The 11 Best Couple Photoshoot Ideas Near San Diego

San Diego is a fantastic seaside city. For starters, the city has year-round beach-going weather! Not to mention: the food is amazing — authentic tacos and local beers, for instance — the rent is super affordable, and the beaches. In addition, San Diego has a cool arts scene and photo-worthy spots. Discover a few of the best couple photoshoot ideas near San Diego.

1. Visit the Sunset Cliffs at Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach is a neighborhood in San Diego that’s right on the Pacific Ocean. Within this area, Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is 68-acre green space along under two miles of shoreline. This is an amazing location that draws travelers from around the world to see its extraordinary cliffs and fascinating caves. Most importantly, the ocean view is unparalleled, and makes it one of the best couple photoshoot ideas near San Diego.

2. Find a verdant indoor jungle at this tropical home in Sunset Cliffs

All the other plant-centric options on this list are in the great outdoors, as you’d expect. But the Jungle Agenda is the exception to the rule: it’s a comfortable, cozy home absolutely brimming with plant life, the main focal point. Each and every room is thoughtfully decorated with beautiful, modern decor, which primarily draws on nature for inspiration. The home’s outdoor space, too, is stunning. And even better: when you’re here, you’re “just a stone’s throw from epic sunsets and waves,” as the owners put it.

3. Head to La Jolla Cove

It’s hard to choose our favorite spots among all the stunning natural beauty that San Diego offers, but snapping pics in La Jolla Cove is undoubtedly one of the best couple photoshoot ideas near San Diego. It’s famous for the beauty of its sunsets, not to mention the adorable sea lions! Plus, there’s even snorkeling and scuba diving, if you’d like to try a unique angle and take your couples’ photos underwater.

4. Enjoy the best of mid-century modern design right at the edge of a canyon

That’s right: this mid-century modern home is located at the edge of a literal canyon. The garden is incredibly picturesque, a quintessential example of California’s lush flora. Meanwhile, the interior decor is warm and tasteful (another place with lots of plants — we’re seeing a theme here). You can wander through the 2000 square feet of backyard and garden space to reach the art studio, built from reclaimed materials.

5. Wander through the enormous Balboa Park

Balboa Park is among the country’s largest parks/green spaces within the bounds of a city. The park’s official website says the space stretches over 1200 acre, “where culture, science, and nature collide.” Balboa Park contains the San Diego Zoo, 16 museums, more than one performing arts venue, countless lush gardens, and more. It’s mind-boggling how many fantastic photo opportunities this park holds.

6. Bask in the abundant sunlight of a stylish East Village loft

Located downtown in the trendy East Village neighborhood, this impeccably bright and airy loft is one of the best couple photoshoot ideas in San Diego. The space is absolutely massive, yet balances its expansiveness with cozy clusters of beautiful furniture. You’ll have your pick of countless corners throughout the loft that make an ideal setting for romantic, laid-back photos.

7. Have a retro photoshoot in this vintage-inspired space

Want to do a retro, Mad Men-style couples’ photoshoot? Or something more evocative of the ’70s? Either way, this is the place to be! It’s an ultra-funky 1963 split-level home in La Mesa, nine miles from central San Diego. The best part: it offers a 180-degree view of San Diego and the ocean. Whether you’d prefer sunny daytime photos, a bunch of sunset snaps, or a dramatic nighttime shoot, this home will work perfectly.

8. Drive to the Anza-Borrego Desert

This state park is a little more than a two-hour drive from San Diego, but it’s more than worth the trip. An otherworldly desert landscape makes an awe-inspiring backdrop for romantic photos, as do the blooming wildflowers for which Anza-Borrego is known.

9. Explore this grand villa and its glorious views

Here’s a graceful, resort-style villa nestled in the hills of Ramona; it’ll make a wonderful spot for a couples’ photoshoot. That’s especially true of the expansive wrap-around balconies, which will let you enjoy the fabulous vistas of the surrounding hills. If you’d prefer to have your photoshoot in the home’s tasteful interiors, the many large windows will still allow you to incorporate the surrounding view into your photos. Best of all, the property is also full of fruit trees, so you can pick some fresh fruit after your photoshoot!

10. Travel to Coronado Island for history and beauty

Coronado Island’s most significant visual landmark is the beautiful, historic Hotel Del Coronado. The presence of this unique structure makes a fabulous setting, especially along with the beaches and sand dunes that populate the island.

11. The next best thing to a NYC loft

If you’re wishing you could have your photoshoot in one of NYC’s ultra-cool loft spaces, but don’t have the cash for the plane ticket or a cross-country road trip, this space is a pretty awesome alternative. This NYC-inspired loft offers two gorgeous living rooms, each with 25-foot ceilings and ultra-cool decor, plus a Scandinavian farmhouse kitchen and a corner portrait wall. There’s beauty in all of its 3200 square feet. It’s also another spot located in the East Village neighborhood of downtown San Diego, in which there are tons of cool cityscapes for your outdoor photography.

San Diego is a lovely destination for a couples’ photoshoot. Whether you choose a public attraction or private space for your setting, you’ll end up with romantic photos to enjoy for many years to come.

Find production spaces in San Diego on Peerspace