Session Locations
San Diego County is amazing for providing the perfect photo session locations. We have it all here: beautiful parks, the sun and sand of our beaches, the mountains close by, country settings to the east. I find inspiration for session locations just by driving around town running errands, picking up my daughter, driving home from work. Beauty is all around us people! And I'm willing to photograph that beauty in any location, in any session!
I always encourage my clients to come to me with ideas on session locations. It helps tailor the session to each person and it also gives me a chance to discover something new in my hometown!
But lets face it, some of us need inspiration and ideas, and therefore I have put together this list of some of my favorite session locations around town.
San Diego Central
Junipero Serra Museum/Presidio Park
This is a great location for some old Spanish style architecture, native plants, and some small intimate nature trails.
Old Mission Dam/Mission Trails
This location has a great little creak, plenty of green nature and even a great rusty bridge!
Balboa Park/Morley Field
Obviously a San Diego Classic! This is one of the most popular places for photos, as it is one of the most beautiful! There are still some undiscovered (or less common) places that are great for photo sessions!
Seaport Village
This is a wonderful spot if you can get there early. Its popular with the tourists and crowds can be overbearing in your background. But early morning sessions here are great! Not to mention, theres coffee, food, and a great view to take in when photos are done!
The Beach-Any Beach
Whether it be La Jolla Cove, OB, PB, MB, or any other bay or water area in San Diego, we have the perfect beach settings for photographs. These sessions are best early morning, or around the time the sun sets.
Point Loma Lighthouse
A great spot to capture some beach/Cape Cod style photos. There is an entrance fee of $5 (I believe) but it's a great place to spend an afternoon. This location is one you don't see photographed as often either!
North County
Kit Carson Park - Escondido
This park is great! It's a large area with lots of variety for your session. There is a small creek, grassy knols, great fall trees, and even some desert landscape. Frisbee golfers fill the park daily, but if you're friendly they don't mind sharing the landscape!
Felicita County Park - Escondido
Another great north county park. This county area has acres on acres of oak groves, natural trails, shady trees, and PERFECT photo spots! This park does charge a $3 cash only entrance fee, but it is a small price to pay for the beauty inside those gates!
Olde Poway Park - Poway
This park is another favorite for photo sessions in San Diego. Last weekend while I was there, the whole park was bustling with families playing in the grass, standing on the bridges, nestled in every corner- and THEY ALL had photographers with them! It's popular because its a photo session dream! There are nature areas, rustic/country areas, trains, old California charm, and lots of various areas to get creative.
Elfin Forest - Escondido
This north county spot is a treasure! Super hidden location, but well known. This forest spot attracts a lot of hikers and dog walkers to it's beautiful trails! The landscape is lush and there is a beautiful little river that flows through the middle of the area.
Honorable Mentions
- Old Town
- Chollas Lake
- Lake Poway
- Julian
- Mt. Laguna
- Tijuana Estuary
- Ramona Open Fields
Don't forget that some of the best locations are right at home, in your front yard, living room or baby nursery!
