Family and extended family portraits of the people you love most, in coto de caza.
A luxury portrait experience for Coto De Caza families and the multi-generational gatherings worth documenting, twenty years in the making. Every session fully guided, from the first phone call to the portrait on your wall.
My studio is about 25 minutes south in San Clemente, and Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park, right at the edge of the community, is where most of my Coto de Caza sessions happen.
twenty years experience | private san clemente studio | by appointment only
I'm Julie Boucher. Coto de Caza isn't a place I grew up around, but Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park backs right up to it, and it's easily one of my favorite natural spots in Orange County to shoot in. Guard-gated communities come with a few extra steps, and I've got that part figured out too.
coto de caza
Family Photography in Coto De Caza
Coto de Caza is one of the largest guard-gated communities in the country, built around two golf courses, an equestrian center, and Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park, which wraps around the community's edge. If you didn't know Orange County had its own slice of horse country, this is it.
The park is where I do almost every Coto de Caza session. It's 540 acres of rolling grassland and oak groves, with trails like Vista Ridge and Horned Toad Vista Point that open up to real views of the Santa Ana Mountains. It's also strict, and for good reason: professional sessions need a permit through OC Parks, booked at least 48 hours out, and everyone stays on the marked trails to protect the habitat. I handle the permit as part of booking your session, so you don't have to deal with the paperwork.
Because Coto is guard-gated, getting me through the entrance is its own small step, usually just adding me to your guest list ahead of time. And since there isn't much of a restaurant scene inside the gates themselves, most residents head a few minutes over to the El Paseo area in Rancho Santa Margarita for dinner after a session. Hanna's is one of my personal favorites.
multi-generational sessions
Extended Family & Legacy Sessions in Coto De Caza
Coto's country club culture makes it a natural gathering place, holidays at the clubhouse, family in town for a tournament or a horse show at the Equestrian Center, grandparents visiting for a week. Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park has enough open grassland to comfortably fit a large group, which is exactly what a multi-generational session needs.
I plan the permit, the timing, and the trail around your group size, so a bigger family doesn't mean a more complicated session, just a bit more coordination on my end.
the experience
A guided portrait process.
consultation
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We talk through your vision, your home, what you want on the walls, and the investment up front. No surprises later.
session day
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You arrive at the studio or location. Wardrobe, lighting and posing taken care of. Most clients tell me they were nervous and end up having fun.
ordering & design
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One to two weeks later, you come back to see your images. We choose together what belongs on your wall, in your album and in your hands.
delivery
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Wall art arrives framed and ready to hang. Albums in hand. Matching digital files are yours. Portraits live where they were always meant to in your home.
the investment
No surprises. Discussed up front.
session fee
$395
image collections
$1,590
wall art
$850
Most Coto De Caza families leave with a wall collection and album — typically between $2,500 and $10,000, with extended family and multi-generational sessions often landing at the higher end given the larger groups and larger art pieces most choose. Every investment is reviewed at your consultation so there are no surprises.
FROM CLIENTS
In their own words.
"Julie is an expert with so much experience, and her studio has every prop, light, and backdrop imaginable. She's a perfectionist who made the whole shoot fun and easy. I'd choose her again in a heartbeat."
morris family | san clemente
"Julie truly is one of the best photographers I've encountered in a very long time. She captured the true essence of our family's love. We shall cherish these for a lifetime."
nelson family | san clemente
Common Questions
Everything you want to know.
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Do you have a studio in Coto de Caza, or do I need to drive to San Clemente?
My studio is in San Clemente, about 20 minutes south. I photograph Coto de Caza families on location at Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park, and also in the studio if you'd rather skip the park entirely.
Do I need to arrange anything since Coto de Caza is gated?
Yes, just add me to your guest list at the gate ahead of time, the same way you would for any other guest. It's a quick step and I'll remind you before session day.
Do you need a permit to shoot at Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park?
Yes. Professional sessions require a permit through OC Parks, booked at least 48 hours in advance, and everyone stays on the marked trails to protect the habitat. I handle the permit as part of booking your session.
What is the investment for a family session?
Sessions start at $395 on weekdays and $495 on weekends. Collections start at $1,590. Most Coto de Caza families invest between $2,500 and $10,000 on portraits, wall art, and albums, all reviewed at your consultation.
How far in advance should we book a family session?
Most families book four to eight weeks out. Sessions at Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park need the permit's 48-hour notice at minimum, so it's worth reaching out early if you have a specific date in mind.
Do you photograph extended family and multi-generational sessions too?
Yes. Extended family sessions are one of my specialties, and Coto de Caza's country club culture makes for natural gatherings, holidays at the clubhouse, family in town for a horse show, grandparents visiting for the week. See more on extended family sessions.
What's the difference between a family session and an extended family session?
A family session is you and your immediate family, parents and kids. An extended family session brings in grandparents, siblings, cousins, and multiple generations at once. Both work in the studio or on location, and both are built the same way: fully guided, from consultation to the finished wall art.
How many people can you photograph in an extended family session?
As many as you're bringing. Extended family sessions in Coto de Caza often include grandparents, siblings, and cousins across several generations, and Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park's open grassland gives a large group plenty of room. The San Clemente studio is also built to comfortably hold a large group.
What ages do you photograph for family sessions?
All of them, together. Newborns through teenagers, multiple generations, even the family dog. A family session is built around whoever you're bringing.
My studio is based in San Clemente, and I regularly photograph families throughout South Orange
County including Coto De Caza.
Julie Irene Photography, a luxury portrait studio in San Clemente, California. Newborn, family, maternity, headshots and personal branding for Orange County
san clemente, ca
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Two summer weekends left available on my calendar. If this is the summer your family is all together, reach out. It doesn`t happen as often as we think it will
#orangecountyphotographer #extendedfamilyphotos #ocfamilyphotographer #sanclementephotographer #legacyportraits
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.
