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SF State Graduation Photographer / Photo Locations

Best SFSU Graduation Photo Locations

San Francisco State University has some great spots for graduation photography, from the iconic campus entrance sign to the main quad, library, and surrounding greenery.

One thing I particularly like about photographing graduates at SF State is how flexible the campus can be. Unlike some of the busier universities around the Bay Area, SF State generally has fewer crowds gathering for graduation pictures, making it easier to move between locations and capture a variety of portraits.

Another advantage is San Francisco itself. Many of my SF State graduates choose to combine their campus photos with locations like the Palace of Fine Arts, Legion of Honor, or the Golden Gate Bridge. Whether you want traditional campus portraits or something with beautiful San Francisco scenery, there are plenty of options for a graduation gallery that feels personal to you.

In this guide, I'll share my favorite locations, my recommendations for lighting, and how I like to plan SFSU graduation sessions.

Book your SFSU sessionGraduation portfolio
Tara sits on the stone ledge outside the Legion of Honor and raises her purple mortarboard high overhead with one arm, smiling, with the grand columned building filling the background under an overcast sky.

The five SF State campus spots at a glance

The entrance sign at 19th and Holloway is the one I almost always include. The quad, the library, the Gator, and the Garden of Remembrance add architecture, school spirit, and greenery.

SFSU Entrance Sign →SFSU Main Quad →J. Paul Leonard Library →SFSU Gator Statue →Ruth Asawa Garden of Remembrance →

My favorite on-campus SFSU graduation photo spots

01

SFSU Entrance Sign

Must-have19th Ave & Holloway Ave

The San Francisco State University entrance sign is easily one of my favorite locations for graduation photos on campus. It's the tall, narrow university sign near the intersection of 19th Avenue and Holloway Avenue.

This is one of those classic graduation spots I almost always recommend, because it immediately connects your photos to SF State. It's perfect for traditional cap-and-gown portraits, smiling graduation pictures, and more relaxed celebratory images.

SFSU graduation portrait at the SF State entrance sign

Photo ideas here

  • Classic cap-and-gown portraits
  • Full-body graduation pictures
  • Standing beside the university sign
  • Close-up smiling portraits
  • Celebratory photos showing the school name

Photographer’s tip: This is probably the most popular graduation photo landmark at SFSU, so as graduation approaches you may find other graduates waiting their turn. In my experience the wait usually isn't too bad, and I generally haven't waited longer than around 15 minutes, but crowds change, so it helps to stay flexible.

02

SFSU Main Quad

Highly recommended

The main quad is another great place for SFSU graduation pictures. It's a more open campus setting than the entrance sign, which makes it useful for a variety of traditional and candid photos.

I like bringing different parts of the quad into a session to add variety throughout your gallery.

Photo ideas here

  • Walking graduation portraits
  • Natural smiling photos
  • Wide campus portraits
  • Traditional standing cap-and-gown pictures
  • Fun candid photos

Photographer’s tip: The quad is a good place for more natural, movement-based photos once we've captured the classic sign portraits. Cloudy skies are especially helpful here, keeping the light soft and even across the open space.

03

J. Paul Leonard Library

Recommended

The J. Paul Leonard Library is another location I recommend for SFSU graduation pictures. Its architecture looks different from the rest of campus, which helps create a nice mix of photos throughout your session.

It's a great stop for traditional graduation portraits as well as more relaxed images in front of the building.

Photo ideas here

  • Full-body graduation portraits
  • Standing photos with the library visible
  • Natural walking photos
  • Close-up portraits
  • Architectural compositions

Photographer’s tip: I like including the library because it adds a different setting without leaving SF State. We photograph the outside of the building only.

04

SFSU Gator Statue

Highly recommendedDon Nasser Family Plaza

The Gator statue at Don Nasser Family Plaza is a recognizable campus landmark and a fun location to include in graduation photos.

As SF State's mascot, the Gator makes a school-specific backdrop that feels different from traditional architecture or greenery. It's a great stop for graduates who want to show some school spirit and have fun with their photos.

Photo ideas here

  • Portraits beside the Gator
  • Smiling graduation photos
  • Fun, playful poses
  • Wider images that include the sculpture
  • Traditional cap-and-gown portraits

Photographer’s tip: I recommend the Gator for graduates who want their photos to feel especially connected to SF State.

