MALIBU, MY FAVORITE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CITY

It's no surprise, I absolutely love Malibu. It's my favorite place on the west coast. I photograph a ton of different events in Malibu from Elopements to Weddings to proposals and engagement photos. And each location, and each session make me fall in love even more. In this blurb of a blog I am going to share my favorite places with you. Here are 5 of the best engagement photo locations in Malibu. From the mountains to the oceans to the cliffs, these are my absolute favorites.

THE BEST MALIBU ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS LOCATIONS

Disclaimer, these are all nature-filled locations. I love nature, it's no secret if you've seen any of my other work on my Recent Work tab. The beauty of Malibu is unmatched. From the beaches to the mountains, regardless of the time of year. I gravitate more towards nature than I do city scapes, I find it more appealing and thrilling. I love it when I see the dolphins in Point Dume State Beach or when I see deer in Malibu Creek State Park. I've shrieked out loud during a couple session in Point Dume Nature Reserve when I saw a whale and her calf down below in the ocean. Nature is magical and I love inviting my couples to the spaces I'm so lucky to visit often.

These spaces are so so beautiful I also always include landscape and nature photos in the galleries I deliver. The locations inevitably become a part of your story. Whether it's the spot you got engaged or the place I offered as a suggestion for your save the date photos. And when I photograph couples (for no particular event or reason), these spaces inevitably become intertwined in your life when the photos are hung in your apartment walls. So, again, for multiple reasons, these are the best engagement photo locations in Malibu.

I am such a firm believer that your photoshoot hour should end with some good food. You're dressed up and dolled up, and you just had your photos taken. End the night with some delicious food with a view to talk and giggle about it all. Scroll all the way to the bottom of this blog post and you'll also see a list of some of my favorite eateries in the Malibu area.

NOTE: Regardless of whether you go with me or not, please be respectful of the locations when you visit. Pick up your trash and pick up other people’s trash if you see it. Avoid areas that are closed off (whether it be for safety, or for preservation). Let’s not leave a trace, thank you!

POINT DUME STATE BEACH, MALIBU

This is my first go-to location, I've photographed here more times than I can count and in every season of the year. It's my favorite beach of all time for several different reasons. It's easy to get to (very efficient with parking and the walk from the parking lot to the beach is soooo easy)! It has so many beautiful backdrops all in one space depending on where you're facing. And it's never as packed as you might think it would get, at least this spot isn't. The yellow flowers are also always a nice treat because they don't come out every year.

• Location Attributes: Many different variations of backdrops in one location; it has greenery, it has yellow blooms on certain times of the year, beautiful rock formations, and a perfect classic beach
• Parking: parking lot
• Entry Fee: $3 parking and hour before sunset, $15 parking all day until the hour before sunset
• Hike: Non-existant; park your car and walk to the beach

POINT DUME NATURE RESERVE, MALIBU

This is the vantage point of where I saw the mother whale and her calf, so this is truly a special spot for me. It's also where I've seen countless dolphins near the shore. Point Dume Nature Reserve is a beautiful cliff area overlooking the ocean. It also has greenery that lines the path to the cliffside. It's gorgeous but there is a tiny hike to get to it so I *highly* recommend only planning to photograph at this location if you're wearing flat shoes. It does have a couple of parking spaces near it but it truly is so hard to park there. And parking in unmarked spots will definitely involve a ticket, that is why I always suggest to park at the beach down below and make the little hike.

• Location Attributes: Different variations of backdrops in one location; it has greenery, it has yellow blooms on certain times of the year, beautiful ocean view, and some rock formations
• Parking: parking lot down below at Point Dume State Beach
• Entry Fee: $3 parking and hour before sunset, $15 parking all day until the hour before sunset
• Hike: 5min hike; park at Point Dume State Beach and hike up to the Nature Reserve

MALIBU CREEK STATE PARK, MALIBU

Malibu Creek State Park is one of my favorite locations regardless of the season. It is absolutely stunning and a beautiful and welcome change to the Malibu coast scenery. If you're looking for mountains or tall grass, this is the place to be. In the spring time it flourishes with flowers all around the fields. During the summertime the grass turns yellow like the photos below. Such a gorgeous place to be.

• Location Attributes: Mountainous, long grass (yellow or green depending on time of year)
• Parking: parking lot
• Entry Fee: $6/hr parking
• Hike: Non existent for the location in these photos; but the park is humongous and there are hiking routes

EL MATADOR STATE BEACH, MALIBU

If I didn't include El Matador State Beach on this list of the best engagement photo locations in Malibu you could not take it seriously. This is an iconic Malibu location, it's in movies, it's what people think of when they think Malibu beach. It's a special one and has a very special set of circumstance that no other beach does. From cliffs overlooking the ocean to beautiful landscape photo opportunities, and the way the structure is set up to diffuse the sunlight. It's a perfect and go-to engagement photo session location. It has beautiful rock formations right on the ocean.

• Location Attributes: The ocean, rock formations, and greenery
• Parking: parking lot
• Entry Fee: $3/hr parking
• Hike: There is a bit of a hike to go down to the beach itself and a good bunch of stairs

CIELO FARMS, MALIBU

Cielo Farms is one of my favorite places to shoot a surprise proposal. An engagement session at the very beginning of it all. It has a gorgeous overlook that can be reserved for the utmost intimacy.

• Location Attributes: beautiful mountain view, grassy area, and beautiful green/floral arch
• Parking: parking lot
• Entry Fee: $0 for parking, the reservation for the viewpoint is about $800
• Hike: Non existent

The end. These are my absolute favorite and the best engagement photo locations in Malibu. I hope this list helped you decide where you'd like to get your photos done. Please reach out if you are interested in having me photograph your beautiful session too.