Choosing Your Outdoor
Portrait Location
One of the first steps in planning your portrait session is choosing a location that fits the look and feel you want for your photographs.
Over the years, I've photographed at many beautiful locations throughout Fallbrook and Bonsall. I've put together some of my favorites here so you can see how each location photographs and decide which setting feels most like you.
As you look through the examples, pay attention less to the specific location and more to the overall feel you are drawn to. Do you love open fields and golden light? Green trees and trails? Rustic architecture? Vineyards and manicured landscapes?
Keep in mind that our outdoor locations can look very different throughout the year. Green fields turn golden, wildflowers come and go, trees and grasses change, and recent weather can completely transform a location.
Once you have a favorite or two, let me know. I'll help you choose the best option based on your session, the season, current conditions and the look you love.
Bonsall Preserve
The Look:
Natural, warm and timeless with plenty of variety.
Bonsall Preserve is one of my most versatile outdoor locations. It offers a beautiful mix of open fields, mature trees, natural trails, tall grasses and shaded areas, allowing us to create several different looks during one session.
The wide-open spaces are perfect for families with young children because there is plenty of room to walk, run and play.
The large trees also create beautiful natural framing for more traditional family portraits, while the trails and grasses are perfect for relaxed, candid images.
The landscape changes throughout the year, ranging from fresh greens to warm, dry grasses and golden earthy tones. Because there is so much variety here, it's a great choice if you want a classic outdoor setting without committing to just one type of backdrop.
Great for:
Families, Extended Families, Children, Seniors, Maternity
The feel:
Natural, Open, Timeless, Warm
Wardrobe:
This is one of the easiest locations to dress for. Cream, denim, blue, olive, rust, camel, brown and other soft or earthy colors all work beautifully. Both casual and slightly dressier outfits photograph well here.
Olive Hill
The Look:
Warm, natural and golden with beautiful sunset light.
Olive Hill is one of my favorite locations for that soft, sun-drenched Southern California look. A narrow trail winds through tall grasses and seasonal wild growth, creating beautiful texture and plenty of opportunities for both posed portraits and natural walking images.
Later in the year, the landscape takes on warm golden and earthy tones that photograph beautifully at sunset. Like many of our local locations, the scenery changes throughout the seasons, so the exact colors and vegetation will vary depending on your session date.
This is a wonderful choice if you love photographs that feel relaxed, warm and connected to nature.
Great for:
Families, Maternity, Seniors
Best look:
Golden hour/sunset
Keep in mind:
There is some walking on natural trails, so comfortable shoes are recommended for getting to our shooting areas. You can always change into your photo shoes once we're ready to begin.
Wardrobe:
Cream, camel, rust, olive, denim, warm browns and other earthy or muted tones look especially beautiful here.
Los Jilgueros Preserve
The Look:
Natural, lush and full of variety
Los Jilgueros Preserve offers several different looks within one location, from tree-lined areas and rustic fencing to tall grasses, greenery and a beautiful wooden boardwalk.
The boardwalk is especially pretty when surrounded by lush seasonal growth and creates a softer, almost storybook setting for portraits. Other areas of the preserve offer a more rustic and earthy feel, giving us plenty of variety during a single session.
Because the landscape changes throughout the year, Los Jilgueros can range from fresh and green to warmer, more earthy tones depending on the season.
Great for:
Families, Children, Seniors, Maternity
The feel:
Lush, Rustic, Versatile, Natural
Wardrobe:
Cream, soft blue, denim, sage, olive, blush, camel and other muted colors photograph beautifully here. Both casual and slightly dressier outfits work well because there is such a variety of scenery.
Dinwiddie Preserve
The Look:
Lush, wooded and softly romantic.
Dinwiddie Preserve is one of my favorite locations for clients who love trees and greenery. The arching branches create beautiful natural frames and pockets of filtered light, while grassy areas and walking paths give us plenty of variety throughout the session.
Depending on the season, this location can range from fresh green to warm golden and autumn tones. The tree-lined areas create a cozy, almost tucked-away feeling that works especially well for families who want their portraits to feel natural and relaxed.
There is also plenty of room for walking, interacting and those in-between moments that often become some of my favorite photographs.
Great for:
Families, Extended Families, Seniors, Maternity
The feel:
Wooded, Lush, Romantic, Relaxed
Wardrobe:
Cream, beige, soft greens, denim, rust, burgundy and warm earth tones all photograph beautifully here. Soft dresses and textured fabrics also work especially well against the trees and greenery.
De Luz
The Look:
Lush, adventurous and full of natural variety.
De Luz is one of the more unique locations on my list, offering a beautiful combination of dense greenery, large natural boulders, water and a small sandy shoreline. We can create several completely different looks without leaving the area.
The rocks are perfect for relaxed family groupings and playful images, while the water and sandy areas create a softer, almost creek-side feel. Surrounded by trees and greenery, the entire setting feels secluded and tucked away from the rest of Fallbrook.
This is a wonderful choice for families who love the outdoors and want their portraits to feel a little more adventurous.
