Top San Diego Beach Locations

I was born, raised and now raising my own family in Del Mar, California. I know our beaches like the back of my hand and as a photographer I love my local spots just as much as venturing to other beaches along the coast in San Diego. Although many beach shoots look similar, there are subtle differences. Below is a list of my personal favorite San Diego Beaches for maternity, family and senior high school photography. Each location has something that makes it special. Regardless of the beach choice, timing is everything. I only shoot at the beach at sunset, specifically 45 minutes prior to sunset. Any other time at the beach is too bright. After sunset we have 10-15 minutes to capture dusk. 

Del Mar

15th Street Beach - Torrey Pines State Beach - Del Mar Dog Beach

Del Mar Beaches are some of the busiest, especially during the spring and summer months. There is no getting around other people being around when shooting at the beach in Del Mar. Thankfully I have mastered erasing beach goers from my photos. When you receive your gallery you won’t know how busy it really was. 

Del Mar Dog Beach is absolutely spectacular when the tide is low. This location can be tricky year around because of the number of dogs and people however when the tide is low, we are able to sneak around the cliff and have space to escape the crowd. This is hands down my favorite beach location in San Diego but only works with a low tide. October is the best time for this location.

15th Street is the most convenient in terms or parking and walkability. Powerhouse Park overlooks 15th Street beach ramps and leads us directly to the sand. For an after photo shoot bite, Jacks or Poseidon are great spots to enjoy dinner on the beach.

Torrey Pines State Beach is always a good choice. There is plenty of space to walk along the sand whether high or low tide. This location is breathtaking with the infamous Torrey Pines Reserve and cliffs in the background. The Lodge at Torrey Pines is the perfect spot to make dinner reservations for after our session. The drugstore burger at The Grill at Torrey Pines is a must! It is hands down the best burger in San Diego. If you want more fine dining, A.R. Valentine is incredible too. 

Solana Beach / Cardiff

Cardiff State Beach (South Side) is also one of the most convenient beaches in terms of parking and crowds. There is easy access to the beach and plenty of space to escape other people. This beach is one of the better when it is low tide because the tide pools are incredible. If you are looking for a dinner spot for after our session, Pacific Coast Grill and Las Olas is just a minute drive away. A little further north is a fun, newer restaurant, Waverly.

Carlsbad

South Ponto Beach is one I have been shooting more often. This location offers an array of different settings. I really love this location if clients are willing to drive to Carlsbad. Parking is generally easy along the side of the 101 Highway and if not, there is a designated parking lot for this location. It is right at the corner of Leucadia and the 101 Highway. I would highly recommend if we shoot here to plan dinner or a night at the new Alila Marea Beach Resort in Encinitas. It over looks South Ponto and I have heard great things. Encinitas has the most options for a family date night. Some of my favorites include Valentina, Camp Fire and Herb & Sea. 

Carlsbad State Beach is another beach I shoot every year. This location also has a parking lot but a long staircase to get down to the sand. This part of the beach is relatively empty allowing plenty of space for us to shoot wherever we want. This side of the beach has a ton of rocks we incorporate into the session as well as a long pan of the coast in the background. 

La Jolla

Wind n Sea has many entry points to shoot. This beach can be very rough however it is absolutely incredible when the tide is low and the tide pools surface. Depending on how low the tide is will determine which entry point we use. The entry point I use most is off Fern Glen between residences. It is fairly easy to access however parking can be unpredictable. Crowds are pretty thick on summer and fall evenings. Favorite restaurants for this location are Bistro Du Marche, Eddie V’s & Herringbone. 

La Jolla Shores is really beautiful and easy to access however I prefer to only shoot at this location at low tide. This specific spot is the most popular location for photographers. Everyone loves using the pier as a backdrop. The pier is a landmark and pretty for a few photos, but I don’t like to shoot under it for long. If we walk a few minutes north of the pier, we will find rocks, tide pools and far less people. There are not many times I will shoot in the morning but if a client requests it, this beach would be my top choice. My top restaurant choices for this location are Piatti’s and Barbarella’s. During the holidays, Barbarella’s is really fun for the kids. 

I hope this helps in providing the differences in beach locations in San Diego and some of my favorites eats for after session celebrations!