If you have to pose your precious babes in front of one more oak tree or babbling brook for a decent holiday card photo or gift for Granny and Gramps, you’re going to tear your hair out. And you have such lovely hair! Instead, up your insta-game and take advantage of LA’s coolest spots for killer photos that will totally wow. We’ve rounded up 9 kid-friendly street art gems to check out ASAP.

photo: Jennifer O’Brien

#lovewall
Hamilton creator, Lin Manuel Miranda, said it best, “Love is love is love is love is love.” Talk about the most perfect mural to pose your munchkins in front of for family photos, holiday gifts, or even cool prints blown up for the wall at home. Curtis Kulig’s “Love Wall” is located right outside Smashbox Studios in Culver City.

Smashbox Studios
8549 Higuera St.
Culver City

photo: Meghan Rose

#someoneyoulove
One of our favorite children’s book authors, Dallas Clayton (he wrote the amazing An Awesome Book of Thanks! and An Awesome Book of Love!) has painted a fabulous “Stand here and think of someone you love” mural in Silverlake.  So seriously, put the kiddos between the open arms and tell them to think of someone they love.  Then send that person this snap.  Maybe tucked into one of Clayton’s books…

Dangerbird Records
3801 Sunset Blvd.
Silverlake

photo: Jennifer O’Brien

#dreambig
If you’re anything like us, for holiday gifts or at the end of the school year, you aimlessly troll the aisles of random craft stores and floral shops in desperate search of thank you gifts for your tykes’ teachers. Instead, why not shoot a gorgeous pic of your darling rugrats in front of Marisable Bazan’s “Dance of the Butterflies” mural emblazoned with the words “dream big.” After all, inspiring your kids to “dream big” is exactly what teachers do. Since the mural is conveniently located in the parking lot of John & Pete’s Fine Wine and Spirits, you could even grab your fave teacher a nice bottle of wine while you’re there too. So much better than an apple.

John & Pete’s Fine Wine and Spirits
621 N. La Cienega
West Hollywood

photo: Jennifer O’Brien

#madeinla
We’ve all received the token baby in a basket, baby in a flower pot, baby with a crochet hat birth announcements. Snoozefest! Why not up your baby announcement game by posing LA’s newest (and tiniest) citizens in front of Cisco Home’s “Made in LA” mural. And if your pint-sized Angelenos are older, it’s still an uber cool photo spot to show off their hometown pride.

Cisco Home
8025 Melrose Ave.
West Hollywood

photo: Jennifer O’Brien

#bleeding hearts
All you need is love—on a wall that is. For a totally funtastic photo that pops, swing by James Goldcrown’s colorful Love Wall/Bleeding Hearts mural at Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop on Abbot Kinney. Just imagine turning this photo into a Valentine for loved ones or your little’s classmates at school. Creative, personal and easy!

Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop
1239 Abbot Kinney
Venice

photo: Jennifer O’Brien

#angelwings
If you have eyeballs, chances are you’ve spotted some of artist Colette Miller’s Angel Wings murals around town. Part of her Global Angel Wings Project to “remind humanity that we’re all angels of this Earth”—yes, even your little devils—it’s become a game tracking down these winged wonders in hidden spots throughout the city. We especially love the angelic pair in the arts district downtown, with spots for two little angels of your own.

5th St. and Colyton St.
Downtown
(just around the corner from Urth Caffe)

photo: Jennifer O’Brien

#mondrianwall
Got a pint-sized Picasso at home? Cruise over to the the Mondrian wall at Artist & Craftsman Supply on La Cienega. With vibrant primary colors as your backdrop, you’ll have no trouble nabbing a swell pic or two of your Cubist cutie-pies that will stand out in the crowd.

Artist & Craftsman Supply
1600 S. La Cienega
Los Angeles

photo: Jennifer O’Brien

#pinkwall
Weho’s Paul Smith store is known for many things – chic clothes, attentive service and trendsetting fashion. But it’s the store’s infamous pink exterior that really takes center stage. With a flamingo-colored hue that makes anyone look model ready and oodles of negative space to perfectly frame your subject, it’s a smize-worthy backdrop for tots to show off those back-to-school clothes you’ve just spent your mortgage on. Be prepared though, this is one of the most Instagrammed spots in the country, so you’ll be competing for wall time with fashion bloggers and tourists.

Paul Smith
8221 Melrose Ave.
West Hollywood

photo: Jennifer O’Brien

#chrisuphues
Located in the alley behind Pygmy Hippo Shoppe on Beverly Blvd. is a beautiful burst of street art happiness by Chris Uphues. We ask you, how can even the most stubborn kiddo not smile for a photo with this as their backdrop! Full disclosure—like we said, the artwork is in an alley so you may have to crop out the dumpster nearby, but the pic will be perfection nonetheless.

Pygmy Hippo Shoppe
309 N. Stanley Ave.
Los Angeles

Any of your family’s favorite Instagram go-tos we missed? Let us know in the comments below!

–Jennifer O’Brien

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