Maternity

If you’re planning a session at Filoli in Woodside, California, one of the first questions to work through is when to go. The gardens change dramatically throughout the year, and each season gives your photographs a completely different feel.

I’ve photographed maternity and family sessions at Filoli across several seasons as a Bay Area Filoli photographer, and this is one of my favorite locations because of how much the gardens shift from one visit to the next. Magnolias, tulips, wisteria, roses, hydrangeas, lush summer greenery, and the holiday gardens all create a different backdrop.

Rather than naming one season as the “best” for Filoli photography, I’d rather walk you through what to expect throughout the year so you can choose based on the flowers, colors, and feeling you want.

Filoli Spring Gardens: Magnolias, Tulips and Wisteria

Spring is one of the most recognizable seasons at Filoli, as the gardens come alive after winter. In early spring, the magnolias bloom, with large white and pink blossoms that make a beautiful setting, though the window is brief, so it’s worth planning around.

Tulips also mark the beginning of spring, filling the English gardens with rows of color and bringing a completely different energy to photographs than the softer magnolia blooms.

As spring moves toward summer, wisteria brings a different look entirely. The cascading flowers create a soft, romantic backdrop, and the color pairs beautifully with neutral and earth-toned wardrobes. This stretch of late spring can be especially beautiful for Filoli maternity photography, with enough variety in the gardens to combine flower-surrounded shots with quieter portraits among the greenery. If you want a romantic garden feel without the brighter tulip colors, wisteria is likely the look you’re picturing.

Spring works well for Filoli family photos and maternity sessions alike if you love being surrounded by flowers. The gardens give us plenty to explore, which is especially useful with young children since we can move through different areas instead of holding everyone in one spot the whole time. (See a spring magnolia maternity session at Filoli for an example of this season in action.)

Bloom timing is ultimately up to Mother Nature and shifts from year to year, so a little flexibility goes a long way if magnolias, tulips, or wisteria are the specific look you’re after.

Summer: Roses, Hydrangeas, and Full Filoli Gardens

Summer opens with the roses. Early on, they bring a more traditional garden look, with color and texture from the blooms while the surrounding gardens fill out.

By midsummer, Filoli feels full and abundant. The gardens are lush, hydrangeas bring their own color and texture, and roses continue blooming in pockets throughout the property. This is one of my favorite stretches for Filoli family photos, since there’s so much variety to work with. The fuller greenery also adds depth, giving the gardens a rich backdrop while your family stays the focus.

One thing to know about summer at Filoli: even though the days are longer, regular garden hours don’t stretch to match true golden hour. Unless you’re booking around Filoli’s separate evening event series, plan for earlier, more midday-adjacent light than you might expect for the season. I build this into how I plan summer sessions so the light still works in your favor.

Late summer settles into its own character. Roses can still be blooming, while the rest of the gardens take on that full, established look that comes after months of growth. It reads less fresh than spring and more lush and romantic. If you’re drawn to that settled garden feel rather than a distinctly spring look, late summer is a strong choice. It also works well for families, since there’s a lot for children to explore while I photograph the interactions that happen along the way.

Fall at Filoli

Fall at Filoli isn’t the dramatic leaf-peeping of a New England-style destination, since the gardens are built around an English garden tradition rather than foliage. That said, there’s still color to work with. Maples and ginkgos throughout the property turn warm shades of red, orange, and gold, adding texture and depth to the gardens without taking over the whole look.

Thanks to California’s mild climate, early fall often still has some flowers holding on. September sessions can catch the tail end of blooms, giving you a bit of both worlds rather than a hard switch from summer to fall.

Filoli also leans into the season with an autumn-themed event, complete with pumpkins, hay bales, and a small railway tucked into the redwoods. If that festive, harvest feel is what you’re picturing, it’s worth timing your session around it.

For families who don’t have a specific flower or foliage moment in mind, fall is still a lovely, understated option. The overall feeling shifts toward something calmer as the year moves on, and it works especially well for families planning to use their photos for holiday cards. Scheduling earlier in the season gives you time to get your gallery back and order cards before the holidays hit.

Holiday Season at Filoli

The holidays transform Filoli into a different setting entirely. Seasonal decorations, lights, and festive details throughout the property create photographs that look nothing like spring or summer. Decorated trees, ornamental wreaths, and poinsettias fill the house and gardens, giving the whole property a rich, layered look that’s completely different from the rest of the year.

Filoli also runs a dedicated holiday lights event during this season, which extends the magic well past daylight hours if that’s the look you’re after.

One practical perk of shooting in winter: sunset comes much earlier, which works beautifully for family photos. Rather than waiting until 7 or 8pm for golden hour like you would in summer, you can get that same warm, glowing light in the late afternoon, at a time that’s far more realistic for young children.

