There is something special about California photography that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world. History has seen men and women move West in search of gold, fame, fortune and a better life. This collection of California photography represents the idealism and hope associated with the mystical West Coast sanctuary of the United States.
As we move through the California photography oeuvre, we travel from the sweet surf beach sides of Huntington Beach to the modern metropolis oasis of San Francisco, these snaps highlight California at its most diverse and compelling.
Some of the subjects in this collection include venerable photographers RJ Shaughnessy and David Black, while others feature shots of massive California mansions and Cali-cool hipster roadtrips. Each shot brings us closer to the understanding the world's fantasy-like obsession with the most populous state in the U.S.
78 Cali-Cool Photo Shoots
From Venice Beach to the Canyons, California Photography is Hot:
Jordan Sowunmi — Jun 9, 2011 — Fashion
77
Masked Bridal Lingerie
The Victoria's Secret Bridal Lingerie 2010 Makes Getting Hitched Hot
76
Fierce Feminine Photography
Stephan Wurth Shoots Scantily Clad Ladies
75
Hipster Swimwear Shoots
Uncle York Displays Its Hot Clothing on Some Hot Models
74
California Cool Photography
Photographer RJ Shaughnessy Captures Moments of Calm Serenity
73
Gritty Habitual Photography
Andrew Quesada Captures the Essence of California Characters
72
California Rebeltography
Magdalenda Wosinksa Effortlessly Channels Cali-Cool
71
Eclectic Fashion Photography
Nick Aitken is Inspired by Daydreams and the Small Things in Life
70
Exploring Inmate Ink
Robert Gumpert 'American Prison Tattoos' Series Gets Skin-Deep
69
Hipster Adventure Photography
Ben Miller Takes a California Road Trip with Models
68
Postcard Polaroids
Photographer Graham Dunn & Kelley Ash Road Trip for Wild at Heart Vintage
67
Errand-Running Photography
The Irregular Choice Spring 2011 Lookbook Has Fun About Town
66
Hot Hillside Hipster Shoots
Nicole L. Hill Captures Beautiful Boho Looks in the Devil's Punchbowl
65
Creepy Kiddy Photography
The Corey Helford Gallery Promotes Trippy Nursery Art
64
Tough-Chic Photography
Miguel Starcevich Captures the Edgy and Elegant Side of Women
63
Mournful Melancholy Portraits
Kelsey Hannah Captures Images of Lonliness and Desolation
62
Free-Spirited Fashiontography
Noot Seear Poses Effortlessly for Foam June/July Editorial
61
Staggeringly Serene Photography
Amber Marie Chavez Deftly Captures Peace in Her Images
60
Epic Everyday Photography
Todd Cole Photographs Normal Moments With a Subtle Twist
59
Cali-Cool Illustrations
California-Based Hellen Jo Draws Images That Effuse West Coast Swagger
58
Sunny Surf Styles
The Beach Crew Collection by Opening Ceremony is Totally Beach-Ready
57
L-Shaped Beach Abodes
The 'Venice House' by Lewin Wertheimer Architect is in California
56
Sunny Snow Gear Spreads
The Spanish Moss Winter 2010 Lookbook is Bathed in Bright Light
55
Sincere Celeb Shoots
Eric Ray Davidson Photographs Famous Faces in a Candid Light
54
Stylish Surfer Shoots
Valentina Zelyaeva by Dan Martensen is Sun-Filled and Gorgeous
53
Cool Cali Surftography
The Hundreds Summer 2011 Collection Provides Style & Comfort for
52
Real Rock N' Roll Portraits
Photographer Lynn Goldsmith Presents Photoshop-Free Portraits
51
Cavernous Luxury Resorts
The Yunak Evleri Cave Hotel is Built into 5th Century Grottos
50
Adult Star Film Portraits
