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Recommended Portrait Locations

We Help You Feel, Capture & Share What Matters Most!Jerry Roxas, Chief Creative Officer

Are you planning on taking some photos and need some recommendations on the best portrait locations in town? Don’t worry! As a local, full time, fully insured, professional portrait and lifestyle photographer in San Diego, I’ve shot at many of the locations all over town. I’ve compiled this list (which includes a brief summary of the location, including contact info and links) to help my clients out, so feel free to browse my portrait location recommendations! Please note that I’ve only included locations that I’ve worked at, and recommendations are constantly being added, so be sure to check back frequently!

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San Diego Portrait Locations

Click on any of the categories below to see portrait location recommendations for that category. ONLY locations that I’ve worked at make it on this list. If there is no description beside the location, that simply means that I haven’t had time to add the information yet, so please be patient! You can also use the search feature on this site (click the magnifying glass in the menu bar) to see photos that I’ve taken at any of these locations. Just search for the location name!

Beaches

Since San Diego is on the west coast, beach venues are a great place to photograph during sunset hours. I especially like photographing on slightly cloudy days, as the clouds serve as a natural light diffuser, and they throw off some amazing colors!

Carlsbad State Beach. This is a beautiful stretch of California coastline located in northern San Diego. Wide open and spacious, relatively flat, unobstructed, sandy beaches. Carlsbad is a growing vacation destination spot, as it pairs the beauty of San Diego beaches with smaller crowds (since it’s in the northern part of the county). To see some of my photos at Carlsbad State Beach, click here.
Coronado Island.
Del Mar Beach.
La Jolla Cove.
La Jolla Shores.
Mission Bay.
Mother’s Beach.
Oceanside Pier.
Powerhouse Park, Del Mar.
San Elijo’s Lagoon. Located in San Diego’s north county coastal community of Encinitas, the San Elijo Lagoon is an ecological reserve and nature center that includes over seven (7) miles of walking trails around is beautiful grounds. I like shooting couples and fitness shoots here, as it provides some amazing nature backdrops, including sweeping views of the lagoon and private, natural trails. To see some of my photos at San Elijos Lagoon, click here.
Scripps Pier.
Sunset Cliffs. Located in Ocean Beach, San Diego, Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is an extremely popular location to watch the amazing sunsets that Southern California has to offer. It’s beautiful bluffs provide a gorgeous backdrop to stunning portraits and small weddings, and it’s within walking distance to The Thursday Club! To see some of my photos at Sunset Cliffs, click here.
Tamarack Beach. Located in Carlsbad (north coastal San Diego), Tamarack Beach is also known as Carlsbad State Beach. It’s a long stretch of beach that is relatively flat and offers stunning California sunset views. There are a couple of jettys that provide great backdrops for family photos, as well as allowing you to walk out into the surfline. To see some of my photos at Tamarack Beach, click here.
Tera Mar Beach.
Torrey Pines State Beach.
Windansea Beach. This is by far one of my favorite beach venues to photograph portraits, graduation shoots, family portraits, engagements, anniversaries, fitness and lifestyle shoots, and much, much more!! Located in La Jolla, Windansea offers beaches, surf, bluffs and stairwells, allowing you to get a variety of different composition styles in one shoot. Not to mention the famous grass hut, and amazing sunsets! To see some of my photos at Windansea Beach, click here.

More recommendations added regularly. Please check back frequently.

Churches

San Diego Temple. The LDS San Diego Temple is a Mormon temple owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is an amazingly beautiful temple, and a gorgeous setting for private Mormon marriages. Although the binding ceremonies are held in private, guests are allowed to wait outside, and the temple grounds make for some incredibly beautiful wedding photos! To see some of my event photos at The San Diego Temple, click here.

More recommendations added regularly. Please check back frequently.

Balboa Park.
Harbor Island Park.
Lake Poway.
Lake San Marcos.
Myrtle Creek Botanical Gardens.
Oak Riparian Park.
Old Poway Park. This park is one of my favorite places to photograph portraits, graduation shoots, family portraits, engagements, anniversaries, fitness and lifestyle shoots, and much, much more! For a creative San Diego published photographer like myself, Old Poway Park is brimming with A TON of beautiful backdrops that are perfect for many different composition styles! Located in Poway, this rustic park offers lush natural park settings, historical buildings (i.e. barns, wedding/meeting halls and a restaurant!), and even a couple of decommissioned train cars! Not to mention it is home to the Poway Midland Railroad, which has an actual working train, tracks and a small bridge! I prefer doing sunset sessions here, as it’s less crowded and the train have stopped running, giving me access to shoot on the tracks and bridges. To see some of my photos at Old Poway Park, click here.
Presidio Park. Located in Old Town, San Diego, Presidio Park is a quaint, quite, historical park that’s perfect for portrait sessions and small events. As a San Diego portrait and graduation photographer, Presidio Park is a place I ALWAYS recommend to my clients that want to shoot at Balboa Park, as it provides very similar looks and views, without the crowd! If you’re looking to host a small event or wedding, the Junipero Serra Museum (located in the heart of the park) is also available for rent! To see some of my photos at Presidio Park, click here.
Powerhouse Park, Del Mar.
Rohr Park.
Rose Haven Botanical Gardens, Temecula.
San Elijo’s Lagoon. Located in San Diego’s north county coastal community of Encinitas, the San Elijo Lagoon is an ecological reserve and nature center that includes over seven (7) miles of walking trails around is beautiful grounds. I like shooting couples and fitness shoots here, as it provides some amazing nature backdrops, including sweeping views of the lagoon and private, natural trails. To see some of my photos at San Elijos Lagoon, click here.
Sunset Cliffs. Located in Ocean Beach, San Diego, Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is an extremely popular location to watch the amazing sunsets that Southern California has to offer. It’s beautiful bluffs provide a gorgeous backdrop to stunning portraits and small weddings, and it’s within walking distance to The Thursday Club! To see some of my photos at Sunset Cliffs, click here.
The Scout, Liberty Station.
Waterfront Park.

More recommendations added regularly. Please check back frequently.

Urban

Bankers Hill.
Harbor Island Pedestrian Bridge.
Little Italy. Located in Downtown San Diego near the San Diego Airport, Little Italy is a wonderful, beautiful, historical section of San Diego rich with the Italian culture! As a professional photographer, I absolutely LOVE walking around Little Italy for individual and couples portraits, as it provides so many wonderful gems that make for amazing backdrops for some highly creative lifestyle compositions! PLUS, if you get a chance, you MUST visit their Farmer’s Market! To see some of my photos in Little Italy, click here.
Salk Institue.
Spruce Street Suspension Bridge.