1. SANTIAGO REGIONAL PARK
Located in the city of Orange, this park is one of our favorite engagement session spots. It has awesome cobblestone walls with miles of trails. If you want the woodsy vibes, this place has it. It also has a small stream, rustic wood fences, and orange groves. Parking is $3 on the weekdays and $5 on the weekends. We carry an annual photo permit that this park requires.
5 BEST ORANGE COUNTY ENGAGEMENT SESSION LOCATIONS
Orange County has beautiful parks, beaches, and urban areas. No matter which location you choose from this list, you can be sure to get great backdrops! For all our shoots, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND shooting on a weekday. Since they are hotspots during weekends, it can get overcrowded so parking and traffic can be a headache. Chances are good that you will get strangers in your frame.
Early morning or late afternoon are the best times to shoot because the light will be soft. We like shooting 2 hours before sunset.
2. OLD TOWNE ORANGE
The Orange Circle is a small downtown filled with artisan markets and eateries. You will get a sense that you stepped back in time and just has the sense of a small, well-established town. Plenty of backdrops including exposed bricks, alley ways and cute corners. Our favorite stops for couples to enjoy are A La Minute Ice Cream, Aussie Bean Coffee, and The Pizza Press. Another plus for this location is the proximity to Santiago Regional Park. It’s a 20 minute drive and can serve as a great second location.
3. MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
Mission SJC is an historic landmark and the Birthplace of Orange County. It has beautiful gardens, stonework and fountains. They require a small photo permit fee of $75 per hour and can be obtained here. Since our photo sessions are two hours long, you can either get a two hour time block or we can hit the streets of San Juan Capistrano as our second location. They have really cool vintage trains nearby that provide a great backdrop. Check out photos of Mission SJC and Downtown SJC!
4. LAGUNA BEACH / HEISLER PARK
Laguna Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in California. With gorgeous sunsets and cliffs that surround the beach, it’s a great choice for you beach lovers! Above the beach is a parked named Heisler Park with it’s own set of charm. Street meter parking is available and they take credit/debit cards. Check out this engagement session for reference.
5. ANAHEIM OAK NATURE CENTER
If you’re looking for a forest vibe with hundreds of mature oak trees and little streams, this place is for you. When you set foot on this location, you will forget you’re in the heart of Orange County. This site requires a $20 permit and can be obtained here. Parking is free. We can easily spend two hours at this park but if you’re looking for a second location, Downtown Anaheim is not far. It has great coffee shops and eateries. Check out this session from Downtown Anaheim!
