Wondering where the best place to have photos taken at the beach? Let me show you. I’ve been to dozens of beaches all up and down the coast of southern California. In selecting my favorite location I’m factoring in lots of things like, low crowds, easy parking, beautiful coastline, and variety of background for your images. I’ll tell you what some downsides to this popular photo location are as well.
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This is the beach by Malaga Cove. It’s also called RAT beach. Don’t let the name fool you. The acronym RAT stands for “right after Torrance.” The name is handy in keeping too many curious people from exploring this beach. No one wants to be surprised by a nasty rat on their beach excursion.
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There is a large and mostly empty parking lot right above this beach. The parking is free and easily accessible. If you’re meeting me here we’ll meet right by the gazebo. It’s okay to stop and admire the beautiful south bay before we head down to the beach.
One of the downsides to this trendy photo spot is the ramp. It is a little steep, and it’s sometimes a little longer than desired. For example, my toddler can get up and down this ramp with no trouble, but for some pregnant mommas or the elderly it is to be considered.
The beach by Malaga Cove has so many beautiful views. As we head down the dirt path we get an amazing view of the South Bay that will look so good in your photos. The native foliage is some of my favorite. It covers most of the hillside and looks amazing almost all year round. Even the photos that don’t have the ocean in them are very beach and dreamy.
This location looks nice almost all day long. This really isn’t true for any other beach. We can go in the morning, mid day or sunset. Your photos are gonna look amazing almost all day. Another feature is that this beach looks a little different year round. With the sun’s annual journey up and down the coast, the change in summer and winter tides, and the foliage that is different each season you can visit this location multiple times for your photos and easily get different results.
If you have small children, the beach is the perfect location for lifestyle and candid photos. Often I will have trouble competing for a child’s attention when I’m competing with the ocean. This means that sometimes little ones will have a hard time looking into the camera and smiling. I think it is best to plan to enjoy your family time at the beach! I’m going to help you get beautiful and fun photos of you all, even if your child doesn’t want to look at the camera.
Once we hit the sand we have some fun rocks for the little ones to play on and stunning cliffs in the background. During the winter months the sun sets right behind these cliffs providing the best beach Christmas photos.
Another downside to this location is the absence of bathrooms. The nearest bathroom is a half a mile walk across the sand. If you are planning an outfit change you’ll want to bring along a towel for a quick change. There are plenty of bushes to hide in if you want a little more privacy than your beach towel provides.
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I end most sessions right by the water. We can dip our toes in or if you’re feeling adventurous, jump all the way in! I am up for any amount of sand and water you want in your photos. I’d gladly go all the way in during our coldest months.
I want to know what you think! Is this the place you’d like to have your family photos taken? Here’s a summarized list of pros and cons…
PROS:
Best views
No crowds
Easy parking
Lots of variety in your photos
Cons:
Big hill to walk up and down
No bathrooms
Let’s start planning your session! Contact me here to get started.
