Outdoor Photoshoot Locations in Los Angeles

Updated: Sep 14

I love being a professional portrait photographer and event photographer in Los Angeles because there are so many great photo shoot locations in Los Angeles and Orange County! Some examples of great locations are the Santa Monica Pier/Santa Monica Beach, Venice Beach, downtown Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Carmelita Ave. and N. Hillcrest Rd. in Beverly Hills, Sunset Boulevard, Griffith Observatory/Griffith Park, the Santa Monica mountains, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Greystone Mansion, Los Angeles County Museum (LACMA), Laguna Beach, Malibu, Santa Barbara, and the Hollywood sign. There are so many "Instagrammable" places to choose from!

Choosing the perfect photoshoot location may be overwhelming because there are so many great photo locations to choose from! This article contains information about the best photoshoot locations near me, and I hope that it will help you find the best photoshoot locations for you!

Feel free to contact me, RayCee the Artist, at raycee@rayceeartist.com to schedule a photoshoot at any of the following outdoor photoshoot locations!

Also, be sure to follow me on Instagram and YouTube!

Griffith Observatory/Griffith Park

Griffith Observatory/Griffith Park gives visitors the chance to take amazing pictures against the iconic backdrop of downtown Los Angeles and the LA skyline. The Griffith Observatory is the best vantage point for observing the world-famous Hollywood Sign. The Griffith Observatory is located on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, which is just above the neighborhood of Los Feliz.

Santa Monica Beach/Venice Beach

Golden hour at Santa Monica Beach/Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach provides great light for an amazing photo session. Venice Beach is also a great place for people looking for a lively art scene.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

One of the best places for first time visitors of Los Angeles to have a great experience is the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Walk of Fame is a very popular spot for tourists. Hollywood Boulevard is where the stars of Hollywood are immortalized with bronze star-plaques, embedded in pink and charcoal terrazzo squares. People from all over the world love to visit Hollywood Boulevard and take photos alongside the famous stars that line Hollywood Boulevard. Street parking is not allowed, so people must park in a parking lot. Tourists often take tours of Hollywood Boulevard in public transport double decker buses.

Carmelita Ave. and N. Hillcrest Rd.

Beverly Hills palm trees on a sunny day in Los Angeles provide lush greenery which people love to take great photos in front of. For photo shoots containing palm trees, a very popular location amongst Los Angeles local photographers is the intersection of Carmelita Ave. and N. Hillcrest Rd. in Beverly Hills. Carmelita Ave. and N. Hillcrest Rd. is well known as the palm tree lined street. There is no more famous street lined with palm trees than Carmelita Ave. and N. Hillcrest Rd. (aka the palm tree lined street).

There is easy access to this location and it is a residential area which makes traffic pretty much nonexistent. Also, there is plenty of free street parking available at Carmelita Ave. and N. Hillcrest Rd., so there is no need to worry about finding a parking lot.

The Hollywood Sign

The Hollywood Sign has been a prominently featured location in many movies and television shows. People love to take hikes along the trail that leads to the Hollywood Sign, and once they reach the amazing landmark, they love to capture amazing pictures. The Hollywood Sign is a well known photo location, and one of the best "Instagram worthy places."

Greystone Mansion

One of the most beautiful places to visit is Greystone Mansion, located at 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. It really is one of the great spots for hosting weddings, photography, and capturing wedding photos. Greystone Mansion is a registered historical landmark in Beverly Hills, CA, which is one reason why it is a popular spot to visit. The outdoor public areas on the premises are the beautiful Formal Gardens with a centrally located fountain, the pool, and the inner courtyard grounds.

Also, Greystone Mansion has been featured in many movies, such as "The Social Network," "X-Men," and "Spider-Man." In order to film or have video shoots at this popular destination, people need to obtain a film permit.

Pasadena City Hall

Pasadena City Hall is a frequently visited location for engagement shoots. Construction of Pasadena City Hall was completed in 1927. This landmark exhibits Italian Renaissance and Spanish influences in its design. Pasadena City Hall is a rectangular building that encompasses a very spacious courtyard.

I recently had an engagement shoot at this location. Afterwards, the shoot shifted to The Last Bookstore in downtown Los Angeles.

