6 Best Engagement Photo Locations Near Los Angeles

So you’re engaged!! Now it’s time to spread the word, and what better way than to have your love captured with photos to share with family and friends and to document this season of your lives together? Also, you will definitely be in need of a photo or two for your Save The Dates stationery if you plan to have a wedding or special event!

As a Southern California wedding planner, I have gotten to know so many amazing photographers in my area all over Los Angeles and beyond. Today I have for you six of my favorite wedding and portrait photographers to share with you our six best engagement photo locations that we highly recommend you consider for your photo spot!

Malibu Creek State Park

By: Simply Adri Photography

The Malibu Creek State Park is one of my favorite locations to photograph engagement sessions because of its epic hill views and nature setting. It's a large park with diverse greenery which is pretty year round. During Fall and Winter, the leaves turn color and you can even spot some reindeers roaming around. During Spring and Summer, tall grass and blooms surround you. Only 25 miles away from the hustle of Downtown LA, if you are looking for a serene and peaceful yet beautiful backdrop, this is definitely a top contender. Engagement sessions are meant to be a fun experience where we capture your true essence as a couple without the rush of a wedding day timeline. It's also a great opportunity to work with your wedding photographer pre-wedding, so you are all familiar with each other and feel more at ease and relaxed on your wedding day.

For more information and booking details for Simply Adri Photography, please view her website here!

Griffith Observatory

By: Two Fourteen Photography

One of our favorite locations for engagement sessions in Los Angeles County is the Griffith Observatory. It is located just above the Los Feliz neighborhood and provides a really unique and beautiful backdrop for your engagement photos. The views from the Observatory are stunning: These include Downtown LA and the Hollywood sign. We highly recommend having your photo session here at sunrise to avoid the crowds and to take advantage of the beautiful morning light. If you go early, you can save $20 on parking (yay!) since they don’t enforce parking fees until 12 pm noon. 

When planning your engagement session, we normally advise our couples to pick at least 2 outfit attires or looks: a dressy/cocktail attire look and a more casual look. You can always coordinate with your photographer and most of the time they will advise you on what to wear depending on the vision you have. Other factors that can influence your engagement session outfits are: locations, time of the year, and your personalities. Here are some outfit guides we have put together for our couples that have been helpful in planning their wardrobe. 

For more information and booking details for Two Fourteen Photography, please view their website here!

SOLSTICE CANYON

By: Danielle Bacon Photography

I absolutely love photographing engagement sessions at Solstice Canyon in Malibu. It's one of the most popular locations with my couples, and it's easy to see why. It is a stunning location with lots of greenery, trees and foliage. Engagement sessions are a wonderful opportunity to develop your relationship with your photographer and get comfortable being in front of the camera. Don't forget to make dinner reservations after to really elevate your experience. This special season is short after all, so seize every opportunity to make it memorable. Ollo is a fabulous restaurant nearby and it's my go-to recommendation for post-session dinner and cocktails. Cheers!

To see more of Danielle’s work and check out booking details, please view her website here!

Greystone Mansion

By: XO & Fetti

There is nothing quite like Greystone Mansion, a gorgeous estate with formal English gardens and Tudor Revival architecture. It is the perfect backdrop for romantic, European-Inspired, fairytale engagement sessions!

As a photographer, I highly recommend reserving a session at Greystone Mansion as it is not only picturesque but also very well maintained and perfect for an engagement session any time of the year. While there, I recommend starting at the top near the Formal Garden. Explore the Grand Staircase as you make your way to the Cypress Walk. This beautiful walkway with manicured grounds is only the beginning! Continue making your way down toward the Courtyard and take a few moments by the fountain in the center and the staircases along the walls. Then, make your way through the gates to the Reflection Pond. The matured trees that surround this area make it magical any time of the day! From there, I suggest walking over to the Terrace, where you can see the LA skyline (and on a very clear day, you may even spot the Pacific Ocean!). Across the terrace you'll find tall arched windows, and if you time it just right - you'll get soft sunset hues reflecting off the glass. (Isn't that just dreamy?!)

Greystone Mansion is available with advanced reservations, for more information on how to secure a permit, click here. To contact Vanessa Mestas with XO and Fetti Photography for your engagement or wedding, click here.

El Matador State Beach

By: Aura Elizabeth Photography

El Matador State Beach in Malibu, CA is such a charming engagement session location that does not disappoint! This is by far the most popular location for engagement sessions with my couples, and I can see why. It provides a total SoCal coastal vibe but with a twist: huge rock boulders that make such a stunning backdrop as well as areas that capture a complete aerial view of the coastline.

If you are considering doing a session at El Matador, here are a few helpful things to note: There is typically quite a bit of crowds and other sessions taking place on the weekends so a weekday session is highly, highly recommended. (It is not impossible to do a session there on the weekends but it does get more difficult navigating around the hundreds of people and other photographers there.) As for parking, the lot for El Matador Beach is small and fills up quickly. If it is full, you can park on PCH (for free) and walk down to the entrance area.

And lastly, because it is a beachside location, most, if not all couples I photograph there take their shoes off for pictures. I know it sounds a bit odd but it makes sense when you are in the sand next to the ocean and actually looks great! Because of this, most couples just wear flip flops to their session and take them off once we get down to the beach/sand area. Be prepared to climb down a few sets of stairs to get down to the ocean - which also means a hike back up!

To see more of Aura’s work and check out booking details, please view her website here!

PASADENA CITY HALL

By: Christine Skari Photography

If you’ve been on the hunt for a location with a more European, classic vibe, look no further than the Pasadena City Hall for the perfect romantic backdrop. All the beautiful architecture, colors, and landscaping makes this location a #1 spot for these elegant and romantic engagement photos you’ve been dreaming about! The fountain, courtyard, and iconic steps are just a few of the best spots for your portraits.

Interested in learning more about Christine Skari Photography? Click here for her website to view more of her work!

We hope this blog post was helpful in selecting the perfect engagement photo location and/or photographer for your special day. Need more assistance with wedding planning in Los Angeles? Shoot me an email and let’s reserve your date!