Jenn and Frank first reached out to me after seeing their best friend’s engagement session with me during the spring of 2021. They knew they wanted something similar, but uniquely theirs. They’d heard incredible things from their friends about the experience, and honestly, that’s the best compliment a photographer can receive. Word-of-mouth recommendations from couples who’ve lived through the magic? That’s gold.

Adventure Sessions Steal My Heart

Instead of opting for a traditional engagement session, Jenn and Frank opted for an urban engagement adventure session. These are absolutely MY FAVORITE type of shoots. There’s something incredible that happens when we break from the concept of a single location and limited time. Adventure sessions give us the luxury of time and the freedom to explore multiple locations, creating a diverse portfolio of images that really captures the different layers of a couple’s personality.

The magic lies in the journey itself. When couples choose an adventure session, we’re not just taking photos – we’re creating an experience together. We get to walk, talk, laugh, and discover hidden gems throughout the city. It’s during these in-between moments, the walks from location to location, the spontaneous discoveries, where some of the most authentic emotions unfold. As a photographer, I get to witness and capture the natural chemistry between couples as they simply exist together in beautiful spaces.

The Perfect Starting Point

Our adventure began at the corner of Delgado Place in San Francisco – and here’s where the story gets even sweeter. Frank’s last name happens to be Delgado, so choosing this location was their adorable way of incorporating his family name into their engagement story. Sometimes the universe just aligns perfectly, and this was one of those moments.

Beyond the sentimental connection, Delgado Place offered everything a photographer dreams of – charming architecture, beautiful natural light filtering between buildings, and that quintessential San Francisco neighborhood vibe that feels both intimate and urban. The streets here have character, with their unique blend of residential charm and city sophistication that makes for incredible backdrops.

Sweet Discoveries and Spontaneous Moments

As we began exploring the neighborhood, we stumbled upon an old-school ice cream shop just around the corner. These are the moments I live for during adventure sessions – the unexpected discoveries that add layers to the story we’re telling. Watching Jenn and Frank share a sweet treat, seeing their genuine reactions to eating their ice cream, capturing the simple joy of a couple being playful together is what makes adventure sessions so much richer than traditional posed photography.

The ice cream shop gave us intimate, candid moments that showcased their playful side. I love incorporating these real-life elements into engagement sessions because they reflect how couples actually spend time together. Years from now, when they look at these photos, they’ll remember not just how they looked, but how they felt discovering that little shop together.

Champagne Dreams on Lombard Street

From there, we made our way to the iconic Lombard Street. We found our own special spot away from the typical tourist crowds in a little patch of grass where you can sit and take in stunning views of the Bay Bridge. It was here that Jenn and Frank decided to pop champagne!

The golden hour light was hitting perfectly, creating that warm, romantic glow that every photographer and couple dreams of. These are the moments that remind me why I fell in love with engagement photography in the first place. It’s not just about gorgeous photos, it’s about celebrating life in beautiful places.

The champagne moment also gave us time to slow down and chat. Instead of rushing from pose to pose, we sat together, talked about their love story, their wedding plans, and what drew them to each other. This conversation time is crucial for creating authentic images because the more comfortable couples become with me, the more their true personalities shine through in their final images.

Architectural Gems and Hidden Staircases

San Francisco is a photographer’s dream. One of my favorite discoveries during this session was a stunning set of stairs we found while wandering the neighborhood streets. The city’s architecture provides endless opportunities for cool compositions. From the geometric lines of staircases to the interplay of shadows and light created by building structures.

When Mother Nature Has Other Plans

As we wrapped up our adventure in the neighborhood and headed back to our cars, we had plans to drive to the Presidio for the last look and spot. I was excited to show Jenn and Frank how dramatically we could change the mood and setting of their photos with a 10 minute drive!

However, San Francisco weather had other plans. Just as we parked in the Presidio, the mist started rolling in heavy – and I mean HEAVY. While San Francisco fog can create moody, romantic images, this particular weather system would have left us completely soaked and unable to capture the variety of shots we wanted to get.

The Beauty of Flexibility

This is where the adventure session approach really shows its value. Instead of being disappointed or stressed about the weather change, we simply adapted. We made plans to meet another day at Mount Tamalpais for the second part of their session, promising that Jenn and Frank would get the full variety of images they deserved.

This flexibility is something I always discuss with my couples. When we have more time and multiple planned locations, we can work with whatever Mother Nature gives us. Sometimes the unexpected changes lead to even more beautiful images than we originally planned…which is exactly what happened with this session.

Inspiration at it’s finest

Looking back at Jenn and Frank’s San Francisco urban engagement session, I’m struck by how perfectly it captures what I love most about adventure photography. We made genuine moments, found beautiful locations together, and built a collection of photos that tells a complete story rather than just showing a series of poses.

The response to this session has been incredible. I’ve had so many other couples reach out specifically after seeing these images, asking about San Francisco adventure sessions. There’s something about the combination of urban life and romance that really resonates with couples looking for engagement photos that feel both aspirational and authentic.

Creating Your Own Adventure

If you loved this San Francisco urban engagement session, I would love for you to explore more incredible sessions here. Each couple’s adventure is unique to them, and I’m always looking for new ways to incorporate more of who my clients really are into their sessions.

I’m curious – in a dream world, where would YOU have your engagement session photographed? The beauty of adventure sessions is that we can make almost any dream location work, creating images that are as unique as your story.