As a photographer in Los Angeles, I often choose places based on light. Not just how it looks, but how it feels.
That day, I chose Santa Monica Pier.
I went during the day and stayed until sunset. Because sunsets over the ocean do something to me. The way the sun slowly hits the pier. The way waves crash into the shore and send salt into the air. The way colors change every few minutes. And suddenly, life feels easier. Slower. Softer.
I went there for a shooting day – photos, video, POV clip, but also to enjoy the vibe.
Santa Monica: A busy place, full of stories
It was a weekend, so Santa Monica was busy. Really busy.
Kids running. Couples walking hand in hand. People swimming, laughing, laying on the sand. Tourists taking photos under the famous Route 66 sign. Others lining up for the Ferris wheel and roller coasters on the pier.
And honestly? I love that.
As a photographer, crowded places excite me. Where else can you find so many different people, styles, emotions, and stories in one frame?
Everyone is living their own moment, and you just get to observe.
Some were fully present, enjoying the ocean. Some were rushing. Some were sitting quietly, just staring at the water while chaos moved around them.
That contrast is what makes Santa Monica special.
A city inside a city
Santa Monica feels like a city inside a city.
Its own little world.
Yes, I love Venice Beach. I love Manhattan Beach too. But Santa Monica, especially with its pier, is different.
Arcades next to the ocean. Fishermen casting lines while roller coasters move behind them. People sitting on benches, doing absolutely nothing, while hundreds walk past them.
It’s busy, but calm. Loud, but peaceful. Chaotic, but grounding.
For a photographer, it’s a dream.
Photographing light
I paid attention to people walking across the pier as the sun started to drop. Long shadows stretching across the ground. Warm highlights touching faces for just a second before disappearing.
The sunset didn’t disappoint. It never does here.
The sky slowly turned gold, then orange, then soft pink. The Ferris wheel lights came on. The ocean reflected everything back. Waves moved in rhythm, like they always do, reminding you that life keeps going no matter what.
I filmed POV videos while taking photos, especially during sunset. And honestly, everything felt insanely beautiful. People. Shadows. Light. Colors. Waves.
It felt like art happening in real life, unscripted.
Street photography, but make it cinematic
My approach that day was street photography, but cinematic.
I focused on movement. People walking. Small gestures. Moments that would normally be ignored. A kid pulling their parent toward the pier. A couple stopping mid-walk to watch the sunset. Someone standing alone, looking at the horizon.
Editing photos to capture the feeling
Later, while editing, I leaned into a vintage cinematic style. Warm tones. Soft contrast. Colors that feel nostalgic without trying too hard.
I wanted the photos and video to feel the way Santa Monica felt that evening, warm, alive, human.
Editing, for me, isn’t about changing reality. It’s about protecting the feeling of the moment. Making sure it doesn’t get lost.
As an LA photographer, Santa Monica represents cinematic Los Angeles to me.
Not the glamorous side. Not the noisy side. But the everyday side. The side where people are just living their lives, enjoying the ocean, taking walks, watching sunsets like it’s something they do all the time.
It’s a place where life happens in layers. And layers are everything in photography.
Santa Monica reminded me why I love taking photos of real people and telling visual stories. Why I always bring my camera with me. Why I pause when the light looks beautiful.
It’s not about famous places.
It’s not about getting everything perfect.
It’s about paying attention.
And sometimes, all you need is a sunset by the ocean, a busy pier, and a camera to remember why you love what you do.
Mariam Megrdichian
📍 Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
📷 Photography, visual storytelling, cinematic life