(It has been brought to my attention that alot of places below require permits from the city and you can get a ticket. So please do your research before taking pictures at any of the locations below. I’ll have to find new locations for 2010)
Picking the right location is key for both engagement photography sessions and wedding photography sessions. There are so many factors to consider when choosing a location such as is this a place that suits my personality?, is the lighting going to be just right indoors? and what are the rules for photographing at this location? After considering those details and many more, you above all want to pick a location that is going to be a beautiful backdrop to the creative and artistic photographs to be made by the photographer. Below are some of the top ten engagement photography locations in California that we have used for our engagement photography sessions. Hopefully this will make your job easier when it comes time to pick an engagement photography location.
1. Montage Laguna Beach- We have photographed here several times and have enjoyed every moment of being there. Montage Laguna Beach is located in the heart of Laguna Beach alongside a gorgeous stretch of sand and glistening ocean. This luxury beach resort offers many activities including spa treatments, art tours and beach activities. What we love about shooting here is that it’s the perfect backdrop to any engagement session because of how serene and beautiful Montage is. The beach the best location for any couple who is nervous because it will calm their nerves.
Jessica and Ramy embracing each other during their engagement photography session at Montage Laguna Beach
2. Union Station and Pasadena City Hall- Both of these locations are amazing if you are wanting a more urban feel to your photographs. We recently just had an engagement photography session at both of these places and both turned out to be great locations. Union Station is located in Downtown Los Angeles and has great spots to photograph at both inside and outside by the Metrolink. Pasadena City Hall is a beautiful setting with it’s classic architectural design and several floors of open space to photograph on.
The cute couple together at Union Station in Los Angeles
3. La Jolla, San Diego- This is another beach location that was wonderful to photograph at because of how beautiful the ocean and the other surrounding areas are. La Jolla is located just 15 minutes from downtown San Diego and offers spectacular views and activities. La Jolla in Spanish means “The Jewel” and is quite the jewel for any couple to have their engagement photography session at. La Jolla, San Diego has a down to earth atmosphere that will surely allow for classic and stunning photographs to be created.
La Jolla, San Diego is definitely an exquisite top ten engagement photography location in California
4. Huntington Library and Old Town Pasadena- Both of these locations are nice settings for engagement photography sessions. Huntington Library is located in San Marino, California and offers charming architectural designs as backdrops to engagement photos as well as beautiful gardens to use as well. Something to know about Huntington Library though is that a permit is required to shoot there and we were told at the main entrance that if we photographed there we would be asked to leave with no refund. Luckily though, we were able to get some amazing shots for two hours. Old Town Pasadena is another location that offers an urban, edgy atmosphere and tons of little locations all around with brick backgrounds and more. This is the perfect location for a couple that wants a hint of old town charm mixed with edge.
Jasmeen and Simon during their engagement photo session in Old Town Pasadena
5. UCLA, UCI and USC- Universities are another wonderful place to have engagement photography sessions at because of their architecture and spacious grounds. It’s a great location for those couples who met and fell in love at their university because it adds a personal touch to their photographs. We have photographed engagement sessions before at both UCLA and UCI. UCLA offers both a botanical and sculpture garden that is open to the public and can be used as a beautiful setting for your engagement photography session.
What better place is there to have your engagement photography session at than where you met and fell in love at?
6. Getty Museum- (Julie Jaskol from Getty contacted us and said “Please note that wedding and engagement photography is prohibited at the Getty Center and the Getty Villa! It is NOT an engagement photography location. So no more shooting at Getty Museum but its still a great place to visit and hang out for couples and family)
7. Downtown locations, LA, Fullerton and Long Beach- Downtown locations like Los Angeles, Fullerton and Long Beach are perfect areas for engagement photography sessions, especially for those couples who want an urban, cityscape backdrop to their pictures. What is so great about photographing around any major city is that you can find all sorts of little places like side-alleys and historic buildings that may offer the perfect backdrop your photos. Their are endless opportunities and even unknown places to use when photographing in downtown locations like LA, Fullerton and Long Beach.
A portrait of a beautiful bride in Long Beach. This was our favorite photo from the day.
8. Amusement Parks, Universal Studio, Disneyland, San Diego Zoo and etc- These types of locations would be great for engagement photography sessions because there are so many locations within the entire amusement park that could be used as well as the pictures would have a unique look to them. Amusement parks are also great to use because of the youthful and playful atmosphere that will be mirrored in your photos.
9. Venice Beach, Santa Monica Beach and etc- Beach locations are wonderful spots for engagement photography sessions not only because of the sun, sand and water, but also because (especially for Venice and Santa Monica beaches) of the extra sites around. Even though Venice Beach and Santa Monica Beach tend to be quite busy, it is worth it to have your engagement session here. At Venice Beach bicycles can be rented to use while you are there and at Santa Monica Beach there is the pier with a little amusement park. Both of these amenities would add a personal touch to your engagement pictures. And if you are content with just staying close to the sand and water, make sure to stay until sunset as the colors of the sky will make a spectacular backdrop.
10. Balboa Park in San Diego- This location is a wonderful place to have your engagement photographs taken at because it offers a wide variety of backdrops to use. Balboa Park is the nation’s largest urban cultural park that includes museums, performing arts venues, magnificent gardens and the San Diego Zoo. With all of these separate locations within Balboa Park, the types of photographs to be created are endless for any couple. The only thing about Balboa Park is that photos can only be taken during the week because it gets extremely busy on the weekends. We found that out the hard way the first time photographing there.
Balboa Park in San Diego is an amazing location and definitely had to be included in our top ten engagement photography locations list
5 comments