Choosing a location for your engagement photos can be overwhelming. How do you choose where to take photos of such a big occasion!? It can be overwhelming trying to choose where you want your engagement session to happen. Let’s talk about five of my favorite locations to shoot engagements in California, and why I love each one. 

1. Let’s start with Palm Springs. I may be biased since I’ve spent a lot of time in this area but I’m telling you there’s so many reasons to love Palm Springs. While your initial thought might be “Paulina it’s so hot there, and isn’t it just a desert?” I am here to tell you the exact opposite! Palm Springs actually has a very diverse landscape which gives you multiple options for a session location. 

• Let’s talk about the downtown area first. This isn’t your typical downtown look. There aren’t any high rise modern glass buildings, in fact it’s the total opposite. The downtown location has so much character. The architecture is described as mid 20th century modern. I’m not an architecture buff, so I’d describe the buildings as eclectic and funky. They’re full of character and color, and it give us so many options for photos! 
• The second area that I love in Palm Springs are the iconic windmills. Anyone that’s driven through, or visited this area will know exactly what I’m talking about. The windmills are such a beautiful backdrop, and one that I love to shoot at time and time again. 
• The last location within Palm Springs are the sand dunes. If you want an engagement shoot that truly feels out of this world then the dunes might be the perfect spot for you. I love the sand dunes because it is such a beautifully neutral backdrop. It feels as if you’re on another planet. If you want something out of the box for your engagement session Palm Springs would be a great option to go with. (Insert photos)
  
  

2. Along the same lines but a little different is Joshua Tree. This is another very well known location. What I love about Joshua Tree are the different features of this landscape. You have really big beautiful boulders, cactus, and of course the Joshua Trees. A sunset session in this area is truly a breath taking experience. So if a little adventure out into the desert sounds fun, then this is the perfect spot for you! 
   
   

3. Next up is Filoli Estate in the Palo Alto area. This is a location that you actually may have seen before! This estate has been featured in multiple movies. One you may have seen and is pertinent to an engagement shoot is The Wedding Planner. This estate is truly stunning. It feels like it’s out of a movie, and it’s very apparent why it’s been used as a movie set for so many Hollywood films. My favorite feature on this property is the sun room. The best way I can describe it is almost like a green house. It’s a small quaint room, with vintage paneling and the lighting is out of this world. If a movie worthy backdrop is the look you’re going for, then this is absolutely the location you want to go with!

4. Let’s talk about wine country next. If you love a good glass of wine like me, you may have spent some time in Napa already! This area is known for their wineries and they actually make a great photoshoot location. Depending on the time of year you are there vines can be green, or even a gorgeous auburn during the fall. If a natural and intimate location (with a glass or two of wine after) is something you’re hoping for, then this location is right for you!

5. The last location that I want to point out is Pebble Beach 17 mile drive. This is a very well known beach in Monterey, California. It is literally 17 miles of pristine beach. I love this spot because a beach shoot is a classic California spot to take photos. There are a lot of aspects about this beach that are different though. The rocks are so amazing and give a unique look compared to just a typical beach. The other part that I love about this location is Cypress grove. This area is easy to hit along with the beach and it is a totally different look. It is an area filled with cypress trees. These trees are different than a palm tree or pine tree and give a really unique look. If the a classic California beach along with an extra back drop sound great then this is the perfect location to shoot at!