The Sasha Grey-Richard Phillips Mini-Movie Signifies Transformation
49
Hot Pensive Portraits
The Sisilia Piring Portfolio Highlights the Sweet, Sad and Solitary
48
Candid Urban Captures
Julian Berman Photographs the Carefree Streets of Los Angeles
47
Cinematic Sunset Photography
TJ Scott Captures Epically Lit Everday Scenes
46
Street Art Adventures
Kenny Scharf Teams With Levi's Workshop for 'Art in the Streets' Short Film
45
Surf-Inspired Streetwear
The Hundreds Spring 2011 Collection has a Beachy Vibe
44
Epic Street Art Exhibits
Artist RETNA Paints Mural for Museum of California Art Graffiti Series
43
BMX Fashion Spreads
Extreme Two-Wheelers Model for the Mishka DART 2011 Lookbook
42
West Coast Surfer Duds
The Warrior of Radness Spring 2011 Collection is for Hip Beach Bums
41
Hatted Hipster Beachtography
The 'Ampal Creative' Summer Hat Collection is California Cool
40
Hipster Beanie Hats
The Brixton Fall 2010 Line Features Some Rad Headwear
39
Sharp Steel Homes
The Montecito Residence by Barton Myers Associates is Industrial-Chic
38
Rebellious River Lookbooks
The Freshjive SS11 Lookbook Showcases Cool Californian Lifestyle
37
Facial Hair Exploration
MLB.com Lets You Explore World Series Champion Brian Wilson's Epic B
36
Stunning Skateography
Thrasher Magazine Celebrates 30 Years of Publication with Photo Exhibit
35
Social Media Airports
The Virgin America San Francisco Terminal Checks-In on Foursquare & Facebook
34
Cigar-Puffing Photography
Darren Pineda Captures a Prolific Moment in Time
33
Leather Surf Wear
The Blake Lively Vogue June Spread is Living 'The Swell Life'
32
Lavish Star Lairs
The Vincent Chase ‘Entourage' Home on the Market for $5.75 Million
31
Contemporary Art Workspaces
The Ron English Studio is a Monument to American Art
30
Playhouse Auctions
Net Zero Ocean Adventure Lab Playhouse will Raise Funds for Real Housing
29
Californian Hangout Clips
Brixton 2011 Summer Video Shows Good Times in the West Coast
28
Illustrated Friends Lookbooks
Unionmade 2011 Spring/Summer Lookbook is Fashionably Friendly
27
Barefoot Fashion Shorts
The Opening Ceremony Spring 2011 Video Displays Outfits California Style
26
Retro Lounging Editorials
Dan Martensen Photographs for Telegraph Men's Style SS 2011 Issue
25
Cliffhanging Green Roofs
The UCSF Institute for Regeneration Medicine Contours With Its Landscape
24
West Coast Water Shootouts
The Ray-Ban Never Hide ‘Watergun' Ad Showcases Summer Fun
23
Cultural Diversity Gardens
The Mobile Ethnic Garden Wants to Bring People Together
22
Harnessed Habiliments
'For Love and Lemons' Buckles Up to a Wild Fashion Ride
21
Hand-Carved Billboards
The Lay's Kettle Chips Billboard in California was Personally Crafted
20
Striped Spring Shoes
The Zapato Del Barco Pinstripe Shoes are Classy Kicks for the Warmer Weather
19
Microcommunity Artworks
Wendy MacNaughton Illustrates Small Communities in Big Cities
18
Badland Hipster Portraits
Alden Steimle is a Model-Turned-Photographer
17
Surfer Boy Editorials
Moritz Mitterbauer Shows Beach Bum Fashion in Style Up Your Life
16
Urban Grayscale Shoots
Introducing the Stussy Spring/Summer 2011 Collection
15
Musician Portrait Photography
David Black Captures the Musical Side of Life
14
Birds-Eye Skateboarding Shoots
'Altitude' by Simon Scott Takes to the Venice, CA Skies
13
Celeb Skateshop Shoots
The Lucy Hale Vans Girls Photoshoot is California Cool
12
Faded Footwear
The Vans California Washed Pack Has a Distressed Vintage Look
11
