A Beautiful Carlsbad Beach Photo Session

Location:Warm Waters Beach in Carlsbad, CA

Vision or style:
Soft and romantic with a touch of fun color; a very modern and vintage family photo session.

Favorite moment:
My favorite part of shooting the session was how Michelle rolled with the entire photo shoot with a smile on her face. It’s easy to get thrown off as a mom if your kids aren’t smiling or if they happen to be throwing sand…or many of the things that kids love to do once they are on camera! Michelle rolled through every moment with a smile on her face and I could tell that she was just enjoying her kids being kids. Because of this, we were able to capture amazing photos and the kids were able to just be themselves…and that is really what we hope for in a family portrait session!

Favorite photo:
There are so many that I love from the session, I honestly can’t believe it was only a mini session! It’s practically impossible for me to shoot only a few photos once I get going! Here are some of my favorites below…I can’t wait to see which image makes the family Christmas card!

The Hans Family stands holding hands on a Southern California beach, gazing at the sunset during their holiday photo session.

The Hans Family smiles at the camera during a holiday photo session on a Southern California beach.

Two young children play on a Southern California beach, smiling barefoot for a Hans Family holiday photo session.

Split photo: Hans Family holiday photo session—girl smiling, boy relaxing on Southern California beach sand.

Two young children lie on sand, smiling up for a Hans Family Holiday Photo Session at a Southern California Beach.

Left: Smiling man hugs two laughing children on a Southern California beach. Right: Hans Family holiday photo session by the waves.

Left: Man lifts smiling toddler near ocean. Right: Hans Family enjoys a holiday photo session on a Southern California beach.

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.

Instagram

Many of my clients tell me they feel overwhelmed at first—but once we start planning, everything falls into place. If you’d like that reassurance, I’d love to guide you.
I believe the best portraits happen when families feel relaxed and cared for, not rushed or stressed. If you’d like that kind of session, let’s talk.
You look up one day and realize…
they’re not as little as they were.

The way they reach for your hand.
The way they lean into you.
The little things you think you’ll always remember.

But this stage? It moves fast.

And I hear it all the time—
“I kept meaning to book photos… I just never got around to it.”

If this has been on your mind, comment READY and I’ll send you the details 🤍

𝘅𝗼, 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀? Let’s talk!
Message me anytime and we’ll hop on a quick call to plan something beautiful.
You’re the one capturing everything.

The first steps.
The little moments.
The way she reaches for your hand.

But when you look back…
you’re not in the frame.

And I hear this all the time—
“I just don’t feel ready yet.”

The truth is, there’s always going to be a reason to wait.
Life doesn’t slow down. Kids don’t pause.

And one day, these photos won’t be about how you looked…
they’ll be about the fact that you were there.

If this has been on your heart, comment READY and I’ll send you the details 🤍
It’s not about you. 

It’s about having a photographer who knows how to see you—how to guide you into natural movement, find the light that flatters you, and create a space where you can actually relax and be yourself.

Because when that happens? You don’t have to “try” to look good. It just shows up.

If you’ve ever looked at photos of yourself and thought, “that doesn’t feel like me,” I promise—it’s not you. It’s the experience you were given.

Let’s change that. Comment with a ♥️ if this is you!
When clients hang their portraits in their homes, that’s when I know we’ve created something lasting. If you’d like artwork for your walls, let’s start planning.
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.

Many of my clients tell me they feel overwhelmed at first—but once we start planning, everything falls into place. If you’d like that reassurance, I’d love to guide you.
I believe the best portraits happen when families feel relaxed and cared for, not rushed or stressed. If you’d like that kind of session, let’s talk.
You look up one day and realize…
they’re not as little as they were.

The way they reach for your hand.
The way they lean into you.
The little things you think you’ll always remember.

But this stage? It moves fast.

And I hear it all the time—
“I kept meaning to book photos… I just never got around to it.”

If this has been on your mind, comment READY and I’ll send you the details 🤍

𝘅𝗼, 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀? Let’s talk!
Message me anytime and we’ll hop on a quick call to plan something beautiful.
You’re the one capturing everything.

The first steps.
The little moments.
The way she reaches for your hand.

But when you look back…
you’re not in the frame.

And I hear this all the time—
“I just don’t feel ready yet.”

The truth is, there’s always going to be a reason to wait.
Life doesn’t slow down. Kids don’t pause.

And one day, these photos won’t be about how you looked…
they’ll be about the fact that you were there.

If this has been on your heart, comment READY and I’ll send you the details 🤍
It’s not about you. 

It’s about having a photographer who knows how to see you—how to guide you into natural movement, find the light that flatters you, and create a space where you can actually relax and be yourself.

Because when that happens? You don’t have to “try” to look good. It just shows up.

If you’ve ever looked at photos of yourself and thought, “that doesn’t feel like me,” I promise—it’s not you. It’s the experience you were given.

Let’s change that. Comment with a ♥️ if this is you!
When clients hang their portraits in their homes, that’s when I know we’ve created something lasting. If you’d like artwork for your walls, let’s start planning.

email directly:

heather@vallentynephotography.com

760-672-2416

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

located in oceanside, california