Pregnancy is a journey full of joy and excitement—
and nausea and nervousness and moments of
“I can't see my toooeessss!"
But it's all a part of the experience, and it's a time you'll want to capture to remember forever—
enter maternity photos.
Here's where you can get my top tips for a great maternity photo shoot, enjoy!
XO, Heather
Vallentyne Photography is a portrait studio in Carlsbad, CA, serving families throughout North County San Diego and surrounding coastal communities.
With 20 years of experience, we specialize in natural, timeless portraits for families, maternity, newborns, and seniors — photographed on location or in our beautiful, natural light studio. Our goal is to make the experience feel relaxed, meaningful, and easy from start to finish while creating artwork you’ll love for years to come.
Something new at Vallentyne Photography!
If you follow me here for family, maternity, newborn, or senior portraits, you may not know that I also photograph professional headshots and personal branding.
And now that I have my Carlsbad Village studio, I’ve created a whole new experience specifically for it: Modern Headshots.
These are for business owners and professionals who want photographs that feel polished and professional, but still approachable and like you.
Modern Headshots include professional hair and makeup, multiple wardrobe looks and backgrounds, plenty of guidance with posing and expression, and 2 professionally retouched images.
My first Modern Headshots Day is October 15 at the studio.
I’ve also created a separate page here on Instagram just for my headshot and branding work: @vallentynebranding
So if you’re the face of your business, come follow me over there! I’ll be sharing lots more headshot and personal branding inspiration.
And if your own headshot could use an update, send me a message and I’ll send you the October 15 details.
𝘅𝗼, 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀? Let’s talk!
Message me anytime and we’ll hop on a quick call to plan something beautiful.
Every newborn photo is really a love story. Not just about the baby, but about the people whose hearts changed forever the moment they arrived.
#VallentynePhotography #NewbornPortraits #CarlsbadNewbornPhotography #StudioPhotographer #NorthCountyFamilies #BabyPhotography #FamilyConnection #OceansidePhotographer #NewbornSession
𝘅𝗼, 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀? Let’s talk!
Message me anytime and we’ll hop on a quick call to plan something beautiful.
The photos are really for later. That`s what so many families tell me. Not for social media. Not for next week. For the future version of themselves who wants to remember everyone exactly like this.
#VallentynePhotography #ExtendedFamilyPhotography #BeachPortraits #CarlsbadPhotographer #FamilyConnection #NorthCountyFamilies #OceansidePhotography #FamilyMemories #SanDiegoPhotographer
𝘅𝗼, 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀? Let’s talk!
Message me anytime and we’ll hop on a quick call to plan something beautiful.
When the kids decide Mom is going in the ocean… 😂
This is the kind of moment I love during a family session—the completely unplanned ones that end up becoming part of the story.
Beautiful portraits are important, but so are the laughs, the chaos, and the moments you couldn`t have planned if you tried. 🤍
Family portraits in San Diego | Vallentyne Photography
#OceansideFamilyPhotographer #SanDiegoFamilyPhotographer #NorthCountySanDiegoPhotographer #SanDiegoFamilyPhotography #oceansidefamilyphotos
If you`ve ever thought, "I just want some nice photos before this season is gone," you`re not alone. I hear versions of that on almost every maternity inquiry call.
#VallentynePhotography #MaternityPhotography #CarlsbadMaternityPhotographer #BeachMaternitySession #NorthCountySanDiego #PregnancyPortraits #MotherhoodJourney #OceansidePhotographer #MaternityPhotos
𝘅𝗼, 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀? Let’s talk!
Message me anytime and we’ll hop on a quick call to plan something beautiful.
Senior year has a way of making parents emotional. Not because it`s ending, but because they suddenly realize how quickly they got here.
#VallentynePhotography #SeniorPortraits #BeachSeniorPhotos #CarlsbadSeniorPhotographer #NorthCountyPhotographer #ClassOf2026 #OceansideSeniorSession #SeniorPhotography #SanDiegoPortraits
𝘅𝗼, 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀? Let’s talk!
Message me anytime and we’ll hop on a quick call to plan something beautiful.