Super-Sized Skateboards
The World's Largest Skateboard Debuts at Camp Woodward
10
Laid-Back Lookbooks
The Freeman's Sporting Club Spring/Summer 2011 Lookbook is Cool and Casual
9
Weezerific Hipster Fashion
The Good Ol' & Co Spring 2010 Line Keeps it Real... Nerdy
8
Elegant Sustainable Wineries
Boisette Estates Updates to Bio-Friendly Wines and Wineries
7
Bridge Side Fashion
The Burberry Black Label 2010 Collection Keeps With its Winning Formula
6
New Age Rap Collectives
'OFWGKTA' and 'Tyler The Creator' May be the New Wu-Tang
5
Retrograde Power Meters
Leased SolarCity Solar Systems Reduce Electric Costs
4
Computerized Surfboards
Students Build the Ultimate Board Using a Computer-Equipped Version
3
Car-Free Street Parties
Oakland, California's ‘Oaklavia' Celebrates Pedestrians
2
Flash Mob Tax Protests
US Uncut Amuses and Confuses B of A Employees with 'Pay Up' Performance
1
Posthumous Memoirs
The Mark Twain Memoir to be Released 100 Years After His Death
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Portrait-Style High-Fashion Campaigns
Givenchy's Resort 2026 Line Appears Effortlessly Elegant
Artful Japanese Brand Pop-Ups
BEAMS Japan Brings Curated Selection to New U.s. Audience
Coastal-Cool Apparel Collections
Alexis Ren x RVCA Partner to Launch a Swim and Sport Collection
Origin Story Ads
Pacifico Unveils Its 'Find Your Own Way' Ad Campaign
Sponteneous Beach Club-Inspired Campaigns
Casablanca Debuts the Beach Club 2026 Campaign
Fashion-Branded Cameras
The Moncler Leica is Limited to Just 100 Examples
Parisian-Inspired Fashion Campaigns
The Chanel Fall 2025 is Elevated and Captivating
Picturesque Literature-Inspired Fashion Campaigns
Christian Dior Presents Its Fall 2025 Campaign
California-Cool Fashion Campaigns
Re/Done's Summer 2025 Campaign is Fresh and Elevated
Festival-Inspired Luxury Fashion Campaigns
Burberry Celebrates the Energy of British Music Culture
American Aesthetics-Focused Fashion Capsules
The Coach Spring 2026 Collection is Chic
Minimalist Footwear Retail Designs
OWIU Design Designs VEJA's Retail Destination in Venice Beach
Contemporary Rural Dwellings
StudioAC's South Bay House Reinterprets Rural Canadian Architecture
Fashion Brand Desert Expeditions
Canada Goose Redefines Canadian Grit in Utah
Surf Wear Collabs
Quiksilver X Pacifico Reunite for Bold Collection Inspired by Baja Adventure
Nature-Inspired Luxury Fashion Collections
Michael Kors Spring 2026 Campaign Film is Eye-Catching
Ultra-Luxurious Resort Campaigns
The Chanel Resort 2026 Ad Campaign is Laidback and Sophisticated
Surf-Culture-Inspired Summer Apparel
Nautica x The Beach Boys Team Up for an Exclusive Collection
Hillside Mid-Century Renos
Pasadena Hillside Home is Updated with Daylight-Focused Volumes
Luxurious Winter Campaigns
The Michael Kors Holiday 2025 Campaign Was Set in Banff, Canada
City-Themed Luxury Fashion Campaigns
Burberry’s Back to the City Campaign Celebrates London
Nostalgic Youth Culture Capsules
Coach Presented Its Fall 2026 Line During New York Fashion Week
Bold Skate Shoe Campaigns
The New Vans Off the Wall Campaign Celebrates the Authentic Sneaker
Photography-Inspired Vintage Capsules
The Reebok x Kodak Capsule Collection Reimagines 90s Culture
Urban Landscape-Inspired Campaigns
The Casablanca Fall 2025 Advertising Campaign is Interesting
Museum-Collaborative Instant Cameras
Polaroid Presents the Now Generation 3 MoMA Camera Edition
Artful Summer Puzzles
Piecework Created Its Slim Aarons Puzzle Collection with Getty Images
