Best Locations to Take Your San Francisco Engagement Photos

If you live in or are from the San Francisco area, then you know that there are so many beautiful places here to take your engagement photos. I have been having so much fun shooting in my own city lately so I knew that I needed to share my favorite San Francisco engagement photoshoot locations with you! 

From the beautiful beaches and historic parks to the unique architecture of the city, you have so many different options. You can make it a date out in the city or set up a romantic picnic on the beach at sunset. Whatever you imagine for your engagement session, I always love a fun adventure! It’s been so fulfilling to explore San Francisco and capture love stories in a place close to home! 

San Francisco Engagement Photoshoot Locations

City Hall

City Hall is definitely one of the most iconic locations in the Bay Area because it is absolutely stunning! SF’s city hall isn’t your average city hall LOL. It has such an elegant and classy aesthetic with stunning architecture that makes it the perfect photoshoot location. And while most people think that you can only get married or elope here, this is actually an awesome engagement photoshoot location! There are so many different areas within the building which gives you a wide variety of different backdrops to choose from! This is perfect for the couple who wants to get a bit more dressed up for their engagement photos for more of a timeless and elegant feel! 

Golden Gate Park Music Concourse

Within Golden Gate Park is the Music Concourse which is an open-air plaza that is beautiful for engagement photos. I love this location because you can just stroll around the park or sit in front of the fountain and I can capture such effortless photos. In one area you have tons of greenery with the Ferris wheel in the background and in another, you have the big beautiful fountain which is such a fun background! I think that this is a great location for a more casual engagement session where you just want to enjoy a date night in the park. 

Heroes Grove (probably the most accessible redwood grove in the bay)

Located right in the middle of San Francisco is Golden Gate Park which is dedicated to residents who gave their lives in WW1. Here you will find Heroes Grove, a small forest of Redwoods that are right in the middle of the city. If you want to take your engagement photos in the Redwoods but don’t want to make the trek to Redwood National Park, this is a great option as it is probably the most accessible redwood grove in the Bay Area. 

Conservatory of Flowers

The Conservatory of Flowers is a greenhouse and botanical garden in Golden Gate State Park. If you imagine taking your engagement photos surrounded by greenery and flowers in a super serene and peaceful setting, then the Conservatory of Flowers is a perfect location. 

Lands End/Sutro Baths

Lands End Lookout and Sutro Baths is an iconic San Francisco location. It offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge, and some unique San Francisco history. In the 1800s this actually used to be a bathhouse designed by Adolph Sutro and his goal was to provide a healthy, recreational, and inexpensive swimming facility for thousands of San Franciscans. Unfortunately, in 1966 a fire destroyed what was left of the baths and now what still stands is a historic landmark that has become a popular SF picture location. 

Now it is open to the public and is a beautiful San Francisco engagement photoshoot location, especially at sunset. The area is also lined with cypress trees, dramatic bluffs, and rocky beaches which provide even more beautiful backdrops for your engagement photos. The walk down is pretty steep so make sure to bring good shoes for that. 

Downtown/China Town

For those who want a true city feel! Despite what the media tells you, there are still so many amazing locations around Downtown! I absolutely love shooting in more urban environments. It’s perfect for the couple who likes a more editorial feel to their photos.

China Beach

China Beach is a beautiful location for your engagement photos if you want the Golden Gate Bridge in the background of your photos. It is a tiny cove tucked between Lands End and Baker Beach in the Sea Cliff neighborhood. 

In Your Favorite Restaurant/Bar

If you and your partner have a favorite restaurant, bar, or brewery that you hang out at a lot or one that has some special meaning, that’s a great option. This is a great way to create a more personal and meaningful engagement photoshoot. You can enjoy some food and drinks and essentially just have a date night. If you are nervous about getting in front of the camera, choosing a location or an activity that you are familiar with helps a ton with feeling more comfortable. 

At a Unique Airbnb

If you are still unsure about where you want to take your engagement photos another option is to rent a unique Airbnb. I love this idea soooo much because you can turn it into a little staycation and also use the Airbnb for your engagement photos. You could take your engagement photos while cooking a meal together or you could set up a fun game night in the living room. If there’s a big bathtub or jacuzzi you could have some wine and do a steamy photoshoot. If you do your photos in an Airbnb, you have so many ways you could personalize it, but also you might just feel a lot more comfortable because you are not taking the photos in a public space. 

More San Francisco Engagement Photoshoot Locations

• Baker Beach
• China Town
• Fort Point Historic Site
• Pier 7

San Francisco Engagement Photoshoot FAQs

When should we take our San Francisco engagement photos?

You can take your engagement photos at any time of the year in San Francisco. If you don’t like the rain or the cold, avoid the winter months. But, you can also do an indoor photoshoot instead. 

When should we book our San Francisco Engagement Photoshoot?

If you have a specific photographer you want to capture your photos, try and book it as soon as you can. This way you can book them while they are available and also so that you can use the photos for your wedding invites. 

What should we wear to our San Francisco engagement photoshoot?

Wear whatever makes you feel the most confident and comfortable. The only thing I will say is that SF can be pretty cold and windy so make sure to dress for that if you are taking your photos outside. 

Meet Your San Francisco Engagement Photographer

Hi there, I’m Meg, your San Francisco engagement and elopement Photographer!

I’ve always wanted to be a photographer and to be able to call this my full-time job is an absolute dream come true. Creating captivating, authentic images just sets my soul on fire and I have so much gratitude for this art. I love capturing moments. I’m the girl who takes my film camera everywhere I go because I just want to look back and remember what I was feeling at that moment. I love being able to look at a photo and travel back in time.

Being a photographer has allowed me to find the moments of beauty in everyday life and there is nothing I love more than allowing people to see themselves as a piece of art.