Find Photo Shoot locations for rent in Los Angeles, CA

With sprawling mountains, scenic beaches, and a hip downtown area, it's no wonder photographers find Los Angeles a spectacular photo shoot location. Places like Pasadena City Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall are well known for their architectural uniqueness, but LA has the perfect photo shoot location in its many neighborhoods, from Beverly Hills to Venice Beach and beyond.

For indoor shoots, fully equipped studios, cozy homes, and industrial lofts with huge windows let in natural light—perfect for daytime shoots. You'll find creative studios with a specific theme or color (retro or pink, for example) or a photo studio with a green screen if you're using special effects. For outdoor photo shoots, take advantage of hiking trails, backyards lined with beautiful palm trees, and private homes on mountaintops. That Hollywood sign is an iconic backdrop for every picture!

Giggster offers photo shoot locations to fit all budgets, such as a spacious studio or a poppy-filled spot of desert land. Thanks to Giggster's user-friendly platform, you can easily filter venue selections in the area according to price and find locations that match your budget. Why not book the ultimate location in the entire city?

Using Los Angeles as your backdrop will create effortlessly amazing photos. Browse our selection of the best photo shoot locations in the area—you won't be disappointed.

Why Choose Giggster for Your Photo Shoot in Los Angeles

With more than hundreds of LA listings on our platform, you're guaranteed to find a quirky studio or a stunning outdoor photo location that suits your vision.

• Looking for a huge space? From entire home properties and spacious lofts in downtown Los Angeles to wide chunks of land in the desert, you'll have access to big locations to accommodate your crew and equipment.
• Many of our listed studios have free lighting equipment such as strobes, LED video lights, green screens, furniture, and props. You'll already have most, if not everything, you need for your shoot.
• Need a fully pink studio? How about a grunge-looking workshop for a Breaking Bad-style photo shoot? Looking for a vintage room for an Old Hollywood look? There's no limit to the spaces LA can provide.
• With a venue available in every part of the city, you'll find a central location near shops, restaurants, and beaches like Venice Beach, Laguna Beach, and Santa Monica Beach (if you want to take a dip afterward).

Transform Your Photo Shoot in Los Angeles Starting at Just $19/hour

Exceptional Variety & Quality: From fully equipped studios and transformed modern lofts to sprawling homes and outdoor spaces, Giggster's selection of 4022 fantastic choices will ensure you can secure the perfect photo shoot location for your needs.

Hassle-Free Booking: Giggster's user-friendly interface allows you to easily book a venue for as little as $19/hour. Narrow your search according to the rental price, venue type, number of attendees allowed, indoor and outdoor features present, and more.

24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: With our 24-hour free cancellation policy, you can cancel a booking easily without worrying about incurring any charges if you need to delay your session.

Platform Protections: Giggster offers optional insurance protection packages for renters. Book awesome venues like a Multipurpose Creative Studio - Equipment included, knowing you have damage protection, event liability insurance, and cancellation protection.

Things to Consider for Your Photo Shoot in Los Angeles

Organizing a photo session in Los Angeles? Before you book a specific location in LA, consider the following pros and cons that might affect your experience.

Advantages

• Los Angeles' eclectic character and big landscapes make it a hotspot for finding filming and photo shoot locations. Whether a quirky photo studio in downtown LA, a modern home for interior shoots, or a space high up in the mountains, you'll find it.
• You'll never get bored during your stay in LA. Take a few photos at the Rose Garden, go people-watching at the Santa Monica Pier, visit Disneyland in Orange County, or spend a full day at Beverly Hills.
• Since Los Angeles is a top filming location, it's natural to find countless excellent production-related businesses in the city, such as equipment rentals and crew catering.

Disadvantages

• LA is notorious for traffic. Remember this if you plan to move between locations for your photo shoot.
• Ranking only second to San Diego as the most expensive city in the US, the cost of living in Los Angeles is 50% higher than the national average. That being said, you get your money's worth since you're in a pristine location for photo shoots.
• A film permit is required if you're filming or still photographing for TV, public exhibition, or commercial purposes. Navigating this process can take time.

The Best Photo Shoot Locations in Los Angeles

The theme and purpose of your photo shoot will influence your location search, so find a stunning location that not only looks great but matches your vision. If you're eyeing LA for your next shoot, Giggster has 4022 listings you can rent.

Modern Photo Studios – Seamless Backdrops. Looking for a fuss-free, bare studio with amazing light and photo equipment? Los Angeles has plenty of them in every corner. Many of them have cyc walls for a seamless photo shoot backdrop.

Creative Spaces and Sets – Ready For You. Since Los Angeles is a popular filming location, you can find ready-made sets or themed creative spaces with built-in props and backdrops. If you need a hospital setting, a vintage apartment, an executive office, or even an abandoned power plant, you can find it in LA!

Homes – Intimate or Unique. For photo shoots requiring an intimate location or interior sets, then homes would be your best bet. In LA, you can choose and rent homes with beautiful architecture, from bright midcentury modern homes to rustic lakehouses or ranch homes.

