conclusion, fast.
Fortunately, Dad has a way with Baby.
And she began to calm down.
Dad is great.
But Dad plus Mom is even better.
Baby began to rock to sleep.
Before long, Baby achieved a state of perfect bliss.
Awake or asleep, that’s one beautiful kiddo.
Oh, and Mom was delighted with the results.
Which makes me very happy.
Contact me for family or corporate photography in the Bay Area.
Mya in the City
Posted on November 1, 2018
Not long ago, I had the honor of photographing the staff and executive team at Mya, an SF-based company that helps recruiters optimize their workflow through AI.
Their office is located on Maiden Lane, one of the most picturesque streets in the City. Combine that with the team’s commitment to shooting outdoors, and you have the makings of a great photographic day.
One of my favorite shots is this portrait of a CEO as a young man. The hubbub of City life goes on round him, while he hovers confidently in space. Red accents glow in the background. If I were to retake the photo, I’d drop 2/3 of a stop below ambient and fire an off-camera flash. Pesky shadows under his eyes bother me now.
This particular shot was a lot of fun to make. Primarily because I enjoyed walking the Lane with this executive. We shot the breeze about science, medicine, and the National Geographic. I had good fun just getting to know him. Best of all, I fired my flash.
I love this next photo. It took a while to get it just right. But it was worth the effort. Plus, I like things in threes. See the bokeh frame left? See the bindi, nose ring, and earring?
How did I get this harried professional to relax? You know, the usual—we talked about our wives and family life. Trust me, if you’d been there, you would have smiled, too. Oh, one last thing. Check out the crop. You’re looking at 2.39×1, which isn’t your standard 5×7. I’m a big fan of 2.39×1 and 16×9 because they offer a cinematic lens on the environment, of which the subject is a part.
See the soft green tree-clouds in the background? I did then, and I do still. I tell you, threes are the best! Plus, I like the curbsides, faint and disappearing.
Ditto. Except in this shot, the light had changed dramatically from the prior one, requiring me to stop down from f/1.8 to f/4.5. Background is too sharp for my liking, but it was a trade-off I was willing to make to get the shot.
Happily, the executive team was thrilled with the process and results. One of their senior leaders even chimed in here.
Contact me for creative Bay Area corporate and candid family photography.
