Reviews · Yuriy Photography, Sarasota, Florida
Yuriy Photography reviews from families I have photographed
Families who booked me as their beach family photographer in Sarasota and on Siesta Key rate me 4.97 from more than 90 reviews, and again and again they write about patience with small children, big groups kept calm and photos back within days. Each one on this page comes from a family I photographed.
Rather ask something first? Text me.
If you're thinking about it book it! You will not be disappointed in the experience or the outcome of your pictures.
By Yuriy, the photographer at every session. The words below are the families' own, shortened only by whole sentences, with my name spelled one way and emoji, all-caps and extra exclamation marks left out.
Example from my sessions, not necessarily the family quoted
Rating
4.97
From more than 90 reviews, each left after a booked session.
Who wrote them
Fifteen states
Plus Canada and Germany, counting only the families on this page.
Gallery
2-5 days
Every photo edited by hand, no watermarks.
Family hour
For up to five people: mornings any day and Monday to Thursday evenings. Friday to Sunday evening is $450. Minis are $270 for 30 minutes, $200 for 15. See the calendar.
What families say about me as a Sarasota family photographer
When I read my reviews back, the photographs themselves usually come third. First comes how I was with the children: the toddler who would not stand still, the tired baby, the girls of seven and four, hit-or-miss ages for a photoshoot, as their mother put it. Second comes the plan: where to park, where exactly to meet, a gallery on the day I said it would be ready.
That is what a family on vacation is actually worried about, so I have grouped the reviews by the kind of family that wrote them rather than by date. Start with the one that sounds like yours; most groups end with a link to where that kind of session is booked.
01
Large family photographer reviews: groups of eight, nine, eleven and more
Eight to twenty people, three generations, cousins who have not stood next to each other since last summer. I photograph everyone together first, while the light is soft and nobody has wandered off, then each family on its own, then the grandparents with the grandchildren, and the youngest early, before the meltdown.
Bonnie, quoted here, came with eleven: six adults and five children, and she wrote that the shoot was easy and fun. The shortest version I have done: Melinda's family of eight arrived late for a 30-minute session, and we still got all their family pictures in the sixteen minutes that were really left. It is my record, and I would not plan on it: for more than ten people a mini is not possible, and an hour or ninety minutes is the calmer choice.
Six adults and five children
Yuriy was wonderful to work with. There were 11 of us - 6 adults and 5 children, and he made the shoot easy and fun. He was very organized, kind, and professional. He captured every shot we were hoping for and so much more. Yuriy is truly talented!
Large family session, eight people, three generations
Large family session, seven people, three generations
A group of 9 with children
Yuriy was great to work with! He helped us find the perfect location to take pictures for our family vacation. He was great with our large group of 9 people and especially good with the children. The photos he provided us were amazing and something we will cherish forever! We would definitely use him again if we are in the area
7 adults and a toddler, a 20th anniversary
He was awesome. Efficient & energetic. He made the shoot fun & simple getting all of our family pictures done in 20 min (because we were late) we were 7 adults & 1 toddler. We did the photos for our 20 year anniversary & did a 30 min session at 8am. It was perfect. The sky & ocean were gorgeous! We highly recommend Yuriy!
A large group, down to individual pictures
Yuriy was a wonderful photographer. We had a large group with lots of children and he worked great with them. He was very patient with us and was able to capture our whole group, all the way down to individual pictures. We would most definitely book him again on any future vacations. Professional, wonderful communication and very kind!
A large family
Very good communication beforehand we knew exactly where to go. He was so sweet and made sure our large family got all the shots we wanted!
The large families page has a calculator: enter how many people are coming and see the price before you book.
02
Toddlers, babies and kids who will not sit still
This is what families write about most. A child under three sets the pace of the whole session, so I photograph the youngest first, keep moving and let them run, splash, dig in the sand and hang off a parent's neck. I do not need a toddler to look at the camera; I need the parents to relax, and then the child does too.
With a baby or a toddler, the time of day matters more than anything I do on the sand. The best time guide has what I suggest for small children in each season; in summer it is often the early morning, cooler, calmer and ahead of the afternoon storms, while the little ones are still fresh. From December to February the evening sessions start earlier, in the mid-afternoon, while the light is still soft.
