Family and extended family portraits of the people you love most, in foothill ranch.
A luxury portrait experience for Foothill Ranch 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 Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park's Red Rock Canyon is one of the most distinctive backdrops I shoot at anywhere in Orange County.
twenty years experience | private san clemente studio | by appointment only
I'm Julie Boucher. My very first job in California, after I moved out from Ohio, was right here in Foothill Ranch. It's a small community, but it makes up for its size with a dramatic red rock canyon nobody visiting Orange County expects to find.
foothill ranch
Family Photography in Foothill Ranch
My first job in California was in Foothill Ranch, back when I'd just moved out from Ohio. It's a small, quiet community, technically part of Lake Forest since it was annexed in 2000, but it has its own identity, and its own claim to fame: Oakley, the sunglasses company, is headquartered here.
Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park is the real draw for photos. Follow the Borrego Canyon Trail back to Red Rock Canyon and you'll find 100-foot red sandstone cliffs that look like they were airlifted in from Utah, not Orange County. It's genuinely one of the more dramatic backdrops in the county, but it's also a real hike, close to two miles each way, so it suits families with older kids more than toddlers or a large group with grandparents along. Sessions there need an OC Parks permit, the same as the other wilderness parks I shoot at, and I handle that as part of booking.
For food after a session, most people head to the shops along Portola Parkway. The Rice is the one locals keep bringing up, an unassuming spot that's become something of a hidden gem for Japanese food. It's not fancy, but it's the kind of place that's earned its following one regular at a time.
multi-generational sessions
Extended Family & Legacy Sessions in Foothill Ranch
Red Rock Canyon is a stretch for a large, multi-generational group, given the hike to reach it, so for extended family sessions I usually recommend staying closer to the main trailhead and parking area at Whiting Ranch, or shooting in the San Clemente studio instead, where everyone can be comfortable regardless of age or mobility.
If your group is up for the hike, though, Red Rock Canyon is worth it. It's simply not the first thing I'd suggest for a big group with young kids or grandparents along.
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 Foothill Ranch 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 Foothill Ranch, or do I need to drive to San Clemente?
.pp-rendered ._0cb6d4de-c35c-4d89-97cd-6f837da03dcc#x20;My studio is in San Clemente, about 25 minutes south. I photograph Foothill Ranch families on location at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, and also in the studio if you'd rather shoot indoors.
Is Red Rock Canyon a good spot for young kids or a large family group?
.pp-rendered ._0cb6d4de-c35c-4d89-97cd-6f837da03dcc#x20;Honestly, not always. Reaching Red Rock Canyon is a real hike, close to two miles each way, so it suits families with older kids better than toddlers or a large group with grandparents along. For those sessions, I usually recommend staying near the main trailhead at Whiting Ranch or shooting in the San Clemente studio instead.
Do you need a permit to shoot at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park?
.pp-rendered ._0cb6d4de-c35c-4d89-97cd-6f837da03dcc#x20;Yes. It's an OC Parks property, so professional sessions require a permit arranged in advance, the same as the other wilderness parks I shoot at. I handle the permit as part of booking your session.
What is the investment for a family session?
.pp-rendered ._0cb6d4de-c35c-4d89-97cd-6f837da03dcc#x20;Sessions start at $395 on weekdays and $495 on weekends. Collections start at $1,590. Most Foothill Ranch 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 ._0cb6d4de-c35c-4d89-97cd-6f837da03dcc#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 ._0cb6d4de-c35c-4d89-97cd-6f837da03dcc#x20;Yes. Extended family sessions are one of my specialties. For a larger, multi-generational group in Foothill Ranch, I usually recommend the more accessible areas near the main Whiting Ranch trailhead, or the San Clemente studio, rather than the hike out to Red Rock Canyon. [See more on extended family sessions.](https://julieirene.com/extended-family-legacy-portraits-orange-county/)
What's the difference between a family session and an extended family session?
.pp-rendered ._0cb6d4de-c35c-4d89-97cd-6f837da03dcc#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, which usually calls for a larger location and a different flow, but it's 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 ._0cb6d4de-c35c-4d89-97cd-6f837da03dcc#x20;As many as you're bringing. Extended family sessions in Foothill Ranch often include grandparents, siblings, and cousins across several generations, and the San Clemente studio is built to comfortably hold a large group. On-location works well too, especially at the Regional Park.
What ages do you photograph for family sessions?
.pp-rendered ._0cb6d4de-c35c-4d89-97cd-6f837da03dcc#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 Foothill Ranch.
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.
