Our San Francisco photography exploration begins along the beautiful Embarcadero waterfront, where the city skyline meets the shimmering bay. As the sun lowers, warm golden light illuminates the coastline and the Bay Bridge, creating a spectacular setting for our first photography session.

We’ll use the elegant lines of Pier 14 to lead the eye toward the Bay Bridge as daylight gradually transitions into blue hour and night. You’ll learn to compose the illuminated Bay Bridge, capture reflections across the water, and create dazzling starbursts from the city lights.

After nightfall, we’ll continue to Lombard Street, where streams of headlights and taillights wind through the famous curves. Using a tripod and long exposure, you’ll transform passing cars into colorful ribbons of light—ending our first day with one of San Francisco’s most iconic nighttime photographs.

Experience the Golden Gate Bridge from two dramatically different perspectives. We’ll begin from the surrounding hills, photographing sweeping views of the bridge, coastline, and water while exploring composition, scale, and the use of natural foregrounds.



As sunset approaches, we’ll move closer to the shoreline, where the bridge rises powerfully above the water. We’ll capture its dramatic structure, iconic red towers, and changing atmosphere as the warm afternoon light transitions into sunset.

We’ll begin the day exploring North Beach, photographing its colorful storefronts, lively street scenes, architectural details, and spontaneous moments of everyday life.



Afterward, we’ll review and edit selected photographs, learning how thoughtful adjustments can enhance light, color, and visual storytelling. In the late afternoon, we’ll photograph San Francisco from an elevated hillside, capturing its layered skyline, sloping streets, and waterfront as the city glows in the warm sunset light.

We’ll begin with street photography along California Street and through Chinatown, capturing cable cars, steep hills, vibrant storefronts, architectural details, and spontaneous moments of city life.



In the afternoon, we’ll photograph the Golden Gate Bridge from the shoreline before continuing to an elevated viewpoint for sunset. From sweeping coastal scenery to the bridge glowing in the evening light, we’ll explore how perspective, foreground, and changing light can transform an iconic subject.

We’ll begin in the Botanical Garden and Japanese Tea Garden, photographing aesthetic flowers, delicate foliage, natural textures, and peaceful garden scenes while exploring creative composition and beautiful natural light.



In the afternoon, we’ll turn our attention to San Francisco’s colorful Victorian architecture before continuing to the Palace of Fine Arts for sunset and blue hour. As daylight fades, we’ll photograph its grand columns, graceful reflections, and warm evening glow—capturing the landmark as its atmosphere transforms from day to night.

We’ll begin with a guided editing session, refining selected photographs from the week and learning how to strengthen color, light, mood, and visual impact while maintaining a natural look.

In the afternoon, we’ll conclude our exploration along San Francisco’s rugged coastline. With the Golden Gate Bridge rising above the shoreline, we’ll photograph dramatic rocks, moving waves, and reflections in the wet sand as the final sunset brings our six-day photography journey to a memorable close.

Quick Facts

Sign up for the San Francisco Night Photography Online Class for only $99!

What's included?

1. Full instructions in all the 3 iconic night photography locations in San Francisco (Lombard Street, The Palace of Fine Arts and The Embarcadero Coastline for the Bay Bridge view).

2. The Basic settings that applies to all types of night photography + more variations (e.g using a black card).

3. The exact locations.

4. Using the sophisticated equipment (Canon R5 full frame mirrorless camera + Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 lens).

5. Using the budgeted equipment (Canon R50 APSC mirrorless camera + Canon RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 lens).

6. Bonus: Using ND + GND filters to photograph the Bay Bridge during the sunset time.