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

Young girl in a floral dress and boots smiles near cacti at Leo Carillo Ranch under bright sunlight.
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!

A smiling baby in a hooded sweater holds a colorful garland at a Carlsbad Family Portrait Session; closeup shows curiosity.A woman in a purple sweater smiles at a baby girl during a Family Portrait Session at Leo Carillo Ranch, Carlsbad. A couple kisses their baby as a woman lifts the child up during a Family Portrait Session at Leo Carillo Ranch in Carlsbad.A smiling family poses outdoors at Leo Carillo Ranch; one photo by a cactus, another on a wooden bridge among trees. Left: Two girls sit on a lace canopy bridge. Right: Family Portrait Session smiles near tree and house at Leo Carillo Ranch. A couple poses affectionately outdoors in Carlsbad, holding hands and smiling near a white brick building. A young girl in a floral dress smiles outdoors at Leo Carillo Ranch, lying on a blanket in one photo and standing in the other. Two women and two young girls smile together outdoors at Leo Carrillo Ranch during a family portrait session in Carlsbad. A family of five sits on a porch at Leo Carillo Ranch; a woman sits separately, smiling at the camera.

Planning your own photos? Lets chat!

Woman in a long red dress stands on a path surrounded by greenery and flowering bushes, smiling at the camera.

Welcome

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

Calm, clear shallow ocean water under a blue sky with Print Shop text in a hexagon in the center.

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Being part of this community means I get to photograph people in the same places I grew up. That history makes each session even more special. If you’d like to create your own memories here, let’s connect.
My clients often say the hardest part was just reaching out—after that, I guide them through everything. If you’ve been thinking about photos, I’d love to make it easy for you.
When people ask what kind of portraits I do, the answer is simple: ones that show love, connection, and personality. If that’s what you want, I’d love to create it with you.
Every wall in your home tells a story. I’d love to help you design artwork that reflects the people you love most. If you’d like that, let’s start planning.
What I’ve learned over 20 years is that every family has their own rhythm, and the best portraits come when I let that guide the session. If you’d like photos that feel like your family, let’s chat.
I’ve photographed in so many local spots—beaches, trails, fields, and in-home sessions. Each one tells a different story. If you’d like help choosing, let’s talk about it.
Oceanside California beach family portrait photographer

family

A couple embraces in a sunlit garden; the woman wears a white dress and appears to be pregnant.

maternity

Newborn baby sleeping peacefully on a white bed, wearing a white diaper, with arms curled near face.

newborn

Woman in a white dress walks barefoot on a sandy beach, looking back toward the camera near the shoreline.

senior

A smiling couple stands on the beach, embracing, with a pier stretching into the ocean behind them.

couples

A person in a green dress holds soil with a small green plant growing in their cupped hands.

branding

 

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.

Being part of this community means I get to photograph people in the same places I grew up. That history makes each session even more special. If you’d like to create your own memories here, let’s connect.
My clients often say the hardest part was just reaching out—after that, I guide them through everything. If you’ve been thinking about photos, I’d love to make it easy for you.
When people ask what kind of portraits I do, the answer is simple: ones that show love, connection, and personality. If that’s what you want, I’d love to create it with you.
Every wall in your home tells a story. I’d love to help you design artwork that reflects the people you love most. If you’d like that, let’s start planning.
What I’ve learned over 20 years is that every family has their own rhythm, and the best portraits come when I let that guide the session. If you’d like photos that feel like your family, let’s chat.
I’ve photographed in so many local spots—beaches, trails, fields, and in-home sessions. Each one tells a different story. If you’d like help choosing, let’s talk about it.

email directly:

heather@vallentynephotography.com

760-672-2416

A large, green, uppercase letter V on a white background.

located in oceanside, california