Boudoir Photos in an Abandoned Mall | San Diego Body Positive Boudoir Photographer

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful shopping mall in the heart of downtown San Diego. It was an architectural marvel; a surreal landscape of bright colors, geometric shapes, and a labyrinth-like layout that made it nearly impossible to find the store you were looking for (in a fun, quirky kind of way). I have many fond memories here, so I was devastated when I heard last year that Horton Plaza was no more. 

I went down there recently and walked the now empty halls, recalling the visits that made this place so special to me. I wanted to make one more memory here before the new owners begin the demolition process, and so naturally my first thought was to use it as the backdrop for some boudoir photos!

Though the mall sits right in the heart of the Gaslamp District (aka party central), the chipping paint, empty storefronts, and ominous silence make it feel completely desolate. In other words, basically every photographer’s dream location!

Feeling adventurous, we decided to walk to the Convention Center to take a few more photos! We took advantage of the golden hour lighting as we watched the sun go down, grateful to be able to call a city with so many gorgeous spots our home.