These are the San Diego locations I come back to again and again — plus the honest notes on when to go and what to expect.
La Jolla Cove & bluffs: The gold standard for coastal photos, but crowded. Go at golden hour on a weekday and shoot the bluffs rather than the cove itself.
Sunset Cliffs, Point Loma: The most dramatic sunset on the mainland. Layered sandstone and orange light — just mind the unrailed edges.
Balboa Park: The most versatile spot in the city. Spanish architecture, gardens, and fountains, all walkable. Permits required for sessions.
Coronado Beach: Wide, sparkling sand and the Hotel del backdrop. Family-friendly and grand at once.
The Flower Fields, Carlsbad: Fifty acres of color — but only March through May. Weekday mornings only if you value your sanity.
Torrey Pines & Del Mar bluffs: Wild sandstone cliffs meeting manicured parks. Dramatic and elegant in one stop.
Temecula wine country: Vineyard rows at golden hour, an hour north. Worth the drive for engagements and weddings.
Anza-Borrego desert: Big skies and otherworldly light, especially at dusk and during the spring bloom.
Liberty Station, Point Loma: Spanish-colonial arches and lawns for a clean, architectural change from the coast.