The Best Photo Shoot Locations in Descanso Gardens

If you live in Glendale, then you know we have one of the best botanical gardens in Los Angeles County right in our backyard. Descanso Gardens is packed with beautiful environments that are sure to bring some color to photo shoots of every type. In today’s blog post I’ll take you on a photographer’s tour of the gardens and give you my view of the best photo shoot locations in Descanso Gardens. Along the way I also have some tips to share so that you can make the most of your next session in this magnificent park. Enjoy the tour!

This Photographer’s Favorite Photo Shoot Locations in Descanso Gardens

While you can’t go wrong no matter where you point your camera in Descanso Gardens, these are my personal favorite locations for a photo shoot. Some locations are more geared towards family portraits, especially if you need to entertain little ones. I have noted this where pertinent. Otherwise, assume that all of the locations mentioned will work well for engagement sessions or adults-only sessions

The Center Circle Miniature Train Area

If you’ve got children who are interested in trains, then the miniature train area is a great way to get some documentary-style shots of parents or grandparents pointing out the trains going round and round. Full disclosure, trains do not hold that much interest for me, aside from travel. That said, I was fascinated by these little trains and could have spent half the day here just watching the trains go by. If the trains can pull me in, then they will work magic on kids. This area is quite popular, so plan for crowds.

The Japanese Garden

As you might expect, the Japanese Garden radiates a calm, serene atmosphere. It is also a place where people like to come and sit for quite a while (which can impede a photo shoot). With slow-moving crowds, your best bet is to schedule a session here on a weekday in the afternoon so that you can avoid both the crowds and any overhead shadows. Due to all of the trees, there is a large amount of dappled light which makes taking photos here tricky. Late afternoon is your best time of day for consistent lighting.

The best locations for photos within the Japanese Garden include the red bridge, the square seating area by the pond, and the main house. All of these places are great for group photos. You can also shoot across the pond to take in more of the environment. Also, the turtles and fish will be fascinating for the little ones.

The Ancient Forest

One of my favorite locations, and a spot underutilized in my opinion, is the Ancient Forest. These trees aren’t going anywhere, and they always provide lots of quality shade. You’ve got plenty of greenery to pick from and lovely walking paths that are wide enough for groups or for a single engaged couple.

Hilltop Gardens

For some of the loveliest landscaping in the gardens, check out the grounds leading up to the Hilltop Gardens. If you are not planning on hitting the hiking trails out beyond the lake, then this is the place to go to add some natural terrain to your shot list. Yes, there is a steep hill that you do have to climb, but it’s worth the hike.

At the top of the hill is the Boddy House, which is used for weddings and events. There are some delightful landscaped gardens at the top, as well as the Sturt Haaga Gallery.

The Camellia Forest

To get back to civilization from the Hilltop Gardens, so to speak, you will need to walk through the Camellia Forest. These paths have lots of shady niches for photos. There are benches along the way as well. While all the pathways are enchanting, there’s a pathway surrounded on both sides by bush lilies that I thought was particularly photogenic.

Mulberry Pond

Mulberry Pond is a cute little spot just off the promenade. Whether you have little ones who love ducks or just want some quiet photos with a water background, this is a great place to add to your shot list. And since the lake is currently undergoing renovations, this is the only body of water available in the gardens. The pond features include a tiny bridge, waterfall, and plenty of turtles.

The Promenade

The Promenade itself is quite brightly lit during the day, as well as a major travel thoroughfare. That said, there’s always something colorful blooming in the side flowerbeds. If you can set your subject so that the sun is at his or her back or shoot over the flowers, then this is a good location for photos.

The Rose Garden

The Rose Garden is the highlight of any trip to Descanso Gardens. For me, the stunning view of the trellis benches covered in roses with the mountains in the background simply took my breath away the minute I walked into the garden.

Unlike most rose gardens, the Rose Garden at Descanso Gardens is vast. It takes up a sizable area, so even during a crowded weekend you’re almost guaranteed to have a spot to yourself for photos. There are also plenty of trellis benches covered in roses so you can get your own Instagram shot.

This garden concentrates on roses, but there are also a variety of colorful flowers planted here. Bear in mind, however, that this is a seasonal garden that mainly thrives during the spring and summer. So, plan your photo shoots accordingly so that you can take full advantage of the colors. And if the blooms are not in your favor, then you always have a variety of architectural elements to use, including fountains, rose-covered arches, a rose labyrinth, and numerous gazebos, and the main pavilion which is used for private events.

The Oak Woodland

The hiking paths just beyond the lake lead to terrain that is absolutely gorgeous. If you’re looking to add in environmental variety to your photo shoot, you can’t beat going just beyond the manicured Rose Garden to walk out into the wilderness. There are not many signs on the paths, but there are fences up everywhere so you can’t really get lost. All roads lead back to the main campus.

The California Garden

If you’re in search of privacy, then the California Garden is a solid pick. Due to the fact that this garden is located at the other end of the park, you’re pretty much guaranteed to have the whole place to yourself. You’ve got a bit of a hike to get there, and there’s not much but trees awaiting you, but the landscape is lovely. By the way, the view from Mountain View is just fantastic.

Descanso Gardens Areas to Avoid for Photos

The Lilac Garden

Certain gardens, like the Lilac Garden, can be exquisite. However, they need to be in bloom. Case in point, during my visit to Descanso Gardens the lilac garden was simply a collection of lovely green bushes.

To check out what is in bloom, always refer to the Descanso Garden website here where they update the bloom calendar monthly.

The Lake

The lake was all but gone during my visit. It is currently undergoing a restoration due to a leaking concrete liner. From the garden’s website, it sounds like it will be coming back better than ever, including being used as a source of water for local firefighters should they need it in case of emergency. In the meantime, this area is an interesting birdwatching spot, but that’s about it.

