{engagement shoots} what to wear

I love doing engagement shoots. I feel like it really allows me to get to know my clients as a couple, and also how they feel about being in front of the camera! When I have done an engagement shoot before the wedding, the big day goes so much easier because they are already comfortable having their picture taken and are ready to have a little more fun! Also, since they have already seen how great the photos come out, they understand my direction as I shoot a little better which is a big plus.

As far as clothing goes for the shoot, I am not a big fan of the matching outfits but I do like outfits that go together. For instance, if you wear a classy dress and he wears a collared shirt in a similar color or tone. Or if you both wear jeans and he wears a sweater and you wear a cute top. Here is my advice on the clothes: you will have these pictures forever so try to make it timeless. No crazy prints or really trendy cuts of clothes and no logos on shirts…stuff like that. I also think it looks good to stay in either the dark or light end of the color spectrum. It doesn’t have to be black or white (although that looks good) but dark or light colors look better than all mid-tones because they look more contrast-y and defined. And of course, I love dresses on girls, it is so fun and feminine. It is also easy to slip into if you want to change your clothes quickly!

I hope that helps, if you have any questions that are more specific, please send me an email or leave a comment here!

Screen Shot 2016-01-13 at 11.50.38 AM

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

Six months. That in-between place.

Still tiny, but suddenly sitting up.
Still baby, but full of personality.
These sessions are quiet little time capsules—
before the crawling, before the running,
before they’re off to chase the world.

#TheArtOfEveryday #SixMonthSession #BabyMilestones #EmotivePhotography #DocumentYourDays #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #encinitasphotographer #lacostaphotographer #oceansidephotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #sandiegophotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer  #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia⁣
⁣ #carlsbadphotographer⁣ #oceansideca⁣lifornia⁣ ⁣⁣ #oceansidephotograpapher⁣⁣
Two girls, two seasons—
and a dad who shows up for both.

#TheEverydayPortrait #FathersAndDaughters #RealLifeCaptured #FamilyMatters #EmotivePhotography  #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #encinitasphotographer #lacostaphotographer #oceansidephotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #sandiegophotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer  #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia⁣
⁣ #carlsbadphotographer⁣ #oceansideca⁣lifornia⁣ #oceansidepier⁣⁣ #oceansidephotograpapher⁣⁣
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⁣⁣

 

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.

Six months. That in-between place.

Still tiny, but suddenly sitting up.
Still baby, but full of personality.
These sessions are quiet little time capsules—
before the crawling, before the running,
before they’re off to chase the world.

#TheArtOfEveryday #SixMonthSession #BabyMilestones #EmotivePhotography #DocumentYourDays #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #encinitasphotographer #lacostaphotographer #oceansidephotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #sandiegophotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer  #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia⁣
⁣ #carlsbadphotographer⁣ #oceansideca⁣lifornia⁣ ⁣⁣ #oceansidephotograpapher⁣⁣
Two girls, two seasons—
and a dad who shows up for both.

#TheEverydayPortrait #FathersAndDaughters #RealLifeCaptured #FamilyMatters #EmotivePhotography  #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #encinitasphotographer #lacostaphotographer #oceansidephotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #sandiegophotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer  #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia⁣
⁣ #carlsbadphotographer⁣ #oceansideca⁣lifornia⁣ #oceansidepier⁣⁣ #oceansidephotograpapher⁣⁣
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⁣⁣

email directly:

heather@vallentynephotography.com

760-672-2416

located in oceanside, california