The 10 Best Lifestyle Photographers in San Francisco

Looking for the best San Francisco lifestyle photographers for your next project? We call San Francisco home, so we at Peerspace know better than anyone just how many jaw-dropping photographers are walking our streets. The fact that we’ve got sunshine, warm weather, and picturesque vistas doesn’t hurt, either — it makes San Francisco a prime spot for outdoorsy, adventurous lifestyle photography. Couple that with the presence of a strong startup and tech community, and you’ve got an ecosystem with a high demand for top-notch work.

Thankfully, San Francisco’s creative professionals can handle anything. Our list of the 10 best San Francisco lifestyle photographers features rising talents and world-beaters, as well as creative styles of all shades. Enjoy checking out their work — we certainly did!

1. Trinette Reed and Chris Gramly

Trinette Reed and Chris Gramly’s lifestyle photography is light and airy, clean and bright — it never tries too hard. There’s no over-processed feel or chasing of fads, just magazine-perfect shots of happy people living their best lives. That’s suitable for all sorts of brands, from apparel brands to food products and furnishings.

What’s also notable is that their lifestyle work is full of groups. It’s not the type of lifestyle work where a fashionable 20-something struts down an alley in the trendiest outfit you’ve ever seen. Rather, it’s the kind where families enjoy each other’s company and kids chase puppies. It teems with life, comfort, and love — and we think you’ll dig it.

2. Jenna Alcala

Jenna Alcala loves to travel, and it shows through in her sun-drenched, high-luxury lifestyle photography. Most of it tends towards high fashion, capturing natural light shots of chic, opulent scenes. Her work is an extraordinary fit for resorts, beachwear lines, and any other brand that pairs well with the more luxurious side of life.

3. Michal Venera

Michal Venera is a grizzled veteran of the commercial photography world, a photographer whose reputation precedes him. His natural light work is often shot at low or high angles to draw the viewer in, and he can just as easily shoot comforting, rustic scenes as he can high-energy, adrenaline-fueling action shots.

Just check out this glowing review from a former VP Creative of Pottery Barn: “Michal and I worked together on Pottery Barn for over 20 years. He was always a stellar contributor to our brand, and is an energetic and thoughtful photographer. Michal’s long-term contribution to the PB Brands cannot be overstated – he was there at the beginning and was a pillar of strength and an extremely creative contributor to our growth.”

4. Katie Newburn

Starbucks, Apple, Postmates, and American Express are just a few of the companies that have trusted Katie Newburn to capture scenes that communicate the stories of their brands. And why wouldn’t they? Her advertising lifestyle work is top of the line, full of beautiful colors and vibrant personalities. She’s great at matching her editing style to the needs of her clients rather than imposing her own style on every project — letting the work take center stage.

We love how her website describes her aim and passion: “Her desire [is] to use photography as a medium to capture the love shared at the dining table, to support the sustainable food movement, and to offer her own unique perspective.” If your personal or professional lifestyle shoot looks to support a sustainable message, contact Katie!

5. Laurie Frankel

Laurie Frankel will do whatever it takes to get the shot — from hanging from the ceiling to crawling through swamps. In fact, it’s that dedication to her craft that has solidified her position among the best San Francisco lifestyle photographers.

Her work drips with style and mood, and while she’s typically harnessing natural light, she looks for the places where it hits in dramatic angles, emulating classical portrait lighting setups — especially split lighting techniques. And so, her technical proficiency, combined with her keen aesthetic eye, make her one of the best in town. Laurie is technically gifted and a true artist at her craft.

6. Megan Bayley

Megan Bayley loves adventure — assignments that call for her to get out in the sun and ocean breeze suit her just fine. But we think her strongest work is actually the lifestyle work she shoots for places like restaurants and stores, wherein she attractively captures people hanging out and enjoying themselves.

Given the artificial lighting already in place in eateries and cafes, it’s often trickier than people might expect to get a well-lit shot with pleasing colors. If you’re looking for someone to shoot your interior for your website or social media, look up Megan.

7. Emily Pillon Photography

Emily Pillon has been honing her photography craft since she first picked up a camera in 2013. She studied both art and business in college, making her adept at commercial lifestyle imagery. However, it’s her personal lifestyle photos we especially love. She works with couples and individuals to document their special moments in a colorful, timeless manner. All of her subjects look strong, enthusiastic, and like, well, themselves.

8. Vision Infinie by Stavan

If you’re getting married in the San Francisco Bay area and looking for a lifestyle photographer with an impressive creative vision, reach out to Vision Infinie’s Stavan. You are bound to be blown away by the artistry and sensational vibrancy found in all of his images. Stavan is also gifted with that easy touch that seems to coax out the authentic side of his subjects. He is a rising star in San Francisco where people turn to him for their wedding and engagement photography, as well as family, graduation, and headshot portraits.

9. Annabelle Breakey

Annabelle Breakey primarily shoots still lifes these days, and her work is crazy good. But it’s partially for this reason that when she is commissioned for lifestyle work, it feels fresh and energetic — for her, it’s a break from the ordinary. In particular, she’s a home-run choice for any brand in the food and beverage industry.

She has such a sense for the way food works, how its colors and texture inform our enjoyment of it just as much as the taste. Annabelle’s also the perfect photographer to depict an outdoor cooking scene or a family BBQ — or really anything else you could ever want, for that matter. She’s that good.

10. Jason Bax and John Towner of Bax Towner

Jason Bax and John Towner joined forces in 2017 to maximize their creative output. And produce they do, crafting enthralling images in the automotive, outdoor lifestyle, fashion, and tech markets. Their work has a dramatic, cinematic quality, a style with a cool factor that’s through the roof. It’s their attention to detail and creative eye that ensures they’ll rank among the best San Francisco lifestyle photographers for a long time to come.

Bonus: Shirley Hu of Huxwork

We simply couldn’t wrap up this list of the best lifestyle photographers in San Francisco without mentioning Shirley Hu and her brand, Huxwork. This team, comprised of Shirley and her graphic design partner, Soso Shui, create both stunning lifestyle images for families, events, and businesses alike. What sets them apart is their obvious artistic nature, attention to detail, and love of authentic moments. Look through their Instagram, and you will see plenty of lifestyle images of people being people. It’s a natural, unplanned style that is truly heartwarming and captivating.

Lifestyle photographers in San Francisco: conclusion

These are some of the most talented lifestyle photographers in San Francisco. And yet, it’s still only a tip of the iceberg when it comes to this creative metropolis. Since we’re neighbors and all, make sure you check out the incredible spaces available here in San Francisco. This town’s full of eclectic, unique spots to shoot in that you’d probably never otherwise learn about. Explore joints ranging from offbeat private galleries to lofts that are tailor-made for commercial photography. Let’s keep up the great work, San Francisco.

Find production spaces in San Francisco on Peerspace