When we think of San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area, some words that come to mind are: magical, intriguing, awe-inspiring, cool af... we could go on forever. But how can you convey that magic and coolness? That's where these local photographers come in. We think they do the best job of capturing the Bay's unique beauty while retaining its true character perfectly. Have a look, check their pages out, and hit that follow button!
Many photographers are great at framing their shots, but Jason Dubs' photos have some of the most consistently interesting frames out there. If you're looking for photos with a different frame of mind, check out his Instagram page. He's based in Oakland, but you'll get a peak into the lands of LA, Yosemite, Utah, and more through a dreamy lense.
Give Grady a follow and peak into a world that just exudes coolness. His star-studded page features several casual appearances by artists such as Travis Scott, Mac Miller, and G-Eazy, as well as some casual moments in his everyday life.
The Lost San Jose project is "pure lowbrow poetry: simultaneously ahead of and behind its local time," according to Gary Singh, a South Bay culture reporter. Josh Marcotte, the photographer behind the Instagram account @lostsanjose, documents decaying relics in his native San Jose — from fading neon signs and forgotten used car lots to people, cars and cats.
Colorful. Bright. Sunny. Inspirational. These are just some of the words we would use to describe Axel Cureno's body of work. Never have we wanted to jump inside a photo so badly!
It doesn't matter if these photos are showing the mountain, the desert or the road, Paul Clark's pictures feel infinite. With beautiful perspective shots and landscapes that go for miles, these photos will never leave you feeling unsatisfied.
His specialty may be landscapes and cityscapes, but Garrett Schmid also takes some really engrossing crowd photos as well. From skateboard meet-ups to last year's protests, these photos illustrate the Bay Area's continuous march toward progress.
From sunrise to sunset, Gabe Zermeno captures the light of the Bay Area beautifully. And have you seen his photos of the fog yet? The sky looks like the ocean with his artistic eye.
It's not hard to see how Resh has amassed over 130k followers on Instagram. Whether capturing the cheese-grater sides of the Transamerica Pyramid or smooth beach rocks kissed by the ocean, his photos always have a great sense of texture. Plus, he's recently made a few Insta Reels with some great photography tips!
We LOVE live music AND cool photos. And when someone combines the two? It's game over! From Flosstradamus to Big Sean to Mac DeMarco, these are some of our favorite photos of the artists we love. And with concerts on pause, for now, these pics feel like only one step away from being there in person.
The best way to describe Marcell Turner is as a visual story teller. His photos capture a perspective of the Bay and beyond that many do not see, or get to see. They make you feel like you know the Bay, you know? He often posts candid portraits of strangers, streets, and black + white moments in time.
Some words to describe Casey Whalen's page: playful, colorful, and optimistic. You truly feel the "ily" in "ilysanfrancisco". Her photos are always fresh + fun and capture the character of San Francisco's houses, landmarks, and (many) quirks.
Dreamy landscapes and a "head above the clouds" feel are ever-present on Ryan Fitzsimons page. Looking at these photos will surely bring some inspiration and appreciation for the Bay (and it's many gorgeous sunsets).
You like florals? You like animals? You like nature and all its glory in general? Then you'll love Sarah Deragon's page. The photos give us a small peak into the farm life, as well as takes on so many beautiful portraits. We love to see it!
See the Bay by bird's-eye view with Marcus Aureliuz's many city-scaped shots. We love the romanticized skylines, dream-worthy skies, and different plays on light throughout the page's content. 10/10 would recommend.
Chances are you may have heard of, or even follow, Michael Victor (AKA, The 415 Guy). He's a third-generation San Francisco photographer, capturing the City by sunrise, sunset, blue hour, and midnight. If you love the character of SF's neighborhoods and architecture, check out his work.
JJ Meeks really has a way with capturing the Bay's coolness. With dark, edgy photos, matched with eye-drawing landscapes and portraits of the SF's many faces on the street, JJ's pages is a easy crowd-pleaser.
Light, airy, and fun, Jenny Tran takes the romantic feels of SF's two bridges + other landmarks to a new level. She's also a blogger, so pop over to @jennytran if you're into outfit + lifestyle pics as well.
The cozy, rainy day feels are abundant on Kai Pitoy's page. There are cool juxtapositions of pedestrians walking in darkness against bright signage, as well as some amazing shots of SF's landmarks + buildings thrown in the mix.
Nicole Zelkowitz's page is something out of a dream – sun-kissed landscapes, glowing skies, glistening skylines... true magic. She has beautiful shots of SF, Yosemite, and Big Sur, as well as some sweet escapes like Hawaii, Israel, Bryce Canyon, and more to get you in the traveling mood.
Incredible drone shots for days. Michael Lax gets the stamp of approval for providing a perspective most impossible for us to see (without a helicopter or a drone, that is), while also providing awe-inspiring shots of such perspectives. If you haven't seen his viral video of the June 3rd protests in the Mission yet, check it out.
Do you dig the stars + all things space? Well if you don't, you're about to. Moshen Chan has a way with the lenses, providing a deeper look into the vast sky above us and all it's contents. From comets to Great Conjunctions to the good ol' Milky Way, Moshen's got you covered. Next up: UFOs?
Waves crashing, lightning striking, suns setting, rains bowing – whatever the natural world has to offer, Stu Berman is on it. His weather-centric shots are dreamworthy and sure to inspire you to get out into nature.
The only way to describe Valerie Guseva's photos: swoon-worthy and so much fun. With a plethora of shots of folks and their loved ones, as well as incredibly magical solo shots, Guseva puts the excitement of a moment back into the picture. If you like looking at beautiful people around the Bay, give the page a follow.
There's definitely a surreal, ethereal feel to Daniel Berson's photos. His page features a multitude of crisp, inspiring photos of both the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, as well as city + nature shots sprinkled throughout. Hit follow and get transported into a dream world.
The photos on this page feels both mystical and misty. Ethan of @sanfranciscoist captures the essence of the Bay without challenging it, while also providing a light-filled, colorful perspective of the city.
Raihan's dark take on San Francisco's cityscape gives the photos a mysterious feel, often featuring passing faces of SF's everyday life – specifically in Chinatown. Give the page a follow for a unique look into the city.
Written by Riley Huff and Alida Newson
Note: This list is by no means exhaustive. If we missed one of your favorite local photographers, drop us a line at [email protected]!
If you're itching for more dreamworlds, dive into a new read from The Bay's Best Bookstores
