Photography Tours
4 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$485
per group
San Diego Photography Tours
San Diego Photography Tours
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About
San Diego Photography Tours offers walking photo tours and photo tours by vehicle. Our specialized tours are a creative alternative to generic sightseeing tours. Our professional photographer guides give you personalized attention as they show you how to take better photographs of San Diego’s key sites and hidden gems. We take you to the best vantage points, at the best time of the day, and entertain you with fun stories and facts about San Diego during our sightseeing photo "workshops."
Tours and Tickets by San Diego Photography Tours
Photography Tours
2 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$295
per group
Photography Tours
4 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$485
per group
Photography Tours
4 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
$486
per group
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
102 reviews
Excellent
101
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Rachel S
Lehi, UT62 contributions
Jan 2020
We did a 4-hour tour with Julie in Balboa Park and Old Town. We learned quite a bit about the history of San Diego and also got some great photography tips. Julie was very professional and personal with a wealth of pre and post tour information. I was able to get some fantastic pictures. Next time we are in San Diego, I think we will do it again.
Written February 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel: Thank you so much for your review. I'm glad you were able to learn some new techniques to make more interesting compositions and take more creative photos. I thought that the pictures you took during your inaugural session of night photography were absolutely stunning. I am sure that it will be fun for you to try these out with your portrait photography business. King forward to our part two next time you come to San Diego. Cheers ~ Julie
Written February 13, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jennifer G
Eau Claire, WI17 contributions
May 2018 • Friends
I can most highly recommend a tour with Julie! I flew into San Diego on business but had a day to explore this fine town. I called Julie and arranged a photo tour. Let me tell you, I enjoyed it immensely. I locations highlighted the best parts of the greater San Diego area including La Jolla. We went to a cave, to the cliffside, and to the beach. Going to the beach at twilight, I learned about a type of photography about which I had no experience. If that wasn’t enough, my skills at landscape photography improved immensely, and Julie showed me more than a few things I didn’t know about my camera. The cave provided an exceptional opportunity to learn about low-light photography. Julie had ample gear and easily made up for an item or two that I didn’t manage to bring, and she showed me some filters I didn’t know about. The skills I learned on the trip have been indispensable as I’ve moved forward with my photography. In terms of some of the other locations—I experienced some of the La Jolla coast, and caught an absolutely breathtaking coastal sunset at the gliderport.
All in all, she’s a great host, and I really enjoyed the excursion. We did travel quite a bit around San Diego, and we had a series of fun chats. I’ve been so busily discussing how pleased I was with the locations that I didn’t mention that I picked up some practice and new thoughts on composition, and Julie’s an all-around great photographer. She’s very knowledgeable about the area, too, and I saw quite a bit on the drive out and back. When I returned to my hometown, I received an email noting some of the more detailed points outlining what she showed me, and some of the gear I might want to look into. Definitely, I’ll sign up for an excursion the next time I’m in San Diego- that one was just too much fun.
And on a final note, I’m pretty handy with Trip Advisor and I don’t believe I’d have too much trouble finding nifty locations for photography in San Diego. However, that said, it was awfully convenient to not have to rent my own car and deal with traffic.
All in all, she’s a great host, and I really enjoyed the excursion. We did travel quite a bit around San Diego, and we had a series of fun chats. I’ve been so busily discussing how pleased I was with the locations that I didn’t mention that I picked up some practice and new thoughts on composition, and Julie’s an all-around great photographer. She’s very knowledgeable about the area, too, and I saw quite a bit on the drive out and back. When I returned to my hometown, I received an email noting some of the more detailed points outlining what she showed me, and some of the gear I might want to look into. Definitely, I’ll sign up for an excursion the next time I’m in San Diego- that one was just too much fun.
And on a final note, I’m pretty handy with Trip Advisor and I don’t believe I’d have too much trouble finding nifty locations for photography in San Diego. However, that said, it was awfully convenient to not have to rent my own car and deal with traffic.
Written August 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jennifer-
I am so glad you liked locations and were inspired by them. And, Wow!! - what an amazing sunset we had! I am thrilled that you are now motivated to do night photograph6y and that you liked my micro focusing trick -it will come in very handy for night shots! Best of luck and happy shooting! See you in the future for part 2... and thanks for the review! --Julie
Written August 6, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Richard E
Toronto, Canada74 contributions
Jun 2018 • Solo
Julie was extremely professional and a great photographer. I had bought a new Canon 80D had lenses, but really needed a jump start to take me from a novice shooting 1000 pics and getting a few great shots. To an photographer who had a much better understanding of what and how I was using my camera. 40 shots and getting 10 good ones.
