SF Bay Area Foggy Beach Family Photography

I love doing family photos at the beach! Family photos are such an important occasion, and the beach is always a popular location with kids. The beach is a great place to relax, hang out, and enjoy a fun-filled family photo session. I like this location for especially active families that want to have fun and don’t mind getting dirty for their photoshoot!

Best Beaches for Bay Area Family Photos

We are so lucky to live in a place with miles of gorgeous coastline to take advantage of for your beach family photos! I have used several beaches for family photos, and have definitely picked up a few favorites.

As you scroll through my recent galleries below, the first gallery was shot at Montara Beach, the second gallery was shot at Manresa Beach in Santa Cruz.

Montara Beach tends to be crowded, so parking can be tough, but there are several lots, street parking, and restaurant parking that you can all use. This location is beautiful because it has sweeping cliffs we can stand on for more panoramic shots. However, there are no formal steps leading down to the beach. You have to climb down a crevice in the rocks. This location is therefore not suitable for anyone with accessibility challenges, such as families with newborn babies or grandparents.

Half Moon Bay features several possible beaches that are often used for family photography in the Bay Area. I have photographed at Half Moon Bay Dunes Beaches and Half Moon Bay Roosevelt Beach.

I have scouted many beaches in the area trying to find the best spots, and have also ruled out several locations. Nearby, Gray Whale Cove State Beach (not pictured) is NOT a good location because you have to cross a busy highway to reach the water. I do not feel comfortable using this location with my families with young children. Pacifica beach is great for a day trip, but not a preferred location due to the crowds. Mori Point is a beautiful hiking adventure that I wholly recommend seeing, but I don’t like using this location because it is too far of a walk for my families when doing photos.

Two popular beach locations in SF are Crissy Field and Baker Beach. This are beautiful locations that showcase the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge. These are classic and popular locations. However, these beaches tends to be VERY crowded. Depending on how lucky you are, the Golden Gate Bridge may be showing, or may be hidden by our beautiful fog, nicknamed Karl by the locals!

What to Wear for Family Photos at the Beach

Both these galleries pictured below do an excellent job of exemplifying what to wear at the beach! Both families opted for neutral, solid wardrobe pieces that compliment each other well.
You will notice that both dads are wearing jeans and a white/cream/gray sweater. This is an excellent and easy choice for gentlemen.

Both these beautiful mothers are wearing flowing dresses, which captures movement and lends to a more poetic quality to their photos.
These beautiful children are wearing comfortable, neutral pieces (featuring colors like brown, navy, gray, and white.)

Be prepared with layers and a change of clothes if doing beach photos. The temperature can drop in the evenings near sunset, so a jacket is a nice idea. Plan on getting wet and sandy if we do photos at the beach, and definitely bring a change of clothes for the kids and perhaps yourself as well!

Best time for Family Photos at the Beach

Family photos at the beach can be scheduled year round.
However, beach weather can be very unexpected and counterintuitive. I have shot beach sessions in February that are clear and warm, and beach sessions in June that are excessively misty.

During summer months like June, July, and August, you should anticipate the weather being foggy. The locals name it “June Gloom” and “Fog-ust” to recognize this tendency! Late Fall is often a great time of year for beach photos, if you want clear and sunny photos!

What to expect for family photos at the beach

Beach photos are a great idea especially if you have children who love the beach, or have lots of energy and want to run around and play a lot. At these types of sessions, I am more of an observer as I let families and kids completely be free to explore! I am there to witness and document the fun beach adventure. I encourage my families to interact naturally, tickle, dance, and chase waves.

If shooting on a weekend date, I recommend arriving early to make sure you find parking, and to let the kids run around to get accustomed to the area.

If it is a foggy day, the lighting is very nice. I love the way these galleries turned out, even with the fog. The fog often means the beaches are quieter and less crowded, too.

If it is a sunny, clear day, the best lighting will happen about 20 minutes before sunset. We will finish shortly after sunset.