I was driving down to San Diego and pulled off in Laguna Beach to location scout for an upcoming shoot. I gave myself two hours, which turned into exactly what location scouting always is for me: walking up and down stairs, trudging through sand, and taking endless photos for framing.
To be clear, I don’t love location scouting. It’s one of my least favorite parts of the job. It’s physically annoying, mentally tedious, and somehow always involves more stairs than expected.
That said, I’m rarely in Laguna, so there was still that familiar buzz of being somewhere new. Even though I was there to work, my attention shifted. I wasn’t wandering aimlessly; I was actively looking. Light, angles, backgrounds, access points. Mentally placing people where no one was standing yet.
Then around hour 2, I stumbled upon Treasure Island Beach. Stumbled upon isn’t quite right, because I was searching on purpose and it’s a very well known spot, but the reaction was the same. Immediate. Instinctive.
It just felt right.
I can’t really explain why. The light worked. The scale made sense. The space felt usable. My body relaxed in that way it does when I know I’ve found what I need, even before I’ve fully articulated it.
I started taking photos right away. Not to convince myself. Not to analyze. Just because when I get excited, and when I feel inspired, something clicks. So I click the camera.
That’s the part I trust. Even when I don’t enjoy the process, I trust the moment where everything suddenly aligns. No overthinking, no second-guessing. Just a yes and a camera already in my hand.
