San Diego Balboa Park Engagement | Anthony & Elizabeth

This San Diego Balboa Park engagement session with Anthony and Elizabeth was truly special for Zack and myself. We are good friends with Elizabeth’s parents and have known her since she was quite little. What an honor to now be able to photograph her engagement session with Anthony and their wedding! I can’t wait to spend the entire day with them at the Admiral Kidd wedding venue on Cornado Island!

One way to understand how lovely Anthony and Elizabeth’s relationship is is to look at the way he proposed! They were whale watching in Juneau, Alaska and saw many orcas and killer whales. Although the weather was cold and rainy, they were having a really deep conversation at the back of the boat. They told each about how much they loved each other and would always choose each other, despite all the hardships they’d been through. Then he proposed just as the sun shone through the clouds and a beautiful rainbow appeared! How perfect!

As a parent, my biggest desire is that our children are happy. It then also follows that I want my friends’ kids to be happy too! It truly feels that Elizabeth and Anthony are perfect for each other and truyly happy. Elizabeth mentioned that, “The thing that I love most about Anthony is that he is very thoughtful. He knows the right things to say to me when I’m having a bad day and how to cheer me up. Anthony comes up with the sweetest gift ideas, and date nights and words of encouragement. He is a man of God and leads us in prayer which makes me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.” I have no doubt that these sentiments thrill her parents.

Planning a San Diego Balboa Park Engagement Session

Balboa Park is my favorite place to photograph in San Diego. Without question. Look here to see some of the weddings, quinceaneras, senior sessions, maternity sessions, and engagement sessions I have shot in the park. Since I am at the park numerous times a month for portrait sessions, I have come up with a routine that has served me well.

So, if you are a photographer and planning to shoot a portrait session in the park, I am happy to share my route with you! I have other pieces of Balboa Park advice in my other blogs as well. The earlier link will take your right to those blogs!

1. Start at the Organ Pavilion. It has coverage if the sun hasn’t gotten soft yet. Other photographers are always here but if you wait your turn you will always get a spot.
2. Alcazar Garden: this can be crowded but is great on weekdays.
3. Museum of Us: the front facade of this museum is unmatched! Also, there is a couryard across the street with wonderful arches
4. Old Globe area: I don’t shoot this building, just the courtyard under the Museum of Us Bell Tower
5. San Diego Museum of Art: under the windows there is a walkway with a railing
6. Timkin Museum of Art: WHITE walls and the bell tower in the background
7. Botanical Building: they just remodeled this with beautiful pastels! The reflection pond area can get extremely crowded but are worth the wait
8. Walkway between the Prado Restaurant and Casa de Balboa
9. Wishing well by the Prado Restaurant
10. Casa del Prado Theater: walk in the crossing walk in front
11. Bea Evenson Fountain
12. Desert Garden
13. Rose Garden
14. Spanish village: if your clients like color have them sit on the ground since it is colorful here!