Photo location ideas when you don’t want beach or mountain – in San Diego & beyond!

The beach and mountains are beautiful, and we’re so lucky to have them in San Diego (and all around California) buuuut sometimes couples want somewhere that feels more “them” and captures them in their element for non-traditional engagement photos in San Diego. As a San Diego photographer who’s often asked what are other locations than the beach, I’ve created this guide to give some inspiration for engagement or couples photos! Let me know any other locations you’ve dreamed about having a couple photo session. 

1. Pick Your Favorite Neighborhood

Ok, I can’t personally name my favorite San Diego neighborhood (there are just too many good ones), but picture this: you and your love strolling around a neighborhood – enjoying a leisurely walk, window or store shopping, hugging under a pretty tree, finding all of the unique architecture and characteristics for one of a kind photos. Neighborhood adventure sessions really capture your favorite go-to spots – whether that’s in North Park, Hillcrest, La Mesa, or anywhere meaningful to you. 

If you pick a neighborhood photo session, you can always start the couple photos at a date spot meaningful to you and your partner and take it from there! In a recent North Park San Diego engagement session, we started at Meet Cute Bookstore and then walked around to take photos by murals, the parking garage, and iconic North Park sign. The beauty of neighborhood sessions is how customizable they are to every couple’s interests, pace, and sentimental places. It’s such a customizable and non-traditional engagement photo option in San Diego.

2. Ice Cream and/or Coffee Date

There’s something so sweet (literally) and intimate about an ice cream or coffee date, and photographing that date really captures a relaxed atmosphere. Plus, who doesn’t love getting their favorite coffee or ice cream treat?! And yes, coffee or ice cream is on me! 

Beach or icecream dates are very flexible, as San Diego has shops all around the city! If you want to fit an icecream or coffee in during your session, it’s such a fun way to start (or end) your San Diego engagement photo session. Here’s a photo at Nado Gelato in Coronado, where we went to the beach after for sunset.

3. Rooftop Romance 

Literally an elevated experience. The city lights, sunset hues, or even moonlit vibes set the mood. There’s something magical about being atop the city view, looking around at your city and enjoying the view together. 

If you and your partner love city vibes, consider adding a rooftop into your San Diego couple session! For couples who prefer privacy, this can be a great option as there are many different levels and nooks to provide seclusion. It’s also very romantic to overlook your city, especially at sunset!

4. It’s A Love Story (baby just say yes)

For book lovers (including everyone who well-intendedly buys books to read), bookstores or libraries are such a cute place for your San Diego couples photo session. Roam around aisles, share reading nook snuggles, and pick up your favorite love-themed novels for props. It’s a novel idea, isn’t it? 😉

This photo was taken at Meet Cute, a queer-owned San Diego bookstore. The downtown library is also a beautiful spot! Both are situation in vibrant neighborhoods that give many other spots for session.

5. Home is Wherever I’m With You

In-home sessions are my favorite, and here’s why: it’s the most authentic, comfortable, and vulnerable place couples share together. Capturing  couple photo sessions in your home uniquely document your life together in such an intimate space. For some couples that want affectionate pictures but aren’t comfortable with PDA, in-home sessions can offer that flexibility too! It’s also helpful to include pets who might not be as comfortable out and about in San Diego. There’s really no place more uniquely you than your home!

6. Speakeasy or Favorite Bar 

If you and your partner love going out together, picking your favorite – or most aesthetic, it’s a huge win if those align – bar for your couples session is a really fun option. Couples photos in your favorite bar give you the option to dress up if that’s your thing, and capturing some night-time shots and flash photos is extra fun too! 

Choosing a bar, speakeasy, or brewery also gives extra time flexibility if you want to take some sunset photos and continue after it’s dark!

Here are some of my favorite photos at Side Bar in downtown, San Diego.

Adventure can take you anywhere, and it’s totally okay if that’s not the traditional route of nature photos – capturing the non-traditional couple photos is my speciality. If you and your person have other places meaningful to you, let’s capture you there! To see more of my adventure sessions in untraditional locations, checkout my Instagram or the Portfolio section of my website.

Wherever you feel the most comfortable being yourselves and seen in your photos is where I wanna be. 🫶🏻 What other spots have you and your person been dreaming about?! I want to hear about what you’re dreaming about for your non-traditional engagement session in San Diego! Get in touch with me here!