A tired 18-month-old, one hour
Yuriy was phenomenal! Working with a tired 18month old for an hour is not easy but Yuriy done wonderful and captured so many pictures. I would recommend him again and again!
Family session, parents with a toddler and a baby
Family session, a mother and her little daughter
Children, visiting from Germany
The photoshoot was an excellent experience from start to finish. You can immediately tell that there is real skill at work here: With a lot of finesse and a great eye for detail, fantastic pictures were captured in different settings. We were particularly impressed by the patient and loving way the children were treated, which made the atmosphere totally relaxed. The result exceeded our expectations!
Children aged 2 and 1, the right time of day
He was super responsive leading up to our session. He even helped guide us in choosing the ideal time for our kids while also considering the best lighting and avoiding the hottest part of the day. Yuriy captured so many beautiful images in a short timeframe. The most difficult part was choosing our favorite images, which he returned to us so fast.
An 11-month-old and a poodle
Yuriy was very professional and fun! Photos turned out great. He really captured the essence of our family. Thank you for your patience with our 11 month old baby and our poodle! We were extremely happy with Yuriy and would highly recommend him!
A baby who kept squirming
Wow, I'm speechless with the photos! I was not expecting them to turn out so good because our little baby kept squirming - but he knew exactly the angles to take! He knows what he's doing :) 10/10, definitely recommend! He is very kind, polite, and professional, as well. He is interesting to talk to - and he does not rush your session.
Mornings any day, evenings Monday to Thursday and a Friday to Sunday evening; the calculator shows your full price before you pay.
03
Siesta Key mini session reviews
Mini sessions run only on Siesta Key, at fixed times, and both lengths meet at the same place. A 15-minute mini is one setup on one stretch of beach and gives you 15 photos. A 30-minute mini has two or three setups, time to walk down the beach and 35 photos. The difference is how much of the family I have time to see, not the quality of the photos.
From Friday to Sunday the 30-minute mini also has a sunset slot, because that is the light everyone wants; it is priced separately, and the calculator shows the price before you pay. I send the meeting point and parking notes before the day, which is the part Jared's family mentions further down: updates through the day, so they reached me without any trouble. Minis are for people only; a dog can come to a family session of an hour.
Stubborn kids, a 30-minute mini on Siesta Key
He was amazing and so patient with my stubborn kids. I would recommend him to all my friends and family!
Mini session on Siesta Key, a father and his daughter
Mini session, parents and their baby
A 30-minute mini on Siesta Key
I was very impressed with how the photos turned out. I couldn't be happier.
Kids who would not sit still for long
We signed up for a 15 minute session as we didn't think our kids would be able to sit through anything much longer than that. He also provided us with multiple updates and directions throughout the day that way we would be able to get to him without any issues.
Minis run every morning and Monday to Thursday evenings; the 30-minute mini also has a Friday to Sunday evening slot.
04
Grandparents, birthdays and three generations
Often the person reading this page is the one paying for everyone: the grandmother who has flown the whole family in and is trusting a stranger with fourteen relatives. What she needs to know is practical. On Siesta Key I meet families at small beach accesses where the walk from the car to the water takes three to eight minutes, and wherever we meet, I tell you about the path before you come. Navigation apps sometimes bring people to the wrong access, so I send the parking and a pin for the meeting point by the water, and every access has its number on a sign. Come about five minutes early, five to ten with a big group: I usually have a session before and after yours, and that small buffer keeps your full time yours.
A birthday or an anniversary is often the reason the family is together at all, and it is worth saying when you book, so I plan the photos around the person it is for. If the whole family is sixteen or more, you can add a second photographer if you want one; just ask when you book.
A grandmother and her 3-year-old granddaughter
Yuriy was outstanding! He was very patient with my 3 year old granddaughter which I am very grateful for. He was professional, pleasant, nice, and flexible. Our pictures are absolutely beautiful!
Family session, three generations, six people
Three generations, girls of 7 and 4
I traveled to Florida with my girls & my mama for a quick vaca and was determined to get family pictures. 7 & 4 is hit or miss ages for cooperating for a photoshoot but Yuriy captured them better than I could have ever dreamed of. I would go back to Sarasota just to have him capture my family again & fully plan on it.