Great for:
Families • Children • Seniors • Maternity
The feel:
Lush • Adventurous • Secluded • Natural
Wardrobe:
Cream, denim, soft blues, olive, camel and other warm neutrals complement the greenery, rocks and water beautifully.
Keep in mind:
This location has natural and uneven terrain, including rocks, sand and areas near water. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, especially for little ones.
Monserate Winery
The Look:
Vineyard-inspired, scenic and beautifully manicured.
Monserate Winery offers a gorgeous wine-country setting right here in Fallbrook. Vineyard rows, open grassy areas, water and surrounding hills give us several beautiful backgrounds to work with during your session.
We can photograph among the vines for a warm, intimate vineyard look or use the open areas and water for portraits that feel brighter and more expansive. The manicured landscape also makes this location feel a little more polished than our preserves while still keeping your portraits relaxed and natural.
As with all outdoor locations, the appearance of the vineyard changes throughout the year, so the vines and surrounding landscape will vary by season.
Great for:
Families, Maternity, Seniors, Couples
The feel:
Vineyard, Scenic, Polished, Romantic
Wardrobe:
This location works especially well with elevated casual or dressier clothing. Cream, navy, olive, rust, camel, soft florals and other warm or muted tones complement the vineyard beautifully.
Old Bonsall Bridge
The Look:
Historic, rustic and architectural with beautiful open scenery.
The Old Bonsall Bridge is a unique local option for clients who want something different from a traditional field or wooded setting. The bridge itself provides strong lines, textured concrete railings and plenty of opportunities for both standing and seated portraits, while the surrounding hills and natural landscape soften the architectural backdrop.
It's especially beautiful later in the day when the landscape takes on warmer tones. The long bridge also gives us plenty of room for walking photographs and more relaxed, natural interaction.
This is one of my favorite choices for senior portraits, particularly for seniors who want a clean, casual look with a little more personality than a traditional nature setting.
Great for:
Seniors, Families, Couples
The feel:
Historic, Rustic, Architectural, Casual
Wardrobe:
Denim, black, cream, white, blues, earth tones and casual layers all work beautifully here. Because the bridge itself is fairly neutral, it also works well if you'd like to incorporate a little more color into your wardrobe.
Pala Mesa
The Look:
Rustic, adventurous and full of texture.
Pala Mesa offers a great mix of natural scenery and architectural elements, giving us several very different looks within one session. The bridge creates a strong, structured backdrop, while the rocky areas, hillsides and natural grasses give portraits a more relaxed, outdoorsy feel.
This location is especially fun for senior portraits because there are plenty of places to sit, lean, walk and move, giving us lots of variety without every image feeling like it was taken in the same spot. It also works beautifully for families who want something a little different from the traditional open-field setting.
Great for:
Seniors, Families, Maternity
The feel:
Rustic, Adventurous, Textured, Casual
Wardrobe:
This location can handle a lot of different styles. Denim, boots, dresses, earth tones, black, cream and richer colors all work well. It's also a great location for seniors who want to bring multiple outfits because the different backgrounds can give each look its own feel.
Keep in mind:
Some of the best areas include rocks and uneven natural terrain, so comfortable shoes are recommended for walking between locations.
Anza-Borrego Desert
The Look:
Expansive, dramatic and beautifully serene.
For clients who want something truly different, Anza-Borrego offers an incredible desert landscape with sweeping mountain views, native desert plants and wide-open scenery.
The soft, neutral colors of the desert keep the focus on your family while the mountains create a dramatic backdrop that feels completely different from my Fallbrook and Bonsall locations. Depending on the season and rainfall, the desert can also come alive with small wildflowers and fresh growth.
This is a beautiful choice for clients who love nature, adventure and portraits that feel a little more like artwork.
Great for:
Families, Maternity, Seniors, Couples
The feel:
Desert, Expansive, Serene, Fine Art
Wardrobe:
Cream, white, ivory, camel, rust, dusty rose, sage, and other soft earth tones are gorgeous against the muted desert landscape. Flowing dresses photograph especially beautifully here.
Keep in mind:
Anza-Borrego requires additional travel and planning and is best during certain times of the year due to desert temperatures and conditions.
The Studio
The Look:
Clean, timeless and completely customizable.
For clients who prefer an indoor setting, the studio offers a polished alternative to an outdoor session without sacrificing variety. We can create everything from bright, clean portraits on a simple white background to darker, more dramatic portraits with a rich fine-art feel.
Studio sessions allow the focus to stay completely on your family without distractions from the background. They're also a great choice if you love a more modern or timeless look, have young children, or simply don't want to worry about weather, wind or outdoor conditions.
Because we control the lighting and backdrop, we can create several different looks during the same session.
Great for:
Families, Children, Maternity, Seniors
The feel:
Clean, Timeless, Modern, Fine Art
Wardrobe:
Almost anything works in the studio. Jeans and simple tops create a relaxed, casual look, while dresses and more elevated clothing can create a beautiful fine-art portrait. Once we decide on your backdrop and overall style, I can help you coordinate clothing that will photograph beautifully.