Nature Spaces – Distinct Photos. With the help of Giggster, easily book outdoor spaces in nature such as desert lands, mountaintops, waterfalls, lakes, and botanical gardens for your project. For example, couples who are nature lovers love engagement photos taken in an idyllic setting. Take gorgeous photos on top of the Santa Monica Mountains, practice portrait photography amid natural rock formations, or shoot elopement photos surrounded by lush greenery in a Japanese garden.

Restaurants/Diners – Individual Shoots. Book a gorgeous Art Deco restaurant with a grand staircase and historical features for a Gatsby-themed engagement session. A '50s retro diner makes a stunning backdrop for a quirky photo shoot. A quaint tea room is ideal for intimate engagement sessions. Whatever you fancy, all of these can be found in LA!

How to Plan Your Photo Shoots in Los Angeles

Conducting a photo shoot in LA isn't as easy as visiting a particular location and hitting the shutter of your camera. There are factors to consider, such as applying for a permit, which can take time and effort to complete. For a smooth and successful photo shoot, carefully plan all aspects.

Conduct Location Scouting – Begin your search for photo shoot locations weeks or months in advance and book early. We have 4022 popular photography locations in Los Angeles that tend to get fully booked, so it's important to be looking ahead of time. Visit the locations in person to visualize the shots you want to make.

Utilize Local Businesses – If you're not from LA, you don't have to bring all your equipment. Numerous equipment rental businesses specialize in cameras, lenses, accessories, lighting, and other photography-related equipment. Some studios in LA already have some of this equipment, so take advantage of that as well.

Learn the Ropes of Permits – You can't just go around shooting photos in public places if it's for commercial intent. LA requires permits for filming and still photography for TV and public exhibitions. If you hire a professional photographer to take your wedding photos, for example, they need to apply for a permit from Film LA Inc.

Time Your Shoots – Time your shoots within the day according to the effect you're aiming for. The golden hour, just after sunrise and before sunset, is perfect for a diffused lighting effect. Midday is ideal for brighter photos, although shadows can be harsher and may require reflectors.

How to Save Money on Your Photo Shoot in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is one of the most expensive cities in the US, but it's possible to save money and still conduct a successful photo shoot that yields beautiful photos.

Rent the equipment you need.

You don't have to purchase brand-new equipment and accessories for your photography project. Rent second-hand cameras and lenses from one of the many rental businesses in Los Angeles.

Do you know your shot list?

Knowing the kind of photos you need to shoot for a session determines the type and number of photo shoot locations you'll rent or visit in a day. Maximizing your time in a single location helps you avoid unnecessary purchases of accessories you may not need.

Can you implement free props?

There are plenty of locations in Los Angeles where you can shoot fantastic photos. For example, Canon Drive in Beverly Hills has iconic palm trees. San Marino is a popular tourist destination in Southern California, with parks and monuments perfect for outstanding images.

Los Angeles Photo Shoots with Giggster

Giggster offers a convenient way to find and book photo shoot locations in Los Angeles. With modern studios and lofts, creative spaces, and outdoor locations right at your fingertips, organizing a photo shoot session in this glamorous city is a piece of cake!

Charles Phelps Cushing/Classicstock // Getty Images

20 photos of LA in the 1950s

The post-WWII boom of the 1950s affected almost every corner of the country, from northern Michigan to Southern California. But few places were changed by the economic and cultural shifts as much as Los Angeles. The city grew by 500,000 people, most of whom were drawn to the metropolis for its year-round moderate climate, plethora of thriving industries, and suburban feel.

While LA had been growing steadily since the 19th century, it wasn't yet the jam-packed city we know it to be today. Its various neighborhoods were more separated than they are now, connected by highways and interstates but surrounded by undeveloped land and forests. Residents had all the perks of a major city—a boisterous downtown, a vibrant nightlife scene, plenty of employment options, a culturally and racially diverse population—with the added benefits of smaller communities and plenty of space to build the single-family homes that had become a staple of the American dream.

It's hard to describe exactly what life was like in LA during the decade, or how it felt like both a major city and a small town, so Giggster scoured historical archives to compile a collection of photos that exemplify what life was like in Los Angeles during the 1950s. From shots of daily life to major events like the Academy Awards, these pictures are sure to make you feel a sense of nostalgia, even if you've never been to LA or weren't alive in the mid-20th century.

American Stock/ClassicStock // Getty Images

City Hall

LA's City Hall can be seen in the distance of this aerial shot. For decades after it was completed—until the late '50s—a city ordinance prohibited the construction of any buildings taller than 150 feet, making City Hall far and away LA's biggest building at the time.

Bettmann // Getty Images

Grauman's Chinese Theater

Opened in 1927, Grauman's Chinese Theater has likely hosted more film premieres and celebrities than any other theater in LA. In 1950, its financier and namesake, Sid Grauman, died of a heart attack. Today, it's known as the TCL Chinese Theatre and still hosts red carpet movie premieres.

