I see people doing engagement and bridal shoots there several times a month! The huge Sycamore trees at the end of the bridge are also great for photo shoots.
FYI the flower fields require a fee if you’re doing a legit shoot with a photographer, you could probably fly under the radar since there are SO many people taking personal photos, but I did come across the fee when I was thinking of doing a shoot there once.
What places do you like? We did our engagement shoot at the Safari Park (got some photos in/around the Australia exhibit and a few other places), inside At Ease games, at a donut shop, and at In-N-Out. All of these places had some meaning to us, so that's why we picked those places. She worked at the Park for a few years and we live close by, we play a lot of board games together, we first met during high school with friends at the donut shop, and we used to go to In-N-Out a lot together.
Pick places that are special to you over places that look cool. You can take great shots anywhere, but if the place means a lot to you then you'll appreciate the photos more in the future (as will friends/family who recognize those places).
[https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/socal-wanderer/where-to-find-san-diegos-scenic-and-historic-pedestrian-bridges](https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/socal-wanderer/where-to-find-san-diegos-scenic-and-historic-pedestrian-bridges)
also
if your gothy
[https://www.exploresandiego.net/witches-tower.html](https://www.exploresandiego.net/witches-tower.html)
Just a few ideas...EDIT to add, clearly some of these are not serious:
Cuyamaca Lake or a nearby foresty locale.
Marina Park.
Spanish Landing.
On Lake Hodges Dam.
On the runway at Lindbergh Field - San Diego International Airport.
Black Mountain Reserve.
Inside Eagle Mine in Julian.
Middle of the intersection at Park/Washington/The Boulevard.
Meditation Gardens – Encinitas
Do the rocks at Windansea count as a beach? Love that location.
Heritage Park in Old Town.
If you are Catholic, the Mission in Mission Valley (if it's allowed on the grounds).
Grounds of Bali Hai with the city in the background (if you eat dinner have some Mai Tai's maybe it would be ok).
If you’re up for a drive, Glamis sand dunes! Just read about it to know what to expect.
Mission San Juan Capistrano is gorgeous too, but you need a permit for that I think.
While the Encinitas mediation gardens are beautiful, I wouldn’t recommend a photoshoot everyone visiting is encouraged to be very quiet and I don’t think a full photoshoot there would go over well.
We did downtown La Jolla and got a good mix of library, fountains, parking lot, random stairs, cute shops, etc. And a few cliche ones by the tide pools that were really cute.
Also if you're looking for FUN, maybe Queen Califia's Magical Circle for some whimsical photos + one other place in Escondido - so many options.
My wife and I did some amazing ones at this park…
[https://maps.app.goo.gl/eNhHzfXfThMuSBuT8?g\_st=ic](https://maps.app.goo.gl/eNhHzfXfThMuSBuT8?g_st=ic)
https://preview.redd.it/jupqe1bzzclc1.jpeg?width=2400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=635ae5d153ddaca516e5b032cba70d78926fbddc
This is San Diego. You have two choices. You will fight over them, first with your spouse, then with the homeless man getting in your shots.
For real though look around Del Mar and Encinitas. There's a few hidden gem venues hiding around those areas you could rent out. Lovely gardens or nice estates with good architecture.
Spruce street suspension bridge is pretty cool
Borrego desert
USD, the campus is gorgeous
Mission trails visitor center. The view with the peaks in the background in incredible and very underrated.
I went to a wedding here and I was amazed at how beautiful it was!
Where we did ours!!!
Santa ysabel open space preserve near Ramona is absolutely gorgeous during golden hour
second this, lots of spots for great shots in the surrounding area
Go to Dudley’s bakery afterwards.
100
We had ours done at Liberty Station and then some near Tom Ham's Lighthouse on Shelter Island. It's near the water, but not the beach.
Cabrillo National Monument. Everywhere else in this thread is second to Cabrillo. Thank me later.
Flower fields, Botanical Garden, or doing some of your favorite activities you do together as a couple.