The Last Bookstore

The Last Bookstore is a not only a bookstore, but it is also one of the most popular places to take pictures in Los Angeles and all of Southern California. (The Last Bookstore is not an outdoor location, but it is still one of the most popular locations for photography!) Also, The Last Bookstore is California’s largest used and brand new book and record store. The Last Bookstore is located in the Spring Arts Tower at 5th & Spring in downtown Los Angeles.

Grimes Canyon Road

Grimes Canyon Road is an 11 mile stretch of California Highway 23, about an hour drive outside of downtown LA. It is a curvy road which is a popular spot amongst photographers. Photographers love to capture long exposure shots of the cars driving along this stretch of road after the sun sets at night. In order to get to the perfect spot to photograph this road and the great panoramic view, you will need to find parking on a wide dirt area on the side of Grimes Canyon Road, and then make a short walk up a path to get to the photoshoot spot. (The GPS coordinates of this photoshoot location are N 34° 20' 25.8299" W 118° 54' 15.5347")

Walt Disney Concert Hall

The Walt Disney Concert Hall is an architectural masterpiece located at 111 S. Grand Ave. in Los Angeles. Construction of the Walt Disney Concert Hall was completed in 2003, and has been an architectural landmark and popular tourist destination ever since. The Walt Disney Concert Hall is where the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Los Angeles Master Chorale are located. The unique design of the building makes it a wonderful outdoor location to have a photoshoot in front of.

Disneyland

Disneyland Park is a must visit location in Southern California for both visitors and residents. Disneyland Park (aka The Happiest Place on Earth) is a popular location to capture photos. You will find kids and adults alike taking photos with all of the Disney characters that roam around the park, such as Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy! Disney photos with all of the Disney characters are sure to be memories which you will cherish forever! There are many locations in Disneyland to take amazing photos! Here are some of them:

Main Street

Main Street at Disneyland Park is lined with shops and restaurants for everyone to enjoy. Main Street is also the route which is taken by the parades at Disneyland Park. Main Street leads straight to the world famous Sleeping Beauty Castle, which might be the most popular spot to capture photos in front of in all of Disneyland. There have been many marriage proposals that have taken place in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland.

Sleeping Beauty Castle

Sleeping Beauty Castle is home to Princess Aurora, the main character of the iconic Disney story "Sleeping Beauty." Sleeping Beauty Castle and Disneyland Park first opened on July 17, 1955. Guests of the park could not actually walk through the interior of Sleeping Beauty Castle until 1957.

Mad Tea Party

The Mad Tea Party ride is better known as the teacup ride at Disneyland. This ride was inspired by the Mad Hatter's tea party in the movie "Alice in Wonderland." The teacups spin below a canopy of colorful lanterns, which make this location at Disneyland a wonderful spot to take photos and create colorful images.

Huntington Gardens

Huntington Gardens is located in the city of San Marino, which is adjacent to the city of Pasadena. There are many different unique areas and gardens at Huntington Gardens. The botanical gardens encompass about 130 acres and feature living collections in 16 beautiful themed gardens. The gardens have more than 83,000 living plants which include rare and endangered species, and a botanical conservation and research laboratory. Here are some of the themed gardens at Huntington Gardens:

Japanese Garden

The historic Japanese Garden features a unique moon bridge/pedestrian bridge, koi ponds, Japanese Bell, and the Japanese House. People love to have a few photos taken of them in front of each of these spots (moon bridge/pedestrian bridge, koi ponds, Japanese Bell, Japanese House) in the Japanese Garden. The Japanese Garden was designed by renowned landscape architect Takeo Uesugi and features traditional Japanese architecture and landscaping.

Jungle Garden

The Jungle Garden high trees and shrubs, climbing vines, and giant-leaves elephant ear plants. Plants which are associated with the tropics grow in the Jungle Garden, such as including orchids, palms, and bamboos. There is also a beautiful waterfall nearby the giant-leaved elephant ear plants.

Desert Garden

The Desert Garden is home to one of the largest collections of cacti and other succulents in the world. There are two dozen families of succulents in a 10-acre garden display, which means all visitors will have plenty of great views of cacti no matter where they are in the Desert Garden.

