ABOUT THE LOCATION | Bay Area Beaches | Bay Area Photographers HKCreate
- Mar 2, 2022
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 6
We LOVE taking beach photos! There's something so calming about being at the beach and getting your photos taken there reflects that! It adds a touch of whimsical/romantic flare to your photos. We're always on the hunt for great beach spots but here are a few that we love so far!
See below for some tips when planning your beach photoshoot, and a list of our favorite Bay Area beaches for family, couple, and maternity photoshoots!
Planning your beach session:
Be prepared to get wet! Best lighting is always alongside the water, and in order to get that we will pose you next to the shoreline.
Be prepared to walk barefoot
Wear neutral-colored tones--the result is always whimsical, timeless photos!
Bring extra shoes, beach towels, and extra set of clothes in case you do get wet
Bring a light sweater as it tends to get colder at the beach
Our favorite beaches and coastlines in the Bay Area:
Click here to book a photo session with us, we'd love to work with you!
NATURAL BRIDGES
Santa Cruz, CA
PARKING
We usually park along the street leading up to the beach, but if you prefer the parking lot it is $10 fee.
FEES
Parking costs $10. Travel fees apply.
RESTROOMS
There are available bathrooms next to the parking lot or at the bottom of the beach.
ACCESSIBILITY
There is a steep sandy hill to trek down in order to get to the beach.
PETS
Pets are not allowed at this beach.
DOWNSIDES
It's a pretty popular beach and can tricky to find street parking as well as clear areas to photograph without distractions. We suggest having a shoot here on a weekday.
SPRING AT NATURAL BRIDGES
SUMMER AT NATURAL BRIDGES
ROCKAWAY BEACH
Pacifica,CA
Rockaway Beach is a small beach located south of the Pacifica Pier along the Pacific Coast Highway. Its narrow strand, crashing surf and dramatic headlands makes it a popular walking, dining, shopping and hotel destination. It is known for it's quaint beachfront hotels, restaurants and shops.
PARKING
Parking is free, but is small and limited. It can be tricky to find the parking lot so keep an eye out for the street to turn on. You can google it by "Rockaway Beach Parking", and it is located behind the Fairmont Hotel.
FEES
There are no entrance or parking fees.
Additional travel fees apply.
RESTROOMS
There are available bathrooms next to the parking lot.
ACCESSIBILITY
There is an accessible pathway to walk down to get to the beach that is not far from the parking lot.
PETS
Dogs are welcome and can run off leash on the beach.
DOWNSIDES
Because it is a popular tourist destination, it may get crowded on weekends. It can be a bit difficult finding the parking lot.
WINTER AT ROCKAWAY
SPRING AT ROCKAWAY
FALL AT ROCKAWAY
MANHATTAN BEACH
Half Moon Bay
PARKING
Parking is free but very limited. If parking lot is full, you can park at the Hyatt Hotel which has limited extra parking down the street.
FEES
Travel fees apply.
RESTROOMS
There is one portable restroom along the pathway to the beach.
ACCESSIBILITY
There are stairs that lead down to the beach as well as a bit of a walk to get to the beach.
There are porta-potties near the parking lot.
PETS
No pets are allowed
DOWNSIDES
Very limited parking so a weekday shoot would work best for this location.
FALL AT MANHATTAN BEACH
COWELL RANCH STATE BEACH
Half Moon Bay
PARKING
The parking lot has limited space but you can park along the road if it's full.
FEES
Travel fees apply.
RESTROOMS
There is one unisex bathroom next to the parking lot.
ACCESSIBILITY
It is about a 10min walk to get to the actual beach as well as a very steep set of stairs to go down. Still manageable for kids but may take a lot of time to get to the beach.
There are bathrooms located at the parking lot.
PETS
No dogs are allowed at the beach.
DOWNSIDES
It is a bit of a walk to get to the beach as well as the parking lot can be full during weekends.
EARLY SPRING AT COWELL RANCH
FRANCIS BEACH
Half Moon Bay, CA
PARKING
Parking is included in the entrance fee, and there is plenty of spots in the parking lot.
Parking fills up fast on weekends, so we recommend scheduling your session on a weekday.
FEES
Entrance fee is $10 per vehicle.
Additional travel fees apply.
RESTROOMS
There are available bathrooms on site.
ACCESSIBILITY
Most of the location is flat and easily accessible.
PETS
Dogs are not permitted on the sandy beach area.
DOWNSIDES
Parking fills up fast on weekends, so we recommend scheduling your session on a weekday.
SEABRIGHT BEACH
Santa Cruz, CA
PARKING
There is street parking, or there is the option of parking in the lot next to the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor,
which costs $2 per hour.
FEES
Travel fees apply.
RESTROOMS
There are available bathrooms along the beach, or at the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor parking lot.
ACCESSIBILITY
Parking and beach access is available at the west end of East Cliff Drive near Alhambra Avenue,
Mott Avenue and at the end of 3rd Avenue. There's a set of stairs to walk down to the beach.
