 Michelle Ochoa |
Beaches in California - South Bay Does anyone live in the South Bay and know of a good photo spot at the beach? Manhattan, Redondo, Hermosa, PV. I have a last minute photo shoot on Saturday for Senior Portraits, and she wants the pictures at the beach. I'm looking for something maybe with a cove, some rocks maybe. I'll be taking the photos about 4:30 in the afternoon. Any ideas would be appreciated.
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Willie L |
The Pier at Redondo is nice. I think the coves are more North at Zuma and Malibu Beaches. Willie I Think you and I are the only Good Luck
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Debby A. Tabb |
No, I am here as well,lol. In the San Diego area, but teaching now in LA, for a bit. Michelle, didn't realize you were so close. wishing you the best,
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Jerry Frazier |
Go to RATS. Great spot. I shoot there sometimes. This is not directed AT YOU. But, it's a general comment to everyone. Please, everybody, be very very respectful of people enjoying the beach. We are getting stopped from shooting in public places due to the rudness of many photogrpahers. For instance, I was at the beach shooting a couple, and another photogrpaher who was there was asking people to move of the way. These were people that were there with their families enjoying the beach. Yikes! How rude. Anyway, we now have permit issues in LA and OC due to all the photographers running around our beach, parks, and streets. This is a plead to be very respectful. Put away your tripods, lighting, and all that equipment and get back to basics when you are out on the street. I use a 5D, an 85mm, and I'm good. I might have a 50 or 35mm in my pocket in case I want to switch. You don't need flash if you are outside. Learn to use the natural lighting. It's more beautiful and natural than flash. Sorry to preach, but the fines are steep. And, I have been stopped 3 times out of 5. It's getting kinda bad around here. Be respectful, lowkey, and shoot fast and leave. I also have decreased my portriat shoots to 30 minutes, from one hour due to this issue. I think it has helped me in several ways. My clients are happy because it's over quick. I am learning to see the shot and nail in quicker. Plus, I shoot while we are walking to and from the location, so I'm attempting to get nice candids along the way. Cheers, and peace...
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Jerry Frazier |
...and, before it comes up, yes you need a permit to shoot on the beach, in parks, or on the street. If you are a "professional" which is defined as, you are being paid to do that job, then you must have a permit to shoot, and the fine of not having a permit is $300, if you are caught. Many are getting caught because there is a crack down right now due to all the TV production going on in our cities. Now, for the record, I don't agree with this. It's just how it is. But, a permit is needed for any professional shoot in LA or OC. I've never purchased a permit because it is cost prohibitive (the counties are pretty much just thinking about commercial shooting where you would have a crew and lights and trucks and spending $10k per day, portrait photographers don't fall into that category - I've written our local politicians, but haven't heard back yet). I wouldn't mind paying for an annual pass to shoot. But, they need to bring the price down, and make it easy for me to obtain permission to shoot.
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Michelle Ochoa |
Joe, I totally agree with you. I'm very respectful of other people, and I'm trying to find a secluded spot. It will make her more comfortable too. I figured at 5pm, it wouldn't be as crowded, but who knows with this weather! I've shot at a park before, but it was my own family. I'm pretty low key, and it's only one girl, who's a friend of my brother's. She's moving her senior year out of state, and just wanted some pictures to give to her friends. So at this time, it will be pretty easy for me to say I'm just shooting photos of a friend. I think it's rediculous - if you need to take up space where no one can enter, like a commercial shoot, or a movie, then I can understand why permits are needed. But if I want to take a couple TO A PUBLIC PLACE, then why should I need a permit? Willie, thanks for the heads up. I was thinking the pier too since that's really the only area I know! I'm just starting in this field, trying to get the feel before I really put myself out there on that market. Anyway, I'll post pictures - we'll see how it goes!
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Jerry Frazier |
Michelle, 5pm is too early. I do my shoots at 7pm, with the real plan to be shooting at between 7:30 and 8pm. That's when the sunlight is perfect at the beach right now. At 5, it's still really harsh. RATS is way better than the pier. And, more secluded.
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Michelle Ochoa |
Dont' mean to sound dumb - what is RATS?
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Michelle Ochoa |
Never mind - found it. thanks!
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S teve |
WOW! just happened across this post and I am kinda disturbed by it. I have taken alot of my pictures on the beaches here in the OC... I never knew I could have been fined for it. Thanks, now I know not to be so casual about beach shots.
