A few things to consider when choosing a location

Your Home Decor Colors/Style: Do you live in a beach house? A city high-rise? Do you tend to choose certain colors for your furniture and wall art?

Convenience: Is this photo session scheduled for a weekday afternoon and will someone need to drive directly to the session from work?  Will you be coming from your house?

Season: The beach can be a bit chilly and windy during the fall/winter months and then overly crowded in the hottest days summer. We get sometimes deal with May-Gray and June-Gloom in San Diego.  Depending on rainfall, early spring can be a time of green grass and blooming flowers.  In the summer, certain types of plants have dried out and the chance of possible rattlesnakes increases.

Age and Ability of Participants: Are there small children? Are there participants who have difficulty walking uphill or across sand? Due to all of the environmental factors of beaches (like sun, sand, ocean, wind), I discourage beach photography sessions for children under 3 years old but I will accommodate your request either way.

Easiest locations:

• Balboa Park. Variety, easy for small children and large groups. 
• The Ranch House at Del Sur. Excellent for young children and no crowds.
• Presidio Park

Makes me say "wow" everytime:

• La Playa Walkway and Docks in Point Loma.

Best beach/nature Combo:

• Torrey Pines Natural Reserve and then drive 5 minutes to the beach below. Requires some hiking so not recommended if you want to take it easy.

Favorite beach for large groups:

• Coronado Beach. Palm trees, lifeguard towers, and Hotel Del Coronado.  

Most colorful beach

• Fletcher Cove, Solana Beach. The orange cliff sides add a distinct beauty to the images.

Beach with most variety:

• Scripps Seaside Forum/Scripps Pier. Easy access to beach, pier, cliffs, trees, flowers, and modern architecture.  

Newly Discovered Locations that I'm loving this year:

• Eucalyptus Grove at UCSD
• Harbor Island: The Coasterra/C-Level Property with City View

**Please Note: I do not use Carlsbad Flower Fields due to their strict requirements and rules for personal portrait photography, including a $500 location fee, entrance fees, and paperwork process. If you love flowers, I can provide you with other location ideas. 

• La Orilla Trail near Rancho Santa Fe (good for dreamy field and forest look)
• Torrey Pines Natural State Reserve
• Marian Bear Park (Best in Fall)
• Mission Trails (beautiful and no hiking shoes necessary)
• The Ranch House at Del Sur (near I-56)
• Presidio Park (tall green trees, Spanish Architecture, similar to Balboa Park)
• La Playa Walkway and Docks in Point Loma
• Eucalyptus Grove at UCSD

• Coronado Beach
• Scripps Seaside Forum and Pier/Beach
• La Jolla Cove (sand has interesting patterns, must check tides, some crowds)
• Fletcher Cove Beach and Playground (must check tides first)
• Torrey Pines Natural State Reserve Beach
• Stonesteps in Leucadia
• Kona Kai Resort on Shelter Island (bayview, safe and easy for kids)

*Beautiful family beach images are 60% photographer skill, 40% weather luck. Beaches can sometimes be overcome with a heavy fog layer, especially during May/June.  When the beach is foggy and gray, the color of the ocean and water will not show up at all and in photos it will appear that you are in a completely grayish white environment (plus it feels extra cold and windy).  In anticipation of a potential foggy day, we choose a backup location that will be able to provide us with reasonable color and comfort for the best images possible. Please tell me your backup non-beach location choice upon booking a beach session.