Lake Balboa Park

60 min / 90 min / 2 hours / 3 hours

Los Angeles, California | USA

Session Length Options: 

Los Angeles, California| USA

60 min / 90 min/ 2 Hours

Session Length Options: 

Lake Balboa Park offers a sprawling recreational landscape centered around a 27-acre lake with pedal boats, fishing areas, and waterfront walking paths that create classic urban park photography. The lake's perimeter features willow trees dipping into the water, resident ducks and geese providing wildlife opportunities, and the distant San Fernando Valley mountains creating layered backgrounds on clear days.
The park's diverse areas include the Japanese Garden with its traditional bridges and koi ponds, barbecue pavilions shaded by massive oak trees, and open grass fields dotted with palm trees that capture Southern California's outdoor lifestyle. The iconic covered bridge crossing the narrow channel provides architectural interest and framing opportunities, while the boat dock area offers colorful pedal boats and swan boats adding whimsical elements.
For variety, the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve adjacent to the park provides natural wetland habitats attracting herons and egrets, while the recreation areas showcase playground structures, sports courts, and picnic gatherings that capture community life. Early morning brings mist rising off the lake with joggers silhouetted against the sunrise, while golden hour illuminates the water creating warm reflections and backlighting the trees. The combination of manicured park spaces and natural areas makes this San Fernando Valley location ideal for everything from family portraits to landscape photography.

Photos: Kelli in Los Angeles, California