Unique Los Angeles & Orange County Engagement and Portrait Photography Locations
Top Beach Locations
Rock Formations, Beautiful Sunsets, and Gorgeous Mountainside Views
El Matador Beach, Malibu
El Matador Beach is located in Malibu, California. This is by far one of our favorite beaches to photograph at. A trail descends through breathtaking rocky formations on the face of the bluff that overlooks the pacific ocean. From there, wooden stairs take you the rest of the way to the beach with potential photoshoot locations along the way. Along the beach are surreal enormous rocks and rock caves that make for beautiful and creative imagery. During sundown, you can catch sunbeams over the rocks and strategically into your images that lead the way to a gorgeous sunset. If you can make it to the end of the beach, there is a cement block with a long set of wooden stairs that go up the mountain that is fit for a cool background into your shots.
Victoria Beach, Laguna Nigel
Victoria Beach is a long white sandy beach south of Victoria Drive in Laguna Beach. What it’s known for and why so many photographers are attracted to this location is because of the Victorian La Tour Tower that was built back in the 1920’s and is embedded into the side of the cliff. Besides, the gaudy tower are beautiful rock surfaces and formations along the beach that you can incorporate into your images. You need a permit to photograph here and we highly recommend photographing during the weekdays as the weekends get packed with people.
Ocean Trails Reserve
Rancho Palos Verdes Beach is a stunning beach below the Trump National Golf Club. As you begin your journey to the beach you take a stroll through the Ocean Trails Reserve which has a large area of beautiful green grass, shrubbery and dirt trails that overlook the ocean and is great for photos in its own right. Once you get passed the reserve, you take an amazing long trail down to the beach which has photo opts everywhere. To the left of the beach is a plethora of unique looking rocks and large mountain cliff for amazing photo texture and scenery.
Top Nature Locations
Country Feels, Forrest Greenery and Flower Gardens
O’Melveny Park, Granda Hills
O'Melveny Park is a public park located in the Granada Hills community in the northernmost portion of the City of Los Angeles, California. It provides large grassy areas and dry-looking parts with beautiful leaves from tree fall and baby pampas grass. The many different species of gigantic trees that are scattered throughout the park give it a unique, forest feel. It has stunning views of the Santa Susana Mountains that you can strategically capture in your images and a couple of cute little bridges for pictures as well. There are skinny dirt roads and beautiful fencing around the park and near the entrance is a grove of citrus trees which make for beautiful pictures. the best thing about this park besides its beautiful landscape is that no permit is required and is free to shoot.
Vasquez Rocks, Agua Dulce
Vasquez Rocks, located in the high desert near Agua Dulce Springs, features 932 acres of spectacular rock formations, and a seasonal stream. The rocks’ history began in prehistoric times when the sandstone rocks were uplifted at a picturesque angle, showing their jagged red features. In 1874 Tiburcio Vasquez, one of California’s most notorious bandits, used these rocks to elude capture by law enforcement. His name has since been associated with this geologic feature. The park is a popular hiking, picnicking, and equestrian area and has been used in many hit movies, television shows, and commercials.
Malaga Cove, Rancho Palos Verdes
Malaga Cove Plaza is the central business hub for Palos Verdes Estates. It is made up of a collection of buildings that were constructed over a 37-year span of time from 1924 to 1961. In 1924, construction began on the first commercial building in Malaga Cove Plaza. This building was known as the Gardner building. The plaza is an “excellent example of Mediterranean Revival architecture as applied to a continues grouping of commercial buildings around a central plaza with fountain,” reads the nomination papers for the plaza’s historic designation.
Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles
Meet LA's Backyard Playground. The Angeles National Forest is home to rich biodiversity. Your forest has a unique Mediterranean ecosystem full of wildlife, flora, and much more! It covers about 700,000 acres and is the backyard playground of the huge metropolitan area of Los Angeles. The land within the Forest is as diverse in appearance and terrain as it is in the opportunities it provides for enjoyment. Elevations range from 1,200 to 10,064 feet. Much of the Forest is covered with dense chaparral which changes to pine and fir-covered slopes as you reach the majestic peaks of the higher elevations.
Descanso Gardens
Descanso Gardens is a 150-acre botanical garden located in La Cañada Flintridge, Los Angeles County, California. Descanso gardens features a wide area, mostly forested, with artificial streams, ponds, and lawns. Descanso Gardens has a wide collection of fruit trees, including orange, peach, pear, pomegranate, crabapple, fruits of the genus prunus, grapes, and passionfruit.
Redwood Grove Trail | Carbon Canyon Regional Park
Top Urban Locations
Street Textures, Skyscrapers and City Views
First Street Bridge, Downtown Los Angeles
Welcome to the 1st Street Bridge in downtown LA, or otherwise known as 1st street viaduct. This bridge is famous for getting that iconic downtown Los Angeles photo, which you can see in the images above. There is a walking sidewalk along the entire bridge for great photos and safety. If your into urban images then this is the place to be. We can capture an entire session here and create memories to cherish for a lifetime.
Pasadena City Hall
Pasadena City Hall was designed by John Bakewell & Arthur Brown who were influenced by the early Renaissance style of 16th century Italian architect Andrea Palladio. Construction was completed on December 27, 1927.
6th Street Viaduct Bridge (DTLA)
The Sixth Street Viaduct, also known as the Sixth Street Bridge, is a viaduct bridge that connects the Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles with the Boyle Heights neighborhood. The newly completed bridge is designed by architect Michael Maltzan and the HNTB Design-Build team and contractors Skanska and Stacy and Witbeck.