05

Ruth Asawa Garden of Remembrance

RecommendedBetween Burk Hall and Fine Arts

One of the prettiest natural backgrounds at SF State is the small waterfall surrounded by rocks, flowers, and greenery between Burk Hall and the Fine Arts building. This is the Ruth Asawa Garden of Remembrance.

It has a completely different atmosphere from the library, the quad, and the entrance sign. The plants, rocks, and flowing water make beautiful graduation portraits with a softer, more organic feel.

The garden is also a memorial. Artist Ruth Asawa designed it to honor Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II, including 19 SF State students who were forced to leave their studies. We photograph it respectfully: we stay on the paths, never climb the rocks or step into the plantings, and give visitors space.

Photo ideas here

  • Close-up portraits with greenery
  • Graduation pictures near the waterfall
  • Soft, natural portraits
  • Compositions with flowers and plants
  • Candid smiling photos

Photographer’s tip: This is one of my recommended spots for graduates who want a natural background without leaving campus.

When Is the Best Time to Take SFSU Graduation Photos?

My favorite times for SFSU graduation photography are sunrise and golden hour before sunset.

However, one of the things I love about photographing in San Francisco is that cloudy weather can actually be excellent for portraits. When the sky is overcast, the clouds help diffuse the sunlight, creating softer lighting and reducing harsh shadows on your face.

That means we can often get beautiful graduation photos even at midday or in the afternoon. If it's cloudy, I generally prefer starting earlier in the day, but we have much more flexibility than we would under direct midday sun.

Sunny days

  • Sunrise is excellent.
  • Golden hour before sunset is excellent.
  • I avoid harsh overhead midday sun when possible.

Cloudy days

  • Morning sessions can look beautiful.
  • Midday sessions often work well.
  • Afternoon sessions work well too.
  • When your schedule is flexible, I lean toward earlier sessions.

Approximate sunset in San Francisco (mid-month, 2026)

Jan
5:14 pm
Mar
7:16 pm
May
8:12 pm
Jul
8:31 pm
Sep
7:18 pm
Nov
4:58 pm

Calculated times for planning, not a guarantee. Golden-hour sessions usually start about an hour before sunset, and I’ll confirm the exact start time for your date.

Clouds don't automatically mean perfect light: heavy cloud cover can make it quite dark, and San Francisco weather can change during a session. I can't promise sunshine or sunset colors, so we'll watch the forecast together and adjust the plan as your date gets closer.

My Recommended SFSU Graduation Photo Route

If you're planning to take your graduation photos entirely on the SF State campus, I recommend including the entrance sign, the quad, the library, the Gator statue, and the Garden of Remembrance. Together they give us a good variety of backgrounds: classic campus landmarks, architecture, school spirit, and greenery.

My goal is to move efficiently between locations while leaving enough time for both classic graduation portraits and more natural photos. These are the stops I plan around:

  1. The SFSU entrance sign at 19th and Holloway. About this spot
  2. The main quad. About this spot
  3. The outside of the J. Paul Leonard Library. About this spot
  4. The Gator statue at Don Nasser Family Plaza. About this spot
  5. The Ruth Asawa Garden of Remembrance. About this spot

This is a checklist of stops, not a fixed walking order. I arrange it around where we meet, the light, the time we have, and how busy each spot is on the day.

For a shorter session, I prioritize the entrance sign and then pick a few of the other campus spots based on what matters most to you, rather than rushing through all five.

Beyond campus

Want Something Different? My Favorite Off-Campus Locations for SFSU Graduation Photos

One of the best things about graduating from San Francisco State is having the rest of San Francisco available for your graduation pictures. A lot of my SF State clients choose to take some or all of their graduation photos somewhere beyond campus.

Whether you're looking for beautiful architecture, waterfront scenery, or the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, there are plenty of places to choose from. Here are my favorites.

01

Palace of Fine Arts

Best: golden hour or sunrise

The Palace of Fine Arts is one of my favorite places for graduation photography in San Francisco. Its architecture, columns, and surrounding scenery make a beautiful setting for both traditional graduation portraits and more creative photos.

I particularly recommend photographing here at golden hour or sunrise. The lower sun can create flattering portraits and helps bring out the atmosphere of the place.