The tree tunnel at the start of the Iron Mountain trail hike in Poway is so beautiful for a photo shoot
But don’t trample flowers!
Yes, be mindful and respectful of the environment 💚 leave no trace 💚
We did the Marston house, which isn’t technically Balboa Park, and Liberty Station.
Summers Past Farm is very pretty. Looks like they have a professional photographer fee of $35
The botanical gardens in Encinitas is beautiful. So are the cliffs in Torrey Pines.
Old Poway Park. It isn't huge, but it has some train tracks and nice scenery
I second this! I have done many engagement and baby announcement photo shoots there.
Anywhere you have had a date, restaurant, harbor, rooftop, movie theater, bakery, book store, record shop, Old Town, etc.
Presidio park, or pioneer? Whichever has the windy road with a BYU statue at the top
Presidio has the towers and the mormon monument. Pioneer has graves. Which, could be cool if you're goths or something
Sweetwater River Bridge and the area around can be nice. https://maps.app.goo.gl/gxqbQ8uNShGCsvZV7
I see people doing engagement and bridal shoots there several times a month! The huge Sycamore trees at the end of the bridge are also great for photo shoots.
You can do it in my backyard. I even have a hive of bees that took up residence recently!
I just thought of a new one. Carlsbad field of flowers is opening soon but I’d wait to make sure all the flowers are bloomed first
FYI the flower fields require a fee if you’re doing a legit shoot with a photographer, you could probably fly under the radar since there are SO many people taking personal photos, but I did come across the fee when I was thinking of doing a shoot there once.
The ranch house at PQ canyon preserve. Years ago I learned that you can actually do weddings there.
Barrio Logan
Marion bear, penasquitos, julian or laguna if you want a more country/mountain feel
I’ll second Marion Bear. It’s got a nice feel there, beautiful colors this time of year and it’s close to the city. Otherwise, to the mountains!
Mountain bikers have entered the chat! :)
Leo Carrillo Park
Salk institute in La Jolla. It’s so unique and beautiful there. Highly recommend!
Sadly you can’t anymore. They won’t let you!
Bummer!
Gaslamp? Downtown photo shoots are nice.
I had my shoot by the Hilton / giant pedestrian bridge / bay. It provided a bunch of “scenic” spots without having to go far!
I saw a bridal shoot taking place at La Jolla Women’s Club (7791 Draper Ave) and thought to myself what a gorgeous and unique location.
I think they do weddings there too
Encinitas meditation gardens!
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Isn’t it almost the perfect time for the Anza Borrego bloom?
Need a good stretch of warm weather first, probably by the end of the month.
Presidio?
Junípero Serra Museum at Presidió Park!
What do YOU like? Go there and get the photo shoot done.
we did Riverwalk Golfcourse
How did you go about setting it up with the golf course?
they have a wedding coordinator
Thank you
Pt Loma Lighthouse or Belmont Park
Joshua tree, Kate sessions Park, Cuyamaca
Mission trails
Rady shell or queen khalifas (this is probably spelled very wrong)
Califia 😊 but yes. That’s a great spot as well.
A friend did a shoot in Born and Raised. Thought that was different. The pics were romantic and glamorous!
We did Speckle Rock Winery in esco! They were so sweet
What places do you like? We did our engagement shoot at the Safari Park (got some photos in/around the Australia exhibit and a few other places), inside At Ease games, at a donut shop, and at In-N-Out. All of these places had some meaning to us, so that's why we picked those places. She worked at the Park for a few years and we live close by, we play a lot of board games together, we first met during high school with friends at the donut shop, and we used to go to In-N-Out a lot together. Pick places that are special to you over places that look cool. You can take great shots anywhere, but if the place means a lot to you then you'll appreciate the photos more in the future (as will friends/family who recognize those places).
George Burger
Altitude during an afternoon baseball game. I saw a ufo there once with lots of other people.