Julie was that and more. She gave me history and a tour of where we were. Asked me what I wanted out of the time, gave me some things to think abiut. As well as some how to information, so I had a better idea of what I needed to remember and do.
Really happy with the information I walked away with. Got a lot of explanation and hands on training, great shooting locations.
My only wish is I had more time to spend. I feel I came away with a lot of the information I needed to spend time working in this summer, and become an intermediate photographer. This really jumpstarted my love of photography, to a working relationship with photography.
Thanks Julie!
Julie was that and more. She gave me history and a tour of where we were. Asked me what I wanted out of the time, gave me some things to think abiut. As well as some how to information, so I had a better idea of what I needed to remember and do.
Really happy with the information I walked away with. Got a lot of explanation and hands on training, great shooting locations.
My only wish is I had more time to spend. I feel I came away with a lot of the information I needed to spend time working in this summer, and become an intermediate photographer. This really jumpstarted my love of photography, to a working relationship with photography.
Thanks Julie!
Written June 21, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard-
Thanks so much for the review! I'm thrilled you now understand the relationship of the exposure triangle and how to apply to your camera. Congrats on your very nice shot of the tower and on my "final exam" - it shows you are now a master of the buttons on your camera!
Written June 24, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
maneetraveler
charleston, wv45 contributions
Mar 2015 • Friends
We booked this tour because of TripAdvisor reviews and I can highly recommend! There were 3 of us on the tour, I was one primarily interested in learning to document the wonderful sites of the city with my new camera. My friends just wanted a tour. It was the best combination of the two!! I learned so much and even was able to take some fantastic night shots. We toured old town, the Gaslight District, Little Italy and the Waterfront. The only negative was that the 5 hours went by way too fast! I learned so much history on the trip and cannot wait to go back. For those visiting San Diego I advise this as the first stop as you learn about the history and must see other places. Also, I was able to put into use the photography lessons and have pictures I am proud to show and frame! Thank you Julie!
Written March 25, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leslie P
Myersville, MD4 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
I booked a four hour photography tour with Julie to see the La Jolla Beaches. The tour was a technical photography lesson, a history lesson and a review of the area summary all in one! Julie taught me ways to use my camera that I'd never experimented with. I feel like I learned more in those four hours to help take better photos than I've learned in the past 10 years! Julie is extremely personable and I would definitely take another tour with her.
Written February 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
siamastral
Sydney, Australia31 contributions
Aug 2013 • Solo
I booked in with Julie on a private tour after reading many good reviews. She was so nice to pick me up at my hotel and we went to Old Town together. Her in depth knowledge in photography and the history of San Diego is amazing! If you want to know your camera well and make use of it, get in touch with Julie - you won't be disappointed! I got to learn the aperture settings and the different angles I could take to make a picture look amazingly interesting. After the tour finished, I stayed back and didn't leave Old Town till sunset as I got to experience what I learnt from Julie and clicked my camera away...
Written September 24, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vickysadventures
Katy, TX81 contributions
Julie is awesome!!! I learn more from her during the tour than from my Photography profesor in two years. She take you to magical places where you can enjoy photography at its highest level. I need a Julie in every city that I visit.
Written December 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vicky- thank you so much for your review. I love your enthusiasm toward photography so much. And I love that you are both "right brain and left brain. Your photos are very creative, and I was very impressed with your technical savvy. That said, I am thrilled that you learned so many new things and that you love the locations I brought you to. I'm looking forward to doing a part two during your next visit. ~ Julie
Written January 3, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bob T
Arlington40 contributions
Aug 2016 • Business
My tour actually started weeks before it began. After scheduling the date, Julie sent me a packet of information including handy tips on travel photography and a survey I could complete to describe my level of experience and any goals I had for the tour.
For me, those goals were simple. I wanted to have fun, capture awesome images, and come away a better photographer than when I started.
Julie picked me up from my hotel (right on time). On the way to our first location she provided recommendations for several out-of-the-way restaurants and descriptions of things I might want to do (both photo and non-photo related) during the remainder of my stay. It turns out, she gives "regular" tours as well and has amassed a lot of information on San Diego history and culture.
Once we got to our first of several locations, a secluded beach near La Jolla, she got down to business. For me, based on my goals, that business covered everything from equipment and technique to ways of interpreting a scene and extracting images that aren't immediately obvious. At least they weren't obvious to me before we started. Throughout the evening she suggested challenges and critiqued (in a kind and gentle way yet constructive way) my results. She explained, demonstrated, and let me try some simple accessories that made a world of difference in the right circumstances. She gave me insights into how she approaches photography and used our breathtaking locations to allow me to see the impact when I apply them.
