The Professional's Guide to Great Outdoor Places for Headshots in San Francisco
Outdoor lighting and location can make or break your professional headshot. Here you can see how nice, even lighting can create an aesthetically pleasing portrait.
Getting a fantastic headshot in San Francisco is more than just choosing a nice background. It's about taking a picture that really portrays who you are and catches people's attention.
It takes a lot of expertise to get your perfect headshot, especially since San Francisco has micro-climates. These micro-climates mean that some planning is needed to determine the best time and place for your headshot before you get ready!
Some areas, like the Sunset District, can become foggy and windy very quickly, making it hard to get your headshot taken. While, at the same time, areas like Dogpatch can be sunny and bright, causing harsh shadows for your headshot.
That's why I put a lot of thought into where I look for places. I always look for stunning surroundings and clean light to get awesome portraits.
The “Cheat Sheet” for Headshot Locations and Timing in San Francisco
Take a look at the table below as a quick reference guide before planning your headshot session.
| Industry | The "Secret" Spot | Best Time Window | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tech/Founders | Salesforce Park | 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM | 531 Mission St. Garage |
| Finance/Law | Maiden Lane | 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM | Stockton-Sutter Garage |
| Creative | Dogpatch (Off 22nd St) | 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM | Street Parking (Easy) |
| Wellness/Mental Health | Baker Beach | Sunrise (Trust us) | Main Parking Lot |
| Politics | City Hall (4th Floor) | 8:00 AM | Civic Center Garage |
The Theory Behind SF Light and How Karl the Fog Can Help You
You may think that your headshot may require a clear, sunny day. As a photographer, I want the opposite.
We nicknamed Karl the Fog a "Giant Softbox." In our studio, we spread light over your face and fill wrinkles using giant fabric boxes. Softboxes come in all different shapes and sizes. At 415Headshots Inc., we prefer to use 105 cm octaboxes for great lighting and a natural key light in your eye.
This same effect can be had outdoors with Karl the Fog. The fog diffuses the harsh light from the sun and gives soft lighting over your face. This prevents any harsh shadows under your smile, nose, and eyebrow bridge. The fog is crucial, especially, if you schedule your headshot session around noon or the afternoon, when the sun is at the highest point of the sky. If the fog isn’t there during harsh sunlight, you can end up with “raccoon-eye” shadows.
If you’d like to schedule your headshot around noon, I always recommend taking pictures near Golden Gate Park in the Outer Richmond District. The Richmond District usually has more fog compared to other areas of the city. One time, I was taking headshots of a CEO in Cole Valley, but the sun was too harsh. We actually ended up Ubering towards the Outer Richmond, and, voila! There was enough cloud coverage for a perfect headshot.
The Wind Tunnel Caution
However, there is another factor that us photographers have to keep in mind when discussing fog, wind. San Francisco gets quite windy in the afternoon due to the “sea breeze.”
Here's my go-to pointer: If you have long hair or wear loose clothing, let's schedule you for the morning block (8 AM - 11 AM). This will make sure we can have good cloud coverage without the wind causing major flyaways. Our editor is more than happy to edit out flyaways, but we can’t edit out huge chunks of hair flying away.
Heads up: When we're shooting in the Financial District, the tall buildings tend to block a lot of the wind at street level. While some cross-streets become a huge wind tunnel.
Tech and Startups: The "Modern" Outdoor Look
Best For: Founders, Software Engineers, and Project Managers
A professional headshot for an individual in marketing that works for a start-up. Taken in Dogpatch, San Francisco.
Team members at startups don't look good in the classic "blue suit in front of a building" style. Instead, you want to show that you are flexible and creative. We look for places with glass, brick, steel, and plants, which together make a visual sign of growth.
The Universal Light in Salesforce Park
Right now, I think Salesforce Park is the best place for people working in tech or startups. The sun shines and reflects off the windows of the glass skyscrapers, making soft, even light come from all sides. This "bounced light" is very flattering and works almost like a natural face-lift. Minimal editing needed!
The "Builder" or “Coder” Vibe in Dogpatch
If you work in hardware, AI, or in the creative industry, you might find the glass and steel of downtown SF too sterile. The Dogpatch has red brick and with that, brings it’s own personality! With taking pictures against the brick, I usually open the lens to aperture 1.8 or 2.0 to make sure the lines in the brick don’t distract from you.
