The Story Membership
The Experience
01 | CONNECT
Reach out through the inquiry form and tell me a little about your family and this season of life. Whether you’re expecting your first baby, soaking in the newborn days, or simply wanting to preserve your family as they are right now, I want to hear your story and what matters most to you.
02 | PLAN
Life is busy, and I want the process to feel easy and enjoyable from start to finish. I’ll help guide you through wardrobe, styling, locations, and all the little details so you feel fully prepared for your session.
03 | PHOTOGRAPH
These moments pass quickly, and my goal is to capture them in a way that feels natural, connected, and true to your family. Sessions are relaxed and thoughtfully tailored to your personalities, your relationships, and the season you’re in right now.
04 | PRESERVE
Your photographs deserve more than living on a phone or hard drive. After your session, I’ll help you select your favorite images and turn them into beautiful artwork for your home including framed wall art, albums, and heirloom pieces designed to be enjoyed for generations. Digital files accompany each printed piece.
The investment
First, thank you for considering me to document your family. Each session includes planning and styling guidance, photography time with me, and a private design and ordering appointment where I’ll help you select your favorite images and design artwork for your home.
Single Session
$290
Products and digital images are purchased separately at your art-design & ordering appointment.
Session fee does not include artwork or digital files.
The Story Membership
$790
Includes 3 to 4 sessions within one year to document your family through every beautiful stage and season.
Typical sessions include maternity, newborn (0-2 weeks), sitting up (6-8 months), and the first birthday/walking (1 year),
or the story of your family over one year.
Membership Includes:
- 3 to 4 sessions within 12 months
- Priority scheduling
- Planning + styling guidance
- Concept and styling for each session
- Include immediate & extended family members
- In-home, studio, or outdoor sessions
Membership fee does not include artwork or digital files.
The Artwork
I’m proud to offer a carefully curated collection of heirloom artwork designed to bring your images to life in your home.
Framed wall art, handcrafted albums, matted prints, and digital files are available so you can choose what feels most meaningful for your family. Typical Client Investment After Each Session, $1500–3000
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.
"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 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.
You keep saying you’ll book family photos when you feel more like yourself…
But the truth is—there’s always something. Life is busy. Your body changes. The timing never feels perfect.
And underneath that… it’s not really about the timing. It’s about not wanting to be happy in how you look.
But your kids don’t see any of that. They just see you. The way you hug them, laugh with them, show up for them every day.
If this has been on your heart, maybe this is your sign not to wait another year 🤍
When you work with me, you don’t just get a photographer—you get someone who plans, guides, and creates artwork you’ll love for years. If that’s what you’ve been searching for, let’s start.
For me, photography has never just been about images—it’s about people, relationships, and the stories we share. If that’s what you’d like in your portraits, let’s talk.
At the end of the day, portraits are about people—the ones you love most. If you’d like photos that reflect that love, I’d love to create them for you.
No two families are alike, and no two sessions should be either. That’s why I design each one with your unique story in mind. If you’d like that for your portraits, let’s plan something special.
Families often thank me for making the process so simple and stress-free. That’s exactly how it should feel. If you’d like that kind of experience, let’s chat.
Every stage of life deserves to be remembered—from newborn snuggles to senior year and beyond. If you’d like to capture your family’s journey, I’d love to work with you.
