Sharing today some epic photos from Butterfly Beach Montecito, CA. My client was interested in a mix of both backlit and direct sun graduation portraits, so we got a lot of beautiful variety here!
Butterfly Beach Montecito
Butterfly beach is just minutes south of downtown Santa Barbara and is one of the top beaches in the area for its beauty and ease of access.
How do you get to Butterfly Beach?
Butterfly Beach Montecito is accessible by steps from Channel Lane in Montecito. You can get here by taking Highway 101 South to the 94A exit, then taking a right turn on Olive Mill Rd which turns in Channel Lane. If you’re coming from the south, take Highway 101 North to the 94A exit, then take a left onto Olive Mill Rd. There are steps down to the beach across the street from 1104 Channel Lane.
Where should I park to get to Butterfly Beach Montecito?
You can park for free on Channel Lane or on Butterfly Lane in Montecito, which also provides the closest access to the beach.
How long is the walk to Butterfly Beach?
It’s not far, depending on where you park. It’s pretty easy to pull straight up to the steps leading down to the beach to drop people off, and then send the driver out to go park if needed. Like I said, there are steps leading down to the beach, but no ramp, so if you or a loved one needs a beach friendly wheelchair Butterfly Beach is not the best option. (East Beach in Santa Barbara is a great option, though, with ramp access to the sand).
Butterfly Beach Pictures
One aspect that makes Butterfly Beach one of the best beach options for photoshoots in the Santa Barbara area is the bluffs with palm trees on the top. The palm trees provide a perfect means of diffusing the light for glowing, backlit portraits.
As with all of the beaches in Santa Barbara, the water is to the south, not the west. This leads to some interesting lighting scenarios at the beach for portraits.
Due to the nature of the south-facing beaches, if you want bright blue water in the background of your photos you will need to be front-lit, facing either the sun at sunrise or sunset, or facing a flash. While I love the look of front-lit portraits, I am glad that Butterfly Beach pictures give the option of backlit portraits, too, due to having high bluffs nearby.
Do you need a photo permit?
You do not need a permit for Butterfly Beach photos for simple portrait sessions. That being said, the park district confirmed that if you’re planning a bigger photoshoot with props and/or off-camera flash, or if you are a photographer running mini sessions, the park district absolutely wants you to contact them for permitting.
Does Butterfly Beach allow dogs?
Yes, if the dogs are leashed. You’re more than welcome to bring your dog for your photos! If you’re looking for off-leash beaches in the Santa Barbara area, I recommend Arroyo Burro/Hendry’s Beach about 15-20 minutes north (er, west) up the coastline.
When is the best time to take photos at Butterfly Beach?
The Santa Barbara coastline is blessed with fantastic weather for most of the year. That being said, it can be afflicted by “June Gloom” with a marine layer of fog rolling in off the ocean. Mostly you need to play it by ear with the weather, although late summer (August, September, and into October) often has calmer weather. As far as time of day, at Butterfly Beach I recommend late afternoon for your photos to get a mix of directly-lit portraits and glowing backlit portraits in the shade of the bluffs.
Santa Barbara Graduation Photographer
I’m pleased to offer portraits in Santa Barbara in late March and early June through mid-August. As an alumna of UC Santa Barbara, I adore the area and love that I can return and work here as a Santa Barbara graduation photographer.
Santa Barbara Graduation Photo Packages
Reach out for pricing! I have different price points depending on what you’re looking for from your Butterfly Beach photos.
Client Review
Here’s what my client had to say about her experience!
“Thank you so so much!! I LOVE them! Thank you so much again for this incredible experience, I had so much fun! My mom is going crazy over all of them!”
I had so much fun, too! Thank you for letting me help out with your Butterfly Beach photos. 🙂
Kristen Hazelton is a multi award-winning Chicago, IL and San Francisco Bay Area high school senior, university graduate, and family photographer. She also photographs in San Diego, CA, Santa Barbara, CA, Monterey, CA, and Seattle, WA. She is a firm believer in human rights and welcomes LGBTQ+ and nonbinary clients. You can inquire about your own photoshoot here!
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