Where I Love to Shoot: My Favorite Outdoor Locations in West LA — Part 1

I've had the privilege of capturing countless beautiful family moments against the stunning backdrop of this vibrant city. From golden light in Topanga State park to sandy beaches, West LA offers an abundance beautiful spots ideal for family photography. In this blog post, I'm excited to share my favorite locations to create memorable family portraits. 

El Matador State Beach is one of my favorite places when you’re looking for that beautiful, natural California beach vibe. Known for its dramatic cliffs, sea caves, rock formations, and beautiful stretches of sand, it offers a naturally cinematic backdrop that changes with the light and tide. Around golden hour, the warm light filtering through the rocks creates a soft, almost magical atmosphere perfect for the candid, natural images I love to capture. It’s a beautiful location for couples, families, maternity, or anyone drawn to a more wild and romantic California coastline.

Escondido Falls Trail, tucked into Escondido Canyon Park in Malibu, is one of my favorite locations for those adventurous souls looking for a more natural, earthy setting. The trail winds through a peaceful canyon surrounded by native vegetation, large trees, and beautiful pockets of filtered light, creating a relaxed and organic backdrop for photographs.

What I especially love about this location is the variety it offers along the way—from shaded paths and rustic scenery to open areas surrounded by the Malibu hills. The hike to the lower waterfall is relatively easy and takes about 25 minutes, making it a fun little adventure with plenty of photo stops along the way. During the wetter months, the seasonal waterfall adds another beautiful element waiting for you at the end of the hike.

It’s a wonderful spot for families, couples, and maternity sessions, especially if you love photographs that feel adventurous, intimate, and connected to nature.

Westward Beach is one of my favorite Malibu locations for those who want a classic beach setting with a little more wildness and space. Located next to Point Dume, this wide stretch of sand is framed by dramatic cliffs and the beautiful Malibu coastline, giving us plenty of room to walk, play, and capture those natural, in-between moments.

One of the things I love about Westward Beach is how accessible it is, with a large parking lot right by the beach—especially convenient for families with little ones. For those feeling a little more adventurous, we can also hike up toward Point Dume for a completely different perspective, with beautiful views looking down over the ocean and coastline.

I especially love photographing here around golden hour, when the light becomes warm and soft and the cliffs add beautiful texture to the background. Depending on the season, you may even spot dolphins or migrating whales offshore, adding a little Malibu magic to the experience.

The UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden is one of my favorite hidden gems in the middle of Los Angeles. Tucked inside the UCLA campus in Westwood, the garden is home to thousands of plant species from around the world, with winding pathways, lush greenery, towering trees, and little corners that make you forget you’re in the middle of the city.

What I love about photographing here is the variety of natural backdrops within a relatively small space. We can wander through tropical-looking foliage, leafy pathways, bridges, and quiet shaded areas, finding beautiful pockets of filtered light along the way. Every turn offers something a little different without having to walk very far.

During my last visit in June 2026, while photographing an extended family, I noticed a beautiful new waterfall that had been added to the garden, flowing into the creek that winds through the property. It adds another lovely layer to the landscape and, of course, another beautiful backdrop to play with during a photo session.

It’s a lush, almost exotic little escape in the middle of the city, with plenty of greenery, benches to rest on, and a small creek running through the garden. In my experience, it has never felt overly crowded, which gives us the freedom to slow down and enjoy the session. I especially recommend it for maternity and extended family sessions. When grandparents are visiting, it’s a great option because we can create a beautiful variety of photographs without requiring too much walking.

Topanga State Park is one of those locations that makes you feel far away from Los Angeles without actually leaving the city. Set within the Santa Monica Mountains, the park offers a beautiful mix of open grasslands, winding trails, mature oak trees, chaparral-covered hills, rocky formations, and, from some of the higher points, incredible views stretching toward the Pacific Ocean.

Topanga State Park is one of those locations that makes you feel far away from Los Angeles without actually leaving the city. Set within the Santa Monica Mountains, the park offers a beautiful mix of open grasslands, winding trails, mature oak trees, chaparral-covered hills, rocky formations, and, from some of the higher points, incredible views stretching toward the Pacific Ocean.

Topanga is a large state park, so the exact meeting location matters when planning a session. Day use parking is currently open from 8:00 AM until sunset, and dogs are not permitted. I always send my clients a link to the exact parking lot I use as our meeting point, so it’s easy for everyone to find.

Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice is such a fun location to photograph. If nature is not quite your thing and/or you’re looking for something more urban, colorful, and artsy, this street has its own unmistakable personality.  A mix of colorful murals, interesting architecture, independent shops, cafés, palm trees, textured walls, and little unexpected corners that give us plenty to play with.

What I love about shooting here is that the session can feel more like walking around Venice together than posing for photographs. We can explore the side streets, stop when we find an interesting wall or splash of color, grab a coffee, and use the movement and energy of the neighborhood to create images that feel spontaneous and full of personality. No two sessions here need to look the same. If your style leans toward street photography, bold colors, cool textures, and a little Venice character, this is definitely one to consider.

And this is only Part I! I still have plenty of favorite corners of Los Angeles to share with you, so stay tuned for more locations in the next entry of Ivonne Maria’s Journal.

In the meantime, if one of these places feels like the perfect setting for your next session, I’d love to meet you there!