What you will see at Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park

Since this was only a mini session, we shot at the waterfall/Chinese pagoda area. There are benches, bridges, stairs, and of course the lake and the waterfall. In the fall, this is one of the only places with lots of fall foliages in Golden Gate Park – or San Francisco for that matter!

If we had more time, it would have been amazing to shoot at the Boat House. There, you can do a lifestyle shoot with ice cream, on the boat, on the dock. So many options!

The trail around the lake is gorgeous too.

Parking at Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park

Plenty of parking! Love being able to say that for San Francisco locations. Even on a busy weekend, I’ve never had issues parking here.

Lenses to bring at Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park

Bring a wide angle lens! You won’t be able to get the waterfall with the 85. You would also want zoom lens also because there are so many places you want to shoot (like people on top of the waterfall) that even the 85 made them look tiny.

Lighting at Sunset at Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park

It was gorgeous, but the deep rich colors are in the inside trail where much of the place is shaded. Closer to the sunset though, going on the outside trail was perfect lighting.