LOCATION GUIDE
southern california
Common photoshoot locations:
San Dimas Canyon | San Dimas
No permit/fee required
Carbon Canyon | Brea
Permit required - (I purchased this for 2026)
Murrieta Fields | Murrieta
No permit required
Laguna Beaches | Laguna
$100 permit required
Salt Creek Beach | Dana Point
Permit required (I have one for 2026)
Pasadena City Hall | Pasadena
Permit required ~$75
Crystal Cove | Newport Beach
Permit required ~$100
Calafia State Beach | San Clemente
Permit *technically* required
Balboa Park | San Diego
No permit required
Studio options
anywhere between $50-$200+. I recommend checking out peerspace.com or local photo studios. Be sure to pay attention to whether or not they have an hourly minimum.
Desert options
Anza Borrego, permit may be required- depending on exact location you want. Travel fee required as this can be a pretty long journey. 4x4 required in some areas.
Joshua Tree, CA. Permit required many weeks in advance.
Additional location options
(not pictured below but gray locations are linked with a reference photo)
Chino Hills State Park
permit required
grassy fields
Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park
San Juan Capistrano - permit required (I have a permit for 2026)
no permit required
Lake Skinner
permit required ~$50-$100
O'neill Regional Park
Trabuco Canyon - permit required (I have a permit for 2026)
Mission San Juan Capistrano
permit required ~$110
beautiful architecture
No permit required
The Griffith Observatory | Los Angeles
permit required for inside observatory but not required for surrounding areas
Orange orchard in Temecula Wine Country
Temecula - no permit required
No permit required
Permit not required in most places, but will need an Angeles Forest Day Pass.
I'm always open to shooting in new areas if you have another place in mind! Downtown areas, a local park, or your own home/backyard are always options too.
*Clients are responsible for paying permit costs, but I am happy to help secure the permit or help with the process!*
Photo examples of locations below:
San Dimas Canyon
Carbon Canyon
Murrieta Fields
Pasadena City Hall
Crystal Cove
Anza Borrego
Salt Creek Beach
Laguna Beaches
Balboa Park
Calafia State Beach
Studios