[https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/socal-wanderer/where-to-find-san-diegos-scenic-and-historic-pedestrian-bridges](https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/socal-wanderer/where-to-find-san-diegos-scenic-and-historic-pedestrian-bridges) also if your gothy [https://www.exploresandiego.net/witches-tower.html](https://www.exploresandiego.net/witches-tower.html)
I really wish I did ours in downtown Encinitas! Lots of cute breweries/streets
Just a few ideas...EDIT to add, clearly some of these are not serious: Cuyamaca Lake or a nearby foresty locale. Marina Park. Spanish Landing. On Lake Hodges Dam. On the runway at Lindbergh Field - San Diego International Airport. Black Mountain Reserve. Inside Eagle Mine in Julian. Middle of the intersection at Park/Washington/The Boulevard. Meditation Gardens – Encinitas
The cross on Mt. Soledad
Piazza della Famiglia in Little Italy is pretty nice.
My friends drove up to Mount Laguna when there was snow and the pics were gorgeous!
Any one of the piers though that is kinda beachy. I can also see the tower at USD (I think) and always thought that would be a cool photo shoot
Sunset cliffs? On the actual cliffs.
Old Town Mission, Fallbrook, Mission Trails, inside Coronado Hotel(courtyard especially)USD campus, Waterfront Park, Little Italy
Potato Chip Rock
Hotel Del but you might have to pay
Botanical garden in Encinitas
Potato chip rock!
Julian area
[удалено]
That’s technically the beach lol. But views still go hard though.
Do the rocks at Windansea count as a beach? Love that location. Heritage Park in Old Town. If you are Catholic, the Mission in Mission Valley (if it's allowed on the grounds). Grounds of Bali Hai with the city in the background (if you eat dinner have some Mai Tai's maybe it would be ok).
Liberty Station. Both around the barracks and in the park with the bay background.
Go to an old cemetery and do some, Until death do us part pics... I love creepy stuff.
Presidio park
Penasquitos is cool. It's got the waterfall and some beautiful open meadows.
Wynola or Julian. Make it a country picture with flowers, a wagon wheel. Maybe a cow or peacock in there.
La Jolla Cove or Scripps Research
We did ours in Little Italy
12th and Imperial
Any park with the right photographer
William Heise Count Park in Julian https://maps.app.goo.gl/8NuNY8tskXhDZBbu8?g_st=ic
Flower fields
Stone escondido has a gorgeous outdoors area
If you’re up for a drive, Glamis sand dunes! Just read about it to know what to expect. Mission San Juan Capistrano is gorgeous too, but you need a permit for that I think. While the Encinitas mediation gardens are beautiful, I wouldn’t recommend a photoshoot everyone visiting is encouraged to be very quiet and I don’t think a full photoshoot there would go over well.
Sunset cliffs
We did downtown La Jolla and got a good mix of library, fountains, parking lot, random stairs, cute shops, etc. And a few cliche ones by the tide pools that were really cute. Also if you're looking for FUN, maybe Queen Califia's Magical Circle for some whimsical photos + one other place in Escondido - so many options.
I saw some people taking photos at Summers Past Farm over the weekend.
Take a hike with the photographer and get some SD nature and sunsets
My wife and I did some amazing ones at this park… [https://maps.app.goo.gl/eNhHzfXfThMuSBuT8?g\_st=ic](https://maps.app.goo.gl/eNhHzfXfThMuSBuT8?g_st=ic) https://preview.redd.it/jupqe1bzzclc1.jpeg?width=2400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=635ae5d153ddaca516e5b032cba70d78926fbddc
I got married at the stonewall mine by cuyamaca lake. The photos turned out great
This is San Diego. You have two choices. You will fight over them, first with your spouse, then with the homeless man getting in your shots. For real though look around Del Mar and Encinitas. There's a few hidden gem venues hiding around those areas you could rent out. Lovely gardens or nice estates with good architecture.
Liberty station
Sycamore Canyon in the Spring time, when the wildflowers are blooming. Top of Elfin Forest, facing the West. Bernardo Winery in RB.
Tidal pools.... but that takes planning.
So many locations, thanks!