Cinematic Campaign Posters
Nike 2026 World Cup posters frame national teams through film-styles
Journey-Inspired Fashion Collections
Isabel Marant Has Released the Spring 2026 Campaign Film
Sun-Soaked Youthful Fashion Campaign
PACSUN Shoots Its Spring 2026 Capsule in Sun-Soaked Locations
Nature-Centered City Campaigns
Visit Seattle Launches 'Mother Nature’s City'
Vintage Campus Fashion
The Hollywood Breakfast Club Collection is for AMIRI Pre-Spring 2026
Contemporary Vintage Frames
The BRU Eyewear Fall Range Boasts vintage-inspired silhouettes
Nostalgic Sporty Footwear Campaigns
Collier Schorr Shoots the Balenciaga Hamptons Sneaker Campaign
Actor-Honoring Photo Prints
Sonic Editions Celebrates the Life of Robert Redford
Portrait Photography Books
Annie Leibovitz Book Compiles Decades of Cultural Portrait Work
California-Inspired Luxe Fashion Lines
Tory Burch Presents Its Sunny Pre-Fall 2025 Campaign
Fine Art-Inspired Sneaker Designs
Vans and Gallery Dept. Partner Through the OTW by Vans Line
Nature-Inspired Minimal Residences
Minarc Designs the Zen House in Manhattan Beach
Analog-Themed Camera Campaigns
Polaroid Launched 'The Camera for an Analog Life'
Luxury Bold Underwear Styles
Calvin Klein's Unveils Their Autumn Campaign
Music Scene-Informed Luxury Campaigns
Burberry Taps Twiggy for Spring 2026 Advertising Campaign
Unique American-Designed Houses
Lars Triesch Situates a Ray Kappe-Designed Home in Germany
Cinematic Denim Campaigns
Levi’s Enlists Shaboozey and Matty Matheson to Reimagine Western Staples
Culturally-Inspired Travel Campaigns
Louis Vuitton’s New Travel Campaign Spotlights China
Earthy Summer-Ready Fashion
Sensi Studios Ddebuts Its Effortlessly Stylish Hot Summer Collection
Destination-Driven Travel Pieces
The Ritz-Carlton x Kilometre Paris Reimagines Iconic Places
Vertical Creative Hubs
PUMA Studio Los Angeles is a Multi-Purpose Brand Campus in West Hollywood
Three-Dimensional High-End Jewelry Collections
Piaget Presents the Sunlight Panorama Collection
Star-Studded Fashion Collections
Balenciaga's Winter 2025 Campaign is Shot in the Biarritz Hotel
British Countryside-Inspired Holiday Campaigns
The Miu Miu Holiday 2025 Campaign is Sophisticated
Fashion Label Fashion Boutiques
Veronica Beard Opens a Boutique in Montecito, California
Ultra-Opulent Jewelry Boutiques
The Luxury Jewelry Brand Bulgari Shop Opens on Rodeo Drive
Artistic Lakeside Retreats
Ely Retreat Blends Modern Cabin Living with a Serene Creative Studio
AI Travel Photography
Epic AI Travel Photos Creates Stunning Photos of Popular Destinations
Self-Designed Tranquil Workspaces
Studio Saransh Designs the Oasis Workspace for Itself
Topographical Chocolate Bars
andSons Chocolatiers x Ed Ruscha Made in California Bar is Artistic
LA Art Books
Golden Hour is a UK Artist's Retro-Inspired Tribute to LA Architecture
Dramatic Clifftop Retreats
Casa Yuri Perches on Pacific Cliffs in Mexico to Merge Sea and Sky
Retrospective Lighting Exhibitions
Form Portfolios Presents the ILLUMINARI Carlo Nason Exhibition
Versatile Cashmere Menswear
Buck Mason's California Cashmere Collection is Effortlessly Cool
California-Inspired Fragrance Lines
Halcyon Coast Boasts a Range of Alluring and Sunny Fragrances
Modern Western Lines
Austin Post Launches the Permanent Collection Inspired by Everyday Americana
Sun-Lit Anniversary Campaigns
The Corona 100 Years Campaign Lets Natural Light Capture the Story
Camp-Inspired Fashion Capsules
18 East Nods to Nostalgia with Its Summer Outdoor Capsule
