Family and extended family portraits of the people you love most, in laguna beach.
A luxury portrait experience for Laguna Beach extended 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 20 minutes south in San Clemente. Laguna Beach sessions take a little more planning than most, since the city requires a photography permit and the tides matter more here than anywhere else I shoot, and I handle both as part of booking your date.
twenty years experience | private san clemente studio | by appointment only
I'm Julie Boucher. Laguna Beach has some of the most beautiful beaches in Orange County, and also some of the trickiest to actually use for a session. Knowing which ones work, when, and what the city requires to shoot there is half the job before I even pick up a camera.
laguna beach
Family Photography in Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach requires a photography permit for professional sessions on its beaches, which surprises a lot of people who assume a public beach means anything goes. I handle that as part of booking your session here, so it's one less thing on your list. Tides matter too, more here than almost anywhere else I shoot, since a beach that looks wide open in the morning can disappear completely by afternoon. I check the tide charts before we ever lock in a date.
Victoria Beach and Treasure Island are two of my favorites, and also two of the most photographed beaches in California, so we plan around that too. Most of the beautiful coves here mean a steep walk down from the bluffs, which is worth knowing before you show up in sandals with a stroller. I'll tell you exactly what to expect before session day, not after.
If you're not from the area, Laguna Beach is worth building a whole day around. The art galleries downtown are a great way to spend an afternoon, Broadway is one of my favorite dinners in town, and if your visit lines up with summer, the Pageant of the Masters and the Sawdust Festival are both worth seeing at least once.
multi-generational sessions
Extended Family & Legacy Sessions in Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach is exactly the kind of place that pulls a family together for a real trip, not just a Sunday dinner. Grandparents flying in, cousins driving down from LA, everyone staying nearby for a few days around the Pageant of the Masters or just a summer week at the beach. That's precisely when an extended family session earns its place on the calendar.
Because of the permit and the tides, these sessions take a bit more coordination than a family session somewhere like San Clemente. I plan the location, the timing, and the permit around your group size and your dates, so all you have to do is show up.
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 Laguna Beach 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."
nelso family | san clemente
Common Questions
Everything you want to know.
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Do you have a studio in Laguna Beach, or do I need to drive to San Clemente?
My studio is in San Clemente, about 20 minutes south. I photograph Laguna Beach families and extended families on location, and also in the studio if you'd rather skip the beach entirely.
Do I need a permit to take family photos on a Laguna Beach beach?
Yes. Laguna Beach requires a photography permit for professional sessions on its public beaches. I handle the permit as part of booking your session, so you don't have to deal with the city directly.
Why do tides matter for a Laguna Beach session?
Some of the best coves here, like Victoria Beach and Treasure Island, change completely between low and high tide. A beach that's wide and open in the morning can be mostly underwater by afternoon. I check tide charts before we set your date and time, so we're not fighting the ocean on session day.
What is the investment for a family session?
Sessions start at $395 on weekdays and $495 on weekends. Collections start at $1590. Most San Clemente families invest between $2500 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. Laguna Beach sessions may need a little more lead time because of the permit process, 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, especially when family is in town for a visit or a milestone gathering. 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, 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?
As many as you're bringing. Extended family sessions in Laguna Beach often include grandparents, siblings, and cousins across several generations. Some of the best coves require a steep walk down from the bluffs, so I'll help you pick a spot that works for your whole group, including anyone who'd rather not make that walk.
What ages do you photograph for family sessions?
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 Laguna Beach.
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.
