Pacific Beach / Crystal Pier Family Sessions

Pacific Beach, or PB, as the locals call it, is one of my favorite beaches to photograph engagement and family sessions in San Diego. Pacific Beach is a large beach, and my favorite area for photography sessions is the Crystal Pier. This area allows for regular beach shots, and the pier is also a great location to explore.

Pacific Beach is a unique spot with a laid-back beach-town vibe with a vibrant beach culture. It has a lot of California you see in the movies. There's a boardwalk, bars, restaurants, and generally lots of people around riding bikes and skates, exercising, and enjoying the beach.

One of the main reasons I recommend Pacific Beach for family and engagement sessions is Pier. The Crystal Pier is a piece of Pacific Beach's history. Built in 1927, the wooden structure brings a vintage, rustic feel to the photography session. The pier can be a great background to walking shots, something I always incorporate into family photography sessions. It can also filter the light a little when the sun is low, giving us the perfect afternoon light.

Pacific Beach is one of the busiest beaches in San Diego. There are few public parking lots close to Crystal Pier, but street parking is available. It could be a difficult place to find a parking spot, especially during the summer.

I recommended picking a weekday for Pacific Beach family sessions, especially during the summer or early fall. The beach can get very crowded on the weekend, making things more difficult during the session. Weekdays are more manageable, allowing us more room to roam around the beach.

Pacific Beach has a variety of cafes and restaurants if your family wants to grab something to eat before going home or if you want to give the kids a post-session reward! Handel's Homemade Icecream, located at 4475 Mission Blvd, is my favorite spot to get a cold treat, and it's super close to Crystal Pier.

During Pacific Beach family sessions, I usually start with some shots under the Crystal Pier. After that, I head to the beach area, close to the shoreline. I generally start with the area north of the pier and move to the south if time allows. There's no need to go too far from the pier, which makes Pacific Beach a convenient location for almost everyone.

Please take a minute to read my 'Family Photography Tips' page. It's filled with tips and ideas to help you make the best of your San Diego photography family session.

Meeting Point:

I usually meet with clients for Pacific Beach family sessions at the entrance of the Crystal Pier. Crystal Pier is located at the west end of Garnet Avenue, one of the main streets of Pacific Beach. You can also click here to view the exact location on the map.

Access:

Pacific Beach is one of the busiest neighborhoods in San Diego. The Parking is limited and could be hard to find, especially during weekends and the summer. So, I recommend arriving in Pacific Beach nice and early for your session so you can find a spot. If you have trouble finding a place to park on Garnet Avenue, I recommend trying the streets north of the pier. They tend to have more free parking spots than the south. If you have many children, elderly folks, and things to bring, it might be ideal to drop off part of the family before looking for a spot.

Please notice that you must go down some stairs to access the beach and relocate to the shoreline/pier. So, Pacific Beach might not be the best option if someone in the group has difficulty walking.

Best time to photograph:

Like all beaches in California, the prime time for photography is the last hour before the sunset. It's what photographers call the 'golden hour'. Beach sessions in California can happen very early in the morning, but closer to sunset is always the best option. Weekdays also tend to be best, considering Pacific Beach is a busy neighborhood and beach.

Outfits:

Going barefoot is ideal for beach photography sessions. It looks more natural, especially during walking shots, and adds a relaxing vibe. It's important to pick something that fits your style but is also comfortable. Light fabric with neutral tones tends to work best. Large logos and loud patterns don't usually work well as they can be distracting.

Some coordination between family members is always a plus, but there's no need for everyone to match.

Pets:

Dogs are allowed on the beach and boardwalk in Pacific Beach before 9:00 am and after 6:00 pm from April 1st to October 31st, and before 9:00 am and after 4:00 pm from November 1st to March 31st. Dogs must be on a leash at all times in Pacific Beach. Please confirm the information above online, as it can change.

Pets are always more than welcome to join my family sessions!