As an adventurous San Diego family photographer, I feel blessed to live in a diverse community with an endless list of locations to explore. Although I have only started living in San Diego since September 2023, I must say, you will never run out of San Diego Photo Spots to explore. This year has been a surprise with all the beautiful blooms after the amount of rain we have been receiving during the early months of 2024. You will never be bored exploring San Diego and I encourage you to get out and soak in those beautiful views.
As a photographer who relocated to San Diego in 2023, I am constantly looking for convenient locations for my family photos. I’ve compiled a list of the best photo spots in San Diego for taking memorable family pictures that capture the historical essence of San Diego’s natural charm and beauty.
Whether you’re a local looking to update your family photos or a visitor here for a quick weekend trip, I highly recommend checking out these remarkable locations in San Diego.
Table of Contents
Balboa Park (Most Common San Diego Photo Spot)
1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA
Of course, no list would be complete without mentioning San Diego’s 1,200-acre backyard, Balboa Park (the most popular spot in San Diego). It’s an urban oasis that serves as a photographer’s favorite “playground” for many reasons. From striking modern architecture, attractions in open spaces, or a relaxing setting in the Japanese gardens and serene ponds. Balboa Park really has it all. If it’s your first time in San Diego, then Balboa Park will not disappoint.
The best time to visit is during the weekdays or early mornings on weekends. Parking on the weekend can be challenging because majority of San Diegans are off weekends and kids have no school. So I recommend coming on a weekday if possible or coming early on weekends to dodge the crowd or tourists.
This is the right place if you’re looking for a diverse location. These are a few of my favorite attractions in the park:
- Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum – A photography permit of $150 is required, and you will only have access to the garden from 9:00 am to 10:00 am PST (which is during non-public hours). Any changes to your photoshoot date will result in a $50 charge, so I recommend that you plan accordingly.
- Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum’s Address: 2215 Pan American E Rd, San Diego, CA 92101
- Spreckels Organ Pavilion (This is a perfect location for wedding photos as well, I always see photographers here)
- Spreckels Organ Pavilion’s Address: 2125 Pan American E Rd, San Diego, CA 92101
- Alcazar Garden (I can’t believe I didn’t find out about this great spot until my 4th visit to Balboa Park)
- Alcazar Garden’s Address: 1363 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
- Kate O. Sessions Cactus Garden
- Cactus Garden’s Address: 2150 Pan American W Rd, San Diego, CA 92101
- Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Gardens (peak blooms will be in April-May) As a photographer, I can shoot in any lighting and be advice is to try and get a sunset session here by coming 1-2 hours before sunset.
- Rose Garden’s Address: 2125 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
- Spanish Village Art Center – If you love and appreciate art, then taking a stroll through this small village will give you a burst of artistic inspiration. You’ll see artwork displayed everywhere, live artists bring their visions to life, and art classes are also offered throughout the year.
- Address of Spanish Village Art Center: 1770 Village Pl, San Diego, CA 92101
- California Tower
- Cabrillo Bridge (this one might have lots of foot traffic on weekends, not ideal for a photoshoot)
Here’s a map of Balboa Park to play your visit – Balboa Park Map
Coronado Beach
1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118
Coronado Beach, located alongside the iconic Hotel Del Coronado, is one of the best beaches thanks to its diverse landscape and lively vibes. It offers something for everyone – from intimate portrait settings among the rocks to sweeping views of sand and sea with the hotel’s timeless architecture as a backdrop or the splashing waves. I love that it tends to be less crowded during the weekdays, allowing intimate family moments to unfold organically. When the weather is in your favor, your trip to the beach won’t disappoint and naturally making it one of my favorite San Diego photo spots.
Additionally, if you’re afraid that your kids will be distracted by the splashing waves and get their outfits dirty before the photoshoot even happens, then check out the Sand Dunes at Coronado Beach (pictures below). It’s conveniently located right next to Hotel del Coronado and far enough from the waters that you don’t have to worry about your kids running off in the blink of an eye. The way the sand dunes are formed, you won’t even be able to see the beach crowd that would’ve contributed to photobombing your family photos. The Sand Dunes at Coronado Beach is on my list of favorite San Diego photo spots because of its convenience.