Story-Driven Vacation Apparel
& Other Stories Features Versatile Pieces for Summer Getaways
Surf-Inspired Skate Collections
Vans and Yusuke Hanai Join Forces on a New Collection
Romantic Star-Studded Outerwear Campaigns
Moncler's Pre-Fall 2025 Campaign is Visually Compelling
Modern Dark Tonal Homes
Texas Residence Highlights Moody Tones in a Refined Mid-Century Design
City-Inspired Footwear
Adidas Originals steps into Los Angeles with LA-themed Superstar II
Ocean-Overlooking Perched Residences
Field Architecture Presents the Big Sur Residence
Creative Office Campuses
Mother’s LA Headquarters Echoes the Surrounding Streetscape
Transformational Fashion Campaigns
PARCO Summer 2026 Campaign Explores Identity Through Movement
Green Tourism-Focused Video Series
Hong Kong Tourism Board Boasts Four Captivating Short Films
Tranquil Courtyard Homes
The Cupertino Courtyard House by SHED Architecture Highlights Serenity
Cinematic Menswear Campaigns
Saint Laurent's Fall 2025 Campaign Centers Masculine Vulnerability
Monochrome Fashion Campaigns
JiyongKim FW25 Campaign Explores Stark Light and Layered Silhouettes
Modern Milan Retreats
Hotel Calimala Milano Transforms a 1960s Wallpaper Room into a Vibrant Space
Modern Life-Inspired Fashion Campaigns
Noon by Noor Recently Introduced Its Fall 2026 Collection
Las Vegas-Inspired Fashion Capsules
Dinner Service New York Debuts the Las Vegas Collection
Travel Lifestyle Brand Ads
Away’s 'Travel Changed Me' Film Captures the Power of Exploration
Artful Limited Chocolates
The Ed Ruscha x andSons Chocolate Bar Highlights West Coast Art
Coastal Home Renovations
La Jolla Beachside Project Reworks a 1950s Home Under Coastal Rules
Artist Photo Books
Daniel Kramer: Bob Dylan Photographs Capture a Year-Long Evolution
Photogenic Destination Campaigns
Icelandair is Searching for a Really Bad Photographer
Stepped Hillside Residences
B2A Architects' New Cascade House Has Panoramic Views
Color Photography Exhibitions
The Profiles in Color Show Presents Works by Andres Valencia
Bohemian Heritage Beach Hotels
LAND and Electric Bowery Refresh the Casa Loma Beach Hotel
Cinematic Fashion Campaigns
Alessandro Michele's Fall 2025 Campaign for Valentino is Alluring
Inaugural Japanese Photography Exhibitions
Japan House London Announces the Invisible Exhibition
Textured Mid-Century Houses
Highland Park Residence Has Moody Hues with Modernist Material Honesty
Statehood-Celebrating Stamp Designs
USPS Marks a 150 Years of Colorado Statehood
Personal Nostalgic Photo Books
The Holy Ohio Photo Book Presents a Personal Return to Family Roots
Nostalgic Digital Cameras
The Cs-8 Digital Video Camera Brings Back the Art of Filmmaking
Californian Desert Modern Guesthouses
The Vipp Todos Santos Guesthouse Opens in the Desert
Seaside Golf Apparel Shops
22RE Designs the New Malbon Golf Carmel Store by the Sea
Summer-Ready Premium Fashion
Standard Issue Presents Its California Summer Collection
Harmonious Aerial Photograph Series
Brad Walls is a Distinctive Voice in Contemporary Photography
Desert Landscape Residences
Juniper Hill Home Reimagines Desert Living Through Connection
Californian Modern Office Designs
22RE Designed a Warm Workspace for Creative Agency Day Job
Bold Collaborative Sneakers
S.R. Studio LA CA x Vans Revive Iconic Shoes with Bold Print Treatment
Migration-Focused Art Exhibitions
The Sun Valley Museum of Art Presents a New Exhibition
Water Basin-Based Modern Residences
