San Diego Best Places to Take Engagement Photos
How to make your engagement session unique and personal in San Diego
If you’re an engaged couple preparing for your photo session, you’re likely on the hunt for the perfect engagement photo location. San Diego has a wide variety of unique spots for engagement portraits. There’s a lot to consider, and I’ve outlined my favorite places for San Diego engagement photos. If you’re a photographer helping your engagement client choose the best San Diego photo location, I hope this list will empower you to give clear, detail-oriented advice.
A pretty location won’t necessarily photograph well without good light. I’ve chosen these locations for the beautiful morning or late afternoon light that occurs on most days. And, even on overcast days, the vibrant colors, rich details, and uniqueness will all still be prominent in your photos, making these among the perfect spots to capture this special time in your life.
Here is a list of my Top San Diego Engagement Session Spots, and why you’ll love them.
San Diego Skyline during the Golden Hour
Balboa Park
For newly engaged couples searching for iconic San Diego settings, look no further than Balboa Park for your engagement session photos.
San Diego’s magnificent cultural center, Balboa Park, boasts timeless beauty and an architectural delight. For couples intrigued by history and drawn to a romantic, step-back-in-time setting, Balboa Park should be at the top of your photo session location list.
Balboa Park features intricate Spanish colonial architecture, flower-filled gardens, tranquil walkways, serene ponds, and offers classic, inspiring spots to sit, stand, and stroll together.
Every location is distinct and beautiful, adding variety to your photos and making Balboa Park one of the most popular choices for engagement photos.
Its diversity and proximity to other iconic photo spots make it one of the best places for engagement photos in San Diego. If you are looking for a San Diego Photo Photo Location away from the beach, Balboa Park is a perfect choice.
Venture down the historic El Prado road to some of the prettiest, most unique photo spots in San Diego, all gathered in the iconic Balboa Park.
For a deeper dive into the best Balboa Park locations for engagement and
family portrait session photography and why you’ll be blown away by them, click here.
Fun fact: Dedicated in 1868 on 1,400 acres of land, Balboa Park in San Diego was the second urban park dedicated by city officials for public enjoyment. New York City’s Central Park was the first.
Japanese Friendship Garden, Balboa Park
Yours truly, a happy photographer in the late afternoon sun at the Alcázar Garden.
Speckler Organ Pavillion
Coronado Island
If the classic San Diego skyline is your ideal backdrop, head over to the vibrant Coronado Island an hour before sunset for the perfect golden hour cityscape engagement photos. You’ll take in spectacular views of the skyscrapers, palm tree-lined streets, sailboats, Coronado Bridge, and perfect blue San Diego Bay water. Better yet, plan to begin your session with a boat ride over from the mainland. This quick trip will be a fun way to show off your personalities as a couple. You can take the ferry over for around $10; get your ticket and hop on at the Fifth Avenue Landing. While you wait, check out the Embarcadero Park Pier at the waterfront. Wrap up your session with kayaking or a whiskey tasting at the Coronado Tasting Room, conveniently located at the Coronado Landing Ferry Park. Coronado Island is a popular San Diego engagement session location, so plan to arrive early and look for parking.
Coronado Island seen from San Diego
Coronado Ferry Landing and restaurant plaza
View of Coronado Bridge from the ferry waiting area, San Diego
View of Coronado Island from San Diego
San Diego Skyline as seen from Coronado Island Centennial Park at Dusk
La Jolla Shores
A beautiful, iconic stretch of California coast, the La Jolla beaches provide an epic backdrop for your perfect beachside engagement session photos. Cliffs, coves, palm trees, and tide pools are scattered about. Even on overcast days, the misty shorline stands out. Rocky cliffs and deep blue water contrast with the soft white ocean spray of the waves. Pelicans soar over the horizon. There’s no need to worry about crowds; these beaches are so vast you can easily move about and take photos in ideal spots without worrying about other people. Morning sessions will be greeted with bold blues and stark backdrops. Evening sessions are best for warm, golden hour colors. Scripps Pier is just to the north, another picturesque spot not to be missed. With plenty of spots to overlook the majestic La Jolla cliffs or stand together with your feet in the waves, La Jolla Shores is one of the best engagement photo session locations in San Diego.
Historic Gaslamp Quarter & Seaport Village
If you’re a couple who loves a more urban setting, head over to the Gas Lamp Quarter in downtown San Diego. You’ll find glitzy bars, street art, boutiques, galleries, and the historic Gas Lamp Quarter sign. The perfect merging of historic and new.
From the Gas Lamp Quarter you can easily walk to the quaint Seaport Village.
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