We just love doing engagement sessions with our couples and often they want our expert advice for choosing the best engagement session locations. And while there are so many gorgeous engagement session location types in the San Diego area, we are thrilled to share our top three below.
Top 3 Types of Locations for Engagement Sessions
The Beach! This may seem obvious because we are so close to beautiful beaches and waterfronts in the San Diego area, but even couples who live here choose the water for stunning engagement photos, and rightly so! The upsides to the beach are many. The sunrises or sunsets can be epic, the chance to splash and play in the waves can be romantic and make for really amazing candid photos, and sea breezes blowing off the ocean can create movement in hair and clothing that can be epic. Beaches are also awesome for couples who do not live here but are doing a destination engagement session as nothing really says “San Diego” quite like the salt, sea, and sand. The downsides to the beach are that there can be unpredictable weather, lots of people, and sand and water are not for everyone when it comes to staying neat and tidy. But if being on the actual beach is not your vibe, yet you still crave the water, there are locations that can showcase some of that same feel while staying clean and dry (like the cliffs of La Jolla, Coronado, or Sunset Cliffs for example).
Architectural! Architectural locations can include anything with a building or structure. Some of our favorite places are downtown settings (like the Gaslamp Quarter for an urban vibe, Little Italy for a slightly more European feel, and La Jolla both downtown and along the seafront). If you love historical structures, Old Town can be a great choice for everything from adobe haciendas to recreation nineteenth-century buildings. And if you’re into the quaint seaside shops near the Hotel Del on Coronado, that can also be an option. One of our very favorites for architecture is Balboa Park which has SO much to offer in one spot. One of the upsides to building architectural elements into your engagement photos is the session can include a lot of variety, especially if you’re willing to walk between places. Some of the downsides are that areas can be crowded, especially in the height of tourist season, and some areas may be private or require a permit or fee to enter (but don’t worry – we know the best spots!). Bonus – we can even build a favorite bar or restaurant into the shoot and get some action shots of you feeding each other ice cream or drinking champagne. Cheers to that!
Nature! Nature can include anything from the beachfront area, of course, as there are some lovely beachside parks, but this can also include gardens (and we have many to choose from). Gardens and green spaces can be great to build blooming flowers and grass into your photos and some of our favorite locations are mentioned above, like Balboa Park. The upside to a garden is that there can be big shade trees that provide some relief from the sun and filter light in beautiful ways. A downside to a garden is the same as the above, there could be crowds or permits/entrance fees required.
How to Know the Best Engagement Session Location for You
Here are some questions to ask yourself when trying to choose the best engagement session location:
- What do you want your backdrop to look like?
- What environment do you vibe with most?
- Do you want to try something different than you would normally do?
- Are there any locations that are significant to you? Maybe the place he proposed, or the place you went on your first date?
- Do you want to be dressy, casual, or both?
Starting with the answers to these questions can help us help you choose the perfect engagement session location.
How to Plan Your Engagement Session with The Copper Collective
The Copper Collective engagement sessions typically include up to two hours of coverage, so we highly recommend two locations which also can include an outfit change – we love doing multiple locations and looks! We keep you on time and make sure to factor in travel time when deciding on the locations as well as knowing if there is traffic at that time. We are also hip to the best places to park and meet for the locations. So if you’re considering an engagement session, or already have one booked with us, let’s chat about all the details so we can capture amazing moments you’ll cherish for a lifetime!
Get Engaged With The Copper Collective
We believe that engagement sessions are an integral part of your love story, and we look forward to bringing your engagement session vision to life by helping you choose the perfect locations. If you’re looking for a seasoned team of engagement or wedding photographers, get in touch with us by dropping us an email. To see more of what we do, you can also head to our website or check out our Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest accounts.
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