LOCATION GUIDE

Cavallo Point

Cavallo Point is on the north side of the bridge and most likely requires a car because you do need to cross the Golden Gate Bridge. Once you’re on the other side of the bridge, it’s remote with less tourists, flat for easy walking and offers lots of environmental variety. It’s great for kids of all ages but also a really romantic couple’s spot as well.

If you have little’s that are already up, it’s a great fit for a sunrise session. If sunset is more your speed, it’s also an absolutely stunning sunset behind the bridge.

Cavallo Point is also right next to the Bay Area Discovery Museum so always a great way to extend your time in Marin if you are looking for a day activity for kiddos.

Fort Point/Chrissy Field

This iconic area of San Francisco is hard to beat. Parking can be a bit tricky but there is some free parking in certain areas and is also easy to access via car share. This area can be a “choose your own adventure” as well. If you have a young family that needs a stroller or limited walking, this area is great for that. If you up for a longer stroll along the coast, that is lovely too! This area has lots of different environements close by so it’s perfect if you’d like a variety of images.

This area is maybe one of the most touristy locations in the city so it will never be private or empty. Sessions here are best at sunrise or on a weekday about an hour prior to sunset. It’s so versatile and is a perfect location for families or couples.

Palace of Fine Arts

Most people know this amazing location and it is a photo session staple in the city. The Palace is usually bustling with photoshoots, tourists and locals alike. This location is best on warm days (the rotunda is like a wind tunnel) and during the week. There is free street parking with flat, easy and accessible walking and is great for kids of all ages. Dogs are allowed but much be leashed.

*Please note that photographer robberies and muggings are very high at this location so I take these sessions on a case by case basis.

The Presidio - Redwood Grove

I love to have my earthy locations feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. However, this stunning grove is right in the middle of the city with easy accessibility for locals or visitors. There is free parking but requires a 5 minute walk down stairs and a dirt path.

These shady trees make this location wonderful for almost any time of day (a great option for littles on regulated schedules). This location is great for couple’s, children of all ages and dogs.

The Presidio Redwood Grove can also easily be combined with the Presidio Eucalyptus Grove

The Presidio - Eucalyptus Grove

How I love this location! A stunning Eucalyptus grove adorned with crawling vines and rustic fallen branches, what’s not to love! Parking here is free and usually plentiful. There is a short walk to the location, about 5 minutes on a dirt path. Strollers can bump along if necessary.

The Grove is best in the few hours prior to sunset. This location is great for couple’s, children of all ages and dogs.

The Presidio Redwood Grove (above) can also easily be combined with the Presidio Eucalyptus Grove.

Golden Gate Park - Redwoods

A beautiful Redwood Grove right in the middle of the city. This location has beautiful rock beds, lush greenery and is very easily accessible for strollers, all mobilities, dogs and kids of all ages.

This location has stunning light in the morning so it’s a perfect location for tiny littles that do best in the morning. Sunset sessions often take place after baby’s bedtime so morning sessions are a great option. Parking is free and also close to the following location (Golden Gate Park Pond) so it’s very easy to combine the two for ultimate environmental variety!

Golden Gate Park - Pond

Another hidden gem in the middle of Golden Gate Park is Lily Pond. Parking is free, usually plentiful on weekday mornings and is accessible for all mobilities. It’s a perfect location for littles one who are still being held, but a tad tempting for walking toddlers who might want to get close to the water. It’s also great for dogs.

This location has stunning light in the morning so it’s a perfect location for tiny littles that do best in the AM before nap. Sunset sessions often take place after baby’s bedtime so morning sessions are a great option. This pond is close to many other locations and is easily combined to a Redwood Location (above).

Mallard Lake, Golden Gate Park

A hidden gem in the middle of Golden Gate Park. This lake is sweet, simple and feels remote but is steps away from free street parking. Birdlife and tortoises are sometimes visible which can be fun for older kiddos. It’s a perfect location for littles one who are still being held, but a tad tempting for walking toddlers who might want to get close to the water.

