The 10 Best Locations for Family Photos in San Francisco

There is no shortage of beautiful places to take pictures in San Francisco but I wanted to share a few of my favorites. These are spots that I have photographed at countless times in every type of weather. They are all stunning as well as practical for family sessions but I’ve laid out some of the pros and cons for each location so you can easily tell if it will be a good fit for your family session. If you are interested in learning more about my sessions you can visit my info page. 

1. Baker Beach

Baker Beach is easily my most popular location for photos here in San Francisco. It’s perfect if you want a laid back location that still has an iconic San Francisco backdrop. Nothing says San Francisco quite like the Golden Gate Bridge. On a clear day this is one of the most beautiful places in the city but in bad weather it’s not a great place for photos so it can be a tricky spot to plan for. Baker Beach is especially difficult to shoot at from June-August because fog is covering the bridge a lot of the time. It doesn’t mean we can’t shoot here, we just have to be flexible last minute and keep an eye on weather. The best time to shoot here is October when the weather is a little warmer and the skies are clear but it’s beautiful year round with the right weather. I’ve done more sessions here than I can count but here is a family session and a maternity session if you want to see more photos from this magnificent location. You can also check out my Baker Beach feature on The Motherhood Anthology here.

2. Shakespeare Garden

I love photographing family sessions in Shakespeare Garden. If you’ve never been, it’s a small garden located in Golden Gate Park on Martin Luther King Drive. The garden is filled with flowers mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays as well as plaques featuring quotes from those plays. Not only is it really lush and beautiful year round but it’s also more protected than locations on the coast so it’s a great option for photos when the weather isn’t as good. It also has more filtered light so there is flexibility with session timing if your kids can’t stay up for a sunset session or you want something in the late morning. You can check out more photos from this Shakespeare Garden family session.

3. Fort Funston

Fort Funston is probably the most beautiful place in the city in my opinion but it’s not an easy place to shoot. The high winds are great for hang-gliders (of which you will see many here) but make for more difficult shooting and the 200ft bluffs are absolutely stunning but walking down and then back up the steps to get to the beach is no easy task. That being said, it really is unbelievably beautiful here and you get a mix of bluffs, beach, greenery, and magnificent views so it’s very hard to beat. You can see more photos from this adorable family session here on my Instagram or in this blog.

4. Mt. Tamalpais

If you’re up for a drive, Mt. Tamalpais (also known as Mt. Tam) in Marin County is truly a magical spot for photos. With rolling hills and views of the bay, it’s feels so classically California. Sometimes when the weather is foggy down in San Francisco, I recommend shooting up here since it’s usually (but not always) higher than the fog. This is a huge area but I have my own location here that I’ve scouted and really like shooting at. It’s a nice change from San Francisco because it is so incredibly calm and beautiful and seeing a sunset up here is something everyone should experience at least once. You can check out a family session at Mt. Tamalpais from one of my features on the White Wren. This location requires a little it of walking uphill but nothing too strenuous.

5. The Sutro Baths

The Sutro Baths, located in the Lands End area of San Francisco, were opened in 1896 by Adolph Sutro, a wealthy and eccentric business man and mayor who wanted to build a healthy and recreational facility for the people of San Francisco. With the Sutro Baths, he created a public bathhouse that had 7 saltwater pools of different temperatures that filled up with water from the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, it wasn’t cost efficient long term and long story short, the land was purchased by the National Park Service in 1980. I love doing family sessions here because it provides a lot of variety – we can shoot in the cypress trees, go down to the beach (if tide is low), shoot in the ruins or the overlook of the ocean. I usually don’t recommend this spot as much for a family with very young children or more than 1 child because there is a lot of walking and some of it is a little precarious. 

Here’s a family session from the Sutro Baths if you want to see more photos of this beautiful location. 

6. Blue Heron Lake

Blue Heron Lake (formerly Stow Lake) is located in Golden Gate Park. It’s a beautiful man made lake with boat rentals and plenty of walking trails. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can hike up to the top of Strawberry Hill for a beautiful view of the city. 

For family photos I like to stay down at the bottom and there are a few really beautiful areas around the lake to photograph. I like this location because it’s pretty quiet and kids usually respond well to how calm it is (plus there are lots of cute ducks to help entertain them). There’s also a decent amount of variation if you want to walk around a bit or we can keep it easy and stay in the same spot. It’s great for younger kids and is really beautiful year round. You can see more images from this maternity session here.

7. Crissy Field

Crissy Field is another iconic San Francisco location. Not only does it have the beach and view of the bridge, but there are also grassy areas so if you want the bridge without the beach or just want some variation this is a great option. This beach is also a little calmer than Baker Beach and sometimes the weather is slightly better over here. It’s really a great options for a family session.

8. Mt. Davidson

Mt. Davidson is a special place for me because it’s where my husband and I had our first look before we got married. It’s the highest point in San Francisco thus features an incredible view of the city. This spot is good if you have slightly older kids or are up for an adventure as it requires some walking to get up to the top. It has lush vegetation on the way up, and then a beautiful view of the city at the top so it provides a nice variation for photos. You can see more photos of this unique location from this sweet family session.

9. Lovers’ Lane in the Presidio 

Lovers’ Lane is located in the Presidio in a beautiful light filled eucalyptus grove which is the perfect backdrop for romantic and soft images. The line of trees running down the center is actually a work of art called Wood Line by the artist Andy Goldsworthy. It’s made up of eucalyptus branches which were sourced from different areas and is more than 1,200 feet long. One day it will fade back into the ground which is why it’s so amazing that we can have this piece of art as a backdrop in photos today. For sessions here, sunny days are helpful since it’s such a shaded location but foggy days can work as well. And bonus – there’s a lot of flexibility with timing for this location. It’s really a beautiful and unique spot in the city.

10. Pier 7

Last but not least is Pier 7 which is located on the east part of the city on the Embarcadero. If you want a city backdrop, Pier 7 offers views of the bay bridge and the cityscape. To be honest, this is a tough location because it’s often really busy and parking is a little more stressful. However, if you’re interested in an early morning session or a weekday evening (and willing to work around the crowds) it is really beautiful and unique location. Here’s a link to a really sweet family session I photographed on Pier 7.