Pro Tip: We hunt for an open shade near the brick warehouses. Our go-to spot are the brick buildings near Restoration Hardware, as they have open parking and minimal people walking by. Also, the red brick seen in Dogpatch reflect a warm tone of light, which gives your skin a healthy glow even in the winter.
The Financial District: Showcasing Power
Ideal for executives and professionals in finance and law.
When we capture images in FiDi, we use a combination of lighting, a lower angle, posing, and the surrounding architecture to position you as a figure of authority. We aim to capture you as a person that “gets stuff done. “
An example of a “powerful” headshot taken in the Financial District of San Francisco.
Maiden Lane: The City’s “Canyon”
Many photographers and people believe that midday is the least favorable time for capturing images. This is true on most occasions, but San Francisco always has to be a little different! On Maiden Lane, the midday lighting is unique and favorable to headshots. The narrow street and towering buildings combine to create a "canyon effect."
We find that a lot of our clients are too busy in the morning, so if you’re free for a headshot during the lunch hour, this is the perfect spot. We do prefer Fridays if you plan to get your headshot taken during the lunch hour, as most people work from home and there won’t be any distractions in the background.
The reasons why Maiden Lane shines around noon: Before 10:30 AM, the street is shadowed by the skyscrapers that surround it. This shadow doesn’t cast enough light for a good headshot. Around noon, when the sun reaches its peak, the light shines around the surrounding buildings and into Maiden Lane, making it have perfect soft lighting for headshots. Plus, the background, offers a perfect cityscape look when the aperture is around f 1.8 or f 2.0.
The Creative Professional Headshot
Perfect for authors, therapists, yoga instructors.
Baker Beach: The Perfect Headshot for Sunrise
I get a lot of clients who ask, right off the bat, for a “golden hour” headshot at Baker Beach. They want to get a great headshot with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. Who can blame them? I’d love one too! But, I talk them out of it.
This is why. The sun always sets behind the Golden Gate Bridge in the West and it causes a problem for me. If I have to change the exposure on my camera to capture the Golden Gate Bridge, the subject’s face becomes too dark. If I change the exposure to get the right lighting for the subject, the bridge gets washed out and you can’t see it.
The solution to this problem: Let’s take pictures at sunrise. You may not like waking up in the morning, but your headshot will thank you! The sun will be rising from the East, which casts the perfect lighting on the subject and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Golden Gate Park: The Ol’ Reliable
We’ve photographed at Golden Gate Park ever since we’ve been in business. There are always great spots to take photos during the morning, midday, and even into the late afternoon. You can never go wrong with Golden Gate Park if you need a headshot with nature in the back.
The only things to worry about here are the wind and the humidity that can be caused from too much fog. I’ve noticed that long, straight hair doesn’t like the humidity from the fog, which can cause frizzy hair. However, be assured that our editor can remove flyaways from frizzy hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I’m awkward in front of cameras. How do you handle that?
A: We get that all the time and we understand that most people don’t spend a lot of time in front of a professional camera. Our headshot photographers will coach you through the entire process (e.g. facial expressions, posing, wardrobe styling, etc.) We’ll first go over what facial expression you are most used to. If not, no worries! Our photographers will “test” out a couple of different facial expressions and see what you may resonate with. In regards to posing, we’ll walk you through on exactly how to pose (e.g. remove any double chin looks, sharpen jawline, etc.) to make sure we get the most flattering look for you.
Q: What if it rains on our shoot day?
A: We have two options. We can reschedule (no fee), or we can pivot to our studio, if you’d prefer. I always keep an eye on the weather in the days leading up to your session and will be in touch if anything looks uncertain. Your comfort and the quality of your photos are my top priorities, so we’ll work together to choose the best plan.
Q: Do I need to bring a change of clothes?
A: Absolutely. I suggest packing a layer, such as a cardigan, jacket, or blazer to complement the top you’ll be wearing. Changing your outer layer is an easy way to achieve two different looks. We do recommend blazers as a second look. The shoulder pads in the blazer can make your shoulders look more “square,” and mitigate a rounded shoulder look. Square shoulders tend to portray more confidence.
Q: How long does a session for headshots last?
A: Most headshot sessions range between 15 minutes to 30 minutes, which is enough time for us to try out several postures and outfits. We find that after 45 minutes to an hour, subjects tend to get tired and it’s harder for them to have an authentic facial expression.
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Now that you understand the fundamentals of the different outdoor locations in San Francisco. Take the time to actually experience them with your own headshot session! We'll make sure you look and feel great throughout the process, whether I'm behind the camera or one of our team members is.
