I have been shooting professionally since 2004 and I constantly look for ways to make my headshots look fresh and dynamic. I am fascinated by good design and by technology…maybe I am still a geek, since I was an engineer in my previous life! There are nuances in a headshot that make you look like you at your best, and I use a little art and a little science to bring that out.

But enough talk! Write or call me to book a session and find out for yourself.

Clients:
A&U Magazine
ACLU Missouri
Advocate.com
HUF Magazine
Dorian Magazine
Fashionisto
Fossa Apparel
Frontier Magazine
Girl’s Life
Hotel Nikko San Francisco
Huffington Post
Intuit
Karen Klein Fashion
LAGLCC
National Nurses Association
Ohlala E-zine
OUT Magazine
Palm Springs Life
St. Louis Magazine

What clients say!

I found Tommy on the internet searching for local photographers in San Jose to do a Headshot for my business cards. I am so pleased that I did. My experience with Tommy was over and beyond!! Not only did he help me choose the best outfit for my pictures, he was right on the money with my headshots. The quality of the pictures where truly amazing! He has an amazing talent in choosing the perfect pictures for what I need and he was right on the money. I had nothing but positive responses to my pictures and it looked great on my website. First impressions in the Real Estate business is very important and I thank Tommy for capturing what I needed to project! I recommend him to everyone who is looking for getting that picture perfect photo. Very natural!!! It took 24 hours to receive the final pictures as he said they would and the prices were very reasonable too!! 5 Stars all the way!!! Thanks Tommy, your the greatest!!
DeAnn Powers
Why Tommyphoto gets 5 stars from me:- Customized: Tommy listens to exactly what you want to achieve with your photos, then draws upon his extensive experiences from various industries to create a session that is unique to you. I told him I wanted to come across feminine and strong for my headshots, and he went through each of my outfits and explained the impression that each would give off and what would highlight my better features.- Current: He has a strong grasp of what is modern and appealing without losing sight of the classic elements that are required of a headshot photo. This was beneficial to me because I needed a competitive pageant headshot. Also, he has a clear understanding of what is age appropriate. I’ve tended to look older than I actually am in professional photos, and I’m so thankful that Tommy has worked with people from all different age groups.- Detail-oriented: right down to hair placement!- Considerate: Tommy was constantly making sure that I was comfortable. Individual headshots can be a bit intimidating to me, but he patiently guided and encouraged me through it (with much enthusiasm).- Honest: He’ll tell you what works, what doesn’t, and why. And he does it on the spot so that you are able to improve for the rest of the session as opposed to finding out later after you receive your proofs. This I especially appreciated.- Professional: It was a stress-free session. Everything was taken care of. Tommy was also good with responding to questions and giving me reminders prior to the shoot. He told me exactly when I would be able to see my proofs and delivered on time.- Personality: Tommy helps you showcase a range of emotions in your photos so that there is personality behind the eyes and teeth of your smile. He showed me examples, and even went as far as stopping mid-photoshoot to review the photos we had taken so far so that I could personally see where there was room for improvement. Friends and family who looked over some of these photos commented on how natural they looked relative to the ones I had taken in the past. Even though they were posed for, Tommy found ways to capture a more organic, realistic me while still giving me the glamorous look I wanted.I would personally return to Tommyphoto again for any of my future photo needs. Hopefully this review helps those of you who are looking for a talented photographer in the bay area/California!
Kelly Banh, Actress
Tommy is one of the greatest photographers in the Bay Area! Anyone living in the San Jose or San Francisco area should take from him because not only does he work together with you as a client to figure out what you want, but he goes above and beyond to make you look (and feel) like a movie star! What I love most about working with Tommy is that if you are in need of a quick turnaround to get a headshot for an upcoming audition, he will make sure that you get what you want in less than 24 hours! Also, adding the make-up/hair option is a MUST have! If you give Toni (his make-up artist) a picture of how you want to look, he can make you look exactly like that or even better! Thank you again for a wonderful session Tommy! The headshots are exactly what I wanted!
Ernestine Balisi, Actress
Tommy was very professional, efficient, and responsive to my needs. Plus he was fun to work with! … the final shots came out great, and the price was right too. Recommended!
Daniel Levenstein, Director of Chamber Music San Francisco
Tommy, you blew any expectations I had out of the water and really took this experience to another level. The whole process was more of a relaxed spa treatment than a photo session. From the moment I arrived at your wonderful studio I was treated with courtesy and made to feel welcome and comfortable. I am extremely pleased with the results. A special thank you to Tonie whose cosmetic wizardry made a huge impact in my head shots. That along with your obvious eye for THE shot made for a worthwhile endeavor. Not only am I overjoyed at the finished product, but my fans, friends and family have great things to say as well.Thank you for an amazing experience, I will be back next year and referring you to my colleagues until then.
David Scott Keller, Actor
I can not tell you how excited I am to have these photos for my website. I so appreciate you take the time to show me the different setting options in the beginning of the process. Your coaching and guidance somehow gave me a great level of confidence. When we finally sat down to select the images, you shared your valuable views of how each image conveys its message. You and your crew demonstrated the highest professionalism and made the whole process fun. The whole experience was beyond my expectations and the end product is fabulous. Thank you again so much.
Jenna Hung, Lifestream Financial CPA, CMA, CFM, CFP®
Tommy was truly a joy to work with. His creativity was able to achieve what I wanted to accomplish based on what I described to him. He’s very flexible and easy to work with. I will never use anyone else and will definitely recommend people who are in need of a professional photographer. Thank you Tommy!
Romar De Claro, Realtor
I was nervous to have a professional take my picture. I shouldn’t have worried though. When Tommy was taking my pictures he made me feel so comfortable. By the end of the session I felt like the professional. Not to mention the photos made me look like one thanks to Tommy’s wonderful instructions to get the perfect pose and the unbelievable job Tonie did on my make-up. Tonie boosted my confidence the second he put the brush to my face and the results were phenomenal. Thank you Tommy and Tonie for making this small town girl look like a star.
Abby Glawe, Actress
Tommy is excellent. Not only does he have a passion for photography he has a suburb understanding of it and he knows how to master this form of “art”. I truly enjoyed working with him. He has an amazing, and dynamite personality and made me feel comfortable and at ease while taking my photos. I was truly amazed and impressed by the high quality of pictures he took.

I have to say that his make-up artist is without a doubt professional and I loved how she did my make-up.

I will definitely be returning to Tommy for more pictures and highly recommend him!

Sylvia Torres, Model