Choosing a location for your family photos is important. After all, these are the images that you will look back on that hold your family history. In this blogpost, I continue to discuss great outdoor locations for family photos in Orange County, California. If you know the Orange County area, then you know there are an abundance of outdoor locations. Set out below are another three popular locations, including the address, notes on parking and photo permits (if relevant).
Feel free to check out my related blogposts: Best family photography locations in Orange County, California (Part 1) and Best family photography locations in Orange County, California (Part 2).
Table Rock Beach Laguna Beach, Orange County California
Table Rock Beach is a very well known local beach which is tucked away in South Laguna Beach. There’s plenty of sand in a deep cove with homes high above. Not to mention, large rocks of a variety of sizes and shapes which provide an excellent backdrop for any type of photo session. There are many exposed rocky points that beach goers can climb over but waves sometimes crash hard on the rocks so if you have little ones, you should be careful.
Feel free to check out a family photo session at Table Rock Beach Laguna Beach.
Permit: Yes
Parking: There is street parking on Eagle Rock Drive which is free. Just be careful to abide by the signs so you don’t get your car towed away
Restrooms: No
Address: 31595 Table Rock Drive, Laguna Beach CA 92651

Quail Hill, Orange County California
Quail Hill Trailhead provides a great location to connect as a family. The trailhead is an easy two-mile trail at the foot of Quail Hill. There is minimal elevation gain on the hike and the views are fabulous on clear days. The Quail Hill Loop is also well maintained and is easy to follow. It is also a great place to shoot if you want to bring along your family dog, as Quail Hill allows dogs on leashes. For these reasons, it is a popular location for family photoshoots. It is open to the public from dawn until dusk. You should note that the scenery at Quail Hill will vary based on the time of year. After rain the fields are likely to be green but with little to no rain the fields are more golden in color.
Feel free to check out a family photo session at Quail Hill.
Parking: Free
Restrooms: Yes
Address: Quail Hill Staging, Irvine, CA 92618

Corona del Mar State Beach, Newport Beach (aka Big Corona), Orange County California
Corona del Mar State Beach is a fairly popular family beach in Newport Beach, Orange County. It runs half a mile long framed by rugged cliffs and a rock jetty that forms the east entrance to Newport Harbor. It has its own feel and is set among flower-named residential streets. All beaches in Orange County are gorgeous, but Big Corona looks like it came right off of a movie set. Regardless of how you spend your days in Orange County, it is one of the most magnificent places to catch a sunset.
Feel free to check out a family photo session at Corona del Mar State Beach.
Permit: No
Parking: There is a huge parking lot (entrance at Ocean Blvd and Jasmine Ave) but the beach is popular and it’s not uncommon for the parking lot to fill up
Restrooms: Yes
Address: 3001 Ocean Blvd, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625

I hope you’ve enjoyed viewing this article about great locations for a family photo session in Orange County. Krystil McDowall is an Orange County family photographer, specializing in photography for families of all shapes and sizes, which includes couples, expecting parents, newborns, toddlers, kiddos, even bigger kiddos and, of course, any fur babies that schlep with the family. If you're interested in viewing more of my work, check out my portfolio or contact me so we can discuss documenting some memories together.
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