San Francisco Location Ideas for Your Family Photo Session

May 28

This city of ours has SO many magical locations for sessions! From iconic views to gorgeous greenery, we really can’t go wrong when it comes to choosing a spot for your photos. And truly, what I’m focussed on the most when we work together, is the connection between you and your family. So no matter what the backdrop, it’s YOU who is going to shine!

This list is long, and its just a start! Looking forward to choosing the perfect spot for you!

your favorite park!

Definitely my number one suggestion! If there’s a spot that your family loves and enjoys, that is going to translate into everyone feeling most at ease during our session together, and to photos that feel that much more meaningful. Your joy and love for each other is my main focus, and I promise I can find a fun backdrop and lovely light anywhere.

Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park

There are so many little pockets with gorgeous backdrops and so much variety.

Note that the botanical gardens are free for SF residents with proof of residency (ID), but otherwise do charge admission.

Lincoln Steps

This is on the edge of Lincoln Gold course, and the stairs themselves have a really pretty mosaic (lots of yellows and greens). Then above is a wooded area with a path so we can get some shots in the trees as well. The Legion of Honor is just up the hill and a great option as well!`

Legion of Honor

White stone walls and white columns. Creates a beautiful blank canvas for you and your family to shine.

Lands end trail

I keep finding myself starting to type ‘this is one of my absolute favorites’ for every single location… and then I stop myself because I don’t want to play favorites and I quickly realize that I just love each and every spot for so many different reasons. But Lands End is just so special. It really is one of my favorites! (I can’t help myself). No matter the weather, there is just something about being on the very edge of the city surrounded by sea and trees that brings the magic.

sutro baths

Such an iconic SF spot and favorite backdrop for photos! And for good reason! When the fog breaks, the sunsets here can be pretty magical. And when the fog is thick, its such a dreamy location with waves on one side and calm reflecting water on the other. And gorgeous rocks and green hillside as backdrops on the other side. There is quite a steep staircase down and some pretty big drops at the baths themselves, so I reserve this spots for couples/maternity sessions or with older kiddos.

sutro heights park

On those busy fall weekend days when Lands End and Sutro Baths is filled with people, Sutro Heights park feels like a hidden little gem just across the street. Stone walls, steps, trees, and flowers - this spot has a bit of everything! And when the light hits just right, evening sessions can include some pretty stunning photos looking south down Ocean Beach from above.

DeYoung (and The Music Concourse)

The DeYoung exterior is made up of this incredible textured copper wall that is a gorgeous backdrop for photos. I love that this location also allows us to do some images by the museum and then just steps away is the music concourse and ferris wheel giving us a completely different backdrop.

golden gate park

SO. Many. Spots! I still pinch myself that I get to live in this incredible city whenever I am in Golden Gate Park! There are redwood groves, Stow Lake, meadows, trails, flower gardens… the list goes on and on and the real beauty is that we can always find somewhere tucked away from a lot of other people.

Presidio

This one gives me a similar feeling as GGP - just full of incredible paths and groves of trees and some even give us views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Presidio is also filled with some historic buildings which give us a variety of colors and textures as backdrops for images.

lover’s lane/wood line

I guess I could have included this one with the Presidio, but feels worthy of it’s own title. The Woodline is a curvy line of eucalyptus branches on the forest floor, created by artist Andy Goldsworthy. It’s pretty spectacular, and a popular spot for photos so can sometimes get crowded on weekends. My favorite times are early in the day or weekdays.

Chrissy Field and Baker Beach

These two are completely different locations with completely different looks/feels but I’ve lumped them together here because they are the most requested spots when it comes to ‘beaches with a view of the bridge’. If that’s what you’re hoping for, then we can dig into pros/cons and unique elements of each spot. But first I’d make sure you know that I have zero control over the fog and absolutely can’t guarantee that we get a view at all! (Personally, I love a foggy photo session, but would hate for any disappointment if the bridge stays hidden.)

Ocean Beach

The dunes ares so pretty! Hills of sand and tall grasses make for a gorgeous backdrop for photos no matter the weather.

Note that I don’t recommend this spot (or any beach location) if you have young sand-eating kiddos ;)

Fort Point

Another fave. This is where I got married so I am giving myself permission to put this in my favorite category. I love the brick, the architecture, the views of the bridge, the way the light and shadows sit in those hallways and arches. All around an absolute stunner!

Note that this spot can be very windy! If you want your hair to stay put then its definitely not the location for you! Also there are some fall hazards so with young kiddos, there needs to be some extra caution as well.