Twins' first birthday
Yuriy did an amazing job capturing our twins' first birthday. The photos came out beautiful and really captured the special moments of the day. He was professional, friendly, and easy to work with throughout the session. We're very happy with the pictures and would definitely recommend Yuriy to anyone looking to capture special memories.
Bringing several households? The calculator prices the whole group before you book, and my Siesta Key family photographer page shows the beach accesses I use.
05
Proposal and couples photography reviews
A proposal is the one session where half of the couple does not know it is happening. I plan it with the person asking: the day, the time, where I stand so I look like a stranger with a camera, and sometimes who holds the ring. The reviews below are from the people who asked, and one from a mother who helped plan her son's.
The proposal page walks through how that plan works, step by step.
A surprise proposal
Yuriy did an amazing job capturing our surprise proposal! From the very beginning, he was incredibly thorough, communicative, and reassuring, which helped calm my nerves knowing such an important moment was in great hands. He perfectly captured the surprise, the emotions, and every detail. The photos turned out absolutely beautiful, and we'll cherish them forever.
Proposal session, just after the yes
A surprise proposal
Yuriy was very good on explaining / helping me on how I should surprise my girlfriend by proposing to her! His plan worked flawlessly and the pictures turned out even better! Would definitely recommend!
A proposal
This proposal session was extraordinary. From the moment the camera came out, Yuriy made us forget he was even there. Every interaction was intentional, creating an atmosphere where nerves disappeared and were replaced with comfort, confidence, joy, and genuine connection. The proposal was captured with impeccable timing and remarkable intuition. Every glance, tear, smile, and embrace was preserved with breathtaking honesty.
A couple, 30 minutes
Our experience was absolutely amazing from start to finish. He is easy to work with and made the entire session feel relaxed and fun, which allowed us to capture more candid, natural moments that we truly love. Photos came out better than we could have imagined - and perfectly captured what I had envisioned. We will 100% be using him in the future!
A mother, on her son's surprise engagement
Yuriy was amazing! He helped select the best day and time and was part of my sons surprise engagement. Even hid the ring for him. The photos are breathtaking. Could not have asked for a better photographer! He was also super quick to respond to any questions we had. Loved his positive energy, confidence and happy personality! We'll use him again. Highly recommend Yuriy!
Proposal sessions are in the same booking calendar as everything else, with the price shown before you book.
Parents-to-be
None of my reviews so far names a maternity session, so I will not borrow someone else's words for it. A maternity session is an hour on the beach, calm and unhurried, with room for an older child to be in it.
The maternity page shows how that hour goes, what to wear and when in the pregnancy families usually come.
06
First time with a photographer, or you hate being photographed
Some families have never had professional photos taken, and in many groups someone tells me they hate being photographed. I do the posing for you, and most of it is something to do rather than a pose to hold: walk, hold hands, pick up the little one, whisper something to your partner. The photos come from what happens in between.
Before the day you get the meeting point with a pin, parking notes and what to wear, so the first time we meet is at the water, not in a parking lot looking for each other. On a first trip to the area, vacation family photos covers how to fit a session into the week.
Someone who hates having her picture taken
Yuriy was a great photographer! His communications were prompt and told us exactly when and where to meet him. I hate having my pictures taken but Yuriy actually made it fun. He was very creative using different settings. We loved our pictures and he captured some great memories of our vacation. Highly recommend this photographer.
Family session on Siesta Key, a family of five
Family session, a family of four
Walked me through everything, booking to ordering
A big thank you to Yuriy! He was very easy to work with as he helped walk me through everything from booking to ordering! A pleasure to work with!
First professional photos as a family
He accommodated for two crabby kids and separated photos with me and my sister as well as my fiance and our children. It was our first time having professional photos done as a family and he could tell so he helped pose us!
A first trip to Sarasota
The best experience! 100% recommend photos with Yuriy. They were everything we wanted when we booked! The turn around time and number of pictures we got back is incredible. This was our first trip to the Sarasota area, definitely won't be our last... and we will absolutely be booking another session with Yuriy on our next trip!
