Best Photoshoot Locations In Malibu, California
Hi there! Here is a comprehensive list of all the best Malibu Photo Spots that I love, and that work well for my style. I want you to get an idea of where you’d like your next Maternity, Couples, or Family session to be! Some of these locations are well known, and some of them are hidden treasures.
Please Note: Some of these locations are dependent on the season, session time, and tides. I take all of this in to consideration when we’re making decisions for your session!
Table of Contents
Beach Locations
Mountain Locations
Malibu Photo Spots
Malibu Photo Spots: El Matador
Images provided by Canva and Megan W Photography
Location Details
Best Seasons: Fall, Winter, Early Spring.
Worst Seasons: Summer - Too crowded and the sun sets over the land, not the ocean.
Best Tides: 1-3ft high tides. I do not recommend this location above a 4ft tide.
Permits: A permit is required for this location. It must be obtained at least 4 days in advanced. You can find out more information by calling (818) 880-0358.
Parking: Small, limited parking lot. They completely close off the parking lot if it gets full. $10 all day parking fee.
Accessibility: Not recommended for people with mobility issues. You have to walk down a steep, dirt path, and steep flights of stairs.
For more information, please read my Ultimate Guide to El Matador!
Malibu Photo Spots: Leo Carrillo
Images by Megan W Photography
Location Details
Best Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall.
Worst Season: Summer - Crowded and the sun sets over the land, not the ocean.
Best Tides: Negative low tides - 3ft high tides for beach access. I recommend staying up on the cliffs for any tides above 4ft.
Permits: A permit is required for this location. It must be obtained at least 4 days in advanced. You can find out more information by calling (818) 880-0358.
Parking: There are two, large parking lots. One at the entrance, and one at the West end. $12 all day parking fee.
Accessibility: Very easy for people with mobility issues. There are stairs to get down to the coves.
Malibu Photo Spots: Point Dume
Images provided by Canva
Location Details
Best Seasons: Fall, Winter, Early Spring.
Worst Seasons: Summer - Crowded and the sun sets over the land, not the ocean.
Best Tides: This location is not dependent on the tides. It’s accessible at any height.
Permits: A permit is required for this location. It must be obtained at least 4 days in advanced. You can find out more information by calling (818) 880-0358.
Parking: Large parking lot along Westward beach. Fees vary by time of day and season.
Accessibility: Moderately accessible. The parking lot butts right up to the sand on Westward beach. However, if you want to take photos up on the cliffs, there’s a steep hike to the cliffs, and it continues up to the top of Point Dume. Alternatively. you could have someone drop you off at the trail head off of Cliffside Drive so that you don’t have to hike as far.
Malibu Photo Spots: Lechuza Beach
Images provided by Canva and Megan W Photography
Location Details
Best Seasons: Fall, Winter, Early Spring.
Worst Seasons: Summer - Crowded and the sun sets over the land, not the ocean.
Best Tides: Negative low tides up to a 2ft tide is best for this location.
Parking: Limited parking along a neighborhood road. Free Parking.
Accessibility: Easy-moderate. There are stairs leading down to the beach, but the one I know is easy and isn’t too intense. The more well-known staircase is sketchy and I do not recommend anyone go down it.
Malibu Photo Spots: Malibu Creek State Park
Location Details
Best Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
Worst Seasons: Winter
Permits: A permit is required for this location. It must be obtained at least 4 days in advanced. You can find out more information by calling (818) 880-0358.
Parking: There are two parking areas I love. One is the main trailhead. Parking is $3 per hour, $12 all day pass. The second parking area is off of Mulholland, Grasslands Trailhead.
Accessibility: Easy to moderate depending how far you want to walk into the park.
Malibu Photo Spots: Charmlee Park
Image by Megan W Photography
Location Details
Best Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
Worst Seasons: Winter
Permits: A permit is required for this location. It must be obtained at least 4 days in advanced. You can find out more information by calling (818) 880-0358.
Parking: Small, limited parking lot. Free parking.
Accessibility: Easy to moderate. My favorite spot is the picnic area right by the parking lot. It’s super easy to get to. However, there are stunning spots further into the park that do require hiking to access.
Malibu Photo Spots: Solstice Canyon
Images provided by Canva
Location Details
Best Seasons: late Spring, Summer, Fall.
Worst Seasons: Winter
Permits: A permit is required for this location. It must be obtained at least 4 days in advanced. You can find out more information by calling (818) 880-0358.
Parking: Limited small parking lot. Free Parking.
Accessibility: Easy to Moderate. My favorite photo spot is less than 10 minutes from the parking lot. The path leading to it is paved and there is hardly any incline. If you continue farther into the park, to the ruins, there is some hiking involved.
Malibu Photo Spots: Malibu Overlook
Images by Megan W Photography
Location Details
Best Seasons: late Spring, Summer, Fall, early Winter.
Worst Seasons: None
Parking: Tiny, limited parking lot near the trailhead. Free Parking.
Accessibility: Not recommended for individuals with mobility issues. It’s a short, steep hike up to the beautiful rocks pictured above.
*As of 2023, this location is difficult to access. Recent rainstorms have undercut part of the road leading up to it.
You park before the road closure and walk 20 minutes to get to this gorgeous photo spot.Malibu Photo Spots: Cielo Farms
Image by Dan Meyers
Location Details
This is a special location, loved by many who are in search of the perfect wedding venue.
However, did you know you can have your maternity, family, or engagement session at Cielo Farms as well?
Best Seasons: The best time to go and see the grapevines is June through September.
Permits: A $550 fee is required to have your still photoshoot at this location. Find out more by contacting the team at Cielo Farms.
Best Days: The team over at Cielo recommends Tuesdays as the ideal day of the week for maternity, engagement, or family photoshoots.
Parking: There is parking at the venue.
Accessibility: This venue is along a mountainside, however it is easily accessible.
Interested in a Photoshoot?
About Megan W Photography
Megan is a Fine Art Maternity, Couples, and Family photographer who was born, raised, and is still living in Malibu, CA. She is here to capture you and your loved ones in images that you will want to cherish, and pass down to future generations.
Not only is she a photographer, but she is a mother, wife, daughter, and sister.
Maternity, family, and couples hold a special place in her heart because she knows how quickly time flies by. Megan W Photography wants to help you preserve those sweet little smiles, those tender, affectionate moments, and the love you share with each other.
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Hi! I’m Megan
I’m a luxury, Malibu, CA based photographer who specializes in Maternity, Couples, and families. I serve Los Angeles and Ventura County, as well as all of California. I value tangible, heirloom art pieces versus digital and I focus on quality over quantity.