Los Angeles County Arboretum

The Los Angeles County Arboretum/Los Angeles Arboretum is an oasis of beauty and tranquility in Arcadia, California. Filled with gorgeous gardens, lush greenery, and exotic plants, the Los Angeles Arboretum is a must-see destination for nature lovers. The grounds include several distinct gardens including the Water Conservation Garden, the Herb Garden, the Aquatic Gardens, and the Rose Garden. Each garden offers something different; from orchids to succulents to rare fruit trees—it’s a horticultural paradise!

Aside from botanical attractions, you can also expect to see plenty of animals roaming around including swans, ducks, egrets, turtles, and peacocks (which is why the Los Angeles County Arboretum/Los Angeles Arboretum is also known as the Peacock Park Arcadia). For those who love strolling through nature, the majestic grounds are also home to numerous hiking trails. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful escape or a fun day out in nature, the Los Angeles County Arboretum/Los Angeles Arboretum offers something for everyone! It is also a great place to host a LA Arboretum wedding!

Descanso Gardens

Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge is an ideal outdoor photoshoot location for many reasons. With 160 acres of botanical gardens, this natural outdoor spot offers plenty of breathtaking and unique backdrops to capture beautiful photos. Some of the botanical gardens at Descanso Gardens are the Rose Garden and Japanese Garden. The San Gabriel Mountains backdrop also offer a great view that any photographer would love to capture during their photoshoot. Descanso Gardens is also a popular venue for wedding ceremonies and receptions.

Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach is one of the most beautiful places in Orange County and all of Southern California. Laguna Beach is a quaint town with a great ocean view from almost any location! With its stunning beaches, majestic cliffs, panoramic ocean views, and crystal-clear waters, it is understandable that couples from all over the world flock to this romantic destination to tie the knot with a beachfront wedding.

Malibu

Malibu makes such a special backdrop for outdoor photoshoots because of the natural beauty that surrounds Malibu. From the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean to the towering trees in the Santa Monica Mountains, there is no shortage of stunning scenery to take in. The beaches in Malibu, such as El Matador Beach, are extremely popular. Add in the perfect weather and it's no wonder why so many people choose to have their photoshoot in this idyllic setting.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a great outdoor photoshoot location because of its stunningly beautiful landscapes. From its majestic coastal cliffs, lush greenery, and picturesque mountain views, there are endless possibilities for capturing breathtaking outdoor shots. Whether you're looking to capture vibrant beach scenes or rustic forest trails, Santa Barbara has something for everyone! With sunny skies and mild temperatures, it's easy to understand why so many photographers flock to Santa Barbara for outdoor photoshoots.

Catalina Island

Catalina Island is an ideal location for a photo shoot due to its unique landscape and variety of activities. The island offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, along with a diverse selection of beaches, coves, cliffs, hills, and mountains that provide perfect backdrops for any type of photo session. In addition to its beautiful scenery, Catalina Island also offers outdoor experiences such as hiking trails, zip lines, and boat tours which provide unique perspectives for memorable photographs.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood, located in Universal City, is home to some of the most popular rides and attractions in the world, as well as being one of the busiest movie studios in the world. Some of the best places to take photos are at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic World- The Ride, The Simpsons Ride, and the newly opened Super Nintendo World!

Bradbury Building

The Bradbury Building is architectural marvel, designed by George H. Wyman and completed in 1893, that boasts an intricate fusion of Victorian and Romanesque styles with wrought-iron railings and Italian marble staircases. This photoshoot location is indoors, but feels like an outdoor location because of the stunning skylight that floods the atrium with natural light.

Even though the majority of the Bradbury Building is occupied by commercial offices and not open to the public, the first floor is accessible for visitors and photoshoots. (Make sure to contact building management before any photoshoot to inquire about any necessary permits, fees, or scheduling requirements.)

Conclusion

Finding the perfect Los Angeles location for a photo session may seem overwhelming because there are so many cool photoshoot locations in Los Angeles to choose from. As a professional photographer, I will do my best to find the perfect location for each of my client's next photo shoot.

Contact me at raycee@rayceeartist.com to schedule a photo shoot at one of these great outdoor photoshoot locations in Los Angeles!

Also, if you would like some inspiration for your next great outdoor photoshoot idea, feel free to read my article "Outdoor Photoshoot Ideas." If you would like to learn some great birthday photoshoot ideas, you may read my article "Birthday Photoshoot Ideas." If you would like to learn some maternity photoshoot ideas, you may check out my article "Maternity Photoshoot Ideas."