Where to Shoot in LA & Orange County
Nine spots I keep coming back to — not because they're trendy, but because the light is predictable and the logistics don't fight you. Here's what each one is actually like to shoot at, not just what it looks like in a photo.
Malibu Beaches
MALIBUGolden hour on open sand, ocean behind you, room to actually move around instead of posing in one spot.
Go for: the last 90 minutes before sunset. Any earlier and the light goes flat and harsh.
Parking: the Point Dume lot fills first on weekends. El Matador has street parking along PCH as a backup if the lot's full, so it's rarely a dealbreaker.
Bring: a light layer. It's warm on the sand and cold the second the sun drops.
Griffith & Los Feliz
LOS FELIZThe quieter, greener side of Griffith — not the Observatory crowds, just old trees and open lawns a few minutes from the freeway.
Go for: mid-morning or late afternoon. Shade means we're not racing the sun like we would at the beach.
Parking: near the picnic areas is easiest — flatter ground than the park's hillside reputation suggests.
Good to know: this is a public park, so we may share the space with other people out for a walk. It rarely gets in the way.
Downtown LA
DTLAConcrete, murals, real texture — this is the spot for anyone who wants something that doesn't look like every other family photo.
Go for: weekday mornings or evenings — both are quiet, consistently, not just on a lucky day.
Good to know: DTLA changes block by block — I have a few go-to walls and corners that photograph well and aren't overrun with other photographers doing the same thing.
Studio Session
STUDIOTwo options here, both indoors, both weather-proof. One is a furnished studio with an actual interior — warmer, more lived-in. The other has a cyclorama, a seamless curved backdrop, for a cleaner, more editorial look — different lighting setups, sometimes props, a noticeably different result from anything shot outdoors.
Go for: any time, any season — this is the one booking that never gets rescheduled for rain.
Good to know: most studios I use are based Downtown, but I'm open to booking one in your own neighborhood if that's easier for your family.
Session At Home
ANYWHEREYour own space, your own schedule, your kid's own toys within reach when they need a break.
Go for: whatever time actually works for naps and feeds — this is the most flexible option by far.
Good to know: no styling required beyond tidying whatever room we start in. Most of the best shots happen in the fifteen minutes people aren't trying anymore.
Pasadena & Arroyo
PASADENAStorybook light without the crowds — shaded trails, old stone bridges, olive trees that don't need a permit for a casual family session.
Go for: late morning. The tree cover means midday sun isn't the enemy here the way it is elsewhere.
Also worth knowing: Pasadena City Hall itself is a beautiful option if you want something more formal than the trails — the courtyard and architecture photograph really well.
Good to know: flat, wide paths make this the easiest option when three generations are all joining and someone's pushing a stroller or using a cane.
Irvine & Orange County
IRVINEClean, manicured, easy to get to — not dramatic, but reliably good, and nobody's fighting traffic to get there.
Go for: mid-morning works as well as golden hour, thanks to consistent shade along the paths.
Good to know: this is the low-stress option — less "epic backdrop," more "everyone's relaxed and the light is decent the whole time."
Newport & Laguna
OC COASTLaguna's coves have some of the bluest water in the county — calmer and clearer than most people expect from a SoCal beach. Newport brings a gentler, more low-key feel just up the coast.
Go for: either spot works most of the day, not just sunset — the water color is the draw here, not dramatic light.
Good to know: this is usually a full-outing location — most families make a day of it and grab food nearby afterward. Happy to suggest a spot.
Palos Verdes
PALOS VERDESDramatic bluffs, ocean-view lawns, beach access, and coastal trails — all in the same stretch of coastline, all in reach in a single session.
Go for: the light holds up most of the day here, not just the last hour before sunset — more flexible scheduling than the busier beaches.
Good to know: this is where I run Fall Mini Sessions. It also works well as a kind of photo walk — we move from the cliffs to the grass to the beach over the course of the shoot, instead of staying in one spot.
Tell me a bit about your session and I'll suggest a location based on your group, the season, and what you're going for.
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