Golden Gate Bridge Dog Portraits with Murphy

San Francisco Dog Photography at Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco Dog Photography at Golden Gate Bridge

This San Francisco dog photography session couldn’t have been more magical. I met my clients at Marshall Beach (a less-popular/more secluded beach on the North side of the Golden Gate Bridge - highly recommend!) at exactly 4pm on a Sunday. I had just wrapped up a super busy and fun Instant Doggie Photobooth in Hayes Valley with my assistant, and after a quick bite we zipped across the city to the Marshall Beach parking lot. I always check the tide report before any San Francisco beach dog photography session because just like every other Bay Area dog owner, I’ve been caught walking my dog on the beach unprepared when high tide hits and everyone gets soaked and that’s just not fun. So as soon as my clients and I met at the parking lot we took a fairly brisk walk all the way down to the beach in order to not waste any precious beach time before the tide rolled in.

When we got down to the beach I could tell that we only had about ten minutes before the tide completely covered the beach - the water was quite high and the waves were quite big when we arrived. Concerned about everyone’s safety, I made sure to jump into action in as calm a way as possible. My clients were more than happy to take their shoes off and roll up their pants and run in the water a bit with Murphy. We had some beautiful late afternoon sun that was shrouded by a perfectly light layer of clouds, the bridge was clear as could be, and for some unbelievable reason there was no one on the beach with us. We had the whole place to ourselves - it was amazing.

San Francisco Dog Photographer

San Francisco Dog Photographer

Dog Photographer in San Francisco

Dog Photographer in San Francisco

I always want to photograph where my clients and their dog are most at ease, where they are happiest, where the background tells a story that is nearly as important as the subject matter. For Murphy, Marshall Beach was it. For those very quick ten minutes before the high tide forced us off the beach were perfect - my clients were running around with Murphy having so much fun, Murphy was in his element, and I got to simply sit back and observe and create. Then I made sure we all scampered off the beach before the waves took any of us down - a slight bit treacherous but totally worth it!

San Francisco Dog and Family Photography

San Francisco Dog and Family Photography

San Francisco’s Best Dog Photographer

San Francisco’s Best Dog Photographer

We then walked around Fort Marshall and created some really special family portraits and portraits of Murphy solo on and around the beautiful backdrop of aged cement and open shade. What a great San Francisco dog photography session. Thank you Murphy - you’re a good dog.