Look Like You’re Ready.
Even if you don’t feel like it
Two decades managing energy in luxury hospitality taught me to read people instantly. Some need direction, others need space. I’ll adapt accordingly.
20 years in luxury hospitality taught me to read people in 30 seconds. Some need direction, some need space. Now I use that skill to create portraits where you forget you're being photographed. Based in Oakland.
The ability to get a nervous Celebrity or CEO to relax in 90 seconds is priceless.
The bright lighting doesn't scare them, the vulnerability does.
When someone walks into my studio, I’m not thinking about my camera. I'm watching how they carry tension, what makes them laugh, what they need to feel safe enough to drop the armor.
Yes, I manage the lighting. But mostly, I manage the energy.
Based in Oakland, serving San Francisco and available worldwide.
The ability to get a nervous Celebrity or CEO to relax in 90 seconds is priceless.
The bright lighting doesn't scare them, the vulnerability does.
When someone walks into my studio, I’m not thinking about my camera. I'm watching how they carry tension, what makes them laugh, what they need to feel safe enough to drop the armor.
Yes, I manage the lighting. But mostly, I manage the energy.
Based in Oakland, serving San Francisco and available worldwide.
The ability to get a nervous Celebrity or CEO to relax in 90 seconds is priceless.
The bright lighting doesn't scare them, the vulnerability does.
When someone walks into my studio, I’m not thinking about my camera. I'm watching how they carry tension, what makes them laugh, what they need to feel safe enough to drop the armor.
Yes, I manage the lighting. But mostly, I manage the energy.
Based in Oakland, serving San Francisco and available worldwide.
Brian DeSimone
Brian DeSimone
Brian DeSimone
How someone feels in the moment is what makes the picture. Every. Single. Time.
How someone feels in the moment is what makes the picture. Every. Single. Time.
BRIAN DESIMONE
Photographer, Oakland.
BRIAN DESIMONE
Photographer, Oakland.
BRIAN DESIMONE
Photographer, Oakland.
On Set
Philosophy
Prioritize Genuine Connection, Always
I connect with people easily and often before anything else begins. Whether it's an executive portrait session or a full day on set, everyone should feel valued and at ease from the moment we meet. Eye contact, remembering names, reading the energy - small gestures shift everything. That authentic connection is why the portraits don't feel posed.
01
Prioritize Genuine Connection, Always
I connect with people easily and often before anything else begins. Whether it's an executive portrait session or a full day on set, everyone should feel valued and at ease from the moment we meet. Eye contact, remembering names, reading the energy - small gestures shift everything. That authentic connection is why the portraits don't feel posed.
01
Prioritize Genuine Connection, Always
I connect with people easily and often before anything else begins. Whether it's an executive portrait session or a full day on set, everyone should feel valued and at ease from the moment we meet. Eye contact, remembering names, reading the energy - small gestures shift everything. That authentic connection is why the portraits don't feel posed.
01
Lead With Unreasonable Hospitality
The right photographer knows how to read energy and adjust. I'm very comfortable taking the drivers seat, but some people need to feel that they are in it. Hospitality isn’t a script. It’s a dance. A warm smile one moment. A moment of levity the next. This creates ease, which is essential for nervous teams and high-stakes brand campaigns. Comfort, not pressure. And never underestimate the power of a well-timed dad joke!
02
Lead With Unreasonable Hospitality
The right photographer knows how to read energy and adjust. I'm very comfortable taking the drivers seat, but some people need to feel that they are in it. Hospitality isn’t a script. It’s a dance. A warm smile one moment. A moment of levity the next. This creates ease, which is essential for nervous teams and high-stakes brand campaigns. Comfort, not pressure. And never underestimate the power of a well-timed dad joke!
02
Lead With Unreasonable Hospitality
The right photographer knows how to read energy and adjust. I'm very comfortable taking the drivers seat, but some people need to feel that they are in it. Hospitality isn’t a script. It’s a dance. A warm smile one moment. A moment of levity the next. This creates ease, which is essential for nervous teams and high-stakes brand campaigns. Comfort, not pressure. And never underestimate the power of a well-timed dad joke!
02
Permission to Play
Yes, we'll execute your shot list. But I leave room for what emerges in the moment. That unguarded laugh, the unplanned angle, the idea we didn't discuss. Exploration, play and happy mistakes are part of the art.
03
Permission to Play
Yes, we'll execute your shot list. But I leave room for what emerges in the moment. That unguarded laugh, the unplanned angle, the idea we didn't discuss. Exploration, play and happy mistakes are part of the art.
03
Permission to Play
Yes, we'll execute your shot list. But I leave room for what emerges in the moment. That unguarded laugh, the unplanned angle, the idea we didn't discuss. Exploration, play and happy mistakes are part of the art.
03
Keep it Real
My job isn't just to say 'yes'—it's to lead you to a better result than you had even imagined. You're paying for taste, judgment, and 20 years of knowing what works. If a choice doesn't serve the final image, I'll speak up. The ultimate decisions are yours, but I'll make sure you aren't guessing.
04
Keep it Real
My job isn't just to say 'yes'—it's to lead you to a better result than you had even imagined. You're paying for taste, judgment, and 20 years of knowing what works. If a choice doesn't serve the final image, I'll speak up. The ultimate decisions are yours, but I'll make sure you aren't guessing.
04
Keep it Real
My job isn't just to say 'yes'—it's to lead you to a better result than you had even imagined. You're paying for taste, judgment, and 20 years of knowing what works. If a choice doesn't serve the final image, I'll speak up. The ultimate decisions are yours, but I'll make sure you aren't guessing.
04
Let’s
Let’s
Let’s
Connect!
© Damn, your hair looks good today!
About
Brian DeSimone is an Oakland-based portrait photographer serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley.
Specializing in executive headshots, corporate team photography, and commercial brand campaigns for founders, startups, and creative businesses.
❤️
Studio
© Damn, your hair looks good today!
About
Brian DeSimone is an Oakland-based portrait photographer serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley.
Specializing in executive headshots, corporate team photography, and commercial brand campaigns for founders, startups, and creative businesses.
❤️
Studio
© 2025 Brian DeSimone Photography.
(P.S. damn, your hair looks good today!)
About
Brian DeSimone is an Oakland-based portrait photographer serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley.
Specializing in executive headshots, corporate team photography, and commercial brand campaigns for founders, startups, and creative businesses.
❤️