Are you ready to learn about how to make the absolute most of your Griffith Observatory photoshoot? Buckle up, because we’re diving in!!

First things first…

Shoot at Sunrise

This is honestly the best tip I have for you because it will help you avoid so many problems. Here’s the thing – the Griffith Park Observatory is absolutely PACKED in the evenings and even more so on the weekends. It’s too difficult to navigate around that many people while helping you get comfortable in front of the camera. Not to mention finding spots that aren’t crowded with people in the background! That being said, the Observatory is one of the few locations that I require a sunrise shoot.

Plan to arrive right at sunrise because it will very likely be foggy anyway. Generally I time my sunrise shoots to have us meet 20-30 minutes before sunrise in order to catch the best light. However with a photoshoot at the Griffith Observatory, we get a little wiggle room! The fog acts as a diffuser and keeps the light nice and soft for us.

One last perk of a sunrise shoot is the access to the parking lot. If you’ve never been up to the Observatory, here’s the deal. It’s up at the top of a hill and the parking lot is small. When the lot fills up during the day, most people end up parking down the side of the hill and have to make the walk up. It’s never fun to walk 10 minutes in stilettos, so shooting at sunrise gives you free access to the best parking spot in town. Haha!

Bring Layers

With all of that fog, it might be chillier than you think. The last thing we want is for you to be uncomfortable during your engagement photoshoot, so layers are going to be your best friends! It’s always a good idea to have a backup plan in case it’s cold and windy.

Be Bold with Your Styling

This might be my favorite aspect of the Griffith Observatory as a photo location – it’s like a blank canvas! The white walls and simple architecture make it easy for you to make bold choices with colors and patterns. You’ll see that my bride Tressa went for a bright red dress and I’m beyond obsessed!! The bigger, the better as far as I’m concerned.

When you’re deciding on what to wear for your engagement session, I’m happy to be here as a resource! Shoot me an email and we can discuss! Check out this engagement session for more bold color inspiration.