As a Bay Area photographer, I’m often emailed/DM’d by photographers looking to visit the Bay and ask me this: is it safe to carry a camera in San Francisco? This of course comes on the many reports of crime in the city, especially towards photographers. I made a video with tips from how I approach photographing in the city, and this blog is a continuation of that video. Check out the video first if you have time, and then proceed through the rest of this article.

Places I Recommend for Photographers

Financial District / Chinatown

This area is fairly safe due to the number of tourists. It’s also a slow moving traffic area, so grab-and-go theft isn’t as prevalent as it may be in other parts of the city. In addition to the many tourists, you also have a working class of business men & women who are great subjects for street photography. The architecture in this area is a bit older, too. And course, the Leica store is here, which is a must-stop place in SF. This part of the city is probably my favorite place to walk around and shoot.

Marina District

I think the Marina District, specifically Marina Green, is the best place to park (it’s safe, free, and never crowded) and get some great photos. Here you have a park, a marina, a historic buildings, a beach, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz all right in front of you. Great for the city and for portraits.

Golden Gate Bridge Views - Golden Gate Overlook, Battery Spencer, & Fort Baker

I won’t spend a ton of time here because these are all very well-known spots. That said, what you should know is that this is a fairly safe area, plenty of parking typically, and has incredible views. The only advisory I’d give is just to be aware of your surroundings. I listed the locations under the photos so you know what to expect.

Bernal Heights

I fully believe Bernal Heights is the best kept secret in San Francisco. The area has some of the best views of the city, no tourists, and some of the best sunset experiences you can have. The hill is an easy walk, free parking, and the neighborhoods around have a great vibe. It’s an amazing spot for portraits as well as cityscapes.

Cable Car Routes

This isn’t a single location, rather a philosophy. If you’re visiting San Francisco, the best thing you can experience for photography is jumping around the Cable Cars. You can learn some inside information on the video below. So many great spots to photograph on each route. Seriously, don’t miss this.

Places to Avoid

I’ll keep this brief. There are definitely parts of town that aren’t going to be a good fit for your photo adventure. Don’t think of this as a warning of danger, rather a suggestion to avoid putting yourself or others in a situation that would be uncomfortable. This is not an exhaustive list, and anything can happen anywhere. That said, consider avoiding:

The Palace of Fine Arts: If you want to photograph actual ancient style buildings, go do it overseas. This replica, while beautiful, is a notorious hotspot for camera theft and even assaults. I’ve personally never had an issue there, but I never recommend it to anyone visiting for photography. There are just much better things to photograph.
Lombard Street: Yes, it’s cool to walk and experience. Definitely iconic and unique in San Francisco. But for photography, it’s not really worth stopping off at. That said, if you want to check it out, the Cable Car stops right at the top.
Fisherman’s Wharf: This is basically a theme park. There is nothing authentically local about it…except the seals. And you can find seals in other places.
Civic Center Area: This includes the many blocks and neighborhoods around this part of town: The Tenderloin, Japantown, Little Saigon, and the other geographically close areas. There are some wonderful things here, but there are also many people who have really dire situations. You shouldn’t be photographing them, and it’s best to just avoid these parts of town and focus on other regions in the city.

Every photo in this series is digital except one. If you like these looks, hit up my shop at verygoodpresets.com for more info.

San Francisco Photography Tips & Locations