For families who love the season, this is a fun time to shoot. The decorations give children plenty to notice and explore, which creates natural, playful moments rather than posed ones. The holidays are also a popular time to visit, so if this look is on your list, plan ahead.

Filoli Maternity Photography Through the Seasons

Maternity sessions are where I spend most of my time at Filoli, and the seasonal variety here plays especially well for that. Spring’s magnolias and tulips give maternity photos a soft, romantic feel. Wisteria in late spring does something similar with even more drama. Summer’s fuller gardens and roses give a lush, established backdrop that works beautifully for later-pregnancy sessions when you want the setting to feel rich rather than sparse.

If maternity is what brought you here, you can see more Filoli maternity sessions and details on booking.

So, When Is the Best Time for Filoli Photography?

There’s no single right season for everyone. If you love magnolias, early spring is your season. Tulip lovers should aim for the heart of spring, and wisteria offers a beautiful transition into the warmer months. Early and late summer bring roses, while the full summer gardens bring hydrangeas and greenery. Fall gives a quieter, understated setting, and the holidays bring an entirely different, festive experience.

The best time for your session comes down to the photographs you’re excited to have. If there’s a specific flower you love, that usually makes the decision easy.

What Time of Day Is Best for Filoli Photography?

Season is only part of the planning. Time of day matters too. Light that looks perfect in a photo someone shared online isn’t always available to you on the day and time you can actually book.

I also factor in your family, not just the light. A child who’s exhausted or ready for a nap isn’t going to enjoy a session just because we picked a theoretically ideal hour. The right time of day is really the overlap of good light and what works for the ages and routines in your family.

That’s why I like to talk through timing directly rather than default to a single “best” hour for everyone. Once I know your family’s ages and your session goals, we can build a plan that gives us the best shot at beautiful light without setting your child up to be miserable.

What to Wear for Filoli Photography

The gardens already bring plenty of color and texture, so I generally recommend clothing that complements rather than competes with the surroundings. Soft neutrals and earth tones are my go-to suggestion because they almost always work, letting the gardens do the talking.

If you love color, wear color. It can look incredible at Filoli, it just tends to need a bit more intention than neutrals do, since a shade that’s beautiful on its own can compete once you’re standing in front of tulips, roses, or holiday greenery. Once I know what season you’re shooting in, I can point you toward colors and combinations that will actually sing against that particular backdrop.

Season matters too. What looks great among spring tulips can read very differently against summer roses or the holiday decorations.

Wardrobe is part of planning your session with me. I’ll send guidance ahead of time so you feel confident in what you choose, which is the most important part. See the full what-to-wear guide →

Photographing Children at Filoli

Filoli gives children a lot to notice and explore, and I never want them to feel like they need to perform for the camera. My approach is child-led and connection-focused. I bring prompts and games to help families interact naturally, while paying attention to what the children are actually drawn to that day.

A child might run down a path, stop at a flower, dance, laugh, change their mind, or need to be held. All of that is part of the session, not an interruption to it. That approach tends to produce the most genuine images in the gallery. (For a closer look at how this plays out in real time, read Filoli maternity photos with a toddler.) 

Frequently Asked Questions About Filoli Photography

Is Filoli good for family photos, or just maternity?

Both. Maternity is where I shoot most often at Filoli, but I’ve also photographed many family sessions there, and the same seasonal variety that makes it great for maternity works well for families too. (A few of these are linked throughout this guide if you’d like to see them in more detail.)

How far in advance should I book a Filoli session?

I recommend booking at least a few weeks out, more if you’re aiming for a specific bloom window like tulips or wisteria, since those windows are short and popular.

Can I request a specific flower or garden area?

Yes. Once we know the season you’re drawn to, I’ll help plan around the areas most likely to be in bloom, though exact timing does shift year to year with weather. Time of day matters just as much as season here. The light in a given garden area can shift dramatically over the course of the day, so the spot that’s perfect at 10am might not be the one I’d choose for a 4pm session. Once we land on a season and a time, I can tell you which areas will actually be usable that day.

Planning Your Filoli Session

If you’re considering a Filoli photography session, start with the season you’re most drawn to. Think about the flowers, colors, and feeling you want to see when you look back at your photos years from now. From there, we’ll talk through timing, wardrobe, and how you want the session to unfold.

You don’t need to arrive knowing where to go or how to pose. I guide you through the planning beforehand and through the session itself.

Ready to Book?

Ready to book a Bay Area photography session? Get in touch here — I’d love to hear about your family!

Rebecca Pattison is a lifestyle family, maternity, and newborn photographer based in Alameda, California, serving the greater Bay Area including the East Bay, San Francisco, Marin County, and the Peninsula.