Doing photo shoots at the beach in southern California isn’t always the easiest thing in the world.  State beaches require permits and the ones that aren’t state beaches tend to have lines (literally) for the prime spots.  Seal Beach is right on the border of Orange County and Los Angeles.  It’s somewhat of a hidden gem for photo sessions.  What I love most about it is the wood pier, which is seen  here and here.

Yes, you might see another photographer here and there, but for the most part it’s not a crowded beach.  If I’m not shooting at the pier, I like to head south on the beach to the little jetty.  It’s neighborhood parking (instead of the lot) so it’s even quieter.

Here’s a recent photo session from a day with perfect lighting (morning overcast, but not too gray!)