Creative San Diego Headshots taken at the Pearl Hotel 

Portraits

May 23, 2025

Okay, this creative San Diego headshot session I did for my friend Nicole is going in my “all-time favs” folder. Do I actually have an all-time favs folder? Well, I do now! Nicole and I went to school together back in the day (and no, I will not tell you how long ago that was). She’s now an actress and model in LA! When she found out I would be in San Diego for the Hybrid Co. Conference, she asked if I’d help her refresh her headshot portfolio. And I said, “San Diego? Creative Headshots? Hell yeah.”

San Diego Headshots at the Pearl Hotel

When discussing this shoot with Nicole, we wanted a really cool, editorial vibe. The Pearl Hotel in San Diego was the perfect backdrop! If you’ve never heard of the Pearl Hotel, it is an iconic Point Loma coastal hotel, and we were able to shoot all over the property. The colors, designs, and overall vibe of the hotel lent itself perfectly to Nicole’s editorial, Wes Anderson-inspired portraits. 

Styling Nicole’s San Diego Headshots 

Nicole styled herself for this shoot, bringing a bunch of classic and creative outfits. We wanted to capture a range of fashion statements to update her modeling portfolio. First, she rocked the denim-on-denim fit around the pool, pulling attention to her striking eyes. She then changed into a white strapless peplum top with athletic pants, embracing some funkier poses. We loved the combination of the formal top and casual pants, and we loved shooting in and around the pool in this outfit. Nicole had to stay super still on the floatie to not tip into the water, but she still looked amazing! Next, we saw that a striped shirt she brought perfectly matched the benches scattered throughout the hotel, and our Wes Anderson dreams came true! Lastly, we got some gorgeous photos of Nicole in a long-sleeved black dress and studded heels. 

Red-headed woman in a dark denim vest and wide leg pants and studded black heels poses in a folding chair in the bright, direct sun with 70s style sunglasses.
Red-headed woman in a dark denim vest and wide leg pants and studded black heels poses in a folding chair in the bright, direct sun with 70s style sunglasses.
Red-headed woman in a dark denim vest and wide leg pants and studded black heels poses in a folding chair in the bright, direct sun with 70s style sunglasses.
Red-headed woman in a dark denim vest and wide leg pants and studded black heels poses in a folding chair in the bright, direct sun with 70s style sunglasses.
Red-headed woman wearing a bright white strapless peplum top and blue and orange athletic pants and Nike sneakers poses standing outside of a pool in a hotel.
Red-headed woman wearing a bright white strapless peplum top and blue and orange athletic pants and Nike sneakers poses standing outside of a pool in a hotel.
Red-headed woman wearing a bright white strapless peplum top and blue and orange athletic pants and Nike sneakers poses on a pool floatie in the pool in the hotel.
Red-headed woman wearing a bright white strapless peplum top and blue and orange athletic pants and Nike sneakers poses on a pool floatie in the pool in the hotel.
Red-headed woman with a striped white and green top sits on top of a patio table with her arms crossed and matches the bench behind her, also white and green stripes.
Red-headed woman with a striped white and green top sits on top of a patio table with her arms crossed and matches the bench behind her, also white and green stripes.
Red-headed woman is inside the Pearl Hotel now wearing a black long sleeve dress with her arms crossed and draped over a cocktail table.
Red-headed woman is inside the Pearl Hotel now wearing a black long sleeve dress sitting on a dark green velvet bench with her legs crossed.

Working With a Creative Headshot Photographer 

All-in-all, Nicole’s creative San Diego headshot session lasted around two hours. It was the perfect amount of time for us to dig into the creative vision behind the shoot and capture some really fun portraits! Creating together is such a beautiful act that requires trust from both parties. That’s why I work so hard to create a welcoming, safe environment for everyone in front of my lens! So if you feel inspired by Nicole’s session and want to elevate your headshot portfolio (or you just want to take some creative portraits), I would love to work with you! Check out my photography packages or contact me to start planning your session. 

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