These are some “Love Notes” from our lovely clients. If you have one you’d like to leave, just use the comments at the bottom of the page!

Our 4-year old can be extremely shy around adults and never likes to have his photo taken. Anna was amazing with him. She managed to earn Adrian’s trust in a matter of minutes and boy did he come out of his shell! The result of which, is a collection of absolutely gorgeous photographs that we’ll treasure forever.

Thanks Anna!
Susie and Chris G., San Jose, CA (Willow Glen)

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Anna, My experience with you was so memorable. You were so gentle and kind to Ava, who at the time was scared of everyone strange. The pictures you took were so amazing that when you first showed me the slide show, I was so emotional I cried. It is something my husband and I will truly cherish the rest of our lives. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and we will most definitely do another photo shoot again.

Thanks,
Christina F.  Los Gatos, CA

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We have to say honestly that we love each and every picture you took of our family. You truly captured in pictures the essence of our children’s spirit. We treasure each picture and get compliments on our photo gallery every time someone sees it in our home. Thank you for the amazing gift of capturing this moment in time for us to have always. We look forward to our next session with you.

With gratitude,
Lisa S., Los Gatos, CA

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Anna, is, in a nutshell, phenomenal.  She has an uncanny ability to capture the most precious moments and turn an otherwise normal moment into a magical memory.  She literally had me in tears when she put on the slideshow of our family’s images this past December.  My husband and I were amazed to see all of the beautiful images she got of our family – you’d never guess that none of our kids were cooperating that day!  Anna’s work is, simply put, fantastic.

Donna, San Jose, CA

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Anna did a fabulous job on capturing our beautiful newborn Lindsay. She got such incredible images!  The really special part was that they were in our home. Not only will we remember her at such a precious age, but we had it captured in the place she spent her first years! It is so personal and something we will cherish forever. With a new little one on the way we will be sure to call Anna again! She did a remarkable job, and I have not seen her talents paralleled!

Thank you so much Anna!
Elizabeth B., San Jose, CA (Willow Glen)

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Year after year, we are more amazed by Anna’s work than before. She has this amazing way of capturing our family in ways that no other photographer has in the past & has fun doing it. As with most families, we always start the day of our photo session as stressed & up to our ears in wardrobe chaos. Anna has a way of stepping in, calming everyone down, while quickly helping us narrow down our outfits. The photo sessions are so fun & casual, the kids even get to wear Tutu’s & Pirate attire! During the time she has been at our home, we have often forgotten that she is actually “working” & have ended the day with “Hmmm… I don’t know if she got any good shots, we stopped a lot to chit chat, wipe noses, change diapers & hand out snacks”, but then quickly remind ourselves “Of course she got good shots… It’s Anna!”.

We are so proud to show off Anna’s work in our home & brag about her all the time. We couldn’t be happier & can’t wait for our next photo session!!!

Lifelong Happy Customers,
The Grove Family, San Jose, CA
Steve, Jen, Jackson (4 yrs) & Sydney (19 months)

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My husband has worked in the professional photography industry, and he is an amateur photographer, so it means a lot that we chose to hire Anna to take our family photos. The two of us have always appreciated the art of photography, and Anna Mayer captures the essence and emotion one should feel when viewing portrait photography. Her photos tell a story. She is an artist and she takes her work seriously, and pulls out the raw emotion especially in children. Our hallways are lined with Anna Mayer images and we think of them as pieces of art that will be with us forever. We will hire her again and again and we will continue to recommend her to family and friends.”

Katie Z., San Jose, CA (Willow Glen)
(mother of Christopher (7) & Carolyn (5)

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I am the type of person who has what I call “Mom moments”.  I have moments where I look at my children and I say to myself “Please god, burn this memory into my heart and never let me forget it.”  It could be hearing the laughter of my two oldest ones playing together in the tub or simply just glancing over at my husband who is holding our newborn with his little fingers wrapped around his.  Those moments, that slip by us so quickly that you want to hold onto and never let go.

I choose Anna as our family photographer not only because I adore her as a person, but also because I have never seen any other styles of photography quite like hers.  And every time I sit down to view our latest photo shoot I say to myself “There, there they are, those ‘Mom moments’ and they are mine to keep forever.”

Carrie & Johnny M. P.J, Anna & Alexander, too.

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My family has been fortunate enough to have Anna capture the special times in our lives several times, and each time it has been an amazing experience…which can be tough with a VERY rambunctious 2 year old!  The last couple sessions we have had, my 2 year old was not in a very cooperative mood, but none the less…Anna somehow managed to get him involved and captured some amazing family pictures that we will treasure forever.  The photos sessions are truly enjoyable and the ordering sessions are even more amazing. Watching the slideshow of images unfold, I am in tears each time – truly beautiful. I know my children will look back on the images of their mommy pregnant, and their first days at home and enjoy the images as much as I do now.