Faulkner Architects Designs the Reflective Red Rock House
Paper Curvature Lights
Paper Curves Explores Dimensional Gradients Through Photography
Asian Material Suburban Residents
OWIU Design Presents the Glass Ridge House
Intimate Fashion Capsules
Velvet Heat Brings Kate Moss and Chloë Sevigny Together in Los Angeles
Architectural Hollywood Homes
Frank Lloyd Wright Designed the Hollyhock House in Hollywood
Modern-Aesthetic Californian Hotels
The AC Hotel Pasadena Features Dynamic Spaces
Urban-Inspired Bag Campaigns
côte&ciel's Latest Editorial Campaign is Dubbed Rhythms of Transit
Travel Photography Exhibitions
All Within the Detour Highlights Yoshitomo Nara’s Photo Journeys
Creative Photo Communities
Join the Ad-Free Creative Photo Network Built Into Hipstamatic
Surreal Photobook Releases
Podunk Photobook by Nadia Lee Cohen and Scarlett Carlos Clarke Launches
Luxurious Romantic Resort Collections
The Valentino Resort 2026 Spotlights the Nocturne Collection
Local Shop Portrait Campaigns
Coca-Cola Highlights Bosses Campaign Celebrating 125 Years in UK
Modernist Modern Retreats
General Assembly revives 1960s Hamptons villa with coastal modernism
Coastal-Inspired Fashion Collections
U.S. Polo Assn. Debuts Its Sporty Spring/Summer Collection
Journalist-Focused Short Films
'The Shooting' Shines a Light on Press Freedom in Mexico
Beachside Architectural Retreat
Caam Arquitectos Opens the Suuel Hotel as a Beach Escape
Public Art Displays
Paul Anthony Smith’s Photographs Appear at 300 City Bus Stops This Summer
Vinyard-Bound Residential Projects
Jorge Garibay Architects Designs the Casa San Francisco
almond-focused collaborative ventures
Almond Board of California partners with Almond Surfboards
Cultural Japa Pavilions
Japa Valley Tokyo Reimagines Napa Luxury Through Art and Sake
Cannabis Art Ventures
Snoop Dogg Presented the 'Rich N Infamous: the Joint Venture' Art Launch
Olive Grove Retreats
Meraki Studios in Southern Crete Emerges from the Hillside of an Olive Grove
Los Angeles Photo Books
24h Los Angeles – 10 Year Anniversary Edition Expands Original Release
Photograph-Centric Museums
Jadriv Architektur & 1990uao Design the Photography Seoul Museum of Art
Archive Campaign Series
Armani Archivio Chapter 2 Campaign is Photographed by Eli Russell Linnetz
Coastal Courtyard Homes
The Patio House Residence Transforms a Cliffside Plot into a Retreat
Immersive Light Exhibits
Spencer Finch Exhibition Maps Time and Place Through Color and Light
K-Pop Star Denim Campaigns
Jung Kook Fronts Calvin Klein’s ’90s-Inspired Denim Campaign
Coastal-Inspired Streetwear Stores
BAPE Now Operates in Canada Through its BAPE Vancouver Store
Modern Mountainous Luxury Homes
Robert Chisholm Architects Designs a New Home in the Wilderness
Golden-Hour Café Interiors
The Café Goldie in West Hollywood bathes guests in rich honey tones
Redesigned Desert Homes
A Palm Springs Residence is Redesigned with Art at Its Core
LA-Referencing Canyon Residences
Assembledge+ and Jamie Bush + Co Design the Rustic Canyon Home
Cinematic Painting Series
Cary Kwok Exhibition at Sessions Arts Club Shows 1980s-Inspired Works
Weatherized Minimal Modern Homes
Splinter Society’s Coastal House Settles into Ocean Grove Site
Documentary Photography Exhibition
The Martin Parr Foundation Presents the Last Resort Exhibition
Sculptural LA Homes
The CM G1 House Updates Mid-Century Architecture with a Human-Centered Touch
Commercial-Transformed Artful Galleries
New Affiliates Designs the Canyon Museum Space