Leo Carillo Ranch Family Portrait Session in Carlsbad, the Spears Family!


The holidays are upon us and I loved working with this family for their Christmas cards and holiday family portraits!

Location:
Leo Carrillo Ranch in Carlsbad, California – “This secluded & meticulously-landscaped park is home to peacocks, birds of paradise, & more. Once part of the original 2,538 acre working rancho and vacation retreat of Leo Carrillo, (who acted in almost 100 films from 1927 to 1950 and co-starred in the TV series The Cisco Kid) the historic Leo Carrillo Ranch is an extraordinary educational and recreational resource.”

Vision or Style:
I love this family’s colorful and fun style. The Ranch and all its various backgrounds was the perfect location for them!

Favorite Moment:
My favorite moment was making a beautiful fort for the kids on one of the historic bridges. It was adorable, fun, unique, and the kids loved it!

Favorite Photo:
It’s always so hard to pick a favorite photo but here is a collection of the ones I loved the most…and there are so many more treasures in this collection!

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

Extended family sessions are joyful, unpredictable, and full of laughter. There’s always a mix of candid chaos—kids running through the sand, cousins tackling each other—and then those quiet, tender moments where generations come together in one frame.

I guide each group so every family has their chance to shine while still keeping the energy light and natural. It’s not about stiff poses; it’s about personalities and connection.

Next up: the best part of all—seeing the finished portraits come to life. 🌅 (3/3 tomorrow!)

#carlsbadphotographer #sandiegophotographer #encinitasphotographer #oceansidephotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #southerncaliforniaphotographer #northcountysandiego #carlsbadcalifornia #oceansidecalifornia #familyphotographer #familyphotography #vallentynephotography #DocumentYourDays #TheEverydayPortrait
There’s something so special about gathering multiple generations together on the beach. ✨ Parents, grandparents, kids, cousins—all in one place, enjoying the ocean breeze and each other.

Extended family sessions aren’t just about photos; they’re about capturing the love that spans decades. These are the kinds of moments that deserve to be preserved, not just for today but for years from now when the littles are grown.

Tomorrow I’ll share what makes extended family sessions so much fun (and why they’re one of my favorite things to photograph). 🌊 (2/3 coming next!)

#VallentynePhotography #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #oceansidefamilyphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #delmarfamilyphotographer #lajollafamilyphotographer #ranchosantafefamilyphotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #oceansidephotographer #encinitasphotographer #delmarphotographer #lajollaphotographer #ranchosantafephotographer #beachfamilyphotos #familyphotographer #familyphotography #lifestylefamilyphotography #joyfulfamilyphotos #naturalfamilyphotography #portraitphotographer #sandiegolifestylephotographer #northcountysandiego #southerncaliforniaphotographer #vallentynephotography #timelessportraiture
There’s something about that first time your baby wraps their fingers around yours.
It’s instinct, sure—but it’s also connection.
A silent little promise: I know you. I trust you. I’m safe here.
They won’t remember this moment, but you will.
And years from now, you’ll look at this photo and remember exactly how it felt.
That’s the power of something so small.

#newbornphotographer #newbornphotography #carlsbadnewbornphotographer #oceansidenewbornphotographer #sandiegonewbornphotographer #encinitasnewbornphotographer #newbornportraits #newbornsession #newbornphotos #newbornlove #babyphotography #carlsbadphotographer #sandiegophotographer #encinitasphotographer #oceansidephotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #southerncaliforniaphotographer #northcountysandiego #carlsbadcalifornia #oceansidecalifornia #familyphotographer #familyphotography #vallentynephotography #DocumentYourDays #TheEverydayPortrait
First father-son moments. My newborn style is simple, no props, just beautiful portraits to capture the tininess of your new baby.

#newbornphotographer #newbornphotography #carlsbadnewbornphotographer #oceansidenewbornphotographer #sandiegonewbornphotographer #encinitasnewbornphotographer #newbornportraits #newbornsession #newbornphotos #newbornlove #babyphotography #carlsbadphotographer #sandiegophotographer #encinitasphotographer #oceansidephotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #southerncaliforniaphotographer #northcountysandiego #carlsbadcalifornia #oceansidecalifornia #familyphotographer #familyphotography #vallentynephotography #DocumentYourDays #TheEverydayPortrait
Not trying to be dramatic- just honest. This season flies.

#TheEverydayPortrait #DocumentYourDays #FamilyPhotography #ModernParenthood #LetThemBeLittle  #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #oceansidephotographer  #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer #encinitaslife #lajollaphotographer #lajollafamilyphotographer #familybeachphotos #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia 
  #carlsbadphotographer  #oceansideca  lifornia  #oceansidepier  #oceansidephotograpapher
From dance parties to giggles to group hugs, I’m all about making sessions fun for everyone involved—even the kiddos! 🥰 It’s all about capturing the real and beautiful moments in between. #SanDiegoFamilyPhotos #RealConnections

#VallentynePhotography #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #oceansidefamilyphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #delmarfamilyphotographer #lajollafamilyphotographer #ranchosantafefamilyphotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #oceansidephotographer #encinitasphotographer #delmarphotographer #lajollaphotographer #ranchosantafephotographer #beachfamilyphotos #familyphotographer #familyphotography #lifestylefamilyphotography #joyfulfamilyphotos #naturalfamilyphotography #portraitphotographer #sandiegolifestylephotographer #northcountysandiego #southerncaliforniaphotographer #vallentynephotography #timelessportraiture

 

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.