I've been on several photo tours also led by professional photographers. However, they were with groups of people, anywhere from 6 to 12, and the per-person charge was (understandably) a bit less.
I knew about Julie from a series of Event Photography training videos she did with another San Diego photographer. From that I expected she would be a capable photographer. My only concern prior to going on the tour (which I expressed to her) was that I might not be able to fully leverage the value of a dedicated instructor/guide for the entire time of the tour.
What I didn't realize then and would like to share with you now is that Julie is an outstanding instructor who can tailor the evening to meet your objectives and effectively teach to whatever level you're at. In addition, I received the benefit of a professional tour guide who used the time we weren't taking pictures to give me a better appreciation of San Diego and what it has to offer.
Far from "not leveraging the value", I exceeded my expectations for all three of my "goals" and see her photo tour as one of San Diego's outstanding bargains.
For me, those goals were simple. I wanted to have fun, capture awesome images, and come away a better photographer than when I started.
Julie picked me up from my hotel (right on time). On the way to our first location she provided recommendations for several out-of-the-way restaurants and descriptions of things I might want to do (both photo and non-photo related) during the remainder of my stay. It turns out, she gives "regular" tours as well and has amassed a lot of information on San Diego history and culture.
Once we got to our first of several locations, a secluded beach near La Jolla, she got down to business. For me, based on my goals, that business covered everything from equipment and technique to ways of interpreting a scene and extracting images that aren't immediately obvious. At least they weren't obvious to me before we started. Throughout the evening she suggested challenges and critiqued (in a kind and gentle way yet constructive way) my results. She explained, demonstrated, and let me try some simple accessories that made a world of difference in the right circumstances. She gave me insights into how she approaches photography and used our breathtaking locations to allow me to see the impact when I apply them.
I've been on several photo tours also led by professional photographers. However, they were with groups of people, anywhere from 6 to 12, and the per-person charge was (understandably) a bit less.
I knew about Julie from a series of Event Photography training videos she did with another San Diego photographer. From that I expected she would be a capable photographer. My only concern prior to going on the tour (which I expressed to her) was that I might not be able to fully leverage the value of a dedicated instructor/guide for the entire time of the tour.
What I didn't realize then and would like to share with you now is that Julie is an outstanding instructor who can tailor the evening to meet your objectives and effectively teach to whatever level you're at. In addition, I received the benefit of a professional tour guide who used the time we weren't taking pictures to give me a better appreciation of San Diego and what it has to offer.
Far from "not leveraging the value", I exceeded my expectations for all three of my "goals" and see her photo tour as one of San Diego's outstanding bargains.
Written August 31, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bob - Thank you for taking the time to leave such a detailed review and I’m privileged to be your inaugural review. I'm thrilled that you learned so much during our tour especially since you are such a knowledgeable photographer. I hope you have the opportunity to do more photo tours in other cities, too; and of course, that you can come back to San Diego for a part 2.
Written September 2, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Johan S
Uppsala, Sweden61 contributions
Dec 2015 • Solo
I am visiting San Diego and wanted an inspiring hands on photo experience to get some new ideas and tips to increase my skill level. Julie was very professional and inspiring to work with and I learned a lot of new techniques that will improve my pictures.
Written December 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melissa J
Cedar Rapids, IA95 contributions
Oct 2015 • Friends
My sisters and I, all of varying degrees of photography knowledge, spent an afternoon with Julie doing her La Jolla coastal gems tour. We all learned so much and had such a fun time! Julie was very friendly and knowledgeable, and also followed up with some wonderful information we can use to further our photography skills. Highly recommended!!
Written November 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
philosophicguy
San Diego, California
Hi, your tours look amazing, do you have a website?
Written July 9, 2018
I do! Just do a search, in any search engine, for my company name "San Diego Photography Tours" or feel free to call me at 858.692.8402 -- Thanks!
Written July 12, 2018
Hello Carol.
Coronado is beautiful, you will love it if you have never been. Please email me directly at: info(at)sdphototours (or you can do it directly through Trip Advisor too - look for the "email" link near the map on my listing. Alternatively, you can call me too at 858.692-8402; and I will be happy to answer all of your questions.
Thanks,
Julie
San Diego Photography Tours
Written June 29, 2016
Hello Can you tell me about pricing for San Diego touring? I will be spending some time this summer down in Coronado. Would love to do one of your tours. Thank you
Written June 28, 2016
How much does it cost to upgrade to the Xhale club privilege?
Written February 25, 2015
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