5 Unique Spots to Take Engagement Photos in San Diego
YOU’RE ENGAGED! You’re excited and your mind is racing. What venue do you want to use? Who do you want to be in your bridal party? Do you want an adventurous elopement or a big ole party? Every couple is so unique. No one person is the same which means no one couple is the same. I’m a firm believer that your engagement photos and wedding day should reflect your personalities and your dynamic as a team. Maybe you live in San Diego or your thinking of taking engagement photos on your vacation but if you clicked this — you’re PROBABLY not wanting your typical San Diego beach photos.
Don’t get me wrong, the beach is awesome. But if you and your person don’t spend your time at the beach or you’re not really a beach person, you might not want your engagement photos there! Or maybe you LOVE the beach but you love your beer/music/date nights/exploring more! Well, I’ve put together five fun spots to take engagement photos to help you in your search! Here we go!
Downtown North Park
If you live in San Diego, you know alllll about North Park. It’s quirky, it’s hipster, it seems like there’s a new restaurant/coffee shop/kombucha cafe opening every week. That makes it a super fun spot for date night! Which also makes it a great place to take engagement photos! There’s a fun mural around every corner and there’s awesome little stores/shops/restaurants/cafes to stop in and snap a few photos!
Balboa Park
I bet you just read that and you pictured quinceanera photos in front of the iconic balboa park architecture. Maybe you’ve explored Balboa Park and maybe you haven’t but either way this spot is pretty sweet. There area literally SO many spots in Balboa Park to poke around! Beware - there are tons of people. Especially on the weekends and especially in the summer. All the photos below are taken in peak tourist season on a Saturday though, so if you hire the right photographer you’ll be able to get some sweet photos even on a busy day! Pictured below you have the Botanical Building, the Spanish Village Art Center, a random parking lot, and the 1935 (Old) Cactus Garden.
Coronado
You’re thinking “you said UNIQUE spots in San Diego!” Yeah yeah, hear me out here. What I love about Coronado — the DUNES bro! They’re on the north side of Coronado Beach and they’re the perfect way to get some cool intimate shots without all the crowds. Also - bonus - this beach is HUGE so even when it’s pretty crowded you should be able to find some empty areas! You can also scoot on over to the bar area at Hotel Del Coronado and sip a cocktail or bring your own food to eat by their fire pits. Open to the public!
UCSD
Isn’t that a college? I can hear you saying that. Yes, yes it is. LOOK HOW COOL IT IS THOUGH. What I love about this spot is that it’s full of clean modern lines and fun architecture. SO MUCH ROOM FOR ACTIVITIES. Skip, prance, dance. Bonus points if your photographer brings a speaker to play your best songs.
Your Favorite Bar/Brewery
SAN DIEGO HAS SO MANY BARS AND BREWERIES. Do you love beer? Do you love a good cocktail? If you’re not into alcohol — what about your favorite coffee shop? I love Shelter in Encinitas for photos as it has NO CEILING! So much great natural light. If you go this route - try to choose a spot that has a ton of great natural light as it’ll make your photos look even better! Below I’ve got Shelter in Encinitas and Karl Strauss by i5 & 52.
There you have it! I have SO many great beach engagement photo spots so hit me up if you want to see those! Above all, make sure you hire a photographer who’s down to do a little research and who is dedicated to highlighting what makes your relationship unique! Hope this was helpful!