Extended Family Photoshoot, Oceanside, CA

Capturing Family Vacations; the best time to do a family portrait session is while you’re on vacation!

One of my recent Summer extended family photoshoots at the beautiful Oceanside Harbor in Oceanside, California. If you’re considering capturing your family’s special moments, especially during a family reunion or vacation, you’re in for a treat!

Extended family portraits on family vacation in Oceanside California

The Perfect Location for Photos: Oceanside Harbor

Oceanside Harbor is one of the best beaches for family portraits, and for good reason. With its easy parking and expansive sandy beaches, there’s plenty of space for everyone to relax and enjoy, even during high tide. The scenic backdrop of the ocean, the harbor, and the golden sand provides a perfect canvas for stunning family photos. Whether you’re a local or visiting from out of town, Oceanside Harbor offers a setting that’s hard to beat.

Grandparents with their grandchildren, Extended family portraits on family vacation in Oceanside California

Portraits Are The Best Way To Celebrate A Memorable Family Reunion

Recently, I had the pleasure of photographing a wonderful family who were visiting from Arizona for a family reunion and vacation. With 13 members spanning three generations, from age 70 to just one year old, it was a joyous occasion filled with love, laughter, and togetherness. A family vacation is the perfect time to capture these moments, and summer sessions are ideal since they allow you to have your photos ready well before the holiday season – perfect for those holiday cards!

Candid photo of kids running on the beach, Extended family portraits on family vacation in Oceanside California

Capturing Every Unique Moment

During the session, we captured a variety of shots that beautifully showcased the family’s bond and individual personalities. We took photos of the entire family together, the grandparents with their grandkids, each individual family unit, and of course, plenty of fun and candid moments of the family enjoying their time on the beach.

One of the highlights was seeing the grandparents’ joy as they interacted with their grandkids. The pure, unfiltered love and happiness were evident in every shot. The kids, full of energy and excitement, brought a dynamic and lively vibe to the session, resulting in some truly memorable photos.

Children at the beach family photoshoot

The Impact of Professional Retouching

After the session, I spent time carefully selecting and editing the best shots to ensure each photo was perfect. The family was thrilled with the original photos, but the impact was really felt in post-production. Enhancing the natural beauty of the setting and the emotions captured, I was able to deliver final results that exceeded their expectations.

Here’s what the family had to say about their experience:

“We asked Heather at Vallentyne Photography to photograph our family reunion in June and we couldn’t have been happier with the results. There are 13 of us from age 70 to 1 and she coaxed the best results from each of us. We loved the original photos but were thrilled and amazed at her post-production work. The final results were everything we hoped for.”

Father playing with son at an Extended family portraits on family vacation in Oceanside California

Working With Vallentyne Photography in Oceanside, CA

As a family portrait photographer based in Oceanside, California, I specialize in beach family portrait sessions in North County, San Diego. My goal is to create a comfortable, enjoyable experience for every family, ensuring we capture genuine smiles and candid moments that you’ll cherish forever. I understand the importance of quality and service, and I’m dedicated to providing both in every session.

Family photos in Oceanside California

Book Your Session Today!

If you’re ready to create your own family memories, I’d love to help! Whether it’s for a family reunion, vacation, or just to capture a special moment in time with your family, I’m here to make the process enjoyable and stress-free. Take a look at my portfolio and Contact me today to book your session and let’s create some beautiful family photos together.

Grandparents at Extended family portraits on family vacation in Oceanside California

Planning your own photos? Lets chat!

Welcome

Take a look around, and click here to get in touch with me about your own photos!

Instagram

Big smile. Little boots.
The kind of joy you don’t have to pose.

She wasn’t trying to be anything but herself—
and that’s exactly what makes this magic.

