Engagement Guide to Balboa Park, San Diego

Engagement Guide to Balboa Park, San Diego

Official Website: Balboa Park

Wedding Photographer & Videographer: Mike Federis Photography

Balboa Park spans over 1,200 acres of area within San Diego County. The park hosts a variety of unique buildings, museums, spaces, trails, gardens, and nature centers. Some of the most notable are San Diego Zoo and Japanese Friendship Garden.

ADMISSION: Admittance is FREE to enter the park grounds.

PARKING: There are 11 free parking lots. There are electric car charging stations located in the Fleet Science Center, and San Diego Zoo parking lots.

DOGS: Dogs allowed and must be leashed at all times.

BEST TIME OF WEEK AND DAY: Weekdays are best to avoid the crowds from the weekends. Early morning and golden hour are recommend for the best lighting.

BEST LOCATIONS:

• Japanese Friendship Garden: This is by far my favorite place in Balboa Park if you prefer privacy and lush green gardens. Morning Photoshoot Reservations are $150 per hour plus admission. All photoshoot reservations must take place between 8:30 am and 10 am and is a 1 hour minimum.

Alcazar Gardens: The patterns of this garden was inspired by the Alcazar Castle in Spain. The gardens is situated perfectly between two museums which provides plenty of shade during the mid-day sun. The boxwood hedges are complimented with thousands of annual and roses. This is one of my favorite places at Balboa Park if you want a mix of gardens and architecture background of Balboa Park.

Spreckles Organ Pavilion: An open air organ pavilion and considered the world’s largest pipe organ in a fully outdoor venue.

Other notable locations:

• Casa Del Rey Moro Garden

• Bea Evenson Fountain

Best Places for Engagement Photography Locations in Southern California | Mike Federis Wedding Photography

Best Places for Engagement Photography Locations in Southern California

Today we’re looking at the best places for engagement photography locations in Southern California. These are my top photo locations for couples who love to travel and don’t mind a bit of an adventure. Let’s get to my top picks!

1. Glamis Sand Dunes

   If you are up for an adventure, Glamis Sand Dunes also known as Algodones Dunes is one of the most epic locations on this list. The dunes is about a 3 hour drive from Los Angeles. This desert oasis will make you imagine that you are in the middle of the Sahara Desert due to its 40 mile stretch of soft sand. Be prepared to run around and slide down like a 10 year old.

2. Balboa Park, San Diego

Balboa Park in Sand Diego, California is one of my favorite locations to photograph couples! With over 1,200 acres, Balboa Park offers so much variety from museums, interesting architecture, and beautiful gardens. One of my favorite spots to photograph couples is in front of the Botanical Building. The Botanical Building provides an amazing backdrop while the lily pond provides leading lines and beautiful foreground to images.

3. Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake is my favorite lake among the numerous lakes in the San Bernardino Mountains. This place is beautiful all year round. The lake is about a 2 hour drive from Los Angeles, but well worth the drive. The most convenient spot at Big Bear Lake is at Juniper Point. You will need an Adventure Pass ($5 from Big 5 Sporting Goods for a day pass) to park here. Juniper Point is on the north shore of the lake and offers amazing views of the mountain range. Make sure you check out the Alpine Pedal Path which leads you all the way to the Stanfield Marsh Boardwalk.

4. Joshua Tree National Park

If you are looking for a desert theme, no look further than Joshua Tree National Park. Joshua Tree National Park is about a 2 hour drive from Los Angeles. To enter the park, you will need to pay an entrance fee of $30 per vehicle. If you have a National Park Pass, that will get you in the park for free. Once you enter the park, you are greeted with hundreds and thousands of these cool looking Joshua Trees. There are so many great places to take pictures here, it’s hard to choose. Be prepared to drive since the park is massive; it takes about an hour to drive from the West Entrance to the South Entrance of Joshua Tree.

CONTACT US

Are you ready for an Adventure? Or maybe have some questions? Reach out and we’ll love to chat with y’all!

Balboa Park San Diego Engagement Photography | Curt + Sarah

CURT + SARAH:

Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

12-01-19

Curt + Sarah was referred to me by my fellow photog, Walter Arenas (Videographer: Walter A. Media). I’ve worked with Walter a few projects and he’s such a talented videographer. He’s basically my go to when I need a videographer in the San Diego Area. Apparently, Curt has been a long-time friend of Walter and Walter’s Team was hired to capture the video side of the wedding. I was super excited to do another Engagement Shoot and Wedding in Sunny San Diego!

Curt + Sarah wanted to keep their Engagement Shoot local and wanted some diversity in the environment. I knew the perfect spot for them. Balboa Park was a no brainer. Balboa Park is basically a one-stop shop, it has beautiful gardens, museum, water fountains, parks, and more. I’d say the only drawback is the tourists. Balboa Park is a popular destinations for tourists and weekends are very busy. Come during the week or the morning to avoid the rush.

As a photographer, Balboa Park is a hassle free area. Balboa Park does not require permits for still photography and parking is free! Parking in San Diego and near the coast can be a hassle sometimes, but not Balboa Park. There are so many areas to park. The best place to park is on the west side of the park. You can usually find parking along Balboa Drive which parallels Sixth Ave. This is walking distance to El Prado Road, which leads to Cabrillo Bridge Entrance.

My goal for their Engagement Shoot was to shoot at Alcazar Gardens, Front of San Diego Museum of Art, and the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. I wanted to provide them at least 2-3 environmental backgrounds since they wanted to do an outfit change.

They were the sweetest couple ever! Love working with couples that just let me do my thang and allowing me to capture their connection. Looking forward to their wedding next year!