How To Get The Iconic In-N-Out Airplane Shot

Sara Schmidle
3 min readOct 31, 2021

I’m sure you’ve seen this photo at some point in your Instagram feed, Pinterest boards, or YouTube reels. Standing out from most other fast food destinations across the world, the In-N-Out located nearby Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) offers a one-of-a-kind airshow. For the content junkies, this particular location is incredibly unique and makes for great photos and videos. What happens here? This In-N-Out is situated right next to one of the runways at LAX, so massive international jets fly low before hitting the landing strip just behind the restaurant. It’s a great spot for dinner and an (air)show. If you’re looking for the best photo spots in LA, definitely include this one on your list. So, how do you find it? Where’s the best spot for the perfect shot? Keep reading for all the details.

Where: In your GPS, plug in 9149 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045. The exact parking lot is technically located at 9149 W 92nd St, LA; either will get you there.It will be on the right hand side of the road with a big In-N-Out sign out by the street. Another dead giveaway is the long line of cars waiting for the drive thru. Surprisingly, when I went this line was only for takeout; no other content creators were there at the time.

Get The Shot: There’s a few different ways to capture the planes with the restaurant; you can also choose to include a subject in the photo if that’s what you’re going for. The planes will be coming from the East, over a billboard across the street. You’ll have to listen for them and be ready to shoot, because by the time you see it, the plane is right there on top of you. Your shooting window will be relatively short, but if you’re ready you can get a solid amount of content. My favorite photo I took there I actually shot from the sidewalk, looking right up at the In-N-Out sign. If you want to get the whole restaurant in the shot with the plane, it’s doable but a little tricky. I did my best shooting further back in the parking lot by the drive thru line. To get the best Instagram photo in this LA location, there’s an insider trick that I’m actually still working out myself.

Photo by author

Behind the restaurant, as you will see, there is an orange-colored parking garage. However, it is locked by passcode for tenants only (as far as I know). I have seen people get to the roof for a great angle, so if you figure out a way to get up there, you’re golden.

Finally, I would recommend bringing a wide angle lens since the planes are so massive. I suppose this also depends on the type of shot you’re going for. In my opinion, this is the best photo spot in Los Angeles. If you’ve never been, I recommend adding this to your itinerary!

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Sara Schmidle

I am a professional photographer in my 20s with a passion for travel, technology, and music. Read about my travels, learn about photo, video, and more!