We have had the opportunity to photograph many engagement photo sessions at a variety of urban areas throughout Southern California, but one of our favorites is Downtown Balboa Island. This gem of a location has a little bit of everything in terms of nostalgia that includes shops, restaurants, ice cream stops, museums and of course the nearby ocean, fun zone and ferry ride. The urban backdrops of Balboa Island are sure to bring out the best in your downtown engagement photography by the team at Three16 Photography.

Balboa Island is a man-made island that developer William S. Collins took eight years to accomplish, completing in 1913. What once was a simple sandbar is now home to approximately 3,000 people. On the weekends, people flock to island to enjoy the scenery, the shopping and the good eats. Therefore, if you opt for an engagement session in the downtown part of Balboa Island, we suggest a weekday session or we get an early start on the weekend as parking can get a bit tricky.

Some of our favorite shots that we enjoy taking is when you have the opportunity to have simple fun. Having various locations on the island allows you to do that. Enjoying a Balboa Bar or a Frozen Banana is just one example. No, not just any bar or banana, but Balboa’s most famous desserts that go back for nearly 75 years. Having a treat and playing in the fun zone is also a great way to just relax and be young again. And the photos often reflect that.
As mentioned, since parking can get tough at times, we have the option to park once and rent bicycles to get around the island, which can add to the day.

If time permits, there are plenty of other things to incorporate into your session as well. As mentioned, we can take the ferry over to the other side of Balboa Island, we can spend time in the fun zone, or really do something different and rent a Duffy Boat and putter around the harbor area. The homes and yachts make for great photographic backgrounds. Or we can simply go to Newport Beach Pier, Balboa Pier or down to the jetty area.

So, if you are looking for something fun that’s a little different than a park or nature area, you might want to consider downtown Balboa Island as your engagement photo session destination.

You can learn more about Downtown Balboa Island as your engagement location by visiting visitnewportbeach.com/vacations/balboa-island.

Some locations are subject to permit and/or travel fees.