well i should say, it’s almost here! my very first book, see san francisco published by chronicle books is available for pre-order right now (and here in the UK), and books will be winging their way to stores on april 28th! this book has been a long-awaited labor of love for me. i started working on the book well over a year and half ago and it feels surreal and exciting that it’s finally on the printed page — ink on paper and perfect bound with a pretty, colorful cover! i put a lot of love, sweat and tears into see san francisco, so i do hope you’ll like it as much as i loved putting it to the page. essentially the book is what i’d call a photographic journal of san francisco by neighborhood, with 19 total neighborhoods included in the 159 pages, and over 285 color images that i photographed throughout the city by the bay.
i started out shooting see san francisco with my DSLR camera — i’d give myself photo assignments each week — a specific neighborhood to cover and head out to shoot. but i found that wasn’t really working for me. it felt much too forced and not the way in which i normally capture the city. so i changed things up, and found that by just capturing images as i came upon them serendipitously that the content became much more interesting. and i did this all with my iphone 6, using the VSCO app because i always have my phone on me, and i’m always shooting. so it was much more organic for me to work that way, and then compile the images by neighborhood later, after everything was shot. i’m not certain, but this may be one of the first books published by chronicle to be shot with a phone!
i then did an extensive amount of research on each neighborhood featured in see san francisco, and learned a ton along the way. my goal was to share with you what each neighborhood was originally like, its history and culture — and then how it’s changed and evolved over the years. i’ve also shared a lot of my own favorite spots, hidden gems you don’t hear about in every guide book to san francisco — i’d venture to say mine may be a little more quirky. but that’s the side of san francisco i love, and hope to share with you. as my acknowledgements in see san francisco say — i could never have had an opportunity to publish a book without you, so i thank you most sincerely, and i hope that i’ve done my very best to make you proud.
— xo, victoria
Congratulations, Victoria! I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy! I think it’s incredible that these photos were shot on your iphone. That’s how I prefer to take photos as well – perhaps because I’m not quite comfortable with my DSLR yet, or maybe because my phone has earned its honorary limb status. Do you often share iphone photos here on the blog too? Your photos are always so gorgeous!
thank you, natalie! and yes, most of the photos you see here are shot with my iphone. :)
It looks so beautiful! Will it be available to buy in the UK as well (sorry if that’s a tired old question!). I visited San Francisco exactly 8 years ago now and I really miss it, I loved the unique vibe it had compared to other American cities. It was relaxed, it was fun, it was bright too – the weather was beautiful for our entire stay. I’m longing to go back, and I’m hoping to buy this book so I can dream all about my next trip!
With love ♥ » Paris by Friday
not a tired question at all – thanks for asking! yes, you can find it in the UK here:
http://www.abramsandchronicle.co.uk/books/lifestyle/9781452138206-see-san-francisco
thank you!!
I have your book on order from Amazon and can’t wait to receive it. Congratulations on your first book.
thank you Sandra! i so appreciate it. :)
That’s such a huge work! Congrats! I will be in SF for the first time in late April, so I could run in a bookstore to find it :) best regards from Paris, xo
mercí!! and have a wonderful trip. paris seems like a kind of soul sister to san francisco. :)
Wow! This is so beautiful! ♥
xo!! thank you!
Congratulations Victoria! I can’t wait to see the book and the photos look beautiful–great endorsement for the iPhone6. You put a lot of love into that book and it really shows through the photographs and your description. Many congratulations for a giant accomplishment.
thanks, zinnia! i probably should have asked Apple to give me an internship or something! :)
Congratulations ! I love your sunny blog.
A french fan
thank you French Fan!
Lovely! Love, love!! And how exciting!
thank you, anna! very exciting that you are all so enthusiastic!
Congratulations. The book looks absolutely stunning.
mercí cece!
It looks amazing! Just so you know, I think Maddie on Things was published by Chronicle Books and he shot it on his i-phone. None the less, your book is sure to be beautiful and I can’t wait to see it.
Ahhh! See, I wasn’t certain. So glad to hear someone, and especially Maddie, had such a great success with the iPhone. Love his Instagram, so I’ve got to get the book!
Congrats!! So cool to have a book with your own beautiful pictures. Enjoy it!
This is so exciting! Congratulations!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
I lost my heart to this beautiful city ten years ago when I spent a year and a half there as as university student. I’ve been “homesick” for San Francisco ever since … so I soak up every picture of San Francisco I can get and I can’t wait to hold your book in my hands (just pre-ordered, yay!!) … I already know I’ll be in love with it all over again! Cheers from Germany :-)
Very very exciting!!!! Can not wait to get a copy!!! Looks beautiful Victoria, well done!!!
GaaaaahhhHHH!!!!!! IT looks beautiful!!! Good job!!!
Just ordered it and cannot WAIT to see it in-person. Big congrats to you, Victoria!
Victoria, that is so awesome!! Congrats! I can’t wait to get my copy.
Congratulations, Victoria! Have been following your blog for a long time and can’t wait till your book is in my hands!
Wow!