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Oliver Anderson |
I live in the OC and photograph at the beaches in Laguna and Newport. I get stopped everytime and checked for permits. The fine is $100 and the permit for 2 hours is $100, $50 each additional hour. With this permit you can only use 1 tripod or 1 lightstand. If you have a camera crew its $400 for 2 hours. You dont need to show insurance or a business license. I know the officers and the OC is cracking down hard on anyone using reflectors or professional cameras with large lenses. The locals are being encouraged to call in and report anyone taking photos, I was told by the officers that if my models change on the beach (under a sundress) they will get in trouble for indecent exposure (but he watched my shoot for 45 minutes and requested photos of the models) I just have the models pay the $100 and we start 1 hour before the permit starts. The city's are just trying to earn some revenue and whats $100 for 2 hours on a beautiful beach????
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Oliver Anderson |
Oh yeah, the excuse, "I'm a student and this is for a school project." is unfortunately not working in the OC. If you got the money to pay for school and housing in the OC you can afford a $100 permit they're saying.
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dave |
what if it is a point and shoot?
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John H. Siskin |
Much as I hate to actually tell anybody where to shoot, try El Matador State Beach up above Zuma. Also, I have pulled permits from L.A. and it is not a big deal or expensive. I had a shoot with a recognizable actor and his family at El Matador. The permit was about $50, and not difficult to get. This was a few years ago, but it can’t have gone up that much. There is probably info on pulling a permit on the LA411 site. I don’t pay the city when I’m shooting personal work, but when I am shooting for money I do not expect the city or the county or the state to maintain the sights I use for free. These places are owned by the citizens and should be paid for when used for private commercial business. I have often gone to El Matador to shoot personal photos and had trouble with people doing obvious commercial work. Other photographers felt their work was more important than mine, but they did not have a permit, so how important can it be? Thanks, John Siskin
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dave |
well, I charge a fat price, but the engagement shoot is a gift. So I shoot wherever its free for me and them. I can understand that shooting on private property has its cost, but why in a public place. The clean up is for the beach goers, if they all had to pay then I would be OK with it. If I went down with my 10mp P&S would I need a permit?
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John H. Siskin |
Hi Dave, I am surprised that anyone would really give away an engagement sitting. Doesn’t this come with the wedding package? Do you also give the couple a full set of their files at no extra cost? If you don’t book the wedding, after this act of generosity, aren’t you very disappointed? Regardless if you are working for the inner muse you should have the same rights anyone else does using the beach or any public property, in other words take pictures for free. BUT if you are there to make money you should have to work with the system. If you brought your sister to El Matador beach to make portraits for your parents and found me there with a family of twelve, two assistants and an art director monopolizing all the good spots on the beach wouldn’t you be disappointed? The idea that I should be able to do this without buying a permit seems silly. There are often movie shoots near where I live. They stop traffic, often with county sheriffs. Should they this be a free service of the county? Let’s be real here, when we work for money we should have to play by the rules. We are businesses. Thanks, John Siskin
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dave |
I charge for everything, my hours involved. The engagement is complimentary, why? Because some people will say they don't want it or don't have time for it and then want to use it towards print credit or money off the package price. The files are included in the price, but I tell them they will recieve them for free 2yrs after the wedding. If they want them earlier then I have a release price of $500. The reason is so that family and friends will purchase photos online if they can't get them from the B&G.
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dave |
"If you brought your sister to El Matador beach to make portraits for your parents and found me there with a family of twelve, two assistants and an art director monopolizing all the good spots on the beach wouldn’t you be disappointed?" Well, I don't use reflectors or assistants. I use available light and have them come early just in case we get some overcast I can shoot early. If its too bright , we wait and get to know each other better. The beach crowd dies down alot at sunset when the light is the best.
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Jerry Frazier |
Hi Oliver, My experience has been different from yours. You have to get the permit in advance through the city. And, getting it is like pulling teeth. It is not easy, it is not painless, and it is not convenient. Also, if they stop you, you get fined $100, and you have to stop and go get a permit (which, of course, you wont get that day). If you get stopped again, the fine is much higher. And, the fee is not $100, it is 4 times that amount. I'm not saying you are wrong, just my experience in talking to those A-Holes is quite different from the picture you paint. I use prime lenses and a 5D now (usually an 85, and maybe a 35mm in my pocket), and haven't been stopped. I think they look for the yo-yos with the 70-200, and a bag full of crap with them. Since my sessions are quick, fun, and totally out of the way of anyone or anything, it's just a non-issue for me anymore. I just look like a guy with a small 35mm camera and that's it. I'm not the profile they are normally expecting for a pro, so I easily pass under the radar. I also tell my clients to say we are friends, if we get stopped. It has worked so far about 3 times. I just claim to be their friend who is taking pictures. Because I don't have a bag, big lenses, or anything, they believe me.
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John H. Siskin |
Ps. I am attaching a picture of El Matador.
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John H. Siskin |
Ps. I am attaching a picture of El Matador.
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