10 Insane Hidden LA Photoshoot Spots Every Artist Needs on Their Radar

Los Angeles is overflowing with influencers crowding the usual photo ops—Santa Monica Pier, Griffith Observatory, Melrose murals… snooze.

If you’re a musician or content creator trying to craft a visual identity that stands out (and let’s be honest, that’s mandatory in 2025), you need more than just "pretty." You need spots that ooze vibe. Backdrops that slap. Textures that tell a story. Places that won’t have 47 TikTokers in the background doing the same tired transition.

That’s where we come in. We scouted, creeped, and downright trespassed (legally, of course) to bring you 10 hidden LA gems for your next music photoshoot. 

1. The Old LA Zoo

Where: Griffith Park Rusting cages, graffiti-stained walls, and overgrown wilderness—it’s an urban explorer’s fantasy. Punk, indie, or alternative? This is your gritty wonderland.

2. Ascot Hills Park

Where: East LASkip Runyon This quiet, cinematic park has sweeping skyline views and wild, rolling hills that’ll make your press photos scream album cover energy.

3. The Brewery Arts Complex

Where: Lincoln Heights Industrial backdrops, colorful murals, and a weirdly post-apocalyptic vibe. It’s where creative rebels shoot when they outgrow Arts District clichés.

4. Murphy Ranch Ruins

Where: Rustic Canyon Eerie, graffitied ruins hidden deep in the Santa Monica Mountains. Perfect for moody solo shots or edgy band promos—if you’re down for the hike.

5. Heritage Square Museum (Exterior)

Where: Montecito Heights Victorian homes in various stages of decay and restoration. Gives that “haunted grandeur” vibe without needing to beg for a permit.

6. Topanga Lookout Trail

Where: Topanga An abandoned, graffiti-covered platform hangs over the mountains. High-key dangerous, high-key epic. You’ll get unmatched sunset shots.

7. El Matador State Beach (Off-Season)

Where: Malibu The famous caves and arches—but timing is everything. Off-season mornings give you haunting, isolated shots. In-season? Welcome to a photoshoot nightmare.

8. St. Vincent Court

Where: Downtown LA Hidden European alleyway vibes right in the middle of the city. Cobblestone, hanging cafe lights, and barely anyone knows it exists.

9. Sunken City

Where: San Pedro Broken streets and toppled foundations swallowed by the earth back in the 1920s. Technically closed to the public, but if you know, you know.

10. Vasquez Rocks (The Deep Cuts Trail)

Where: Agua Dulce Everyone does the main rock formations. Take the hidden trails and find isolated spots that don’t look like a Star Trek reboot set. Your secret weapon for an otherworldly vibe.

If you’re still pulling up to Hollywood Blvd or that pink wall on Melrose for your promo photos… we can’t help you.But if you’re ready to create visuals that match your sound—raw, original, and unmistakably you—these hidden LA photoshoot spots are your ticket.