10 Best Engagement Photo Spots Around LA
With its vastness, Los Angeles features an impressive variety of venues that can offer couples a beautiful backdrop for engagement photography sessions. From mountains boasting stunning coastlines to historic buildings overlooking the beautiful LA skyline to modern art pieces that offer a dramatic and bold statement, these are the top 10 places to take engagement pictures in Los Angeles.
Griffith Observatory
2800 E Observatory Rd
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(213) 473-0800
www.griffithobs.org
Engagement photos taken from Griffith Observatory offer couples a unique opportunity to include, not only one of L.A.'s most recognizable landmarks - the Observatory itself - but also the impressive views of the Los Angeles skyline and beyond. Daytime photographs are impressive on a clear day, and nighttime photography with the shimmering skyline below can offer a very dramatic flair to your announcements.
Urban Lights/LACMA
5905 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 857-6000
www.lacma.org
Couples seeking a dramatic and artistic flare to their engagement portraits should head to the LA County Museum of Art. In addition to boasting plenty of beautiful spots for photography throughout the grounds of the museum, their Urban Lights outdoor display is perfect for both daytime and nighttime photography sessions. Personal photography only is allowed inside the galleries.
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(323) 850-2000
www.laphil.com
Although the Walt Disney Concert Hall is only 11 years old, its distinctive architecture (designed by acclaimed architect Frank Gehry) has blended seamlessly into the Los Angeles skyline and imagery. Engagement pictures taken at this Hall, which is home to the L.A. Philharmonic, can run the gamut from playful and happy, to sophisticated and modern.
Solstice Canyon
Malibu, CA 90265
www.nps.gov
Boasting one of the only year-round waterfalls in Los Angeles county and impressive views of the coastline, this National Recreation Area features century old historic buildings, natural beauty, and serenity in its numerous acres. Plan on hiking quite a bit to get to the most popular locations though, including the ruins of a home built in the 1950s. The views and scenery are the perfect spot for your once and a lifetime photos.
Arlington Garden
275 Arlington Dr
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 441-4478
www.arlingtongardeninpasadena.com
Arlington Garden, Pasadena's only public garden, features an beautiful Italian style olive alley, an Arroyo Seco pathway and pool, historically accurate orange groves, and "surprises around every corner." Meandering paths, stairways, benches, and even a traditional labyrinth ensure plenty of terrific photo opportunities. There is never a fee for photography at Arlington Garden which is just another plus to this scenic spot.
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
301 N Baldwin Ave
Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 821-3222
www.arboretum.org
The 127-acre botanical garden, located east of Los Angeles in Arcadia boasts natural beauty, historic buildings, and your chance to take pictures next to plants and trees from all over the world. The Meyberg Waterfall and its nearby streams, tropical plants, and lush foliage is a common spot for photography.
Malibu Creek State Park
1925 Las Virgenes Rd
Calabasas, CA 91302
(818) 880-0367
parks.ca.gov
Located just 25 miles from Downtown in Calabasas, Malibu Creek State Park offers a variety of scenic nature for terrific photos that will keep you in awe. With 15 miles of trails running next to streams, past lakes, and through oak and sycamore woodlands or past chaparral covered hills, the natural beauty at this park is more than worth it. Photography permits may be required.
Union Station
800 N Alameda St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 683-6729
www.amtrak.com
The largest passenger train terminal in the Western United States also just happens to be a unique and beautiful location for engagement pictures. Built in the 1930s, this California historic and cultural monument has been a top spot for engagement photos for couples for decades. Enclosed garden patios, terra cotta tile floors, and nearly a century-old furniture adds a historic nod to your pending nuptials.
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 458-8901
www.santamonicapier.org
The diversity of Santa Monica's stunning ocean sand, beautiful sunsets, wooden pier, and bright nostalgic amusement rides make this unique spot a fun location for engagement pictures. Couples can choose to get in the water or walk the pier itself for a nod to old-time romance where nothing beats a ride to the top of the Ferris Wheel with the one you love.
Paramount Ranch
2903 Cornell Rd
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
(805) 370-2301
www.nps.gov
Paramount Pictures originally purchased the 2700 acre-ranch in 1927 for use as a "movie ranch" for their studio motion pictures. Its long career in the entertainment industry may have waned, but the rustic wooden buildings, plenty of land, and beautiful scenery make for a great location for engagement pictures. Ranch use with professional photographers requires a permit, but pictures taken by a friend or relative can be done on a walk-in basis.