Parking and the meeting point
We had an incredible experience with Yuriy at Siesta Key - especially with kids which is no small feat. His communication was great - providing parking location and exact location to meet at the beach. The photos turned out absolutely stunning - clean, vibrant, and full of life without feeling over-edited.
More about me, or text me with a question first.
07
Weather, rescheduling and last-minute bookings
Florida weather is the one thing nobody can book around. I watch the actual sky on the day, not the rain icon on your phone, and an afternoon shower very often passes before the evening. If the evening is genuinely gone, I move the session to another morning or evening and you keep your deposit. There is no reschedule button in the booking system: you reply to the confirmation email or text me, and I move it.
Wind is different: strong wind can put hair across faces in a way that editing cannot always fix. That is also why I suggest booking early in the trip, so a rained-out evening has somewhere to go.
The calendar stays open until 12 hours before a session, so a family who decides mid-trip, or the morning after a storm, often still finds a slot.
The wrong day, then rain, then the next day
He showed us a great experience! he showed up even when I got the days wrong and he offered to do it that day, unfortunately the rain came in. However the next day he did an amazing job with an amazing spot!
Couples session on a very windy evening
Family session, a family of four
Storms, moved to the next morning
Yuriy was so energetic, fun and personable. We had storms roll in on the evening of our shoot and he was very quick to get us rescheduled for the next morning. Love so many of the photos he was able to capture!
A last-minute booking
You won't regret booking with Yuriy! Yuriy was extremely responsive and flexible with our very last minute booking. He made the experience comfortable and fun. And most importantly, the pictures came extremely quickly and are beautiful!
08
After the session: the gallery
The gallery is normally ready in 2 to 5 days, every photo edited by hand, with no watermarks and no extra charge for speed. How many edited photos each session includes is listed next to it on the Sessions page.
I do not do the over-flashed, burned-out beach look: the colors stay close to how the evening actually felt. As Vinny from Calgary wrote: clean, vibrant, and full of life without feeling over-edited. Rebecca from Murfreesboro, below, liked that they felt fun and modern rather than old-school beach pictures.
Family session at sunset, a family of four
Edited photos, back quickly
We had the best time with Yuriy! He was so easy to work with and made it memorable! Our edited pics came back quickly and are absolutely wonderful!
She expected one or two good ones
I was so excited to get these pictures done...but some little members of the family aren't always as excited. Yuriy was great from the beginning! Love love love how the pictures turned out. After the photo shoot I thought he may have gotten one or two good ones....wow I was wrong. Would definitely recommend!
Ready in 3 days
We had a wonderful experience with Yuriy. He was punctual, professional and clearly committed to making sure everything went smoothly. He was also incredibly friendly and easy to work with, which made me entire experience enjoyable. The photos turned out beautiful, and we were amazed that they were ready in just 3 days. We highly recommend him.
The style of the photos
Yuriy is fabulous! We could not be happier with our pictures. He made them fun and modern instead of the old school beach pictures. Highly recommend!
Every session there lists how many edited photos it includes.
Where these reviews come from
Each Airbnb review here was left after a real, paid session, by someone who took part in the booking. Airbnb is where I cannot edit a review or remove one; this page is my selection from them, grouped by kind of family. The newest families also write on Google, and those reviews are below. Google lets anyone write a review, so the ones I show there are only from people I photographed, each with the photos from that session.
Behind the 4.97 are more than 90 reviews, so this is not the whole list.
Every family on this page was photographed by me, and the About page has more about who I am. Booking here runs on my own calendar: pick an open time, see the full price before you pay, no message needed.
One of the newest
Yuriy was wonderful to work with. He was so skilled in his approach as the photos turned out great. He was also excellent with our toddler and got incredible shots from him.
Yuriy, the photographer at each session these families wrote about
Reviews on Google
Three generations
This was my first time booking with an out of town photographer, so I was hesitant on what the outcome would be. Well, I was blown away by the album that was delivered to my inbox. Beautiful, amazing shots, that in the moment felt so chaotic and I was sure there wouldn't be many good shots. Well, we got over 70 great shots to pick from! We were a group of 3 generations and Yuriy handled everyone with humor, professionalism and grace.
