If you’re looking to take pictures in San Diego, La Jolla, Del Mar and Coronado are three amazing beach locations that come up again and again.
All of them have beautiful beaches, ocean views, cliffs, and a relaxed coastal look that feels very San Diego. But once you start thinking about what you actually want your family photos to look and feel like, there are some real differences between the three.
Maybe you love rocky cliffs and a little more texture in the background. You might be picturing your kids running barefoot across a wide stretch of sand. Or maybe you’re mostly wondering which option may make your life easier with a toddler, and that matters too.
Hi, I’m Christine! I’m a San Diego family photographer, and I help families figure out those details before we ever meet for their session. If you’re trying to choose a location for your family photos, my contact page is a good place to start. Tell me a little about your family and what you’re picturing, and I can help you narrow it down.
So, if you’re trying to decide where to take pictures in San Diego, here’s how I’d think about three of my favorite beach locations: La Jolla, Del Mar, and Coronado.
Why Location Matters for Family Photos
A beautiful location is naturally going to be at the top of the priority list for photos. But if you are also including family and small children, I wouldn’t choose locations based off of the view alone.
Once I can picture how your family will move in the space, it makes deciding on a location a lot easier.
I factor in things like whether it’s safe for your kids to run around and if there’s room to walk and play. Maybe you’d prefer mostly sandy beach photos, or you’re drawn to more dramatic cliffs, rocks, and backgrounds. The setting should also fit the way you want your photos to feel.
Those little details can make such a difference when you’re looking for places to take pictures in San Diego. There’s so many different pretty beaches to choose from. Your session is about finding the right beach that works for your family.
Perfect poses have their place, but the photos you’ll probably come back to are the ones where everyone is actually having fun. You Can Keep the Posed Shots shares a few simple ways to take the pressure off and make more room for the laughs and real moments.
What Makes La Jolla a Favorite to Take Pictures in San Diego
La Jolla gives you a lot of variety along a relatively short stretch of coastline.
Depending on where you go, you’ll find sandy beaches and sandstone bluffs. There’s also rocky shoreline, tide pools, sea caves, and open ocean views. La Jolla Shores is known for its long sandy beach, while the coastline around La Jolla Cove and farther south gets much rockier.
One thing I especially love about La Jolla is that your session doesn’t necessarily have to look like a beach session at all. There are spots with eucalyptus trees and a more rustic, natural feel. This can be a great option if you love La Jolla but aren’t picturing sand and ocean in every photo.
That variety is one of the biggest reasons I photograph families here so often. Depending on the location, we can create something that feels rocky and coastal, soft and sandy, or completely removed from the beach.
If families are looking for more variety and texture in their photos, I lean toward La Jolla.
You can have:
- Sand and water for classic beach photos
- Rocks that add texture and shape to the background
- Cliffs for a more dramatic coastal setting
- Open stretches of shoreline for walking and movement
- Tide pools at certain locations and times of the day
Keep in mind that “La Jolla” doesn’t mean one specific photo location. La Jolla Shores feels very different from the Cove, Windansea, or the rockier sections of coastline. When someone tells me they want La Jolla family photos, my next question is usually what kind of La Jolla they have in mind.
Why Families Love Photo Sessions in Del Mar
Del Mar has its own unique look.
The main beach area has a long stretch of sand, while coastal bluffs appear south of 15th Street. Seagrove Park and Powerhouse Park sit just above the beach. This part of the coast also gives families a mix of ocean, sand, and grassy areas.
For families who picture a classic beach session with plenty of room to move, Del Mar can be a great fit.
This location offers:
- Kids running along the shoreline
- Bare feet in the sand
- Walking photos with the ocean behind you
- Space for playful, less posed moments
- Coastal views without needing every photo to have rocks or cliffs in it
Del Mar creates a simple feeling so that the sand, water, sky and your family can do most of the work. If your idea of a place to take pictures in San Diego includes wide beaches and clean ocean backgrounds, Del Mar might be closer to what you’re picturing.
Why Coronado Is Another Beautiful Place to Take Pictures in San Diego
Coronado gives you something completely different from the cliffs and rocky coastline you’ll find around La Jolla and parts of Del Mar.
The beach is big and open, with plenty of sand, along with soft sand dunes and greenery. These can add a completely different look to your photos. If your family wants room to walk, play, and move around without needing rocky scenery in the background, Coronado is definitely worth considering.
Of course, there’s also the Hotel del Coronado.
It’s one of San Diego’s most recognizable landmarks and can be incorporated into the background of your photos if that’s a look you love, but it definitely doesn’t have to be! The beach is large enough that we can create a beautiful beach session without making the Hotel del the focus.
