Cabrillo National Monument is the southern most tip of Point Loma Peninsula in San Diego. This park is a historic landmark. In 1542 Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo set foot on the San Diego Bay and became a historic landmark in 1932.
No photography permits are required as long as it's not a commercial shoot. Here is additional Cabrillo National Monument permit information.
If you do not have an America The Beautiful park pass, it's $20 per car to access the park. You can also purchase a permit for a small fee to stay in the park 1 hour after it closes. Purchasing a permit is totally worth it! Having an empty park to yourself is what really helpful when it comes to creating dramatic portraits.
Visiting the park in January gives you the chance to see some whales from the top viewpoint of the park.
Besides having breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, there are also tide pools down below. The park has many nature filled trails which are great for landscape photos.