Orville Logan Snider/Frederic Lewis/Hulton Archive // Getty Images

Olvera Street

Often referred to as "the birthplace of Los Angeles," Olvera Street is LA's oldest street. In the 1930s, the block-long avenue was reinvented as an outdoor mall, complete with vendors selling all sorts of Mexican and Mexican-American items as an homage to some of the area's earliest settlers.

Bettmann // Getty Images

A historic heatwave

In 1955, LA experienced one of its worst heat waves in recorded history—for eight consecutive days in late August and early September, temperatures reached highs well over 100 degrees. Desperate for some relief, Angelenos flocked to the beaches, including the Santa Monica beach (pictured above) where the archives record some 300,000 people took a dip in the Pacific.

Archive Photos // Getty Images

Miracle Mile

In the 1950s, Miracle Mile, a stretch of Wilshire Boulevard that is home to some of the city's best shopping and most interesting museums, was one of the most visited parts of the city.

Hulton Archive // Getty Images

The Beverly Hilton

Located on the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards, the Beverly Hilton opened its doors in 1955. Since 1961, the glamorous hotel has hosted the Golden Globes ceremony in its grand ballroom.

Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images

A touristy detour

Two tourists pictured here stop to admire the concrete footprints in the courtyard of Grauman's Chinese Theater. In the 1950s, more than two dozen major stars—including Elizabeth Taylor, John Wayne, and Marilyn Monroe—all added their hands and feet to the collection.

Los Angeles Examiner/USC Libraries // Corbis via Getty Images

A busy downtown

Hoards of Angelenos, their numbers ever-growing thanks to a 1950s population boom, cross 7th Street on a warm, sunny day.

Los Angeles Examiner/USC Libraries // Corbis via Getty Images

The Biltmore Hotel

Once the largest hotel west of Chicago, the luxurious Biltmore Hotel is best known for hosting several of the first Academy Awards ceremonies. At the turn of the decade, the hotel played host to the 1960 Democratic National Convention.

Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images

The Mocambo Nightclub

In 1958, the Mocambo nightclub, a favorite with celebrities for its Latin-American decor and collection of live birds, closed. First opened in 1941, the nightclub allegedly booked jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald in 1955 only after Marilyn Monroe committed to sitting in the front row during all of her performances.

Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images

Mulholland Drive

A young couple look out over the city from Mulholland Drive, a road that winds along the Santa Monica Mountains and boasts excellent lookout points, on a warm summer night in 1951.

Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images

Dolphin's of Hollywood

One of the most famous record shops in America, Dolphin's of Hollywood was open 24 hours a day, had live DJs spinning records in the front window, and had both its own record label and radio station. The shop's founder, John Dolphin, was a Black man, but his store became a haven for music lovers of all races, much to the chagrin of 1950s cops who were attempting to enforce Jim Crow laws.

Gene Lester // Getty Images

Muscle Beach

Muscle Beach, in Santa Monica, reached the zenith of its popularity in the 1950s, with folks from all over the world coming to watch its acrobats and bodybuilders do their thing. Here, a group of men and women show off their impressive skills on the area's dedicated platform.

American Stock/Archive Photos // Getty Images

MacArthur Park

MacArthur Park (whose lake is pictured here) has long been a center of LGBTQ+ life in Los Angeles. In the 1950s, it was a popular cruising location, and one such encounter (that went horribly wrong) sparked a legal case that got national attention.

American Stock/Classicstock // Getty Images

The theater district

This aerial photograph of downtown LA captures one end of the city's historical theater districts. At its height, the six-block stretch of Broadway had the largest concentration of movie theaters in the world and could seat more than 15,000 moviegoers.

Archive Photos // Getty Images

The Capitol Records Building

The world's first circular office building, the Capitol Records Building was completed in 1956. Designed to resemble a stack of records, the building has hosted music legends like Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Paul McCartney throughout their recording processes.

Kurt Hutton // Getty Images

An endless summer

Nothing captures LA's endless summer vibes quite like this picture of two women steering their convertible around a sign advertising one of the city's many year-round outdoor theaters.

Kurt Hutton/Picture Post/Hulton Archive // Getty Images

A drive-in diner

Drive-in restaurants were all the rage in the 1950s, and at one point Simon's Coffee Shops dominated the LA drive-in scene. The restaurants, which offered everything from coffee to spaghetti, served patrons both outside in their cars and inside at the circular counters.

Kurt Hutton/Picture Post/Hulton Archive // Getty Images

The Egyptian Theater

Most folks are familiar with Grauman's Chinese Theater, but far fewer know about Grauman's first foray into the movie palace world—the Egyptian Theater. Built in 1922, and the site of the very first movie premiere, the theater is now owned by Netflix (which is giving it a long overdue restoration). Here a woman buys a ticket at the location's old outdoor box office.

Bettmann // Getty Images

The Academy Awards

Hollywood Boulevard teams with people and glows with lights on the evening of the 28th Academy Awards. The big winner that night was a film called "Marty," starring Ernest Borgnine, which took home the trophy for Best Picture.