Looking for the perfect spot for your San Francisco engagement session? North Beach should be included in your list! North Beach has so many beautiful backdrops for your session. Whether you want the city skyline, to explore hidden alleyways, photos in front of an adorable cafe, or the iconic City Lights Bookstore, or something different, you’re likely to find it here!
This area also has a very urban vibe if that’s the style you’re going for; North Beach matches it. North Beach, aka San Francisco’s “Little Italy,” is well known for its vibrant energy, variety of restaurants and cafes, and historic landmarks – there is a lot to see and experience here during your session.
Keep reading to learn more about planning your engagement session in North Beach and take a behind-the-lens look at Cassie + Andrew’s romantic session here.
Engagement Photography San Francisco: North Beach Session Guide
Personally, for your session here, I would recommend exploring the neighborhood, as there are so many different backgrounds/places you could take photos at, including in front of the Victorian homes, colorful facades, and historical landmarks. We could also take pictures in Washington Square Park, in front of the stunning Sts. Peter and Paul Church, and at Coit Tower.
Something to note about this neighborhood is that it is pretty busy almost all the time, so it can be a bit of a challenge to find parking or spots where there aren’t many people, but I promise you that I will do my best to help you avoid the heavy foot traffic during your session. But to be fair, it simply wouldn’t be North Beach without all the people (both locals and tourists) wandering around.
What to wear to your North Beach engagement session
For your engagement session, my initial answer to this question is that you can wear whatever you want! There are no hard and fast rules you have to follow. Wear what makes you feel confident and comfortable.
I think what works really well for a session here is to embrace an urban style. This style is all about looking like yourself but with a slightly elevated feel. The best way I can describe it is to picture what you would wear for a date night with your partner.
Also, since we will be in an urban setting, there will be plenty of color in the backdrops, so keep this in mind when choosing your outfits! I would definitely try to avoid any busy patterns or colors that are going to clash too much with the surroundings.
When is the best time of year to take engagement photos in San Francisco?
San Francisco is beautiful all year round, so my answer is that it depends! It really all comes down to the vibe you’re going for – do you want moody and dramatic photos? Or light and airy photos? Or something different?
Each season creates a different ambiance. For example, Cassie and Andrew took their engagement photos in the fall, in the late afternoon close to golden hour, and the weather during their session was incredible, but that’s not to say you should only take your photos in the fall.
In spring, everything is in full bloom, and everything feels fresh and vibrant! At this time of year, the temperatures are pretty mild, so you don’t have to worry about sweating through your entire session. Summer brings with it Karl the Fog, but it’s still a great time of year for photos.
Winter has much cooler temperatures, and the city is usually less busy, meaning you can get great photos at iconic spots without all of the tourists. Fall usually brings with it clear skies, less wind, and warm sunsets – it’s a beautiful time of year for gorgeous golden hour photos.
Cassie + Andrew’s North Beach Engagement Session
Cassie and Andrew live in the North Beach neighborhood, and when they inquired about working with me, they knew right away that they wanted to do a casual engagement session here, and it’s easy to understand why! North Beach is a gorgeous backdrop for this type of session.
I always love photographing neighborhood walk sessions like this one! A neighborhood walk engagement is all about capturing your everyday life with your partner and photographing your favorite local spots, such as your favorite spot at the beach, coffee shop, restaurant, etc.
These sessions are typically very relaxed and laidback and feel like a date with your partner – there just happens to be a camera there with you.
In their initial intake form, they told me that for their session, they wanted candid photos that didn’t feel forced or overly posed, and they also wanted to make sure the natural, genuine moments they shared between the two of them were photographed.
For their session, we incorporated a mix of urban and nature backdrops. We were able to find lots of unique backdrops to work with, wander around their neighborhood, including stopping in front of a pink house with a stunning Bougainvillea vine, and stop at a charming flower shop and a coffee shop. We, of course, also had to take some photos showcasing the iconic SF hills.
Their session feels like a series of scenes from a romantic movie! I did a mix of digital and film photos, and was inspired by the original Pinterest inspo board they sent me to create vintage, cinematic images with lots of movement to tell their love story.
Ready to Plan Your North Beach Engagement Session?
Hopefully, you found these tips on planning your North Beach engagement session helpful. North Beach is truly a picturesque backdrop for a session, and there’s always something new to discover!
And… if you’re still looking for a San Francisco engagement photographer with a documentary style approach who values inclusivity and authenticity, then let’s connect!
Whether you want to plan an engagement session in North Beach or your own neighborhood, I specialize in creating timeless images that reflect your unique bond. A neighborhood engagement session is a beautiful way to make your engagement session personal and unique to you, your partner, and your love story.
Your session with me includes:
- Location scouting
- Outfit planning
- Your high-res final images will be delivered via an online gallery within 4 weeks
- Online hosting gallery to share with friends and family
- Personal printing rights
You can learn more about my engagement sessions here or get in touch with me here.
Read these next:
What You Need to Know About Planning a 4th Floor San Francisco City Hall Wedding
