In this blog post, I wanted to share with you our top 10 best picture spots around Fresno, CA! I’ll cover locations in the city of Fresno, and also locations that are just a short drive away (in our opinion) from Fresno! I mean, who doesn’t love a good road trip, right?

Well, let’s dive into these locations!

#1 Yosemite National Park

Are you surprised this is our #1 location? Probably not. Stephan and I specialize in elopements and intimate weddings at Yosemite National Park. It’s one of our favorite places in the world, and it really doesn’t get old getting to work in this place so often.

We were living in Fresno from 2018 to 2021, but just at the end of that year, we decided to move closer to these mountains we call home. Now we live about 15 min drive from the South Entrance Gate, and 45min from Tunnel View – the view shown in the photo below. Mind-blowing, right?

We are really lucky and, if you live in or near Fresno, you are too! So don’t take this place for granted, make the trip, enjoy these views and get closer to nature in one of the most epic National Parks in the world.

Check out my Complete Guide to Elope in Yosemite, where I give you a step-by-step of what you need to do to elope in this place!

#2 Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated Parks in California. Spending the day at Sequoia means hanging out with beautiful giant trees, feeling tiny, and just having the most chill day. Because it’s not as popular as Yosemite, the Park doesn’t get super crowded, especially on weekdays! There is an infinite amount of gorgeous landscapes, hikes, viewpoints, and more!

Kristin & Brian eloped in Sequoia on a Tuesday, and it was such a good day! Check out their gallery here!

#3 Big Sur

Big Sur gets visited by millions of people every year, and it’s no wonder why. This place has one of the most beautiful coastlines I have ever seen in my life.

It’s roughly about 2 hours and 30 minutes from Fresno, and seriously, there isn’t a shortage of photo options at this place! Did you know that the Big Sur region has 10 National Parks?! Yup! And they’re all worth a visit.

PS. It’s important to note that the couple in the photo below is NOT stomping on the plants and fragile succulents. They’re on a trail, but from where we’re standing and taking the picture from, it gives the illusion that they’re in the middle of the plants. It’s important to stay on the trails and avoid stepping on these fragile plants

Check out my 2021 Updated Guide on How to Elope in Big Sur!

 

#4 Carmel

This city is full of charm, we all know that. But one of our favorite places to shoot is Carmel Beach! Beautiful and dog friendly, what else could you ask for?

#5 Shaver Lake

Only 1-hour driving distance from Fresno, Shaver Lake is always a good option if you don’t want to drive too far! It’s beautiful, and apart from summertime, it’s never too crowded! These photos were taken early fall, and we felt like we had the whole place to ourselves!

#6 Fresno County Blossom Trail

This is also a very popular place for photos! I mean, look at this! These beautiful flowers only last for about two weeks though, usually by the end of February and the first week of March every year.

#7 Woodward Park

Hands down, this is the best park in Fresno! Fall is a very popular season for photos, and it’s not hard to see why, so we would always recommend having your photos done during a weekday if possible!

#8 Fresno State University

These two that you see in the picture met and got engaged at Fresno State. So it was very fitting to do their photoshoot at a place that meant so much to them! The University of Fresno has so many beautiful areas, we had a lot of fun shooting there!

#9 San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust

This gorgeous place in North Fresno offers many services, and one of them is weddings! You can also take your engagement photos there, and it’s certainly a beautiful place in Fresno to do so! They do require a photo permit, so just make sure you contact them to check on their availability and permits.

#10 Downtown Fresno

If you love urban vibes, Downtown Fresno is perfect for you! This wedding reception was at The Bankers Ballroom, a venue located in one of the most historical buildings in Downtown Fresno, the Pacific Southwest Building. It was amazing to be able to go in and out of the venue so many times to take pictures around downtown!

So if you’re looking for the perfect spot for your engagement session, anniversary photo session, or even wedding portraits, here it is! Our top 10 picture spots around Fresno, CA!

Now check out our Guide on What to Wear for your Engagement Session!