Best places for family photos in Monterey
Planning family photos in Monterey? These are the spots worth shortlisting, chosen for the light, the backdrop, and how easily a session comes together.
12 places to shoot family photos & videos in Monterey
Lovers Point Park
Kids can scramble over the granite outcrops or wade at the small beach while the rest of the group holds a spot on the overlook above, so nobody has to watch just one thing. Go on a weekday if the group includes younger ones, since the sand fills in fast once the weekend crowds show up.
For family photos: room for the whole group to spread out.
Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail
The trail is flat, paved and wide, built to handle a medium-sized family group without anyone tripping over dunes or roots, and it runs long enough that different ages can set their own pace. Old cannery structures and cypress line the shoreline for backdrops, with metered lots and street parking within an easy walk.
For family photos: an easygoing setting that keeps kids engaged.
Asilomar State Beach
Tide pools give kids something to actually do between photos, and the boardwalk means the group can spread out over the dunes without losing anyone in soft sand. Roadside parking is free, and sunset over the surf gives enough time to let the group wander before pulling everyone back together for a last few frames.
For family photos: a backdrop that still feels like home year after year.
Old Fisherman's Wharf
Sea lions barking from the harbor give younger kids something to point at while the group covers the flat wooden walkways past the shops and boats. Morning is the calm window here, ahead of the wharf's daytime crowds, with paid lots a short walk from the water.
For family photos: space to run without wandering out of frame.
Cannery Row
Murals and the old weathered cannery facades give a family group plenty to stand in front of without repeating the same wall twice, and the flat paved sidewalks make it easy to keep track of everyone. Golden hour warms the brick and timber here, with paid garages close enough that little legs don't need to walk far first.
For family photos: somewhere the grandparents can reach and sit comfortably.
Monterey State Historic Park (Custom House Plaza)
The plaza and its gardens are flat and open, sized for a small to medium family group to move through the courtyards without feeling boxed in by the old adobe walls. Late afternoon light warms the architecture nicely, and paid lots nearby keep the walk short for anyone still learning to keep up.
For family photos: a spot that holds a large group without a crowd behind them.
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Carmel Beach
There's enough open sand here for kids to run the full crescent while the group stays loose instead of lined up, and it's soft enough underfoot that shoes come off early. Free parking runs down Ocean Ave, and sunset over the water turns the whole group into warm silhouettes if you time the last frames right.
For family photos: enough going on to keep toddlers cheerful between frames.
Del Monte Beach
Being quieter than the main beaches means a family with a range of ages can spread out over the boardwalk and dunes without weaving around strangers. It's sized for a medium group comfortably, and the free lot sits right where the boardwalk starts, handy once smaller kids have had enough.
For family photos: open ground for the classic everyone-together shot.
Jacks Peak County Park
Wide forest trails at a gentle grade let kids range ahead and circle back without the group losing sight of anyone among the pines. Paid lots serve the trailheads directly, and the ridge-top views of the bay reward whoever makes it that far by late afternoon.
For family photos: corners for the smaller, quieter groupings.
El Estero Park
The grassy banks around the lake give a family group room to actually spread a blanket and let kids run between shots instead of standing in a fixed line. It's an easy fit for a medium-sized group, footbridges included, and parking is free right along the street for a quick exit once patience runs out.
For family photos: a setting that suits repeat visits as the family grows.
California State University, Monterey Bay
Open quads and mature trees give a family plenty of room to fan out, and weekends have the campus mostly empty once classes let out for the day. Visitor lots take a daily permit fee, so plan for that, and quieter weekends between terms make the wide walkways easier to shoot without dodging students.
For family photos: forgiving light for a group with mixed heights.
Monterey Peninsula College
Tidy lawns and oak-shaded walkways give younger kids somewhere to sit down between setups, and the campus specifically has room worked in for families alongside the grad groups it usually hosts. Weekend mornings, once classes have cleared out, keep the tiled courtyards calm enough that nobody has to compete with foot traffic.
For family photos: a backdrop that reads as your city, not anywhere.
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Shooting family photos in Monterey
It depends on the spot. Public streets and sidewalks usually don't, while many parks, gardens, and landmarks require a permit for professional sessions. Each location above notes what we found on permits — confirm the current rules and any fee with the venue or city before you book.
Golden hour — the hour after sunrise or before sunset — flatters almost every location, and each spot above lists the light that works best there. Early morning also means thinner crowds at the popular ones.
Snappr pricing is flat and set before you book, with no travel or editing surprises. Most sessions run one to two hours; you can see current rates and what each tier includes on the pricing page.
Pick your date and shoot type and we match you with a vetted local photographer who shoots in Monterey. Booking takes a couple of minutes, and you can reschedule for free if plans change.
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