Growing Families · San Clemente
Children & Tweens
This age is moving fast. They're not who they were last year, and they won't be who they are right now for very long. These are the portraits that catch them exactly here.
for the woman who blinked and they grew up
Children and tween portrait photography in Orange County.
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Every kid has something. The way they tilt their head when they think no one's watching. The missing tooth they're proud of. The laugh that's completely their own. A good portrait catches that — not a posed version of them, but the real one.
The studio is where that happens best. A clean background, beautiful light, and nothing to pull focus away from the person in front of the camera. What comes through is exactly what you want: their style, their expression, the particular way they hold themselves at this age — before it changes into the next one.
Twenty years of working with kids means the session moves at their pace, not the other way around. By the time they're in front of the camera, they're not thinking about the camera at all.
who this page is for
Toddler through pre-high school. Every age has a version worth capturing.
The Little Ones
Toddlers and young kids are still at an age where they're all in. They laugh easily, they're curious, and they don't yet have the self-consciousness that comes later. The challenge is energy. A good children's session keeps them moving and gives them things to react to — not a setup that asks them to stay still.
The Middle Years
Around 8 to 10, kids are fully themselves — funny, opinionated, energetic — and still at an age where sitting for portraits doesn't feel like a burden. This is a window worth documenting. They still want to have fun, and the personality that's coming through right now is one you'll want to remember.
The Tween Years
Eleven to thirteen is the hardest age to photograph — and the most important one to catch. They're in between. The body is changing, social media is loud, and most of them would rather be anywhere else than in front of a camera. The session that works for this age doesn't feel like a photo shoot. It feels like something that respects who they're becoming.
how julie works with kids this age
Twenty years of knowing exactly how to bring out whoever walks through the door.
Some kids run in ready to go. Some need a few minutes to settle in. Either way, the session finds its rhythm — and the portraits show exactly who they are.
Every kid gets a session built around them — their energy, their pace, what makes them laugh. The result looks like them, not a studio template.
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Wardrobe is reviewed at the consultation beforehand. What they wear matters — not because it needs to be formal, but because it should feel like them.
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Kids who need a few minutes to warm up usually forget the camera is there within the first fifteen minutes. It happens every single time.
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Personality is the point. The quiet ones, the performers, the ones with a gap-toothed grin they can't contain — every session is built around who this specific child is right now.
a note on siblings
Some parents don't want to be in the pictures. That's okay. The kids together are the portrait.
Sibling sessions are their own thing. Two kids — or three, or four — together in the studio, doing what they do. Laughing at each other. Making faces. The dynamic between siblings is one of the most honest things a camera can capture, and it's one that disappears as they get older and go different directions.
On-location sessions for siblings make sense when parents want something outdoors or when the dynamic works better with more space to move. It's worth a conversation.
If you want individual portraits of each child and then portraits of them together, we can do both in the same session. Reach out and we'll put together a plan
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"My kids told me on the way home that it was actually really fun. That's not something she says about photos. I had no idea how Julie pulled it off. "
kim • san clemente, CA
how it works
Four steps from first contact to portraits on your wall.
Reach out
Start with a phone call or an inquiry form. We'll talk about your kids, what you're looking for, and whether the timing makes sense. No pressure — just a conversation.
The Consultation
Start with a phone call or an inquiry form. We'll talk about your kids, what you're looking for, and whether the timing makes sense. No pressure — just a conversation.
The Session
Start with a phone call or an inquiry form. We'll talk about your kids, what you're looking for, and whether the timing makes sense. No pressure — just a conversation.
The Ordering Appiontment
A week or two after the session, you come back to select images and choose prints and wall art. This is where the portraits find their place in your home.
investment
Portraits made to last. Priced honestly from the start.
Pricing is reviewed in full at the consultation, before the session happens. There are no surprises at the ordering appointment. Most families know their budget going in and leave with exactly what they came for.
