| Crystal Cove State Park is a popular location for | | | | should advise his clients of this fee long before the |
| professional photographers in Orange County to | | | | shoot so the client can make an educated decision as |
| shoot weddings, engagement sessions and family | | | | to whether it is worth paying the fee (the fee is |
| sessions. This article provides practical information and | | | | around $60 for a individual family session) to shoot in |
| tips to photographers and their clients when | | | | this beautiful location or if they would like to shoot at |
| scheduling a photoshoot at Crystal Cove. | | | | one of the many others beaches that does not |
| How to Get to Crystal Cove | | | | require a fee. |
| A good portrait photographer pays attention to | | | | Crystal Cove Family Photography Friendly Factors |
| details. Clear directions to the session site is often a | | | | Crystal Cove has several attributes which makes it |
| missed detail that derails some sessions (by causing | | | | an ideal location for family photography. |
| clients arrive late and frustrated). To avoid this | | | | As noted above, there is a shuttle services. This |
| situation, a professional photographer should give | | | | service is a great convenience to those families who |
| clear information to his clients on how to arrive at | | | | have small children or aged grandparents who may |
| the park. The following instructions should be | | | | find hiking down to a beach to be somewhat |
| sufficient: | | | | challenging. |
| The park is located on Pacific Coast High between | | | | Additionally, the park is large and provides a wide |
| Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach. The address (for | | | | variety of backgrounds. Many family sessions include |
| their mapping software) is: | | | | extended families. Thus, these sessions may include |
| Crystal Cove State Park | | | | up to 30 or 40 people between the ages of 1 and |
| 8471 North Coast Highway | | | | 100. With the wide variety of backgrounds, a |
| Laguna Beach CA 92651 | | | | photographer can use to better match personality, |
| For those who use Latitude/Longitude, the | | | | age and size of group. |
| coordinates are 33.5701 / -117.8756. | | | | Examples of Terrific Crystal Cove Photography |
| Provide this information to your clients early. They | | | | Locations |
| may wish to visit the site before the shoot to | | | | -Between the parking structure and the beach is a |
| identify the locations that work best for them. | | | | narrow path with green over brush and a variety of |
| Parking At Crystal Cove for Photo Session | | | | vegetation. While Crystal Cove is primarily a beach, |
| There is a small fee for parking at the park. Advise | | | | this section of the park provides a wooded feel to |
| your clients of this fee. If you are photographing a | | | | the photo shoot |
| large extended family and they car pool, they will be | | | | -At the entrance of the beach there are a couple of |
| able to save money on both gas and the parking fee. | | | | wooden barns that have been painted red and blue. |
| Remind your clients of this fact before the shoot. | | | | These provide a rustic country backdrop for those |
| This fee is normally paid upon exiting the park. | | | | desiring a more Midwestern look rather than a |
| Therefore, if your clients leave the parking lot after | | | | Southern California beach look. |
| the lot is closed they will normally not be required to | | | | -Directly before entering the beach, there is a quaint |
| pay the parking fee. | | | | restaurant with picnic table on one side. This is a |
| Use the Shuttle Service for the Photo Session | | | | favorite spot for engaged couples to get some shots |
| There is some distance from the parking lot down to | | | | sharing milkshakes with a single straw. |
| the beach. During regular operating hours, the park | | | | -The beaches include sandy and rocky beaches. Not |
| provides a shuttle service. This service is a great | | | | only does this provide great fun for and variety for |
| convenience when your session includes small children | | | | small children who may want to seek out seashell or |
| or aged grandparents. | | | | other sea animals it allows for great flexibility in |
| Price of Photographing at the Park | | | | posing. |
| Unlike many other beaches in Orange County, Crystal | | | | -Many locations include ocean backdrops or cliff |
| Cove requires the payment of a fee for a | | | | backdrops or a combination of cliff and ocean |
| photographer to shoot in the park. A photographer | | | | backdrops. |