Orange County
Family Photo Locations

Crystal Cove packs more visual variety into one stretch of coastline than most locations offer in total. Wildflowers on the bluffs, tidepools below, and a wooden clifftop path connecting it all. Classic, cinematic, and worth every bit of planning.

Classic California, full stop. Sun-warmed sand, surfers trading waves in the background, and an ease to this place that shows up in every frame. Laid-back, alive, and completely timeless.

A pocket cove at the end of Poppy Avenue. The tide pools here are protected, teeming, and endlessly interesting to kids. Small, sheltered, and quietly dramatic, especially when the tide pulls back and the light goes gold.

Sand dunes that turn honey-gold as the afternoon fades. The coastal grasses sway, the light goes soft, and everything just feels easy. Wide open sky, rolling terrain, and enough room for the magic to happen on its own.

The sand runs wide and flat, the waves stay gentle, and the whole town moves a beat slower than the rest of the coast. Small-town charm with a sunset attached.

Strands has a slow, generous quality. Rolling waves, coastal views, and plenty of room to just be. The kind of beach where people naturally relax, and the photos reflect exactly that.

This one rewards the adventurous. It takes a bit more planning and some patience with the tides, but the images you get here are unlike anything else on the OC coast.

The northeast corner of Carbon Canyon is where I take people when I want them to forget they're taking photos. Earthy, green, and endlessly photogenic.

The light here is generous, soft and warm with clean backdrops in every direction. Underrated, never crowded, and quietly beautiful.

Tall gum trees, dappled shade, and the distant sound of waves. It feels like a secret. Kids can wander the paths while parents catch their breath, and the light filters through in that dreamy, can't-quite-explain-it way.

More variety in one spot than almost anywhere else in Orange County, with the most interesting mix of foliage you'll find locally. Perfect for covering a lot of visual ground in a short amount of time.

Earthy textures underfoot and pockets of beautiful shade that make the light do remarkable things. A slow, unhurried spot perfect for letting real moments unfold.

Perpetually empty and always beautiful. Gorgeous filtered light along a grassy pasture, with a quiet that makes this feel less like Orange County and more like somewhere you'd invent if you could.

One of those spots where people forget they're being photographed, which is exactly when the best stuff happens. Relaxed, natural, and gently adventurous.

In the 70s, a local bank gave away redwood seedlings to new account holders. When the promotion ended, the leftover trees were donated to OC Parks and planted right here. The result is an impossibly beautiful grove and a true local treasure.

An impressive eucalyptus forest tucked in the heart of Lake Forest. Soft light filters through in a way that feels almost cinematic: cool, green, and beautifully layered. Easy to wander through and hard to leave.

This spot has the kind of epic, wide-open beauty that makes people stop mid-sentence and just look. It's the "we just happen to look this good in the wild" location.

Winding dirt paths, rolling hills, and expansive sky, hiding in plain sight. Peaceful, unpretentious, and full of that warm golden energy that makes photos feel effortless.

Come in autumn and you'll understand why this park has my heart. Breathtaking in every season, but in fall, it's unforgettable.

More stylish date than photo shoot. This place has texture and personality in every direction. Great for anyone who wants images with a clean, editorial edge and a little Newport sophistication.

The Jewel of the Missions offers a richly layered backdrop, grand and intimate at once, with an old-world warmth that turns portraits into something closer to art.