Two graduates in gold sashes spray champagne under the Palace of Fine Arts rotunda at golden hour
Golden Hour Palace of Fine Arts

Photo ideas here

  • Full-body portraits with the columns
  • Architectural compositions
  • Classic cap-and-gown portraits
  • Walking and candid photos

Photographer’s tip: The Palace of Fine Arts can get extremely busy with tourists, visitors, and other photographers. I recommend weekdays when possible, and even then, expect some people in the background and leave a little extra time.

Palace of Fine Arts location guide →

02

Legion of Honor

Best: often flexible through the day

The Legion of Honor is another excellent choice for San Francisco graduation photos. I love it for its grand architecture, columns, and elegant surroundings.

One of its biggest advantages is that the architecture creates areas of shade, which gives us more flexibility with the time of day. Unlike more exposed locations, I can often find flattering light here even outside sunrise and sunset.

Bay Area graduation portrait of a graduate in a white dress and gold sash raising her purple cap at the Legion of Honor.

Photo ideas here

  • Portraits along the colonnade
  • Full facade compositions
  • Celebratory cap-in-the-air photos
  • Photos with family

Photographer’s tip: The shaded architecture makes the Legion of Honor one of my more flexible recommendations for daytime graduation photos. The light still depends on where we stand, the sun's direction, and the weather, and I check current access rules before we plan specific areas.

03

Crissy Field

Best for: Golden Gate Bridge backgrounds

Crissy Field is a great choice for graduates who want the Golden Gate Bridge in their graduation photos. The waterfront setting feels completely different from campus: instead of columns and buildings, we can bring in the bay, open scenery, and the bridge.

Bay Area graduation portrait of a woman in a white dress and gold stole standing barefoot on Crissy Field beach with the

Photo ideas here

  • Wide portraits with the bridge
  • Walking photos along the waterfront
  • Windswept, candid moments
  • Close-up portraits with the bay behind you

Photographer’s tip: Crissy Field is especially useful for wider graduation portraits that show off San Francisco. Fog, wind, and visibility vary, so the bridge isn't always clearly visible.

04

Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center

Best for: recognizable bridge compositions

Another popular option is photographing near the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center. This area offers recognizable bridge backgrounds for graduates who want their photos to highlight San Francisco.

I recommend considering it if having the Golden Gate Bridge in your graduation pictures is especially important to you.

Photo ideas here

  • Portraits with the bridge behind you
  • Full-body cap-and-gown photos
  • Celebratory photos

Photographer’s tip: Because this is a major visitor destination, it can get busy with tourists. Weekdays can be more manageable, though a quiet background isn't guaranteed, and fog, wind, and bridge visibility can change the shot.

Can I Take SFSU Graduation Photos at Multiple Locations?

Absolutely! One thing I love about photographing SF State graduates is that we don't have to limit the session to campus.

Some graduates prefer to capture traditional photos at SFSU before traveling to another San Francisco location, like the Palace of Fine Arts, the Legion of Honor, or a spot overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Others skip campus entirely and spend their session at one of these places instead.

I've also photographed graduation sessions with several destinations, including sessions with as many as four locations. It really depends on the experience and the variety of photos you're looking for.

Example session plans

  1. Option A

    Traditional SFSU graduation

    SF State campus only: the entrance sign, quad, library, Gator, and garden.

  2. Option B

    SFSU + Palace of Fine Arts

    Traditional graduation photos on campus, then architectural portraits at the Palace.

  3. Option C

    SFSU + Legion of Honor

    Campus portraits combined with the elegant architecture of the Legion of Honor.

  4. Option D

    SFSU + Golden Gate Bridge

    Start at SF State, then finish with scenic photos at Crissy Field or near the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center.

  5. Option E

    San Francisco without campus

    One or more off-campus locations, with no stop at SFSU.

Pricing and logistics

  • A second nearby location is currently a $125 add-on. For three or four stops, I'll confirm the add-ons, coverage time, and travel with you before you book.
  • Travel between stops takes time from the session, so multi-location plans usually need extra coverage. An extra 30 minutes is currently $100.
  • A four-location session needs much more than basic coverage, so we'll plan the time around the stops you choose instead of squeezing them in.

See current graduation pricing →

Planning Graduation Photos at Multiple Locations?

