School photos should be amazing and so should the experience - for everyone. We are a team of professionals who specialize in portrait and event photography and bring 21st century technology into the process. For schools, we make scheduling easy and photo day fun. For families, we make every photo personal in a natural, comfortable environment. For businesses, we offer bespoke photography to meet business needs simply and elegantly. This isn’t the normal photography experience, but it should be.

  • Nathan Phillips - Owner - Nathan has been photographing schools around the Bay Area since 2013 and started Blue Note in 2015 (previously under the name Nathan Phillips Photography). A Berkeley native with a history in tech, a photography business, and a child in local schools, making school photography better for parents, children, and schools was a natural step. When not photographing schools, he photographs families, marketing and creative work for businesses, and headshots both in and out of the studio. www.nathanphillipsphotography.com


  • Catharyn Hayne

    Catharyn Hayne - Photographer - Catharyn has been a professional photographer for many years, dating back to the olden days of film where she got her start in commercial photography in New York City. Catharyn relocated to the Bay Area 20 years ago and, often with children in tow ( she has four), she immersed herself in sports photography. She regularly covers events for USA Water Polo, UC Berkeley athletics, and many more. Additionally she covers multi sport NCAA championship events and has shot for many Universities including UC Berkeley, USC, UC Davis, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, UC San Diego, Harvard, Dartmouth, among many others. Mornings used to be open for Catharyn but for the past couple of years they've been filled with children - yours. Blue Note Photography provides the coverage she wished her own kids had been offered at school! www.catharynhaynephotography.com

  • Ariel Nava - Photographer - Ariel never imagined that he would become a professional photographer. But, more than 10 years later, he has photographed weddings, portraits, children, Grammy winning artists, NBA/NFL/NCAA sports, festivals, news events, movie stills and politicians. His work has appeared in People Magazine, The East Bay Times, Esquire Magazine and in By - Billie Eilish. See more of Ariel's work at www.arielnava.com at on Instagram @arielnavaphotography

  • Katherine Briccetti - Photographer Emeritus- Katherine’s passion is photographing people, places, animals and events. She specializes in family portraits as well as professional headshots for actors, authors and those needing updated photographs for print and electronic media. Her photojournalism has appeared in the L.A. Times, Horse & Rider, Click Magazine, Family Dog, Novato Advance, Estuary News and Berkeleyside, and her portraits have been featured in Senior Guy Style and The 12th Year. She was awarded a Photo of the Year in the 2018 Click Voice Image Collection. www.kbriccettiphoto.com