A family album
This guy really knows his stuff! He pays attention to the little details and is super friendly. We did a family photo shoot and wanted to put together a family album, and he absolutely nailed it! Great work, very professional, and we highly recommend him!
Three young kids
We highly recommend Yuriy! We had a great family photo session at the beach with our three kids. The photos turned out beautiful, and the whole experience was fun and relaxed. Yuriy is especially great with young kids - he knows how to make them laugh, keep things fun, and help everyone feel comfortable. Great quality, a friendly approach, and wonderful family memories. Exactly what we were hoping for!
Posed and candid
We had such a great time during our photo session! We got a mix of posed photos and natural, candid shots, and we had so much fun laughing and being silly along the way. Everything felt so easy and natural, like we were all on the same wavelength. We definitely recommend Yuriy!
Siesta Key Beach
We had a wonderful experience with Yuriy! The photos turned out exactly how we hoped, and now we have beautiful memories from our time at Siesta Key Beach. We’d love to do another session with him when the kids are a little older!
More on Google
Google is where families have started to leave reviews too, so this list is new and still short. The words are their own, shortened the same way as the rest of this page.
How booking works here
- 01
Pick the session
A mini on Siesta Key, an hour or ninety minutes for the family, or a large family session. The Sessions page has the current prices and open dates, and the large family calculator prices a big group before you book.
- 02
Pick a date and a start time
The calendar shows only the mornings and evenings I actually shoot on that date. It opens four months ahead and closes 12 hours before a session.
- 03
Hold it with a 30 percent deposit
The rest is paid after the session, and a cancellation more than 7 days before is refunded in full. Before the day I send the meeting point with a pin, parking notes and what to wear.
No message needed: the price is on the page before you pick a time.
What the reviews do not tell you
Some were written before the gallery
Some families leave the review before they have seen a single photo, so some of them praise the session rather than the pictures. I would rather be judged on the pictures. That is why the portfolio is sorted by kind of session: look at families like yours there too.
Wind can win
Hair across faces is not always fixable in editing; the weather section has how I handle weather on the day.
The photos are examples
The photographs on this page are from my sessions, but they are not necessarily of the family quoted next to them.
How to check any photographer
Whoever you book, look for four things: reviews with real names, towns and dates; a price you can see before you write; a clear answer on what happens if it rains; and photos of families the size and age of yours. On this site those are this page, Sessions, the weather section and the portfolio.
Questions about the reviews
Are these reviews real?
Yes. Every one is from someone I photographed. On Airbnb only a guest who booked and paid can leave a review. On Google anyone can write one, so the Google reviews here are only from people whose session I did, and each of them has the photos from it. The words are the families' own, shortened only by whole sentences, with my name spelled one way and emoji, all-caps and extra exclamation marks left out. Where these reviews come from explains the rest.
Why are most of your reviews on Airbnb and not on Google?
Because most families so far found me there, and that is where they left their review after the session. I have only just started with Google, and the first reviews there came in October 2026; they are in the Google section of this page. On Airbnb I cannot edit a review or remove one; this page is my selection from them, grouped by kind of family.
Can I book you directly?
Yes. On the Sessions page you pick the session, pick a date and a start time, and hold it with a 30 percent deposit. The price is on the page before you pick a time, and no message is needed.
Is it you who takes the photos, or a team?
It is me. I am behind the camera at every session booked on this site. For a group of sixteen or more you can also add a second photographer next to me, for more angles at the same moment; it is optional, just ask.
What if it rains or the wind is strong on our evening?
I watch the actual sky, not the rain icon. If rain takes the evening, I move the session to another morning or evening and you keep your deposit. Strong wind is different: it can put hair across faces, and editing cannot always fix that. Weather, rescheduling and last-minute bookings has what families wrote about it.
How soon do we get the photos?
The gallery is normally ready in 2 to 5 days, every photo edited by hand, with no watermarks and no charge for speed.
Your family, on the same sand
Pick your dates and the calendar shows the mornings and evenings that work; the calculator shows your full price before you pay. If you would rather ask something first, text me.
Rated 4.97 from more than 90 reviews, each left after a booked session.
A mother's 80th birthday
We really enjoyed our photography session! We made the trip for my mom's 80th birthday. We got several wonderful family photos that we will cherish. Highly recommend.