the experience
I offer full service from beginning to end, designed to make your portrait experience as stress-free as possible.
portrait sessions
A Full-Service Photography Experience—Designed for You
At Vallentyne Photography, we do things differently—because you deserve more than just digital files sitting on a hard drive. We take care of everything for you, from planning your session to delivering beautifully printed artwork, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
Here’s what’s included in your experience:
- Personalized Planning – We’ll chat before your session to discuss location ideas, wardrobe recommendations, and how to bring your vision to life.
- A Stress-Free Session – Relax and enjoy the moment while I capture your family’s connection. There’s no extra charge for including the whole family!
- Professional Editing & Retouching – Every image you order is fully retouched to perfection.
- Custom Artwork, Designed for Your Home – Choose from stunning wall art, heirloom albums, and keepsake portrait boxes, all crafted with the highest quality materials.
- Matching Digital Files Included – When you order prints or artwork, the matching digital file is yours to keep and share.
No DIY Needed—Everything Is Done for You
No more unfinished photo projects or decision fatigue! I guide you every step of the way so you can walk away with artwork you love—ready to enjoy in your home.
Pricing
- Session Fee: $290 (covers our time together and planning, artwork purchased separately)
- Prints Begin At: $190
- Collections Begin At: $890
What Most Clients Choose
Many families find it hard to pick just a few favorites (a great problem to have!). Most choose 1-5 signature images for their walls and preserve the rest in a beautiful handmade album or portrait box.
Let’s Chat!
Every session begins with a quick call. We’ll go over dates, locations, artwork options, pricing, and any questions you have.
Reach out today—I can’t wait to create something special for you!
what to expect
From start to finish, I make the process easy, enjoyable, and completely stress-free. Here’s how I ensure you walk away with portraits you love:
- A Relaxed, Fun Experience – No stiff poses or forced smiles. I guide you every step of the way, making sure you feel comfortable and natural in front of the camera.
- Authentic, Meaningful Portraits – I focus on capturing real connections and genuine moments, so your images feel like you.
- Personalized Guidance – From helping you choose the perfect location to styling advice for your outfits, I take the guesswork out of planning.
- Stunning Location or Studio Options – Whether you love the beauty of North County’s beaches and parks or prefer a clean, modern studio setting, I’ll help you find the perfect backdrop.
- Portraits You’ll Truly Love – I promise the best images you’ve ever had of your family—ones that make you smile every time you see them.
- Finished Artwork, Delivered to Your Door – Your portraits deserve more than just a screen. I create museum-quality artwork, professionally printed and shipped directly to you.
how it works
Say hello!
Get in touch and we'll give you all the info you need to get started. Then we will set up a zoom meeting to plan your session from what to wear, to location and all those details. We'll talk about the process and answer all of your questions and then we will get you booked and on the calendar.
Have your session
You'll be fully guided and directed throughout the session so all you will have to focus on is having fun and enjoying the people you love. You might feel a little nervous at first but that will quickly melt away as we focus on your real connections with your family. We are serious about creating art for you, but also serious about giving you the greatest experience you've ever had in front of the camera.
The reveal
We will get together via zoom one more time for your ordering session to reveal the gorgeous images we have created together. We will guide you through choosing your favorites and talk about how they might look best in your home. My #1 tip, trust your instincts. The ones that make you smile or tear up instantly, are the ones you're going to print!
Special delivery!
Within weeks of your ordering appointment, a very special package will be delivered to your home all the way from our professional lab! You will be holding your finished art in your hands and hanging it on your walls! The best part about the artwork we deliver is that it's going to grow more special and meaningful over the years. Increasing in value in your heart as the ages and stages change in your family.
more about me
Hello, I'm Heather and I started Vallentyne Photography in 2005, based in Coastal Oceanside and serving North County to San Diego.
I'm so excited that you have found my photography. I believe that getting to know my clients is the best way to ensure and deliver an awesome experience.
I'd love to tell you a little more about me!
Here are a few things you should know...
-I have been married to my husband & best friend since 8-19-07.
-Our first dates were surfing and snowboarding together, these are still our favorite dates.
-We love dogs. Kylie and Roger (above) were in our wedding and Charlie is our current pup and trouble maker!
-We have 2 wonderful boys, Ben and Curren, growing up fast- they make life worth living.
-We live in Oceanside California and love our beach community.
-I started in photography working for a small women's surf magazine, was a photo editor for another surf magazine, and shot catalogs for many surf & skate industry brands, before falling in love with wedding & portrait photography.
-I am a health nut who loves coffee, thai food, and yoga! (ok, and cookies!)
-I have a shot over 1000 portraits and weddings in my career… So far! My last camera hit a million clicks on the shutter!
-I love my clients and love my job. The best part, hands-down, is that I get to do what I love and feel constantly inspired by the people I work with.
-I love creating beautiful images but more importantly, I love serving real people in the greatest moments of their lives.
Now that you've gotten to know me a little bit, Let's get in touch to plan your photos!
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.
I love color… but black and white? It completely took the cake for this session.
There’s just something about it—how it strips everything down to the connection, the emotion, the light.
Black and white portraiture feels timeless in the best way.
It doesn’t follow trends. It doesn’t age. It simply *is.*
For this family, it felt like the perfect fit—simple, honest, and full of feeling.
The kind of portraits that will look just as beautiful in 30 years as they do today.
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#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
#oceansidecalifornia #oceansidepier #oceansidephotograpapher #blackandwhite #blackandwhiteportraits
When I look at your baby, I don’t see a prop or a pose.
I see the way their fingers stretch when they yawn.
The way they melt into your arms when they’re calm.
The tiny, perfect details that are already changing by the day.
To me, that’s where the beauty is. Natural. Simple. Real.
These aren’t just photos—they’re a way to remember what it felt like in those first quiet days as a family.
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#vallentynephotography #carlsbadnewbornphotographer #petitejoys #sandiegonewbornphotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #newbornphotography #newborn #familyphotography #motherhood #motherhoodrising #newbornsofinstagram #newbornoninstagram #everydaynewborn #love #NewbornShoot #BabyPhotography #BabyLove #NewbornPortraits #NewbornMagic #CuteBaby #SweetBaby #NewbornArt #BabyMoments #TinyMiracle #SleepingBaby #BabySnuggles #NewbornLife #NewbornBliss #BabyBundle #AdorableNewborn
No awkward poses. I promise, only real beautiful moments.
Because you don’t need to “perform” to look amazing in your photos.
You just need to be you.
Whether that’s quiet and thoughtful or bold and full of energy—I’ll guide you every step of the way so it feels natural, never forced.
No cheesy backdrops. No uncomfortable poses. Just real, relaxed moments that feel like you, captured beautifully.
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The best thing about memories is making them…
running wild, laughing loud, and loving big.
No script, just joy — and maybe a little sand. 🌞
#Love #portrait #family #familytime #beach #sunset #carlsbad #summer
There’s something beautiful about a proposal that happens in a place you love. It becomes more than a memory—it becomes *yours.*
The spot where it all began.
The day everything shifted in the best possible way.
So grateful I got to be there to witness it.
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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 #oceansidecalifornia #oceansidephotograpapher