Extended family sessions are joyful, unpredictable, and full of laughter. There’s always a mix of candid chaos—kids running through the sand, cousins tackling each other—and then those quiet, tender moments where generations come together in one frame.

I guide each group so every family has their chance to shine while still keeping the energy light and natural. It’s not about stiff poses; it’s about personalities and connection.

Next up: the best part of all—seeing the finished portraits come to life. 🌅 (3/3 tomorrow!)

#carlsbadphotographer #sandiegophotographer #encinitasphotographer #oceansidephotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #southerncaliforniaphotographer #northcountysandiego #carlsbadcalifornia #oceansidecalifornia #familyphotographer #familyphotography #vallentynephotography #DocumentYourDays #TheEverydayPortrait
There’s something so special about gathering multiple generations together on the beach. ✨ Parents, grandparents, kids, cousins—all in one place, enjoying the ocean breeze and each other.

Extended family sessions aren’t just about photos; they’re about capturing the love that spans decades. These are the kinds of moments that deserve to be preserved, not just for today but for years from now when the littles are grown.

Tomorrow I’ll share what makes extended family sessions so much fun (and why they’re one of my favorite things to photograph). 🌊 (2/3 coming next!)

#VallentynePhotography #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #oceansidefamilyphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #delmarfamilyphotographer #lajollafamilyphotographer #ranchosantafefamilyphotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #oceansidephotographer #encinitasphotographer #delmarphotographer #lajollaphotographer #ranchosantafephotographer #beachfamilyphotos #familyphotographer #familyphotography #lifestylefamilyphotography #joyfulfamilyphotos #naturalfamilyphotography #portraitphotographer #sandiegolifestylephotographer #northcountysandiego #southerncaliforniaphotographer #vallentynephotography #timelessportraiture
There’s something about that first time your baby wraps their fingers around yours.
It’s instinct, sure—but it’s also connection.
A silent little promise: I know you. I trust you. I’m safe here.
They won’t remember this moment, but you will.
And years from now, you’ll look at this photo and remember exactly how it felt.
That’s the power of something so small.

#newbornphotographer #newbornphotography #carlsbadnewbornphotographer #oceansidenewbornphotographer #sandiegonewbornphotographer #encinitasnewbornphotographer #newbornportraits #newbornsession #newbornphotos #newbornlove #babyphotography #carlsbadphotographer #sandiegophotographer #encinitasphotographer #oceansidephotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #southerncaliforniaphotographer #northcountysandiego #carlsbadcalifornia #oceansidecalifornia #familyphotographer #familyphotography #vallentynephotography #DocumentYourDays #TheEverydayPortrait
First father-son moments. My newborn style is simple, no props, just beautiful portraits to capture the tininess of your new baby.

#newbornphotographer #newbornphotography #carlsbadnewbornphotographer #oceansidenewbornphotographer #sandiegonewbornphotographer #encinitasnewbornphotographer #newbornportraits #newbornsession #newbornphotos #newbornlove #babyphotography #carlsbadphotographer #sandiegophotographer #encinitasphotographer #oceansidephotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #southerncaliforniaphotographer #northcountysandiego #carlsbadcalifornia #oceansidecalifornia #familyphotographer #familyphotography #vallentynephotography #DocumentYourDays #TheEverydayPortrait
Not trying to be dramatic- just honest. This season flies.

#TheEverydayPortrait #DocumentYourDays #FamilyPhotography #ModernParenthood #LetThemBeLittle  #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #oceansidephotographer  #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer #encinitaslife #lajollaphotographer #lajollafamilyphotographer #familybeachphotos #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia 
  #carlsbadphotographer  #oceansideca  lifornia  #oceansidepier  #oceansidephotograpapher
From dance parties to giggles to group hugs, I’m all about making sessions fun for everyone involved—even the kiddos! 🥰 It’s all about capturing the real and beautiful moments in between. #SanDiegoFamilyPhotos #RealConnections

#VallentynePhotography #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #oceansidefamilyphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #delmarfamilyphotographer #lajollafamilyphotographer #ranchosantafefamilyphotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #oceansidephotographer #encinitasphotographer #delmarphotographer #lajollaphotographer #ranchosantafephotographer #beachfamilyphotos #familyphotographer #familyphotography #lifestylefamilyphotography #joyfulfamilyphotos #naturalfamilyphotography #portraitphotographer #sandiegolifestylephotographer #northcountysandiego #southerncaliforniaphotographer #vallentynephotography #timelessportraiture

email directly:

heather@vallentynephotography.com

760-672-2416

located in oceanside, california