Family and extended family portraits of the people you love most, in laguna niguel.
A luxury portrait experience for Laguna Niguel 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 15 minutes south in San Clemente, and Laguna Niguel Regional Park is one of my favorite places to shoot on location in Laguna Niguel.
twenty years experience | private san clemente studio | by appointment only
I'm Julie Boucher. Laguna Niguel doesn't get talked about as much as its coastal neighbors, but it has some of the prettiest views in South Orange County and a park that's become one of my regular sessions spots. It's an easy trip from my San Clemente studio, and always worth it.
laguna niguel
Family Photography in Laguna Niguel
Laguna Niguel surprises people. Despite the name, there's no beach here, it's a hillside city built around canyons and ridgelines, and the views come from elevation instead of ocean access. Neighborhoods like Bear Brand Ranch and Ocean Ranch sit high enough to see all the way to Catalina on a clear day, which says a lot about why people move here in the first place.
My go-to spot is Laguna Niguel Regional Park, especially the stand of big sycamore trees near the lake. They throw consistent, open shade, which means we can shoot later in the afternoon without anyone squinting or getting harsh shadows across their face. It's a rare kind of light in Orange County, and the open lawns give kids room to actually run around between shots instead of standing still and looking miserable about it.
If you live up in Kite Hill, you already know it's one of the best places in the city to watch the Regional Park's Fourth of July fireworks without fighting the crowd down at the park itself. It's a nice illustration of what Laguna Niguel does well: quiet, elevated, and a little removed from the busier parts of the coast.
multi-generational sessions
Extended Family & Legacy Sessions in Laguna Niguel
Laguna Niguel Regional Park is genuinely one of the better spots in South Orange County for a large group, since the open lawns and trail loops give everyone room to spread out instead of standing shoulder to shoulder in a cramped frame. If your family is gathering here for a reunion, a milestone birthday, or just because everyone happens to be in town at once, that space makes a real difference.
For families who'd rather stay closer to home, I also photograph extended family sessions right in a Bear Brand Ranch or Ocean Ranch backyard, using the hillside views as the backdrop instead of driving anywhere at all.
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 Niguel 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 Laguna Niguel, or do I need to drive to San Clemente?
.pp-rendered ._5f9d326f-e921-48ed-b834-1b826e0b0cb7#x20;My studio is in San Clemente, about 15 minutes south. I photograph Laguna Niguel families both on location and in the studio, so you can pick whichever fits your session best.
Where do you take photos in Laguna Niguel if there's no beach?
.pp-rendered ._5f9d326f-e921-48ed-b834-1b826e0b0cb7#x20;Laguna Niguel doesn't have its own beach, it's a hillside city known more for ocean views than ocean access. My favorite spot here is Laguna Niguel Regional Park, especially under the big sycamore trees, which give consistent shade and let us shoot later in the afternoon without harsh light.
What is the investment for a family session?
.pp-rendered ._5f9d326f-e921-48ed-b834-1b826e0b0cb7#x20;Sessions start at $395 on weekdays and $495 on weekends. Collections start at $1,590. Most Laguna Niguel 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 ._5f9d326f-e921-48ed-b834-1b826e0b0cb7#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 ._5f9d326f-e921-48ed-b834-1b826e0b0cb7#x20;Yes. Extended family sessions are one of my specialties, and Laguna Niguel Regional Park's open lawns and trails give a large group plenty of room to spread out. [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 ._5f9d326f-e921-48ed-b834-1b826e0b0cb7#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 ._5f9d326f-e921-48ed-b834-1b826e0b0cb7#x20;As many as you're bringing. Extended family sessions in Laguna Niguel 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 ._5f9d326f-e921-48ed-b834-1b826e0b0cb7#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 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.
