Where and what should we do for our engagement photos in San Francisco? is a question my clients ask me often, and I know all too well that it can be hard to come up with ideas, especially in a city that has an overwhelming number of choices and lots to offer you!
As a San Francisco wedding photographer, I wanted to create this guide for you that not only has some incredible locations to choose from for your San Francisco engagement session, but also ideas for different vibes and themes your session can embody.
Read on for more San Francisco engagement session inspiration and ideas to try. Psst… I also added a few ideas outside of San Francisco for you to consider as well if you’re looking to go somewhere outside the city!
San Francisco Engagement Photo Inspiration
Here are some different engagement session ideas for you to consider:
Classic and romantic
A classic and romantic engagement session features dreamy, cinematic photos that exude charm. To create a classic and romantic vibe in your images, I would say that the best time of day for this type of session is definitely golden hour.
Golden hour will add a warm and inviting presence to your images, and it’s my preferred time of day to plan sessions.
Here are some of my recommended locations for a classic and romantic engagement session:
Baker Beach
Baker Beach offers stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge, rocky shores, and a sandy coastline, along with numerous great spots for dreamy photos, especially at golden hour. The golden hour at Baker Beach occurs one hour before sunset and is ideal for capturing warm tones and a cinematic ambiance.
At an iconic San Francisco landmark
San Francisco truly has sooo many incredible spots for your engagement session, including any of the city’s famous landmarks, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, or Battery Godfrey, which offers you a unique view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Villa Montalvo
Villa Montalvo in Saratoga is ideal for your engagement session if you’re looking for a romantic European villa vibe. It’s a beautiful Mediterranean-style mansion with gardens, greenery, and gorgeous views of San Jose. A formal and editorial session here, where you and your partner are dressed to the nines, would be perfect for this location!
If you want to plan your engagement session, a permit is required and it costs $200. You will also need to email them in advance and fill out a credit card authorization form. You can learn more here.
Portals of the Past in Golden Gate Park
Portals of the Past is a charming monument in Golden Gate Park consisting of a white marble archway and tall columns. You’ll find it located on the shores of Lloyd Lake. It’s a dreamy spot for a black and white film-inspired session, as this location is timeless and chic.
Candid & Lifestyle
Another engagement session idea is to plan a session that is candid and focuses on lifestyle. There’s a variety of different directions you could take this session in, such as:
An at-home session
An at-home engagement session is all about photographing cozy, intimate photos in your own space, such as sitting at your kitchen table drinking coffee with your partner, making a meal together, or cuddling up on the couch.
At-home sessions are the perfect way to showcase your unique style as a couple, as they allow people to get an authentic view of who you are.
Neighborhood Walk Session
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.
To give you an example of what this could look like, I photographed an adorable couple for their engagement session walking around Nob Hill in San Francisco, starting at Ina Coolbrith Park and making our way to this iconic view of the Bay Bridge on California and Powell Street intersection.
If you want to do this same route, just always be aware of the oncoming traffic from both ends. I’m always able to stand along the Cable Car tracks to capture shots from this vantage point, but just be sure to keep an eye on any oncoming cars.
Coffee Shop / Bookstore Session
A coffee shop or bookstore session is sweet, casual, and story-driven. Think of it as me tagging along on your coffee date! You get to indulge in a delicious latte and pastry while getting some fun photos.
Dog Walk Session
A dog walk session is all about bringing your pup along for the ride and including them in your session in a natural way. I love the fur babies, and I always encourage my couples to bring along their furry friend to any session if it’s possible! Just make sure to bring treats and/or a toy to help catch their attention during the session.
Adventure & Outdoors
There are so many different ways to incorporate adventure and the outdoors into your session. Here’s a round-up of some of my personal favorites:
Beach Session
Picture this – you are your partner barefoot in the sand, running along the beach, and maybe ending your session by jumping into the water. Even though the beaches in San Francisco are cold, they are still so gorgeous! My hands-down favorite spot is the classic Baker Beach with its timeless view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Hiking or Mountain Session
A hiking or mountain session is a great choice for outdoorsy couples who love adventure. In San Francisco, some great hiking spots to consider are Lands End Trail, Glen Canyon Park, Batteries to Bluffs Trail, Bernal Heights Park, or Mount Davidson Park.
