Guess what?! Many of the best locations for photography in the Bay Area are the regional open spaces. These wide open areas have beautiful landscapes that serve as perfect backdrops for portrait sessions. As an alternative to some of the more famous Bay Area surroundings (e.g. the Golden Gate Bridge), the open spaces may be preferable. Open spaces are less crowded and offer a very natural theme. I definitely recommend these locations to my clients, as is evident in one of my recent blog posts: Top Ten Family Photo Locations.

Golden Hour

Although any open space can exceed expectations in unique style and beauty, a critical element to achieving success in such a setting is the timing of the photo session. I highly recommend scheduling these sessions in the late afternoon, close to or during sunset. The sun will be low in the sky, producing a soft and diffused light. The reduced contrast in light minimizes the risk that the portrait subjects will have their features hidden in the deep shadows or bright light. Further, the warm glow adds a pleasing feel to the scene, and the long shadows help to pick out details, adding texture and depth to the image. Another benefit to shooting around sunset is that the sky is at it’s most vibrant. The blue of the sky and orange of the sun merge and create beautiful array of creamy pastel colors.

I understand that it is sometimes difficult for families with small children to have a late session. If that is the case, I recommend planning ahead to ensure the convenience of the clients. If my clients cannot easily accommodate an evening shoot, I recommend a morning session, as light in the early morning has similar qualities to sunset. Alternatively, I work with my clients to find an open space with greater shade in order to make the light more even. For this purpose, oak trees work very well. They are beautiful and most are very large, creating lots of cover. Nevertheless, the creamy golden glow of the “golden hour” before sunset is irreplaceable.

Another benefit of choosing an open space location is the intimate environment. Children feel free to play and show their personalities without distractions which allows me to better capture the true essence of a family.

About the Session

I took the images featured in this blog at the Rancho San Antonio Preserve. It was a perfect late afternoon with the loveliest of people. Originally from the UK, this family made San Francisco Bay Area their permanent home. Despite being quite young, these kiddos didn’t mind at all staying a little past their bed time. The promise of after-session donuts kept them in good spirits and their playful energy was in abundance throughout the entire two hour shoot. There were many unscripted moments of pure joy that I readily captured with my camera. Enjoy!

BOJANA KORACH IS A PUBLISHED LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZING IN NEWBORN, FAMILY & CHILD PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES.

Choosing to do a lifestyle newborn photoshoot has definite perks. One such perk is the opportunity to include all of the family members into the photos, including the family pet. Personally, dogs are my favorite. When I walk into my client’s home and see a four-legged furry , my heart skips a beat. I just know in that moment, that the session will be a great joy. A dog can add so much energy and character to a photo session.

This pup’s name is Bernie and he is absolutely in love with his newborn baby sister. He is also one of the smartest dogs I’ve seen and uniquely aware of what is happening around him. You would think, judging by these photos that we’ve used lot’s of coaching and treats, but you’d be surprised to know that no incentives were necessary. Bernie followed the camera and positioned himself in the most perfect way. He just adores the newest member of the family and if not stopped he would give her kisses all day long.

Something tells me that Bernie and his human baby sister will be best of friends.

A Helpful Tip

One thing to keep in mind before including your pet into the session, is the dog’s energy level. If possible, it’s good to give him/her, a nice long walk prior to the shoot. The walk helps bring excitement and energy levels down and it makes it that much easier for photographer to work.

BOJANA KORACH IS A PUBLISHED LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZING IN NEWBORN, FAMILY & CHILD PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES.

One of the best photography spots in the San Francisco Bay Area is definitely Crissy Field. It is a versatile location that is perfect for any type of photoshoots and is a favorite of many local photographers. I love it primarily because of the stunning views of Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay but there are also many other reasons why this is on my top 10 list of go-to places.

HISTORY

For those who are not familiar, Crissy Field was once a military airfield for the Presidio military base. It used to be a paved over area which was transformed to be one of the most beautiful urban national parks in the USA. It’s 4.3 miles ocean-front long promenade offers breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay and Alcatraz. Crissy Field features an open green field area, beautiful beach, a promenade, trails, tidal wetlands and much more.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

From a photographer’s perspective, there are a few things to consider before deciding Crissy Field is the best for you and your family.

• First thing to consider is unpredictable weather. Crissy Field has it’s own micro-climate within San Francisco. It can often be covered in fog and the winds can be quite powerful. Dressing properly is the key.

• Second thing is the timing. Crissy Field is a wide open area, there is not that much shade so sessions have to be timed perfectly in order to achieve the best possible images. An ideal time to do a session at Crissy Field is the Golden Hour. Starting the session about an hour prior to sunset would be perfect.

• Third thing to consider are crowds. Crissy Field is not only one of the most popular tourist location, it is also a most popular recreational area for the locals. Avoiding people is easier as it gets closer to sunset. It could be overwhelming for a newbie photographer so make sure that you find a right person with experience.

MATERNITY SESSION

While Crissy Field is a perfect Bay Area location for all types of photoshoots, my absolute favorite to photograph there are maternity sessions. For this blog post, I wanted to include highlights from one of my most recent Crissy Field sessions with beautiful Jody-Ann and her husband Troy. I thought that this particular session is a perfect representation of everything that this gorgeous location has to offer. Cypress trees, beautiful filtering natural sunlight, green fields, promenade, iconic views of Golden Gate Bridge and sandy beach are all featured and hopefully it makes it easier to envision your next photoshoot there. Enjoy!

BOJANA KORACH IS A PUBLISHED LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZING IN NEWBORN, FAMILY & CHILD PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES.