Kenneth Hahn Park is one of the most versatile spots in Los Angeles for engagement photos because a single visit gives you rolling lawns, a lake, wooded trails and downtown skyline views, so you get several different backdrops without driving to a second location.
Kenneth Hahn Park is located in the heart of Culver City and is a massive park with tons of different activities and sights to see. For your engagement photography session, this park can fit numerous aesthetics, making it a prime location. I love incorporating movement into my engagement photography sessions, which has led to parks being high up on my favorite location list. This one in particular is so large that there is no shortage of secluded spots to chase each other, execute surprise attacks, slow dance, play tag, the list goes on. And to top it off, Kenneth Hahn Park has the views to go with the spaciousness.
The Lower Kenneth Hahn Park
In the lower park there is a pond with wooden bridges to meander on and there are benches around its perimeter. So, if you wanted to sit, talk, and relax it would be the prime spot. On the water there are cute little ducks swimming around. If you are like me and enjoy the occasional people watching, there are always people here. Directly across from the pond are expansive grassy areas. The green grassy area is massive, so you don’t have to be near anyone at all and even better the Kenneth Hahn Park has gazebos. So, if you wanted to be outside, but sheltered or out of the direct sunlight, this is a perfect option for you.
Upper Kenneth Hahn Park
Then if you head up to the upper area of the park, there are gorgeous views of Los Angeles. It is a really fun game to try and identify exactly where in Los Angeles you are from this spot.
Thankfully, Kenneth Hahn Park has a second parking lot at the top of the hill. Otherwise, it would be quite the trek. This upper Kenneth Hahn Park area is much smaller, but there is still tons of space to utilize and enjoy. There are picnic benches scattered around the upper park area. A few of these have tree coverage, providing shade, which will become even more important as we get into the summer months.
When I was here for Lily and Adrian’s Couples’ session, read more here, we started to leave and head down to the lower park, when I saw the gorgeous golf course with a picturesque sunset. The sun was peeking out through the trees, creating the perfect atmosphere for some silhouettes.
Photo Opportunities
Car Themed Engagement Photography Session:
Kenneth Hahn Park lends itself to more engagement photography session ideas than just roaming around the park. I would love to do a session involving your car. Imagine a drive-in movie, but at the park. You could pop your trunk open or sit on the hood of your car and get out some snacks. The engagement photographs could be of y’all feeding each other and laughing your asses off. And even inside the car, as a photographer it would be so cool to incorporate your interior rear-view mirror and angle it so that your faces are illuminated. Another fun idea would be shooting through the side mirrors. Additionally, I have not done this yet, but there are really unique engagement photography sessions that utilize your headlights. You and your fiancée would be in front of this dancing, cuddling, kissing, etc.
Picnic Bench Themed Engagement Photography Session
Another idea would be centering your engagement photography session around picnic benches. I discussed this engagement photography session idea in my blog post about Alhambra Park, which you can read here, but I have so many ideas for this. You can sit on the table either next to each other or in someone’s lap, you can kiss across the table, chase each other around the table. You could even have one person jump off the table into the other’s arms. Another idea is having one person sit face forwards and the other perpendicular to them and stare at each other, trace each other’s faces, kiss, rest their head on the other’s shoulder.
Golf Themed Engagement Photography Session
My last idea for this blog post is doing a golf themed engagement session. Although personally because I cannot play golf, I would prefer to do this at a mini golf course. But you can incorporate the golf clubs and chase each other around the golf course. We can write your initials on a golf ball and have one in the middle joining you both with a heart. Behind the golf balls you could both be kissing or looking adoringly at each other.
All of this is to say that there are so many ways to utilize the various amenities at Kenneth Hahn Park. And if you are animal lovers, you could even feed the ducks or bring your dog(s) and play in the park with them!
The Importance of Hiring an Actual Engagement Photographer
If you are anything like me, growing up you felt awkward and stiff in photographs, well that’s why hiring a professional photographer is so important when it comes down to a monumental moment. As photographers, we have spent and continue to spend lots of our time preparing just for your session, thinking of new cool unique ideas that capture the personality of your relationship and commemorate the step you are taking. I can guarantee that if you don’t hire a professional photographer, you will look back on this moment years down the line and regret it. And the quality and concepts behind the photographs will be entirely different.
To Conclude
Kenneth Hahn Park provides diversity for the style and scenery in your engagement photographs. Whether or not you are after an energetic engagement photography session, Kenneth Hahn Park is perfect for you and your partner. This location will make your engagement session feel like a dream. And lastly, remember to cherish this moment and invest in your experience! I took photographs here over the winter, but I bet it is even more gorgeous during the changing of the leaves and the spring bloom. So, if you are flower obsessed like me, think about scheduling your engagement session for the spring!
**Note that parking does cost $8 for the entire day.