Also, there are also so many incredible spots you could choose from throughout the Bay Area, such as Sibley Volcanic Park in Oakland or Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont.
Picnic in the Park/Beach Session
A picnic in the park or a picnic on the beach will be relaxing, colorful, and lots of fun for you and your partner. Also, a picnic will make you both feel more comfortable and will let you both showcase your personalities as you both enjoy your favorite finger foods together.
Camping / Bonfire Session
A camping/ bonfire session is all about cozy blankets, snuggling up with your partner next to the fire, and enjoying tasty s’mores, while string lights hang overhead and create a warm glow.
Vineyard or Countryside Session
A vineyard or countryside session will be rustic and romantic. Imagine being surrounded by endless, rolling fields or charming vines dotted with grapes as you and your partner walk hand in hand, exploring together.
Boat Rental Session
If you love the water, did you know you can rent a rowboat for your engagement session in San Francisco? One place you could rent a rowboat from is the Blue Heron Boathouse on Stow Lake. Rentals here are first-come, first-served, and no rentals are available after 4 pm.
City Vibes
City engagement sessions are always so much fun and full of energy and color – especially in San Francisco! Here are some ideas for your session:
Downtown / Urban Session
For this session, think street style, crosswalk shots, and twinkling city lights at night. For the session featured below, we ended up walking around Nob Hill in San Francisco and made our way to Chinatown, which gave us a variety of backdrops to work with!
Rooftop Session
A rooftop session can give you a skyline backdrop, and they are both modern and stylish.
San Francisco City Hall / Architectural Session
I love photographing engagement sessions at San Francisco City Hall, as it’s a beautiful building full of history. You can also choose to take chic and elegant architecture-focused portraits in many different locations throughout the city!
Market or Festival Session
A market or festival session is full of lively, candid, playful energy. Let me tag along with you on your weekly farmers market run!
Creative & Unique
Your engagement session can look however you want it to – remember there are no hard and fast rules you have to follow. Here are some creative and unique engagement session ideas to inspire you:
Seasonal Session
Throughout the year, San Francisco changes so much with cherry blossoms in spring, fall foliage, and snow in winter. You can pick your favorite season to work with and your favorite backdrop for your session.
For example, I had a session at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens in early December, and we were still able to get some beautiful and vibrant fall foliage!
Themed Session
A themed session is a subtle nod to something you and your partner both love, whether it be travel, music, movies, etc. For example, the couple featured below met on Bingo Night at The Riptide, so we recreated that moment at their fave bar for their session.
Art Museum / Gallery Session
An art museum or gallery session is all about creating modern, classy, and creative vibes. My recommendation? San Francisco MOMA for you artsy folks.
Vintage Car Session
For this session, you can rent a cool car or a motorcycle for added style. Check out this San Francisco City Hall session with a vintage car engagement session I photographed for inspo!
Night Session
For a night session, you can incorporate string lights, neon signs, or plan a session surrounded by only candlelight to create a moody and cinematic ambiance.
Destination / Travel-Inspired
I’m always down for a destination or travel-themed engagement session! This is the perfect opportunity to go somewhere you and your partner have always wanted to visit, whether in California or beyond. Here are some ideas you could try:
Weekend Getaway Session
For a weekend getaway session, you and your partner can pack up the car and embark on a road trip or head to an Airbnb in a scenic location.
Travel Landmark Session
For this session, you and your partner can head to your favorite city or dream location and have it serve as the backdrop for your photos.
Destination Adventure Session
For this session, think waterfalls, cliffs, or epic landscapes, and have those memories preserved forever in stunning photographs.
Ready to Plan Your San Francisco Engagement Photos?
I hope you found all the information on different engagement session ideas in San Francisco (and the Bay Area) helpful. There are truly so many unique directions you can take your engagement session in, and San Francisco is the perfect blank slate to bring your vision to life!
And… if you’re still looking for a San Francisco wedding photographer with a documentary style approach who values inclusivity and authenticity, then let’s connect! Your love story is a one-of-a-kind celebration of authenticity and connection that deserves to be captured on camera.
You can learn more about my wedding services here or get in touch with me here.
Read these next:
Your Ultimate Guide to Getting Married at San Francisco City Hall
