San Diego family portrait photographer
Beautiful photos with a candid approach + easy direction that makes the session natural and fun.
Your only job is to be yourself & let me do the rest.
Get in touch to get this on your calendar before another stage passes by.
"Heather just competed out family photos for this year. We could not be more pleased! She was fantastic to work with from setting up location and making suggestions to the very impressive final product. She has a warm and friendly personality and makes the process feel as fun and natural as possible. Patient and creative with capturing young kids too!"
the garner family
How it Works
Say hello!
When you book your call, we'll start getting an idea of who you are and what you'd like to create to remember this season of your life. 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 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 number one 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. I can guarantee that you will still be smiling and tearing up on a normal Tuesday afternoon years from now, as you pass these images on your walls.
"5 stars from start to finish! We were coming in from out of town and she made the entire process simple and enjoyable. Heather was a joy to work with and knew exactly how to work with our two small boys. We couldn't be happier with the photos-love, love, love them!!!"
the benson family
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.
Every wall in your home tells a story. I’d love to help you design artwork that reflects the people you love most. If you’d like that, let’s start planning.
What I’ve learned over 20 years is that every family has their own rhythm, and the best portraits come when I let that guide the session. If you’d like photos that feel like your family, let’s chat.
I’ve photographed in so many local spots—beaches, trails, fields, and in-home sessions. Each one tells a different story. If you’d like help choosing, let’s talk about it.
Sometimes families think their kids won’t cooperate—but those are often the best sessions. Real life makes for real memories. If you’d like to capture that, let’s plan it together.
From the first phone call to the artwork delivery, I walk with you through every step. If you’d like an experience like that, I’d love to hear from you.
Your portraits should bring you back to the way it felt in that moment—not just the way it looked. If that’s the kind of memory you want, let’s work together.