I'd love to help you create a session that combines your favorite San Francisco locations. When you reach out, mention the spots you'd like to include, and I'll help plan the session around them.

Plan my SFSU session

How Busy Is SFSU During Graduation Season?

Compared with some of the other universities I photograph around the Bay Area, SF State generally feels less crowded during graduation photo sessions. Most of the time, it's relatively easy to move between campus locations without waiting long.

The biggest exception is the main SFSU entrance sign at 19th Avenue and Holloway Avenue. As graduation approaches, more students gather there for cap-and-gown photos. In my experience the wait usually isn't too bad, and I generally haven't waited longer than around 15 minutes, but that can change with the day and how many graduates are out taking pictures.

If we're including off-campus places like the Palace of Fine Arts, I recommend weekdays when possible, because those locations can draw many tourists and photographers.

Key recommendations

  • Consider a weekday for off-campus photos.
  • Avoid the busiest commencement days when possible.
  • Be ready for an occasional wait at the SFSU sign.
  • Expect tourist destinations to be much busier than campus.
  • Plan extra time for multiple destinations.
  • Keep the plan flexible.

Campus and Location Rules

Every SF State photo I recommend in this guide is taken outdoors, including at the J. Paul Leonard Library, where we photograph the outside of the building.

The Garden of Remembrance is a memorial. We keep to the paths, never climb the rocks or step into the plantings, and give other visitors space.

Access rules, closures, and events at campus and city locations can change, so I check current conditions before your session and adjust the plan if a spot is unavailable.

Official sources: SF State campus map · About the Garden of Remembrance · Palace of Fine Arts (SF Rec & Park) · Crissy Field · Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center

Tips for planning your SFSU graduation session

Tell me your must-have spots

Let me know which campus spots or San Francisco places matter most to you, and I'll plan the session around them.

Bring comfortable shoes

Comfortable walking shoes help, especially for multi-location sessions. You can switch into your favorite pair for the photos.

Prepare your graduation outfit

Bring your cap, gown, stole, cords, and any meaningful accessories you'd like in your photos.

Bring a layer

The west side of San Francisco often runs cooler and breezier than downtown, so a jacket for between shots helps.

Common questions

SFSU grad photo FAQ

Where are the best places to take graduation photos at SFSU?

My favorite on-campus locations are the SFSU entrance sign at 19th and Holloway, the main quad, the J. Paul Leonard Library, the Gator statue, and the Garden of Remembrance.

What's the best time for SFSU graduation pictures?

I recommend sunrise or golden hour on sunny days. Cloudy days can also give beautiful, soft light, which makes morning, midday, and afternoon sessions possible.

Does cloudy weather ruin graduation pictures?

Not at all! Cloudy skies can actually help, because they diffuse sunlight and soften shadows. That's one reason SFSU graduation sessions can be flexible with timing. Very heavy clouds can make it dark, so we'll keep an eye on the forecast.

Is SFSU crowded during graduation season?

In my experience, SFSU is generally less crowded than some other universities. The main entrance sign can get busy, especially close to graduation, but the waits are often manageable.

Can I take SFSU graduation photos at the Palace of Fine Arts?

Absolutely! Many SF State graduates take their photos at the Palace of Fine Arts, either instead of campus or as an additional location.

Can we take graduation pictures at both SFSU and the Golden Gate Bridge?

Yes! We can plan a multi-location session that includes SF State and a Golden Gate Bridge location, depending on your session length and schedule.

Can I choose more than one location?

Yes! You can add locations to your session, with the coverage time, travel, and add-on fees that go with them. I'll confirm everything before you book.

What if I want to take graduation photos somewhere other than SFSU?

That's completely fine! Some graduates spend their whole session at the Palace of Fine Arts, the Legion of Honor, Crissy Field, or another San Francisco landmark.

What should I bring to my graduation session?

Bring your graduation cap, gown, stole, cords, and any meaningful accessories you'd like in your pictures. Comfortable walking shoes help too, especially for multi-location sessions.

Will you help me pose?

Absolutely! I'll guide you through the session and help with both classic graduation poses and natural, candid photos.

Plan your SFSU grad session

Recent SFSU sessions from the journal:

SFSU graduation photographer Graduation portfolio Grad pricing Bay Area campus spots What to wear Posing in cap & gown

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