#LetThemBeLittle #AuthenticChildhood #TheEverydayPortrait #JoyInTheOrdinary #ChildhoodUnplugged  #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #encinitasphotographer #lacostaphotographer #oceansidephotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #sandiegophotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer #encinitaslife #lajollaphotographer #lajollafamilyphotographer  #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia⁣
⁣ #carlsbadphotographer
These are the moments that stay with us forever.
Because sometimes the smallest things really do take up the most room in your heart.💛 

#carlsbadphotographer #familytime #oceansidephotographer #love
Because “sit still and smile” is not in their vocabulary⁠
⁠
And honestly? I wouldn’t want it to be.⁠
⁠
The laughter mid-air, the tiny toes kicking, the wild beach breeze—that’s the magic.⁠
⁠
These aren’t just photos of your kids behaving… they’re memories of them being.⁠
⁠
Because years from now, you won’t miss the perfectly posed moments—you’ll miss this. The sound of their giggle. The weight of them in your arms. The way they lit up when you played airplane.⁠
⁠
Let’s capture that.⁠
*
*
*
*
*
#carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #encinitasphotographer #lacostaphotographer #oceansidephotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #sandiegophotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer #encinitaslife #lajollaphotographer #lajollafamilyphotographer #familybeachphotos #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia⁣
⁣ #carlsbadphotographer⁣ #oceansideca⁣lifornia⁣ #oceansidepier⁣⁣ #oceansidephotograpapher⁣⁣
Changing every day, in every possible way.
That’s the thing about childhood—it doesn’t wait.
One moment they’re clinging to your hand, the next they’re sprinting ahead.
You won’t remember every snack meltdown or muddy shoe…
But this?
This is what you’ll hold on to.

#childhoodunplugged #carlsbadphotographer #familyphotography #oceansideportraits #theygrowupfast #vallentynephotography
You can almost hear the quiet, can’t you?

The palms standing still. The birds in motion.
Two things that don’t usually go together—
but somehow, in this moment, they do.

Sometimes a photo is less about what you see
and more about what it makes you feel.

#TheArtOfEveryday #VisualPoetry #FineArtPhotography #ChasingLight #EmotivePhotography

 

Vallentyne Photography is a portrait studio in Oceanside, CA, with a newborn studio in Carlsbad, CA, serving North County and San Diego. With 20 years of experience, we specialize in natural, timeless portraits for families, maternity, newborns, and seniors—capturing genuine moments on location or in our beautiful portrait studio.

We’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable. Let’s start with a quick chat about what matters most to you. We’d be honored to create portraits you’ll cherish for a lifetime.

Big smile. Little boots.
The kind of joy you don’t have to pose.

She wasn’t trying to be anything but herself—
and that’s exactly what makes this magic.

#LetThemBeLittle #AuthenticChildhood #TheEverydayPortrait #JoyInTheOrdinary #ChildhoodUnplugged  #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #encinitasphotographer #lacostaphotographer #oceansidephotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #sandiegophotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer #encinitaslife #lajollaphotographer #lajollafamilyphotographer  #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia⁣
⁣ #carlsbadphotographer
These are the moments that stay with us forever.
Because sometimes the smallest things really do take up the most room in your heart.💛 

#carlsbadphotographer #familytime #oceansidephotographer #love
Because “sit still and smile” is not in their vocabulary⁠
⁠
And honestly? I wouldn’t want it to be.⁠
⁠
The laughter mid-air, the tiny toes kicking, the wild beach breeze—that’s the magic.⁠
⁠
These aren’t just photos of your kids behaving… they’re memories of them being.⁠
⁠
Because years from now, you won’t miss the perfectly posed moments—you’ll miss this. The sound of their giggle. The weight of them in your arms. The way they lit up when you played airplane.⁠
⁠
Let’s capture that.⁠
*
*
*
*
*
#carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #encinitasphotographer #lacostaphotographer #oceansidephotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #sandiegophotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer #encinitaslife #lajollaphotographer #lajollafamilyphotographer #familybeachphotos #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia⁣
⁣ #carlsbadphotographer⁣ #oceansideca⁣lifornia⁣ #oceansidepier⁣⁣ #oceansidephotograpapher⁣⁣
Changing every day, in every possible way.
That’s the thing about childhood—it doesn’t wait.
One moment they’re clinging to your hand, the next they’re sprinting ahead.
You won’t remember every snack meltdown or muddy shoe…
But this?
This is what you’ll hold on to.

#childhoodunplugged #carlsbadphotographer #familyphotography #oceansideportraits #theygrowupfast #vallentynephotography
You can almost hear the quiet, can’t you?

The palms standing still. The birds in motion.
Two things that don’t usually go together—
but somehow, in this moment, they do.

Sometimes a photo is less about what you see
and more about what it makes you feel.

#TheArtOfEveryday #VisualPoetry #FineArtPhotography #ChasingLight #EmotivePhotography

email directly:

heather@vallentynephotography.com

760-672-2416

located in oceanside, california