Descanso Gardens Photo Shoot Rules

Descanso Gardens is both a public park and a special place that must be protected as a biological resource. As such, there are rules to be followed so that the gardens can be enjoyed by others for years to come. Here are a few of the particular rules:

Props such as balloons, bicycles, confetti, signage, blankets, stools, chairs/tables, plants and flowers are not permitted. This means no blankets on the ground for little ones during family portrait sessions.
Clothing changes are not permitted.
Please do not block pathways or visitor access to any area of the gardens.
Tripods are allowed, but cannot be placed in plant beds or on benches. Additional photography equipment is prohibited except under commercial contract. This includes: drones, lights, reflectors, costumes, and models. Note: NO reflectors, all natural light.
Photography is not permitted inside any buildings on the grounds, including the Boddy House and Stuart Haaga Gallery.
The garden staff will not accept deliveries or be responsible for any personal property or other property belonging to the photographer or his/her clients.
All garden activities such as classes, tours, and landscape projects will have exclusive rights to that reserved area. Some areas of the garden may not be available on the day of your reservation due to unforeseen circumstances or garden maintenance. Seasonal restrictions may also apply.
Marriage proposals are welcome, but proposals with gatherings, props, decorations, signs or scavenger hunts are not permitted.

How to Get a Descanso Gardens Photo Permit

As you might have guessed, you need a photo permit to take professional photos at Descanso Gardens. The permit can be purchased online through the garden’s website.

The cost for a permit depends upon the size of the group being photographed:

Group Sizes and Prices

1-5 people $300
6-10 people $400
11-15 people $600
16-20 people $700

Groups of 21 people or more should contact the Special Events office at specialevents@descansogardens.org or 818-949-4291 in advance.

Please note that photography permits are non-refundable. Sessions can be rescheduled, but rescheduling (including for inclement weather) must be made up to 48 hours before the scheduled appointment.

For any questions regarding a photo permit, please contact Descanso Gardens at photography@descansogardens.org or call 818.949.4200

Descanso Gardens Photo Shoot Tips

Believe it or not, a photo shoot at Descanso Gardens is not just a walk in the park. If you want to make the most out of your time in the gardens, then I recommend following these photo shoot tips:

Have a game plan ready. You’ve got a lot of ground to cover, so it helps to have a list of your favorite gardens ready to go before your photo shoot. Descanso Gardens, like any of the botanical gardens I have covered previously, covers a wide stretch of land. You need to know where you’re going so that you’re not spending all day in the gardens. Pick your top three gardens – that are hopefully located close together – and go from there.

Prepare to walk. Descanso Gardens covers 150 acres. Yep, you’re going to be walking a lot. You need to be wearing comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk over dirt and uneven terrain. You can bring cute shoes, but wear the tennis shoes to walk from garden to garden.

Bring a snack and water. Little ones (and big ones) will get hungry after being out all day. To keep your energy level up, bring some sustenance.

Dress for the weather. There is plenty of shade in Descanso Gardens, but that doesn’t mean you won’t feel the heat in summer. Or, get cold in the winter. Dress accordingly because you are going to be outside. For that matter, you’re going to be outside, so make sure that you’re attire makes sense for your environment. Maybe leave the cocktail dress at home for this shoot.

The garden always has the right of way. Garden events will always take precedence over photo shoots, so your reservation may change at the last minute. Your photo permit does not entitle you to reserve a specific spot or location within the garden. Keep this in mind if you have a specific place where you want to propose or take photos and always have a backup plan.

Expect certain areas to be very popular, so always have backup locations in mind. Going back to my previous point, since you can’t reserve locations within the gardens, you can expect certain locations to be more popular than others. For instance, the fountain in the Rose Garden is quite popular for Quinceañera photos, as I found out during my recent visit. Have other locations in mind so that you will not keep your clients waiting.

Schedule your session on a weekday. As with all botanical gardens, avoid the weekends if you can. This is always going to be your most popular time for visitors as well as four photo shoots. If you want to have the gardens all to yourself, then try scheduling your session during the week.

Schedule your session around opening or closing. In addition to crowds, you’re going to want to avoid the harsh, overhead sun as much as possible. Scheduling your session as close to ‘golden hour’ – that is, close to sunrise or sunset – will help you avoid having the sun directly overhead. If you have scheduled your session anywhere near the noon hour, then you run the risk of having shadows directly under your subject’s eyes. In addition, you’ll have more dappled shadows from the many trees in Descanso Gardens. Consistent light is always best for photo shoots.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it: my summary of how to have the best photo shoot at Descanso Gardens. Whether you’re interested in the ornamental landscaping of the Japanese Garden or the lush, natural pathways of the Ancient Forest, this botanical garden has you covered no matter what type of photo shoot you have planned.

Since the gardens stretch across 150 acres, however, you can’t realistically hit every spot in one session. This is exactly why I put this list together, so that you can head straight to the locations that will get you the best photos.

To put the perfect plan together, start by grabbing your permit early, then narrow things down to your top three locations before you arrive. Once that’s sorted, the next step is for you to simply jump into the frame and complete the picture. Oh, and bring some comfortable shoes.

Ready to book your Descanso Gardens session? Get in touch and let’s figure out the details.

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If you find this article on the best photo locations in the Descanso Gardens useful, then check out these articles:

Looking to schedule a family photo shoot or engagement portrait session in Glendale, Los Angeles, or Orange County? Drop me a line and let’s chat about how I can help you.

To view more images from my photography portfolio, please visit my website – KellyWilliamsPhotographer.com