Family, Maternity, Newborns & SeniorsPhotographyVallentyne

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!

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

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

Instagram

MODELS NEEDED 🤍

I’m building out my new studio portfolio and looking for a few select models this April ✨

If you’re:
• Expecting (3rd trimester)
• Or have a baby 6–12 months (sitting, not yet walking)

I’d love to hear from you!

These are complimentary sessions designed to create soft, natural, elevated portraits in my new light-filled Carlsbad studio (or on location if you prefer).

To apply:
Email me at heather@vallentynephotography.com with a quick snapshot of your family + whether you prefer studio, location, or either.

I’ll send over details + next steps 💌

Please email only (no DMs) so I can keep everything organized 🤍

Tag a friend who would love this!

0 0
Open post by vallentynephotography with ID 18039556040788144
MODELS NEEDED 🤍 I’m building out my new studio portfolio and looking for a few select models this April ✨ If you’re: • Expecting (3rd trimester) • Or have a baby 6–12 months (sitting, not yet walking) I’d love to hear from you! These are complimentary sessions designed to create soft, natural, elevated portraits in my new light-filled Carlsbad studio (or on location if you prefer). To apply: Email me at heather@vallentynephotography.com with a quick snapshot of your family + whether you prefer studio, location, or either. I’ll send over details + next steps 💌 Please email only (no DMs) so I can keep everything organized 🤍 Tag a friend who would love this!

I’ve photographed everything from small families to big extended gatherings, and what they all have in common is love. If you’d like to capture yours, let’s plan it.

8 1
Open post by vallentynephotography with ID 18093150155270398
I’ve photographed everything from small families to big extended gatherings, and what they all have in common is love. If you’d like to capture yours, let’s plan it.

The real magic in portraits isn’t about perfect outfits or settings—it’s about capturing the love that holds your family together. If that’s what you want remembered, let’s connect.

4 1
Open post by vallentynephotography with ID 17922192045298886
The real magic in portraits isn’t about perfect outfits or settings—it’s about capturing the love that holds your family together. If that’s what you want remembered, let’s connect.

Somewhere between childhood and everything that comes next…
this moment happens.

Senior year isn’t just about graduation.
It’s about who they’re becoming.

And this deserves more than just a quick yearbook photo.

If you’re starting to think about senior portraits, comment SENIOR and I’ll send you the details 🤍

1 0
Open post by vallentynephotography with ID 18347854306214594
Somewhere between childhood and everything that comes next… this moment happens. Senior year isn’t just about graduation. It’s about who they’re becoming. And this deserves more than just a quick yearbook photo. If you’re starting to think about senior portraits, comment SENIOR and I’ll send you the details 🤍

Most people think family photos are just about getting a few good images.

But that’s not really what matters.

What matters is what happens after.

Because most photos end up sitting on phones…
or getting lost over time.

And the ones that actually become part of your life?
The ones you see every day… the ones your kids grow up with…

Those are the ones that mean something.

That’s why I guide my clients through the entire process—from planning your session to creating something beautiful for your home—so your photos don’t just live on a screen.

If you’ve been thinking about doing this, comment READY and I’ll send you the details 🤍

10 0
Open post by vallentynephotography with ID 18097823300009381
Most people think family photos are just about getting a few good images. But that’s not really what matters. What matters is what happens after. Because most photos end up sitting on phones… or getting lost over time. And the ones that actually become part of your life? The ones you see every day… the ones your kids grow up with… Those are the ones that mean something. That’s why I guide my clients through the entire process—from planning your session to creating something beautiful for your home—so your photos don’t just live on a screen. If you’ve been thinking about doing this, comment READY and I’ll send you the details 🤍

It’s the sound you don’t think about while you’re in it…

The giggles.
The little reactions.
The way they light up over the smallest things.

And then one day, it’s different.

Parents always tell me they wish they could go back and hear this again—just for a moment.

If you’ve been thinking about capturing this stage, comment READY and I’ll send you the details 🤍

51 0
Open post by vallentynephotography with ID 17852590662659886
It’s the sound you don’t think about while you’re in it… The giggles. The little reactions. The way they light up over the smallest things. And then one day, it’s different. Parents always tell me they wish they could go back and hear this again—just for a moment. If you’ve been thinking about capturing this stage, comment READY and I’ll send you the details 🤍
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 natural light 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.

