No posing. No fake smiles.
Just your family, actually being your family.
I'm Yury — a photographer and former filmmaker based between LA and Orange County. I don't direct or pose you; I build space for real connection and catch what's true and cinematic in between — families, couples, newborns, weddings, milestones.
Selected work
100+ FAMILIES PHOTOGRAPHED →
My full cinematic edit, every photo
A relaxed, unscripted pace — nothing posed
A style guide before we shoot
Camera-shy or awkward on camera → gone in ten minutes
Kids won't cooperate → that's fine, nothing here is posed
Rain or a change of plans → we reschedule, no fee
The best light is the one you actually book.
I take a limited number of sessions each month — reach out and we'll find a date that works.
Enquire about a dateReal families, real moments.
A small sample from five kinds of sessions — click any photo to see the full set.
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Hi, I'm Yury — a photographer, and a dad.
I know how fast time moves, which is why I don't pose or stage sessions. I create space for real connection — a toddler playing, two people just being together, a room full of family celebrating something — and catch what's true in between.
With a cinematic eye from my years in filmmaking, I turn those moments into photographs that feel like movie stills — timeless and emotional. You'll leave with more than pictures — you'll leave with something worth holding onto.
How an hour with me goes
Four steps, and only one of them happens on the day.
Fill the quick form. I reply myself within the hour with dates and a plan.
A $100 retainer reserves your session; the full balance is due on the day of the shoot.
A relaxed hour (or more), built around real connection — not a shot list, not stiff posing.
Fully edited photos, delivered to a private online gallery.
Three sizes of the same care.
You're not paying for an hour of my time — you're paying for the version of this year you'll actually want on the wall. Every package includes a private gallery and my signature cinematic edit.
For one person. 45 minutes, one location, 15–20 fully edited photos.
Up to 60 unhurried minutes, 30 fully edited photos, plus 3 Polaroid prints handed to you the same day. A style guide a week before, so you're not guessing what to wear.
Up to 2 relaxed hours — room for an outfit change or a second location. 70+ edited images and 5 Polaroid prints.
Quinceañeras, graduations, milestone birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers, corporate events — I work the room instead of stopping the party for posed shots.
2-hour minimum · $350/hour for 4+ hours · consultation, editing, private gallery, and 50–70 photos per hour included.
Enquire about your eventWeddings — a few a year, by inquiry. From $1,400.
A $100 retainer holds your date; the rest is due the day of the session.
We reschedule once at no extra cost — I keep backup dates open.
Anywhere in LA or Orange County is included. Farther out? Just ask.
Mini Day slots are held with a $100 non-refundable retainer, and can't be moved to another date.
If you're not comfortable within the first 15 minutes of our shoot, I'll refund your deposit in full — no questions asked.
Book a session
"Incredible experience and even better photos! Thank you!"
Call or text (213) 824-5844
What families say.
"I usually hate being in photos, but Yury made the whole experience so relaxed and fun. And the results... wow! He captured us perfectly, just as we are."
"Yury is a magician! He somehow wrangled our two toddlers and produced photos that are pure joy. Patient, fun, and breathtaking images. Worth every penny."
"Hired Yury to shoot our wedding after seeing his family portfolio. Caught moments during the reception we didn't even know happened until we saw the gallery."
"Booked Yury when our son was just 9 days old. He was calm, quiet, and incredibly patient while we did feeds and diaper changes mid-session. Never once made us feel rushed."
"Compared prices with a few other LA photographers before booking — honestly the Standard package gave us more usable, print-worthy images than a session costing nearly double elsewhere."
"Incredible experience and even better photos! Thank you!"
"We'd tried three photographers over the years and always ended up with the same stiff, forced photos. Yury spent the first ten minutes just letting our kids run around before he even picked up the camera."
"My wife dragged me to this thinking I'd hate it. I didn't. Easy, no awkward posing, and somehow I look decent in every shot. 10/10."
"We're both awkward in front of cameras and were honestly dreading this. Yury talked us through little prompts instead of poses and by the end we were just laughing."
"I felt so unphotogenic at 8 months pregnant and almost cancelled twice. Yury made me feel genuinely beautiful — not overly-retouched, but like myself, just glowing."
"This was our third session with Yury — engagement, maternity, and now our daughter. Watching the style stay consistent across three chapters of our life has been really special."
Booked for my son's 5th birthday. What stood out: showed up early, got candid shots of every kid not just mine, gallery delivered fast, fair hourly rate.
"I was so nervous going in — hadn't taken a real family photo in years. Fifteen minutes in I genuinely forgot the camera was there."
"Kids were wild that day. Yury didn't even flinch. Photos came out amazing anyway — booking again next year for sure."
"I cried when I saw our photos. Happy tears! Yury documented our family's love perfectly — the little looks, the quiet moments, all of it."
"Threw my husband a 40th birthday party and wanted candid coverage instead of a stiff step-and-repeat. Nobody even noticed Yury working half the time."
"Booked Yury for a leadership offsite and client dinner. Unobtrusive during meetings, clean candid shots for our website, gallery turned around fast."
"Our anniversary party had three generations in one room. Yury worked the room instead of stopping the party for group shots, and still got a perfect one of all of us."
Places that always work.
A few of my favorite spots across LA and Orange County, and what makes each one work for real, unposed sessions.
Golden hour on the sand — a big, open backdrop with room to move. I plan around low tide and start about 90 minutes before sunset.
Full guide
Parking near Point Dume or El Matador fills up early on weekends. Bring a light layer — it cools off fast once the sun drops.
Shaded lawns and big old trees, minutes from the city — a quieter, greener side of Griffith Park than most people expect.
Full guide
Flat and stroller-friendly despite the park's hillier reputation — easy parking near the picnic areas.
Concrete, murals, real city energy — an editorial backdrop for anyone who wants something bolder than a park or beach.
Full guide
Weekday mornings are quieter — cleaner backgrounds, no street closures or crowds.
Clean white walls, controlled light, zero weather risk — a simple, timeless backdrop when the focus should stay entirely on you.
Full guide
Good option year-round, and easiest to schedule since it isn't weather- or light-dependent.
Your own space, on your own schedule — often the most relaxed option, and usually the one people are most surprised by.
Full guide
Works anywhere in LA or Orange County. No prep needed beyond tidying whatever room we start in.
Shaded, green, storybook light — no midday sun to fight. Easiest option for strollers or multiple generations joining.
Full guide
The Arroyo trails give texture — old stone bridges, olive trees — without needing a permit for casual portraits.
Manicured and easy to reach — a clean, simple option when comfort matters more than a dramatic backdrop.
Full guide
Shaded paths mean we're not racing the sun — mid-morning works just as well as golden hour.
Some of the bluest water in the county at Laguna, a gentler feel at Newport just up the coast. My go-to for Orange County sessions of every kind.
Full guide
Great for multi-generation sessions and anyone making a full day of it — I usually suggest a nearby café after.
Dramatic bluffs and ocean views without the Malibu crowds — quieter, wide open, and less picked-over.
Full guide
Light stays workable most of the day here, so we're not boxed into a tight sunset window like the busier beaches.
Let's capture your family.
Fill the quick form — it takes 30 seconds. I'll reply with availability and a short plan.
My full cinematic edit
A free style guide before we shoot