For couples - this location is also super romantic and a picnic can be incorporated for a fun date-centric session. This location is best at sunset.

Dolores Park

A San Francisco staple, Dolores Park is one of the most recognizable parks in the city. With stunning views of the skyline and a rich park culture, this location is great for all ages, mobilities, dogs and families. For SF visitors, there can be some recreational drug use here as well as unhoused individuals at times.

Parking is limited but sessions here take place in the early morning when parking is much more accessible and tourism is at it’s minimum.

Ocean Beach

I love the beautiful simplicity of the Pacific Coast. Ocean Beach has beautiful sandy and grassy dunes with blooming flowers in the spring and tall grasses year round. This location provides a look into SF life and culture. Surfing, exercising and dog walking are year round and in my opinion Ocean Beach has some of the best sunsets in the city!

Our summers are notoriously foggy so Ocean Beach is best in the Fall, Winter and Spring. Parking is plentiful and this location is amazing for dogs and kids of all ages.

Lands End

Lands End is another SF photoshoot staple and also a “choose your own adventure” location. If you’d like to get straight to it, the session can be done just a few minutes from the parking lot. If you’d like to take a hike with me and enjoy the great outdoors and some serious cardio, I’d love to! Let’s do it!

No matter your choice, this location is stunning, has tons of variety (trees, cliffs and ocean views) and looks wonderful all year round. Parking is free and usually accessible on weekdays. However, parking can be difficult on weekends as it is a touristy location. Lands End is great for couples, kids and dogs are allowed on leash.

I recommend Lands End sessions at sunset, or as close to sunset as possible. This location is right next to and is easy to combine with the Sutro Baths.

Sutro Baths

The Sutro Baths are unique and beautiful ruins right on the Pacific Coast. The parking for this is the same as for Lands End (above) and is very touristy year round. Sessions are best here on weekdays and can be combined with Lands End.

The Sutro Baths are not an easily accessible location. The stairs down to the water are slippery dirt and the concrete path ways along the water and thin and require good balance and comfort with heights. The hike back up can be strenuous. This location is not suitable for dogs or young children.

San Francisco City Hall

You don’t need to be getting married here in order to have your session in this striking building. City Hall is free to the public but since it is an operating government building, it can be incredibly busy. It is best for a session on a weekday in the early morning. It’s very romantic but can also be a lovely location for a family session as well since it’s stroller friendly.

This location is not suitable for dogs or large families but more so for small families or couples. Parking is paid and you will need to go through metal detectors and security.

Legion of Honor

The Legion of Honor Museum is another one of those iconic SF locations with architecture for days.

This location is easy to access, great for all ages and any range of mobility. Dogs are allowed on the outside of the structure and we can usually shoot just about any time of day because lighting is dynamic and easy to work with.

One thing to note: The museum is now open so there will be lots of guests and tourists around during business hours. Parking will also be limited. For use of the center courtyard, sessions will need to happen during business hours. For more quiet and calm sessions, consider scheduling during closed hours.

Saturday 9:30 AM–5:15 PM

Sunday 9:30 AM–5:15 PM

Monday Closed

Tuesday 9:30 AM–5:15 PM

Wednesday 9:30 AM–5:15 PM

Thursday 9:30 AM–5:15 PM

Friday 9:30 AM–5:15 PM

Blue Heron Lake (formerly known as Stowe Lake), Golden Gate Park

Blue Heron Lake is another gem in Golden Gate Park. This lake is a delight and perfect for kids of all ages. There is some walking involved but a stroller can bump along a dirt path if desired.

The lake has a cute bridge, a waterfall, bird life aplenty and is flat. This location is best a few hours prior to sunset so this can be great fit for littles if they have an earlier bedtime.

Dogs are allowed and parking is free.

Fort Funston

Fort Funston is one of my all time favorites and can be a “choose your own adventure” session. This location can be tailored to families with littles that can’t make it too far from the car, for maternity sessions or it can be an adventure hike all the way down to the beach. It’s the perfect catch-all location.

