Where Gold Country Begins
Auburn is 40 minutes northeast of Sacramento, up Interstate 80 past Rocklin. This is where the Sacramento suburbs end and the Sierra foothills begin in earnest. The American River has carved deep canyons through the granite and schist here, and the town itself sits on a ridge above the confluence of the North and Middle Forks. The elevation gain from Sacramento is noticeable. The air is drier, the light is sharper, and the landscape has a rugged character that the valley floor does not have.
I drive to Auburn specifically because of the locations it offers. There is nothing else like it within an hour of Sacramento.
Old Town Auburn
Old Town sits on the hillside above the river canyon, with buildings dating to the 1860s and 1890s. Brick facades, iron railings, covered wooden balconies, and narrow streets that follow the contour of the hill. The courthouse on the bluff above Old Town is a local landmark with views down into the canyon.
For boudoir work, Old Town is best at first light. The streets are empty, the storefronts are closed, and the morning sun comes in at a low angle that rakes across the textured walls. I have used doorways, stairwells, and covered porches along Sacramento Street and Commercial Street for outdoor implied sessions. The architectural detail provides visual interest without competing with the subject. It is a background that works.
The River Trails
The trail system below the Foresthill Bridge drops down into the North Fork canyon and follows the river through a landscape of exposed rock, manzanita, and mixed conifers. The Foresthill Bridge itself is one of the tallest in California, and the canyon below it feels remote even though you are five minutes from downtown Auburn.
I have shot along the river at spots where the water pools between boulders and the light comes through the tree canopy in shafts. These sessions require some walking, sometimes 15 to 20 minutes on trail to reach the location. That hike filters out other people and gives us genuine privacy. I carry my gear in a pack and keep the kit lean for these shoots.
The confluence area where the North and Middle Forks meet is another location I return to. The rock formations here are large and sculptural, with flat surfaces for posing and vertical faces that catch warm afternoon light. The river provides ambient sound that relaxes people, which is not something I can quantify but I notice the difference.
Hotels and Indoor Options
Auburn’s hotel options are limited compared to Roseville or Folsom. The Holiday Inn on Grass Valley Highway has workable rooms, and there are a few bed-and-breakfast properties in the Old Town area that have more character. The B&Bs tend to have smaller rooms but with antique furnishings and window light that filters through older, wavy glass. It is a specific look that works well with my film cameras.
If you prefer a controlled indoor environment, a hotel room or your home can work well. I bring professional lighting and can create a private, comfortable setting wherever we shoot. Check the investment page for pricing across all session types.
Film in Gold Country
The foothill light and landscape around Auburn are where I most want to be shooting film. The warm granite, the green-and-gold grass, the high-contrast shadows under oak canopies. My 1957 Hasselblad 500C on Kodak Portra 400 renders this landscape with a richness that digital captures differently. The medium format negative has a depth to it, a three-dimensionality in the tonal transitions that holds up at large print sizes.
Film is available as part of any session package. If you are booking an Auburn outdoor session, I especially recommend adding it.
Browse the gallery for recent work, and reach out through the contact page when you are ready to plan your session.