Malibu’s famous beach preview
El Matador – Secret photo shoot location
We found the secret beach that everyone goes to for wedding and proposal shots! We know one of the best spots to shoot Golden Hour sunset over the Pacific Ocean. The location is right here in Los Angeles, around the corner, in Malibu! I would easily place El Matador beach right at the top of the best beaches in Southern California at Least for Malibu region. It has tide pools, rocks, sea life and beautiful natural arches worthy of Instagram.
Easily accessible all year around it’s a little paradise, so much reminiscent of Natural Bridges beach in Santa Cruz up in Northern California. Btw, if you ever make it to Santa Cruz try to stop by the Shark fin cove – a rock formation reminiscent of the dorsal fin of a shark, one of California’s natural wonders.
Parking at El Matador Beach
One of the challenges while going to the El Matador is finding a parking spot, just like all stops along PCH this location doesn’t really have a good parking area (it’s small, limited to about two dozen of tiny spots and always packed). You will have to parallel park along the PCH ! This is very important, because if you don’t and just park a little at an angle you will get a parking ticket.
Best time to take shots – golden hour at El Matador
As per usual – the golden hour, just before the sunset is the ideal time to go for a photo shoot at the beach. Read my article on Calla lily valley in Garapata State park for some tips for shooting in the evening. Just make sure to get there 2-3 hours before, since it is a very popular place among locals and the artists from all over Los Angeles.
When not to go to the El Matador beach.
Weekends and afternoons are the worst times to go visit the beach on one of the busiest interstate highways in all of California. Clearly if you’d like to really enjoy the nature – check out the beach during the week day early morning – there were a couple of occasions when we had the whole beach to ourselves! Read more about my private billion dollar beach – Pirate cove, located right in the heart of Malibu.
Tanama Tales gives a pretty good description of the Malibu Beaches, so you might want to take a quick peak at what she has to share on her blog. If you are trying to shoot Golden Hour at El Matador do as much research as possible before simply going out to Malibu. Like I mentioned before Parking at El Matador beach can be a bit tricky and you have to arrive ahead of time especially during the weekend.
How did the beach got its name?
Even though the place is considered to be one of the most romanitc places in Los Angeles – although arguable, what puzzles me the most is how did the spot got its name. I have a feeling that it might have to do something with prized bull fighters – the literal translation of the name from Spanish… or perhpas not 😕
After a quick internet search I wasn’t able to find an immediately gratifying answer. If you happen to know the answer to this simple riddle please leave it in the comments. In the meanwhile we’ll continue exploring and maybe will find an answer to this riddle.
Note: There are no rest room at this romantique photographer’s paradise , lulz…
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