Lindsay & Dave G. San Jose, CA

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I had seen your work before and knew we had to have you photograph our son, Clark.  My husband and I are not the most comfortable in front of a camera and on our session day, Clark was woken mid-nap and not very happy either.  You managed to get Clark (4 months old at the time) to belly-laugh which was quite a feat of magic.  I remember thinking when you left that there were some good moments captured, but nothing quite prepared me for what we saw on our viewing day.  Every picture was absolutely amazing; every one brought a tear to my eye!  I wish we could have you photograph Clark every month!

Becoming a mother has been an amazing and surprising experience for me and I can’t wait to have more children.  Mainly so you can photograph them!  Hahaha!

Thanks a million!

-Katie Heredia

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Anna Mayer is truly a magician. Over the past four years with her, we know how great the photos come out — and knowing during the photo shoot sessions she somehow navigated children’s tears, overcast weather, sick animals, and even crashing waves. It’s amazing how she consistently captures our family as they truly are naturally. We just do what we do and Anna takes great photos – it is that simple. She makes it a great time with her every time, so we never feel rushed or unconfortable. The worst part of working with Anna? You have to decide from so many spectacular photos; of course, you could just buy them all. And, no matter how many photos you get, Anna offers some creative ways to print and display the images.

We offer our highest recommendation to Anna Mayer and her staff of professionals.

Melisa & Brian G., San Jose, CA

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Hi Anna,  I just wanted to drop you a note to tell you how much I love the photos that you did of Hunter. The large size prints look fantastic in my house and I have redone the entry hall to showcase the photos (inspired by your studio). My neighbors love the photos, so do not be surprised to get a bunch of calls from the Lansford block.

At out last shoot I was so worried that the photos would not come out great because Hunter was in such a mood. I was amazed to see that you were able to capture the sweetness in him as well as show his mischievous side in a playful way. Your easy nature also helped me to feel comfortable when he resisted. One of my favorite shots was taken when you were chatting with me and clicking away at the same time with Hunter swinging from the tree. You just have a great way about you and wonderfully artistic eye. I look forward to our next shoot!

Thanks again,
Gina V.E. San Jose, CA (Willow Glen)

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I have to say that my family and I had such a wonderful time from the beginning of the experience to the end.  Anna was amazing with our eight month old son Max.  She had no problem coaxing the smiles from him (along with Mom and Dad jumping around in the background!)  The portraits that we purchased of our son and family have made our home feel so special.  We also purchased our Christmas cards through Anna and they were a huge hit with all of our friends and family.  We are looking forward to our next session!

Sincerely,
Sydney M. and little Max, Gilroy, CA

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Anna is amazing.  She effortlessly captures the essence of the moment and the individual.  You hardly notice her during the session yet her captions and photos are breathtaking.  She gave us a lifetime of treasured memories not possible any other way and is worth many times more than she charges.
Stacey P., San Jose, CA (Willow Glen)

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We have been very happy with our experiences with Anna.  Our first experience was a Short & Sweet Session and my toddler decided she would act up during her 15 minutes.  I was certain there was no way Anna was going to get a good photo and yet, somehow, we ended up with 15 beautiful photos that really captured the spirit of our daughter.  We have a collage of some of the photos hanging in our house and everyone who sees it comments on how wonderful the photos are.

We have had a couple more sessions since and beyond the obvious beautiful photographs that we end up with, I have also found working with Anna to be very easy.  I’m not someone who likes getting my picture taken but Anna doesn’t make me feel self-conscious.  We did a recent newborn session and Anna was very patient with the newborn’s needs—what could have been a hectic session was instead a very relaxing morning.  Having those moments captured in such beautiful photographs is something I know we will always treasure.

Aaron & Amy B., San Jose, CA

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One morning several years ago while standing in a groggy line at Starbucks on Meridian Avenue, I looked up to find a stunning photograph and the tiny subject’s wide child eyes staring back at me from between black wrought iron posts of a headboard. This was no posed child. Nobody was waving Elmo at this child to make her smile. The morning sunlight that poured into the room was ethereal and lit the child’s blond hair. I was pretty mesmerized. Even after I got my latte.

This was what I wanted to hang on my wall. Art. Photographs of my children that could be Art. Not like photos I’d seen that were like child arrangements or a still life. I wanted the colors and light and simplicity that I saw in these photos in my home. I wanted ethereal.

When Anna returned my call, she asked about my girls; asked about our daily schedule, routine. When she arrived to photograph my 2-year old, she put me at ease right away.  More importantly, she had my girl— who had the habit of burying her face behind my knee—-peeking around my legs and getting curious about the camera, about the white canvas that Mommy got to hold. We chatted about day to day stuff, which sounded familiar to my daughter. She went about her business and the pictures were casual, professional. And real. And wonderful. They captured my child, in her element. In her deep play.

Nothing was rushed. No photographs were forced. I felt comfortable because my child was comfortable and happy. And now I have a sweetness in photographs on my walls that I could never capture. That Elmo—bless him—could never muster. I’ve got the ‘real’ of my daughters. I’ve got ethereal.

