Positive vibes with Sarah in San Francisco

Photo of Shelley Masini by Sarah in San Francisco

When I set up my interview with our local San Francisco photographer, Sarah, we agree to meet on a Sunday morning in February at one of her favorite spots to photograph: Pier 7 along the Embarcadero.

I arrive early. The sun is shining and on Sunday I count on free parking. What I don’t count on are gale force winds! My hair whips around me, street signs swinging above and waves crashing against the concrete walls of the waterfront. Even municipal workers pause to snap pics. On the pier water splashes up through the wooden slats spraying my coat and sunglasses, sunlight dances off white caps, and birds wheel in the sky.  

This is San Francisco: dynamic, energetic, full of surprises, even for locals, even on a quiet Sunday morning. 

Sarah soon appears in a pink jacket and white knit beanie, her camera hanging from her neck on a colorful Navajo strap. 

Sarah in San Francisco

“I’ve never seen it like this!” She exclaims as we greet each other.

Still, I understand why this is one of her favorite places to shoot. The long pier is trimmed in lamp posts while the Bay Bridge and Treasure Island stand in the background. And when you turn around, there’s the city skyline, punctuated by the Transamerica Building and Coit Tower. 

“Yes, it’s one of my favorites spots,” Sarah says with genuine fondness. “It’s especially beautiful at sunset, when the sun sets right behind the Transamerica building and the city lights start coming on.”

When I ask what her other favorite spots are in the city, she’s quick to answer, a local in the know.

“Baker Beach and other spots around Golden Gate Bridge, which is such an iconic place. Vista Point, with its views of the bridge and city from between the trees and old bunkers…

Lands End, especially at sunset. Definitely the Palace of Fine Arts. It's beautiful and impressive. I think it’s one of the best spots in the city. I recently found a cool new mural that says ‘I love S.F.’ by Fisherman’s Wharf, which is great for a travel shoot. And definitely the south part of the city, like the Mission neighborhood. I love all the colorful murals and the vibe. And near it is Bernal Heights with its swing on the hill, which is so Instagrammable. I love this city. It has beautiful views and landscapes and great spots to take pictures.”

After taking a few photos of each other on the pier using her Sony A7 iii, we agree that a walk to Little Italy for a warm drink, exactly what’s needed on such a blustery day. 

As we climb one of San Francisco’s many hills via Broadway, Sarah shares with me how she was born in New York, but her parents moved to Poland when she was three. Her first visit to San Francisco was in the summer of 2017 on a break from University when she worked at the chocolate shop in Ghirardelli Square. There she met Damian, also from Poland. But at the end of summer she said good-bye to San Francisco and Damian, returning to Europe and an internship in Paris.

I ask what made her come back.

“My love for my husband.” She grins. “I came back in early 2019 and Damian and I got married in May. I’ve been here ever since. We fell in love with each other and then with the city.”

Talk about a romantic homage to the City by the Bay! In fact, Sarah adds to her list of favorite spots in San Francisco.

“Ina Coolbrith Park. It’s not crowded or popular among the tourists, more of a hidden gem. I highly recommend it for planning a proposal. It’s actually where my husband proposed.”

We arrive in Little Italy, passing well-known haunts like City Light Bookstore and The Stinking Rose Restaurant, and settle in at Caffe Greco, she with herbal tea and me with a cappuccino. We dive into a conversation about all things photography and San Francisco, starting with what got her interested in photography and inspired her to go professional.

“I grew up in Poland and surrounded by nature. My Dad has a house in the countryside, surrounded by a forest. As a kid it helped me to see the world in different ways, with an artistic appreciation. Horses and other animals, the way the sun shines. It was truly the nature and landscapes of Poland that inspired me and my first photographs were of plants and flowers and my cats. 

Then when I grew up and was going to University, I started traveling. I came here and I lived in France for a year. I fell in love with traveling and taking pictures, and I wanted to combine my passions. I knew I wanted to be a destination photographer who people could book from all over the world. When I was 22 I decided to become a professional photographer and I had my first paying job when I was still a student at University.” 

The simple fact is, Sarah is a travel photographer because she loves to travel as much as we do! And she loves to meet other travelers and capture their stories.

“I love meeting new people from all over the world. I’m such a people person. And I love foreign languages. I’m so happy when I get clients who book me because of the languages I speak.”

Sarah has been a San Francisco photographer for Shoot My Travel since the summer of 2019, not long after her wedding. Locals book her for everything from professional headshots to intimate weddings in the gold-domed Civic Center. But she especially loves meeting San Francisco’s visitors from all over the world, Canada to Singapore. She guides them to iconic spots and hidden gems for great travel shoots.

“Every photo shoot tells a story and that story depends on the person in the pictures. When they’re travelers I want to tell the story of them exploring the city and how seeing it changes their emotions and perceptions.”

But with all these photoshoots there must be challenges. I ask what some are. 

“The weather. When it’s not nice I try to reschedule because I care a lot about good weather in my pictures. I want beautiful, natural light. It’s so important to me. And then there’s the wind in San Francisco. Some people feel uncomfortable with the wind, especially on the Golden Gate Bridge. I just suggest they bring a beanie and sunglasses!” 

But Sarah’s insights into what makes a great photo shoot don’t end there. She’s sensitive to her clients’ nerves and wants to make them feel comfortable and enjoy the experience, especially if this is their first time hiring a travel photographer.

“We chat before the session and discuss spots. I always ask if they have any particular spots or pictures they want. Some people know where they want to go. But some people want me to recommend spots because they don’t know the city. I know which locations are best at which times of the day. For example, if someone wants a picture with the Golden Gate I can say it’s better to do it in the morning or the afternoon for the amazing light.

They just need to be prepared for a fun experience! It’s nothing to stress about. It’s all about the experience. It’s not a posing session. I will tell clients funny things about the city and about the spots, and we’ll be talking all the time. It’s like meeting friends. We’re just talking and I’m taking pictures. It’s natural and spontaneous and all about positive vibes.” 

It quickly becomes obvious that Sarah is a professional photographer tuned into her craft and her clients. She shows me pictures from some of her San Francisco photo shoots at the locations she’s mentioned and I’m stunned by the beautiful light, composition, and colors. I want to know how she stays so inspired.

“I get inspiration from Instagram. I love scrolling and getting inspired by other photographers and travelers. And I get inspiration from my own travels. I tour around the city. My friends show me new places or I explore myself. For example, I’ll leave home and say, okay, today I’m going to explore North Beach and search for new spots.”

I ask Sarah what word she would use to describe herself. She gives me two.

“Crazy. In a positive sense, meaning lots of energy and ideas. And dreamer.” 

We take our last sips, preparing to part ways, and I ask her what she has on the horizon. 

“I’ve started using a drone to do photography and I’m working on getting my license to use it in San Francisco. And I have two Shoot My Travel photo shoots coming up this week. One is a surprise proposal and one is a Valentine’s Day photo shoot. I love capturing couples and their love.”

As I walk back down Broadway to my car, I feel confident that anyone who hires Sarah as their San Francisco photographer is getting a kind, talented professional who will bring positivity to their photo shoot and deliver beautiful vacation photos.

Check out Sarah’s portfolio. If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco, book her as your own personal photographer for the day!