I lived in San Francisco for 4 years and it will always have a special place in my heart. Can’t wait to have it! Congrats on your accomplishment, it is very inspiring! <3
I will have to give some of these lovelies to San Francisco friends!! Yay for you, Victoria!
i totally pre-ordered and cannot wait!! congrats on this incredible project coming to life.
Oh yes – it’s finally here and so many joyful years in the making!! Every day that you and Lucy ventured out together and graced our streets, a seed was planted for this permanent love letter. We will miss you so much! This town is always your town, and we’re proud to send you off to her southern sister as OUR published author, photographer and Saveur mag design blog finalist. Big applause, Victoria!!! :)
Ah, thank you Yvonne. You are so sweet. That makes me tear up a little — but I’m not gone yet. L.A. is not making it easy for me to buy a house! ;) Thanks so much for your kind comments!
i preordered my copy a while ago–cannot wait until it arrives!
congratulations to you!
I hate to be *that* person, but SF has changed so much in the past several years. I know change is inevitable, but it still makes me sad how unaffordable the city has become. I’m grateful for the many years that I had there, and SF will always have a very special place in my heart. But I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that the almost aching love I used to feel for the city belongs to a place whose time is now past. Even still, I’m glad you made this book (which I will be buying); I almost feel as though you wrote my goodbye love letter for me.
Congrats! :) I have never been there but even these few photos from the book that you shared through this post make me wanna go! You are so talented!!
Congratulations! One of the best holidays I had was visiting my sister in Emeryville and checking out so many great places in SF and Berkeley. Can’t wait to get your book and look forward to visiting the Bay Area again with my family.
How exciting Victoria, congratulations! I can’t wait to get myself a copy!
oh Victoria, did you write this book just for me?! It’s like you called me up and asked me what I wanted! I’ve done the same thing with my hometown of Minneapolis (only pretend-published for distribution in my own house) and its so exciting to see someone taking the same approach with such a magical place. I’m sure it will inspire me to buy a plane ticket.
Hi Victoria, I just completed my pre-order. I hope that you will have a book-signing event here in SF before you move to LaLaLand.
Congratulations, Victoria! I can’t wait to be inspired :)
And what about us living ‘down under’? Are there any plans for shipping to Australia?
yes! it should be available soon right here:
http://www.hardiegrant.com.au
thanks, hayley!
Stunning photography! Look forward to seeing it in person! Congratulations!
I neeed this.. one day this city shall be my home!!
xo Sabrina
http://thinkcreateframe.com
amazing!! so fun to see a dream come into reality for you. can’t wait to get it! you capture our city so well! xoxo
welltraveledwife.com
Three cheers for YOU and iPhone camera – I just can’t live without mine, too! My Nikon is very grumpy about it. Lots of people have told me how much I might like San Fancisco, so I’ll start with your book. Congratulations on your labor of love it looks fantastic!
Bravo!!! Huge congrats!!
Congratulations!!! The books looks beautiful — can’t wait to get my hands and eyeballs on it in person!
I pre ordered the book weeks ago and can’t wait to hold it in my hands. Your photographs are so full of life, they make me want to visit San Francisco every time you post new pics of your city. To think you shoot so many pictures with your phone leaves me in awe: You have a great eye for the perfect photograph. Thank you for sharing!
What a beautiful love letter to San Francisco! Congrats Victoria! I dreamt long before visiting the city thanks to your photos and posts about the neighborhoods. I guess the UK re-seller ships to the rest of Europe? xx
Hi Damaris,
Thank you so much! Yes, I believe that’s the case, only it won’t be translated into any other languages (yet!) ;)
Congratulations Victoria, such a great creative project and now it’s become a book. Makes me want to photograph something!
:-)
Firstly, congratulations on this huge acomplishment! =D
I have a simlar situation. I have been trying to practice with my DSLR to better my photography skills but the kinds of shots I like are usually in the moment ones with people I am with. Because I am not too familar with my camera yet, it is hard for me to get a good in-the-moment shot with my DSLR. By the time I get the right settings, the moment is lost. I’ve noticed I enjoy looking back at my phone pictures – of more candid moments – much more.
I also don’t really like lugging the heavy camera around but to improve, I must practice.
Ohh the dilemma!
You’re book looks lovely! Just curious, which filter did you use on your photos? Or did you change it depending on the photo? I’m an avid VSCO user. Love their app!
Thanks! I primarily used VSCO’s C1 filter. :)
Just received my copy of the book and it’s beautiful! Congratulations on getting it published.
I do a lot of street photography in San Francisco – mostly with my Fujifilm X100T – but I’m always amazed at just how good the iPhone 6 camera can be! You prove that over and over again – along with the lovely color rendition of VSCO’s filters.
thank you so much, scott!!
Congratulations Victoria!
I would love to get my hands on a copy, it looks wonderful – can I order from Australia?
x x
thank you! yes – you should be able to. check your Amazon! :)
Though I am a little late, I would like to say I visited San Francisco the other day and fell in love with the amazing photography opportunities. I came across your book and thought it was a true representation of what San Francisco is all about, capturing the colour and architecture.
Beautiful photography and gorgeous website!
Thea xx
Thank you so much, Thea! I’m so glad to hear you liked the book, and that you had a good trip!