How to Choose Your Photo Location (East Bay AREA + greater SF Bay area)
If you’re local to Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, or nearby East Bay areas, you have access to some of the most beautiful and diverse natural backdrops in the Bay Area—without needing a long drive.
This guide will help you decide which East Bay location fits your family, your energy, and your vision for your session.
Franklin Canyon, Martinez
🌄 Best for grassy Hills
If you love that soft, golden, wide-open California look, these locations are perfect:
Franklin Canyon
Briones Regional Park areas
Shell Ridge / Fossil Hill (seasonal wildflowers)
✨ Best for:
couples
maternity sessions
families who want scenic, cinematic portraits
🚶♀️ What to expect:
some walking depending on the spot
optional hill views for more dramatic photos
best at golden hour (sunset)
Hidden Lakes, Martinez
🌿 Best for Easy, Family-Friendly Sessions
If you have little kids, want a relaxed pace, or prefer minimal walking, these are ideal:
Lafayette Reservoir
Hidden Lakes (specific meeting location provided)
Briones staging / flat grassy areas
✨ Best for:
young families
lifestyle sessions
anyone wanting a low-stress experience
🚶♀️ What to expect:
easy walking paths
stroller-friendly areas (depending on location)
lots of natural, candid moments
🌲 Best for Redwood + Forest Vibes
If you want something completely different from open hills:
Roberts Regional Recreation Area
✨ Best for:
cozy, emotional, intimate photos
families who want shade + comfort
a more “magical forest” feel
🤍 How to Decide (Simple Guide)
Choose East Bay if you want:
✔ shorter drive
✔ more relaxed pacing with kids
✔ familiar, local scenery
✔ no travel fee
My honest recommendation:
If you live in Walnut Creek / Pleasant Hill / Martinez, East Bay locations are usually the best fit for families, especially with young kids. It keeps the session easier, more flexible, and less stressful overall.
Gray Whale Cove State Beach, Half Moon Bay
🌉 How to Choose Greater San Francisco Bay Area Locations
If you’re dreaming of something more iconic, dramatic, or coastal—San Francisco, Marin, and Half Moon Bay locations are incredible.
These sessions have a different feel: more movement, more weather variability, and more “destination energy.”
🌁 Best for Iconic Golden Gate Bridge Views
Marin Headlands (Battery viewpoints)
Baker Beach
✨ Best for:
engagement sessions
couples wanting iconic SF views
dramatic, cinematic portraits
🌬️ Important to know:
very windy
fog is common even on “sunny” days
we always check weather before confirming timing
🌊 Best for Coastal + Moody Ocean Sessions
Half Moon Bay cliffs
Montara State Beach
Gray Whale Cove State Beach
✨ Best for:
couples
maternity sessions
emotional, cinematic coastal portraits
🌬️ What to expect:
wind + fog are common
conditions can change quickly
we choose timing carefully based on weather
🏛️ Best for Architecture + Clean, Timeless Backdrops
Palace of Fine Arts
Stanford University
de Young Museum / Legion of Honor
✨ Best for:
elopement or engagement sessions
couples who want elegant, editorial portraits
families wanting easy access + minimal walking
💰 Travel Fee + When SF Is Worth It
For San Francisco / Marin / coastal destinations, there is a $135 travel fee.
Here’s how to decide if it’s worth it:
✔️ It IS worth it if you want:
iconic Golden Gate Bridge photos
ocean cliffs + dramatic landscapes
something more “once in a lifetime”
a more editorial, destination-style session
✔️ It may NOT be necessary if:
you have young kids and want a relaxed session
you prefer minimal walking and flexibility
you want a simple, easy experience
In those cases, East Bay locations often give you just as beautiful photos with much less stress.
🤍 Final Thought
There’s no “wrong” choice—just different experiences.
East Bay = easy, relaxed, natural, family-friendly
SF / Marin / Coast = dramatic, iconic, destination-style
My job is to help guide you into the location that fits your family, your energy, and the kind of memories you want to capture 🤍
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