During the most festive time of year (Christmas), there is a complimentary 10-minute Holiday Lightshow right at Hotel del Coronado for the public from 5-9 pm nightly. Don’t expect a light show like you’d see at Disneyland, but this is a smaller and more intimate setting. To top it off, they also end each light show with snow flurries, and the kids love it! While you might find the light show a bit short, but there’s much more going on elsewhere. You can take a walk to the beach, take photos at the sand dunes in Coronado each, get some ice cream, or simply take photos with the beautiful Christmas lights decorated around the hotel.
Best Times to Visit: Spring and summer months (for obvious reasons) and anytime when it’s sunny, really. I would avoid going here on specific US holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, July 4th, etc. if you don’t want to deal with a challenging parking situation for your family photoshoot. However, if you’re here to celebrate and enjoy that three-day holiday weekend, go for it!
P.S. I took this photo during Labor Day weekend in 2024 (let’s just say everyone was at the beach, visualize how crowded that weekend was), and the way the sand dunes were formed magically covered the crowd just right behind it. If I were to stand on a flight of stairs, you would easily see the crowd. This is also one of the reasons why Coronado Beach is easily one of my favorite San Diego photo spots. You don’t have to worry about photo bombers.
Windansea Beach
Neptune Pl, San Diego, CA 92037
Windansea Beach is one of my favorites for many reasons. As a photographer in San Diego, I love scouting for locations that don’t have a lot of foot traffic (it saves so much time during post-processing).
Windansea Beach in San Diego is generally more ideal for surfers and less ideal for families because of the strong crashing waves. This is a big bonus simply because it’s less crowded and you basically get the entire beach to yourself.
I don’t have any complaints, except with the smart and sneaky seagulls. The seagulls would dig into our bags when we weren’t noticing to look for food. At one point, I had temporarily pause to scare them away. On the bright side, getting the seagulls in your photo brings life to your photos and make it more interesting..
Presidio Park
2811 Jackson Street, San Diego, CA 92110
Another historical location in San Diego is Presidio Park, which gives you a glimpse into the lives of California’s early European settlers. The hilltop Junipero Serra Museum boasts stunning architecture, while the park’s brick steps, wooden doors, and lush trails create a Western and rustic feel. This park features 40-acre open fields that are great for family photos in San Diego and also great for little kids to stroll around. The architecture makes it one of the most stunning San Diego photo spots, where many Instagram influencers go to share their latest fashion photos.
Details about Best Times to Visit – Admission is complimentary, and the museum opens every day from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Access to the public park is from dawn to 11:00 pm. This location overlooks Old Town San Diego and parking is also complimentary.
Mission Trail Regional Park (Old Mission Dam)
10164 Father Junipero Serra Trail, Santee, CA 92071
A well-maintained and short trail that’s family-friendly and offers plenty of shade.
After parking your car, you will take a short walk and immediately notice the old mission dam and hear the water flowing. At first I thought I could walk on the dam to cross the water, but this dam is not in one piece and does not connect you to the other side. The dam was built in 1803 and much of its structure that we see today is only a fragment of what it used to be.
I highly recommend staying on the trail because we’re in wildlife and disturbing a habitat is not a good idea. I spotted a fox from afar so it would be a good idea to stay alert and stay on trail.
The weather has been great in San Diego, except in early 2024. We have been blessed with an enormous amount of rainwater that was enough to flood this area and a few other neighborhoods. I don’t recommend coming here during a rain storm (common sense).
Best Time to Visit – During Fall & Spring season. Please avoid going here during the months when it rains a lot due to flooding.
Lucy Evans Lauren Memorial Garden
854 Golden Park Avenue, San Diego, CA 92106
Lastly, if you’re a photographer who loves flowers and gardens, this is an intimate garden in Point Loma with a beautiful story connected to its existence. This garden was created by a loving husband dedicated to his late wife, and it is naturally one of the most meaningful San Diego photo spots.
It is located in a residential neighborhood, so please be respectful and courteous when you visit. The memorial garden has surveillance cameras for security purposes, but as long as you respect the property, there shouldn’t be any problem.