This is a veeery dog friendly space so dogs are welcome. If you or others are timid around dogs, be advised there are dogs off leash everywhere.

Parking is free and plentiful. This location is best at sunset.

The Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens are a lovely option for a serene, stroller friendly and truly diverse location! The Gardens have topographies from all over the world so depending on the type of nature experience you’d like, the gardens probably have it! The Gardens are free for SF residents and $15 per guest for non-SF residents. The hours of the park is the main aspect that requires a bit of planning. Sessions here are best in the morning on a weekday or an hour before closing on a weekday. Weekends here are especially busy with tourists and also events held in Golden Gate Park do making weekend parking a bit tricky.

Open Daily at 7:30am-Last Entry
The Garden closes one hour after last entry. Last entry changes seasonally.

Spring & Summer Last Entry
2nd Sunday in March – September: 6pm

Fall & Winter Last Entry
February – 2nd Sunday in March: 5pm
October – Early November: 5pm
1st Sunday in November – January: 4pm

This location is great for kiddos of all ages for an AM or late afternoon session and also a very romantic location for couple’s as well. There will be quite a bit of walking so be sure to bring walking shoes or wheels to tote around kiddos!

Your Own Home

In-home sessions offer a uniqueness that can’t be matched. Our homes hold such a dear place in our hearts, especially if it’s the home we bring our children home to. I love In-Home sessions for all ages but especially for newborn sessions. Everything you need for baby or children is at your fingertips and outfit changes are a breeze. In-home sessions are sweet, calm, intimate and your home is immortalized for generations to come.

In home sessions will take place near natural light from windows, sky lights or doorways. I might rearrange some furniture to get the best light but overall, it’s simple and so so sweet.

Adventure Beach Hike in Marin

If you and your crew are hikers and are interested in an adventure, this is the location for you! I adore Tennessee Beach in Marin. It’s a 1.8 mile hike in from the parking lot and along the way, there are plenty of spots to stop for photos. Once we are to the ocean, there is an absolutely stunning secluded beach cove.

This location is for avid hikers, great for athletic dogs and water, hiking shoes, and a change of clothes are advised!

Los Altos Hills

There is nothing quite like this preserve. Up in the Los Altos Hill is a free horse preserve accessible to the public. Parking is free and well behaved, leashed dogs are allowed. It is about a 5 minute hike up a medium incline hill along a dirt path. This location is wonderful for kids of all ages though keep in mind little ones will need to be careful of rough brush, horsie poo and the hike up the hills. If you have a small baby, then baby can easily be carried.

It’s a wonderful location for couples as well. It’s beyond romantic and lends itself to so many fun poses! This location is best a couple hours prior to sunset. The horses, farm and rolling hills create a stunning backdrop and magical experience for all.

Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland

The Oakland Redwoods are truly a stunning location for anyone in the Bay Area. With tons of hiking, dirt biking, picnic areas, etc, it’s a wonderful destination for anyone looking to explore the great outdoors.

My session location is up at the top of the hill, parking is free but sometimes minimal. Cell reception here is so great so I like to make sure my clients are well prepared logistically prior to our session.

The walk to our location is a short, flat 5 minute walk and is great for kids of all ages, dogs and is also great for larger families too as there is plenty of room!

Rodeo Beach/Marin Headlands

The combination of Rodeo Beach and the Marin Headlands can’t be beat. If you’re up for a hike then a bit of time down in the sand, you’ll get the best of both environments and some stunning views!

Parking is free here and this location is best for couples who enjoy hiking and also active families with older kids.

Mt. Tam

One of the most stunning locations is all of the Bay Area is hands down Mt. Tam. This location is not for the faint of heart however. The mountain roads can be a bit intimidating if you’re not experience in mountain driving. There are tons of cyclists, fast cars and parking on this mountain is not easy. However, if you’re up for the adventure, this is one of my most favorite locations.

Mt. Tam is best for couples or families with older kids. Also if anyone in your party gets car sick… this may not be the best location! The drive up the mountain can take a while too during busy hours. This location is best on weekdays, a couple hours before sunset.