Some clients walk away with a small collection of images. Others leave with prints, albums, and wall art that fills their home. Both are exactly right — it comes down to what you want to do with the portraits.
WEEKDAY SESSION FEE | $395
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WEEKEND SESSION FEE | $495
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IMAGE COLLECTIONS FROM | $1,590
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TYPICAL INVESTMENT | $1,590 UP TO $6,000
Questions about children and tween portrait sessions
What most parents ask before booking — from how to handle a reluctant kid to what it actually costs. If something isn't covered here, reach out.
How do you photograph kids who don't like having their picture taken?
This comes up at almost every session. The approach is simple: give them something to do and something to react to, rather than asking them to pose. Most kids who are resistant at the start are laughing within fifteen minutes. Twenty years of working with kids this age means there is no version of resistant that hasn't been handled before. Parents consistently leave saying their child had more fun than expected.
What age range does a children and tween portrait session cover?
This session covers toddler age through pre-high school — roughly ages 2 to 13. High school seniors are a separate session type with their own page and their own approach. If your child is close to that threshold, reach out and we'll figure out the right fit.
What should my senior wear for their portrait session?
Wardrobe is covered in detail at the consultation before the session. Most seniors bring two to four outfits — something casual that feels like them, something that reflects their personality or interests, and something more polished. The goal is portraits that look like them at their actual best, not a formal version of themselves. Avoid large logos or anything that will date quickly. For senior girls, hair and makeup is available as an add-on and is done at the studio the morning of the session.
What should my child wear for a portrait session?
Wardrobe guidance is part of every consultation before the session. The goal is to dress them in a way that feels like them — not stiff, not costumed. Layers and textures photograph well. Busy patterns and large logos don't. Colors that coordinate with your home's walls and furniture tend to make wall art look better long-term. Bring a few options and we'll go through them together before the session day.
How long does a children's portrait session take?
Sessions run one to one and a half hours. That's enough time to settle in, move through a few setups, and capture real personality without pushing past the point where kids check out. The pace is relaxed. Nobody is watching a clock.
Do you photograph children in the studio or on location?
The studio in San Clemente is the primary setting for children and tween sessions. Studio lighting produces more consistent, beautiful results and keeps things contained — which matters with kids. On-location sessions are available when siblings are included or when an outdoor setting makes particular sense for the family. We'll talk through the options at the consultation.
What does a children's portrait session in Orange County cost?
The session fee is $395 for weekdays and $495 for weekends. Collections start at $1,590 and most families invest up to $6,000 depending on how many images they select and what print products or wall art they choose at the ordering appointment. Full pricing is covered at the consultation before the session — so there are no surprises when you come back to order.
How do I prepare my child for a portrait session?
Keep expectations light. Don't oversell it or build it up too much — just let it be a thing you're doing together. Make sure they've eaten and are rested. Have the wardrobe options ready based on what was discussed at the consultation. Beyond that, the session handles itself. Kids adapt quickly when the environment is calm and the photographer knows how to meet them where they are.
Can siblings be included in a children's portrait session?
Yes — and sibling portraits are some of the most requested and most meaningful. A session can focus exclusively on siblings together, or include individual portraits of each child plus group portraits. Parents who don't want to be in the pictures themselves often book specifically for the siblings. Mention it when you reach out so the session can be planned accordingly.
serving orange county & beyond
San Clemente · Dana Point · San Juan Capistrano · Laguna Niguel · Laguna Beach · Mission Viejo · Aliso Viejo · Rancho Santa Margarita · Coto de Caza · Newport Beach · Irvine · Laguna Hills
Keep the story going
The first 14 days. Book during pregnancy to secure your spot before baby arrives.
Sitter sessions, cake smash, and first-year collections as your baby grows.
explore extended family
See the full range of Growing Families portrait sessions available at the studio
this age doesn't last
Let's capture exactly who they are right now.