The memorial garden offers a beautiful, unobstructed view of Shelter Island and Coronado Island. If you decide to visit the Lucy Evans Lauren Memorial Garden, you should add Cabrillo National Monument to your list because it’s within a 10-15-minute drive (perfect for those glowing sunset views).
Civita Park
7960 Civita Blvd, San Diego, CA 92108
A nice, safe, and beautiful park works extremely well for my family photoshoots and it’s very normal for me to scout a lot of parks and add to my list of San Diego photo spots. My reasoning is really simple and it begins with the children and kids in mind. Kids love having fun, and the best leverage parents have if a child does an excellent job during their family photos is a reward in the playground. Kids love running around, and it helps drain their energy so they can take a great nap afterward. I’m sure that’s not the only reason why, but there’s just something about the park and playground that makes kids don’t want to go home at times.
As a Mission Valley resident in San Diego, Civita Park is the highlight of my community and neighborhood. They always have food trucks on Tuesdays, a farmers market on Saturday mornings, and a free concert on selected Sundays. I love the vibe at Civita Park, there’s something to do for everyone of all ages. Just visit Civita Park and your kids will never want to go home, jk! But in all seriousness, here’s a few photos from a recent photoshoot I did at Civita Park.
P.S. My specialty is my ability to scout for rare locations and add it to my San Diego photo spots.
Lake Murray Recreation Area
5650 Kiowa Dr., La Mesa, CA 91942
Living in California for so long, one of the biggest factors that affects where I go is if parking is easy to find. I can’t just randomly choose a list of San Diego photo spots without having been there myself to scout the location and give you my honest feedback.
I can confidently tell you that Lake Murray has plenty of parking, especially at the recreation area. There’s also a restroom nearby for those unexpected and random restroom runs. I took these photos at the Lake Murray Recreation Area in Spring 2024 and the weather was perfect.
A huge shoutout and big thank you to @myadventureval and her family for agreeing to be my beautiful models at Lake Murray. If you’re a San Diego mom, Val is your local expert to get the latest updates and fun things happening in San Diego. Did I mention that she is good at finding all the free things you can do with your family? She is a Knotts Ambassador, and I love how she details the other activities you can do at Knotts Berry Farm. You will always find her doing something new in San Diego, and she loves sharing her experiences. She is friendly and happy to share, I highly recommend following her on Instagram @myadventureval so you don’t miss out on all the fun things happening.
Montrose Park
Montrose Way, San Diego, CA 92122 (Corner of Renaissance Avenue & Towne Center Drive)
This location is right next to Westfield UTC and near La Jolla, San Diego. One of the families I took family photos for highly recommended this location. The park does not have a lot of people and the ones that were there seemed to be locals just on a jog or walking their pets. I love how there is a beautiful grass area for kids to run around and play.
Thank you for checking out my blog to discover the best San Diego photo spots. Whether you’re a tourist or local in San Diego, the list above is my favorite San Diego photo spots that works well for most families.
San Diego Family Photography | San Diego Family Photographer
Sarah Nguyen Photography
As a San Diego Family photographer, Sarah loves documenting the interactions between family members and their emotions while doing the most simple things. She specializes in a well-planned portrait experience tailored to each family’s vision. Her portrait experience provides moms with a client wardrobe that has been carefully curated and connects moms to a local hair and make-up artist to ensure that moms are well taken care of. Sarah enjoys helping her clients fill the empty walls in their homes with wall art from their family portrait sessions. Each artwork gets printed and framed by professionals who have spent their entire lives dedicated to their craft. Reach out to Sarah early to learn how she can help you bring your family portrait sessions to life.
Many expecting moms and parents join the Baby Plan Membership, a collective of 3-4 sessions within 16 months. Most expecting parents want the whole baby collective option to document their entire motherhood or parenthood journey, which may include maternity, newborn, 6-month baby, and 12-month baby photoshoots. This is a great choice for parents who want more than one session, especially because they know time flies fast.
Sarah is a lover of natural light and utilizes it to create beautiful images. Let her help you find your natural light by reaching out to learn more about her family photography sessions.