Instagram

MODELS NEEDED 🤍

I’m building out my new studio portfolio and looking for a few select models this April ✨

If you’re:
• Expecting (3rd trimester)
• Or have a baby 6–12 months (sitting, not yet walking)

I’d love to hear from you!

These are complimentary sessions designed to create soft, natural, elevated portraits in my new light-filled Carlsbad studio (or on location if you prefer).

To apply:
Email me at heather@vallentynephotography.com with a quick snapshot of your family + whether you prefer studio, location, or either.

I’ll send over details + next steps 💌

Please email only (no DMs) so I can keep everything organized 🤍

Tag a friend who would love this!

0 0
Open post by vallentynephotography with ID 18039556040788144
MODELS NEEDED 🤍 I’m building out my new studio portfolio and looking for a few select models this April ✨ If you’re: • Expecting (3rd trimester) • Or have a baby 6–12 months (sitting, not yet walking) I’d love to hear from you! These are complimentary sessions designed to create soft, natural, elevated portraits in my new light-filled Carlsbad studio (or on location if you prefer). To apply: Email me at heather@vallentynephotography.com with a quick snapshot of your family + whether you prefer studio, location, or either. I’ll send over details + next steps 💌 Please email only (no DMs) so I can keep everything organized 🤍 Tag a friend who would love this!

I’ve photographed everything from small families to big extended gatherings, and what they all have in common is love. If you’d like to capture yours, let’s plan it.

8 1
Open post by vallentynephotography with ID 18093150155270398
I’ve photographed everything from small families to big extended gatherings, and what they all have in common is love. If you’d like to capture yours, let’s plan it.

The real magic in portraits isn’t about perfect outfits or settings—it’s about capturing the love that holds your family together. If that’s what you want remembered, let’s connect.

4 1
Open post by vallentynephotography with ID 17922192045298886
The real magic in portraits isn’t about perfect outfits or settings—it’s about capturing the love that holds your family together. If that’s what you want remembered, let’s connect.

Somewhere between childhood and everything that comes next…
this moment happens.

Senior year isn’t just about graduation.
It’s about who they’re becoming.

And this deserves more than just a quick yearbook photo.

If you’re starting to think about senior portraits, comment SENIOR and I’ll send you the details 🤍

1 0
Open post by vallentynephotography with ID 18347854306214594
Somewhere between childhood and everything that comes next… this moment happens. Senior year isn’t just about graduation. It’s about who they’re becoming. And this deserves more than just a quick yearbook photo. If you’re starting to think about senior portraits, comment SENIOR and I’ll send you the details 🤍

Most people think family photos are just about getting a few good images.

But that’s not really what matters.

What matters is what happens after.

Because most photos end up sitting on phones…
or getting lost over time.

And the ones that actually become part of your life?
The ones you see every day… the ones your kids grow up with…

Those are the ones that mean something.

That’s why I guide my clients through the entire process—from planning your session to creating something beautiful for your home—so your photos don’t just live on a screen.

If you’ve been thinking about doing this, comment READY and I’ll send you the details 🤍

10 0
Open post by vallentynephotography with ID 18097823300009381
Most people think family photos are just about getting a few good images. But that’s not really what matters. What matters is what happens after. Because most photos end up sitting on phones… or getting lost over time. And the ones that actually become part of your life? The ones you see every day… the ones your kids grow up with… Those are the ones that mean something. That’s why I guide my clients through the entire process—from planning your session to creating something beautiful for your home—so your photos don’t just live on a screen. If you’ve been thinking about doing this, comment READY and I’ll send you the details 🤍

It’s the sound you don’t think about while you’re in it…

The giggles.
The little reactions.
The way they light up over the smallest things.

And then one day, it’s different.

Parents always tell me they wish they could go back and hear this again—just for a moment.

If you’ve been thinking about capturing this stage, comment READY and I’ll send you the details 🤍

51 0
Open post by vallentynephotography with ID 17852590662659886
It’s the sound you don’t think about while you’re in it… The giggles. The little reactions. The way they light up over the smallest things. And then one day, it’s different. Parents always tell me they wish they could go back and hear this again—just for a moment. If you’ve been thinking about capturing this stage, comment READY and I’ll send you the details 🤍
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email directly:

heather@vallentynephotography.com

760-672-2416

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

located in oceanside, california