Family and extended family portraits of the people you love most, in dana point.
A luxury portrait experience for Dana Point 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 ten minutes south in San Clemente, and near the Dana Point Harbor is one of my regular spots for sessions on location in Dana Point.
twenty years experience | private san clemente studio | by appointment only
I'm Julie Boucher. My son and daughter learned to surf at Doheny, so Dana Point is a place I know as a parent first and a photographer second. That's probably why I gravitate toward the same spots families actually spend their weekends at, not just the ones that photograph well.
dana point
Family Photography in Dana Point
Baby Beach is where I send families with little ones. It sits inside the harbor, protected from the surf, so toddlers can wade around without anyone chasing a wave out of the frame. Doheny Beach next door is a different story, real waves, real surf lessons, and it's where my own son and daughter both learned to surf. If you've got an older kid who'd rather be caught mid-wave than posed on a blanket, that's the spot.
The Lantern District has become my go-to for dinner after a session. Coastal Kitchen, Station Craft, and Truly Pizza are all within a few blocks of each other, so it's easy to make a night of it. If you're already at Doheny, Doho Cafe is worth staying for. They bring in live music most weekends, the fries are genuinely worth ordering, and watching the sunset from there is a good way to end a session day.
Dana Point Harbor itself is worth a walk regardless of where your session happens, and my studio in San Clemente is about ten minutes south if you'd rather shoot indoors.
multi-generational sessions
Extended Family & Legacy Sessions in Dana Point
Dana Point Harbor is exactly the kind of place a family plans a whole day around, not just a session, which makes it a strong choice for extended family. Grandparents can watch from a bench at Baby Beach while the older kids surf at Doheny, and everyone ends up in the same place without anyone being bored.
These sessions work well split across the harbor and the beach, so we can get the whole group together for the formal shots and let the kids be kids for the candid ones. It's one of the easier spots in Orange County to keep three generations happy at once.
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 Dana Point 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 Dana Point, or do I need to drive to San Clemente?
.pp-rendered ._bf553ad3-9bd3-4083-8d44-19a900ca66b1#x20;My studio is in San Clemente, about ten minutes south. I photograph Dana Point families on location at the Harbor, Baby Beach, and Doheny, and also in the studio if you'd rather skip the beach entirely.
Which Dana Point beach is best for a family with young kids?
.pp-rendered ._bf553ad3-9bd3-4083-8d44-19a900ca66b1#x20;Baby Beach, inside Dana Point Harbor. It's protected from the surf, so toddlers can wade around safely, and it stays calmer than Doheny or Salt Creek.
What about families with older kids or surfers?
.pp-rendered ._bf553ad3-9bd3-4083-8d44-19a900ca66b1#x20;Doheny State Beach is right next door and has some of the gentlest beginner waves in the county. My own son learned to surf there. If your family spends more time in the water than posing for photos, that's the better spot.
What is the investment for a family session?
.pp-rendered ._bf553ad3-9bd3-4083-8d44-19a900ca66b1#x20;Sessions start at $395 on weekdays and $495 on weekends. Collections start at $1,590. Most Dana Point 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?
.pp-rendered ._bf553ad3-9bd3-4083-8d44-19a900ca66b1#x20;Most families book four to eight weeks out. If you have a specific date in mind, family visiting from out of town, or a milestone birthday, book earlier to make sure I have your date.
Do you photograph extended family and multi-generational sessions too?
.pp-rendered ._bf553ad3-9bd3-4083-8d44-19a900ca66b1#x20;Yes. Extended family sessions are one of my specialties, and Dana Point Harbor is one of the easier places in Orange County to keep three generations happy at once, with Baby Beach for the little ones and Doheny nearby for anyone who'd rather surf. See more on extended family sessions.
What's the difference between a family session and an extended family session?
.pp-rendered ._bf553ad3-9bd3-4083-8d44-19a900ca66b1#x20;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?
.pp-rendered ._bf553ad3-9bd3-4083-8d44-19a900ca66b1#x20;All of them. 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 Dana Point.
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
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.