Kathryn M., San Jose, CA (Rose Garden)

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Our experience with Anna exceeded all hopes and expectations. Her photos are gorgeous, natural and artistic. She and her team made the whole process enjoyable and easy. Our only problem is trying to decide which photos to order. We got the basic package, but there are so many fantastic shots that this simply is not near enough! We cannot wait to order more and plan to work with Anna for upcoming family portraits in years to come. We are so grateful to have found her.

Amy V., Santa Cruz, CA

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Hi Anna, Recently I was asked “What really make you happy” and I honestly answered…. Anna Mayer! Whenever there is a bit of doubt in the world, maybe some uncertainty about this strange economy, what is constant and true are the amazing memories that you have captured throughout the years! When I reflect on those moments in time while thumbing through my beloved albums, happy thoughts come to mind. I thank you for that, from the very bottom of my heart.

I hope that you are well and prosperous.

Darcey A. San Jose, CA (Willow Glen)

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We were given a gift from a friend for a sitting with Anna and truly didn’t know what to expect.  Of course when photo day rolled around Lilly was having one of those days and I expected the worst.  Anna came into our home and stole Lilly’s heart instantly. As a result the photos turned out fantastic and completely captured the personality of our daughter from the sweet little girl jumping on the bed to the famous grumpy face!  Anna has a gift and we were lucky to be blessed by it!

Rosemary T., San Jose, CA

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Anna,  Your photos are amazing.  I have taken loads of pictures of the same kid in the same room and never managed to get her skin to light up or to make her blue eyes sparkle like that.  The “poses” were unique and natural and you captured some precious expressions.  When we showed your photos to people, they all asked us if we had an agent for Francesca.   The composition and quality of the pictures make them look more like art prints than family pictures so I’m even more proud to display them all over my house.  The print options, like the storyboards, where you put three or four pictures into one print, are an elegant and easy way to maximize the pictures on display without the clutter (or expense) of a zillion frames and prints.  I can’t wait to see how the pictures of my son come out … See you in a couple of weeks.

Jenifer C., Morgan Hill, CA  (Francesca)

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We just had a new addition to our family and wanted to update our wall photos to include her. We were so nervous to have Anna photograph us.  Would our two year old behave? Would he cooperate?  Would the newborn be awake?  Would she smile for Anna if she was?  Anna was so sweet and patient with our family.  My son loved playing in front of her camera and showing off.  My daughter was just not in the mood that day and I was really disappointed.  Anna was so understanding and offered to come back another day to try again with my daughter. When my husband and I finally saw our photos, we couldn’t stop smiling!  Anna did a wonderful job capturing our family life!  We didn’t know we could look so good!

Thank you Anna!
Elena & Amos (Nathaniel and Addison too!), San Jose, CA

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A first impression of Anna is that she’s laid back and easy going. You might begin to wonder, is she going to get good pictures? Have no fear, this woman is talented -very talented. Somehow she manages to capture the most priceless moments, looks & gestures of your wee ones. We love her work from start to finish!

Molly M., San Jose, CA (Willow Glen)

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It was a Thursday during summer and my family didn’t feel like putting their good clothes on… Then we met Anna by a brick wall in Las Gatos for our short and sweet session.  I love photography. I love receiving professional, crisp photos of my beautiful children.  Getting the photos are my little reward for all the work I put in everyday as a Mother.  Pictures capture memories… and one day, down the road, when my kids are grown and gone, I will have these precious gifts to remind me of a special time in life that I never want to forget.  Anna is more than a great photographer…She is an old soul with an amazing gift.  She is sweet, calm, funny and she captures moments in time and expressions on faces that actually tell you a story. Anna is an artist.  She can take the stresses out of dressing up and getting to the Brick Wall on time and turn that moment into fun for the kids (and a gift for the parents.)  I cherish Anna’s art and that is why my family and I will continue to grow with her behind the scenes, capturing moments for us to cherish……. for a lifetime!

Kim and Jim M., Menlo Park, CA
Natalie (11) Harry (8)

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Anna has an amazing gift! My husband says all the time of her, “She is brilliant”. The way she captures a precious moment or our children’s personalities is such a gift. We have been blessed a few times to have Anna photograph our family. No matter the chaos or demeanor of our children she has taken beautiful pictures that contradict what we know was going on behind the scenes. Our youngest child was born with a rare neurological disease. Now four, he still has the ability of a newborn. He has many difficult days and even on a good day he doesn’t open his eyes very much. He doesn’t smile on cue or even focus his gaze but from the pictures that Anna has taken you would never know it. What she has captured with her camera is priceless. We have all these wonderful pictures displayed in a wall gallery in our family room. People are always commenting on the quality and beauty, and what a treasure to have such amazing pictures of our special son. We truly treasure these captured memories above most other possessions.

Jennifer P., Benecia, CA