Okay so first of all — Desiderio Park does not get nearly enough credit.

We’re talking about a little tucked-away spot right underneath the Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena, one of the most architecturally stunning structures in all of LA. You’ve definitely seen it before even if you don’t know the name — it’s the bridge from La La Land. Yes, that one. Turns out it’s just as cinematic in the middle of the afternoon with two people who can’t stop making each other laugh, which brings me to Meg and Andrew.

These two are just fun. Easy to be around, easy to photograph — the kind of couple where the session flies by and you look up and realize you’ve been laughing the whole time. Made my job very easy.

Desiderio Park + Downtown Pasadena: The Perfect Pasadena Engagement Combo

If you’re looking for a Pasadena engagement session location that doesn’t feel like everyone else’s, Desiderio Park is the move. It sits right underneath the Colorado Street Bridge — you know, the one everyone calls the La La Land bridge — and it gives you everything at once: dramatic concrete arches, deep shade, raw texture, and a cinematic energy that you just don’t get from a garden. The light shifts throughout the day, and the bridge creates a sense of scale that makes even the simplest moments feel elevated. It photographs unlike anything else in Pasadena.

We started under the bridge— the arches create these huge natural frames, the light does whatever it wants down there, and there’s this moody, editorial feel. Then we wandered into Downtown Pasadena and let the warm, golden streets do their thing. Two totally different vibes.

Downtown Pasadena as a second location is a perfect pairing. The warm-toned architecture, wide sidewalks, and golden-hour light on Colorado Boulevard give you a completely different energy — softer, warmer, more romantic — while still feeling authentically Pasadena. Together the two spots tell a full story: start raw and textured under the bridge, end warm and glowing on the streets. If you’re planning a Pasadena engagement session and want real variety without driving across town, this is the combo I’d recommend every time. Best time to go? Late afternoon into golden hour — that’s when Downtown Pasadena does its best work.

And obviously we ended the day with ice cream, because what else do you do after a perfect afternoon in Pasadena.

A few things that make a Desiderio Park engagement session work: arrive at least an hour before golden hour so you have time to explore the arches before the light shifts. Wear something that can handle a little texture — this isn’t a manicured garden, it’s a real outdoor space with concrete and gravel and character, and your outfits should match that energy. Earthy tones, linen, anything that photographs warm tends to look incredible against the bridge. And if you can swing it, plan for two outfit changes — one for the park, one for Downtown. The shift in vibe calls for it.

This is exactly why I love shooting in everyday places. No grand estate, no flower wall — just real spots that feel lived in, with real people who show up exactly as they are. That’s where the good stuff lives.

Dreaming of your own Pasadena engagement session? Check out a few more of my favorite local shoots — Breanna and David at the LA Arboretum and Downtown Pasadena, Gracie and Alberto at the LA Arboretum and DT Pasadena, and Karen and Irwin at Arlington Garden and Pasadena.

Meg + Andrew, you two are the best. Can’t wait for the wedding. 🤍