PETS
Dogs are allowed on a leash on the north side of the Santa Cruz Harbor.
DOWNSIDES
It may be crowded on weekends so we recommend scheduling your photoshoot on a weekday.
SPRING AT SEABRIGHT
RODEO BEACH AND LAGOON
Marin Headlands
PARKING
There is a large parking lot but gets very crowded on weekends.
FEES
There are no entrance or parking fees.
Additional travel and toll fees apply.
RESTROOMS
There are available bathrooms next to the parking lot, but they are far from the beach.
ACCESSIBILITY
Rodeo Beach is located in the Marin Headlands and is part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This makes it a stone's throw from the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito. There are accessible bathrooms.
PETS
Dogs are welcome and can run off leash on the beach.
DOWNSIDES
It gets very crowded on weekends which causes limited parking and traffic.
We recommend scheduling your photoshoot on a weekday.
WINTER AT RODEO BEACH
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA BEACH
Carmel,CA
At the foot of Ocean Avenue, Carmel Beach is one of the most iconic spots on California's Central Coast and is rated "One of America's Top Beach Towns." It is next to the Pebble Beach golf course, and has an amazing view of the Monterey Bay. It is a perfect location for sunset photos!
PARKING
Look for a parking space at the road's end. On busy days you'll have to search for a parking spot along Scenic Road or one of the other streets near the water.
FEES
There are no entrance or parking fees.
Additional travel fees apply.
RESTROOMS
There are available bathrooms next to the parking lot.
ACCESSIBILITY
There is a set of stairs that allows you to access the beach, or you can walk down the sand hill.
PETS
Dogs are welcome and can run off leash on the beach.
DOWNSIDES
It gets very crowded on weekends which causes limited parking and traffic.
We recommend scheduling your photoshoot on a weekday.
SUMMER AT CARMEL
MARSHALL'S BEACH COASTAL CLIFFS
San Francisco,CA
Across from the San Francisco Presidio are the Marshall's Beach Coastal Cliffs, which provide a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge. If you're game for hiking and having an adventure for breathtaking photos of the San Francisco Bay, then this location is for you!
PARKING
Parking is free, but small and limited. You can park at the Langdon Court parking lot just off Lincoln Boulevard near the Golden Gate Overlook. Be sure to not leave any valuables in your car.
FEES
There are no entrance or parking fees.
Additional travel fees apply.
RESTROOMS
There are no restrooms.
ACCESSIBILITY
There is an accessible pathway to walk down to get to the beach that is not far from the parking lot, but is very long and taxing. Walking downhill is easier than walking uphill, and it's not a mild trek--but is still well worth it! If you're not wanting to walk down the cliffs, there are still many options for photos that are a mild walk from the parking lot, that also gives a breathtaking view of the San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge.
PETS
We don't recommend bringing your pet as it's a steep walk down to the cliffs.
DOWNSIDES
Because it is a popular tourist destination, it may get crowded on weekends. It can also be a hotspot for car theft, so make sure to not leave any valuables in your car. The walk down the cliffs can be taxing and is steep, and is about a 30 minute trek down to the first overlook of the bridge. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and bringing drinking water. There are also no restrooms, which can be challenging for families with young children.
Also, because the weather in San Francisco is unpredictable and is normally foggy and windy, don't have high expectations to have the SF Golden Gate Bridge visible in your photos. ;-)
FALL AT MARSHALL'S BEACH CLIFFS
SHARK FIN COVE
Davenport, CA
PARKING
There is no parking lot for this location, but street parking along the freeway.
FEES
There are no entrance or parking fees, but a required permit fee for weddings. Travel fees apply.
ACCESSIBILITY
To get to the overlooking cliffs is not a trek, but there is a steep cliff to walk down to get to the beach.
PETS
We don't suggest this for your fur babies as there are cliffs, steep inclines and wildlife throughout the area.
DOWNSIDES
It is a trek to get down to the beach and may be difficult for the non-adventurous of spirit. ;)
SUMMER AT SHARK FIN COVE
BONNY DUNE BEACH
Santa Cruz, CA
PARKING
There is parking along the freeway to the beach.
FEES
There are no fees. Travel fees apply.
RESTROOMS
There are no restrooms at this beach.
ACCESSIBILITY
In order to get to the beach you have to walk down a steep hill, but other than that it is easily accessible.
PETS
This is a pet-friendly beach!
DOWNSIDES
There are no bathrooms for this beach location.
This is considered a nudist beach, so we keep an eye out for that and steer clear if there are any because we don't want them in your photos for obvious reasons. ;)
SUMMER AT BONNY DUNE
ABOUT HK CREATE PHOTOGRAPHY
Located in the Bay Area in San Jose, California, HK Create is a sister photography duo who love connecting with people to capture lasting memories. Known for their joyful, candid, and creative photos, these natural light photographers want your experience to be more than just getting awesome photos, but aim for connection, interaction and authenticity in your photos, while embracing the joy and chaos that comes along with it!
Interested in booking a session with us? Click here!
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