Coronado can be a great option if you’re picturing:
- A wide, open sandy beach
- Soft sand dunes and greenery
- Plenty of room for kids to move and play
- A softer beach backdrop without dramatic cliffs
- The Hotel del Coronado incorporated into some photos
If you’re looking for somewhere to take pictures in San Diego that feels different from the rocky coastal scenery of La Jolla and Del Mar, Coronado gives us another beautiful option.
Comparing the Scenery: Cliffs, Beaches, and Coastal Views
The easiest way to start narrowing down your choices is by taking these scenic features into account.
La Jolla offers more variety in rocky coastal scenery. Around La Jolla Cove and the reefs, you’ll find sandstone bluffs, rocky points, tide pools, small beaches, and sea caves. La Jolla Shores gives you a wider sandy option if you like the area, but don’t necessarily want rocks in every photo.
Del Mar gives you longer sandy stretches with coastal bluffs nearby. The main beach runs from around 15th Street north toward the river mouth, while bluffs line the beach south of 15th Street.
Coronado feels different from both, with its wide beach, soft sand dunes, greenery, and the option of incorporating the Hotel del Coronado into the background.
All three are beautiful—they just tell different visual stories.
Still not 100% convinced? You can always send over your inspiration photos or family photos that you love, and I’m usually able to tell fairly quickly which location you would be drawn to!
No matter which San Diego beach you choose for your family photos, knowing what to expect can make session day a whole lot easier. How to Prepare for a Family Photo Session covers everything from what to wear to getting the kids ready. Spend less time worrying about the details!
Where Should Families With Young Kids Take Pictures in San Diego?
Planning a photo shoot involving young children usually includes different priorities than a couple taking engagement photos.
You’re usually thinking of how far their little legs can actually walk, the sand, the water, or bathroom emergencies. And whether your three-year-old is going to decide that climbing one particular rock is now the only activity that matters.
Those are all fair questions! For younger kids I typically look for more space to move along with fewer physical obstacles.
La Jolla, Del Mar, and Coronado all have sandy beach options with room for kids to move, but each one gives families a slightly different experience.
La Jolla Shores has a wide sandy beach and grassy park, while Del Mar’s main beach area has easy access at multiple blocks, with Powerhouse and Seagrove parks nearby. Coronado gives families plenty of open beach, with wide stretches of sand and fewer rocks to navigate.
The exact spot we choose matters just as much as the general location.
A rocky La Jolla spot and La Jolla Shores can be completely different experiences with a toddler. The same goes for choosing between an area near the bluffs in Del Mar and a wide, open stretch of beach in Coronado.
If you have babies, toddlers, grandparents, or anyone with mobility concerns, let me know before we choose the location. The prettiest spot isn’t useful if getting there makes everyone tired before I’ve taken the first photo.
Choosing the Right Backdrop for Your Family’s Style
There may be a location in your mind that “looks best” for your family photos, but what’s more important to take into account is what feels like your family.
La Jolla gives variety if your family loves exploring, climbing around, and being near interesting coastal scenery. Del Mar’s open sandy stretches may be exactly what your family needs if your kids want to run. Coronado gives you another option if you love wide-open sand but also want soft dunes and greenery in the background.
Knowing that most moms will have outfits planned out way ahead, clothing might be something to consider as well. Beach locations already give color and texture, meaning your outfits don’t need to compete with that. The backdrop should work together with your family, so that the focus remains on your faces.
When clients ask me where to take pictures in San Diego, I also get curious about what they’re hoping to do with the finished photos too. Are these going into frames around your home? A gallery wall? An album? Holiday cards?
Knowing that helps me understand the look you’re after.
Curious what these family sessions actually look like once we’re out there? Come hang out with me on Instagram. I share real sessions, favorite San Diego locations, behind-the-scenes moments, and plenty of ideas to help you plan photos that feel like your family.
So, Where Should You Take Pictures in San Diego?
La Jolla, Del Mar, and Coronado can all give you beautiful family photos. The right location really comes down to your family and what you want those photos to feel like.
If you love rocks, cliffs, texture, and more varied coastal scenery, start with La Jolla.
Finding yourself picturing open sand, ocean views, and plenty of room for the kids to move? Take a closer look at Del Mar.
Love the idea of a wide beach, soft sand dunes, greenery, and maybe even the Hotel del Coronado in the background? Coronado might be exactly what you’re picturing.
Still not sure? You don’t have to figure it out by yourself.
When you book your family photography session with me, I can help you choose where to take pictures in San Diego based on your family and the look you want. Head to my contact page and tell me what you’re picturing! We’ll figure out together whether La Jolla, Del Mar, or another San Diego location makes the most sense for your family.
Things That I’m Loving Lately!
- All of the information that you need to book family photos is included here!
- Did you know your session includes a print credit? Learn more here.
- On the fence about getting new family photos done? Read here about why preserving the little things matters!
- Check out here for information on why I stopped offering mini sessions to capture the most for you and your family.