One conversation is all it takes to figure out if the timing is right and what a session looks like for your family. No pressure — just a real answer to your questions.
Julie Irene Photography, a luxury portrait studio in San Clemente, California. Newborn, family, maternity, headshots and personal branding for Orange County
san clemente, ca
Follow @JULIEIRENE
Dr. Christina Jenkins is a board-certified colorectal surgeon who also runs an aesthetic medicine clinic in Irvine. She built both practices around one idea: that patients deserve to feel heard, safe, and genuinely cared for.
She came in a little camera-shy. She left with these.
That`s the job.
She Means Business sessions booking now. Link in bio.
@NuVieMD
#shemeansbusiness #sanclementephotographer #brandingphotographer #ocwomenentrepreneurs #orangecountyphotographer
This is what an extended family session actually looks like before you see the final images.
Two strobes on the beach are a must with this many people if you plan on getting that gorgeous sunset perfect. Twenty-some people in eucalyptus trees requires hauling some stools.
Then you have me trying to get everyone to look the same direction at the same time, which never happens.... but good thing I know how to head swap!
Swipe to the last slide.
That`s the part they actually hang on the wall.
#extendedFamilyPhotography #SanClemente #OrangeCountyPhotographer #familyportraits #southOC
Yesterday I took a mental break. I’ve been dealing with some perimenopause symptoms for the last few years and the worst part of it all has been my sleep.
2am. Wide awake. Again.
my mind goes from thing to thing – nothing important, not one clear thought I could actually grab onto. I’m laying there doing breathing exercises, hoping that will help but sometimes that just makes me more aware that I’m still awake. My heart’s going a little faster than it should be. I’ve read enough about cortisol at this point to understand why, but understanding something and being able to fix it are two different things.
I have been doing everything. Functional medicine appointments, every few months, bloodwork, daily workouts because they’re supposed to help, supplements I could fill a small cabinet with. I just received a cooling mattress pad last week in hopes that will help as well. I cut off all caffeine after 10 AM. Even warm showers at night. Next step I’m gonna consider acupuncture.
Some months are great. Then all of a sudden weeks will go by without one good night sleep.
The thing that nobody told me about Perry menopause is that it’s different for everybody. Nobody hands you and manual, and most of the advice you get doesn’t actually apply to you.
I’m figuring it out. Slowly. Some nights are better than others.
If you’re in the same place, I generally love to know what’s helping you. I’m sharing this for another reason then I know I’m not the only one lying awake at 2 AM doing math and how many hours of sleep I can still get.
The women who book She Means Business sessions are usually the ones who have been doing kick ass things for years and still don`t have images that show for it.
They`ve got speaking gigs, writing books, and clients who trust them — and a headshot from 2016 they`re quietly embarrassed by every time they have to use it.
The session is a full day at my San Clemente studio. Hair and makeup. Multiple looks. Behind-the-scenes footage they can use for their businesses. A feature in the She Means Business Orange County magazine at the end of the campaign. As well as an invitation to the campaign-end Gallery Exhibition.
We still have space for 17 more amazing women. If you`ve been meaning to do this, this is the one for you!
Link in bio to start the conversation.
Summer is almost upon us. This is the time of year the whole family may actually be in the same place.
Cousins running around and having fun. The grandparents getting all their hugs and snuggles in with the grandkids. Someone is grilling and there is always that one complaining about the sand or heat. And sadly, nobody has thought about portraits — because why would they? The moment feels infinite.
It isn`t.
I`ve been photographing families for almost 20 years, and the sessions I think about most are the extended family ones. Not because they are the most complicated to coordinate (they are), but because I feel they are the most important. From personal experience I had these done before my father passed and those photos I treasure the most.
If your family is together this summer, it`s worth a conversation with everyone to make it happen.
My studio is in San Clemente. Sessions booked by retainer, and summer fills faster than people expect. If you`ve been thinking about reaching out, the sooner the better.
