san clemente luxury portrait studio
Your Investment
What you are investing in is not just a photoshoot. It is a portrait on your wall that your family will be looking at in thirty years.
before we talk numbers
Most photographers charge for a session. This is different.
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A session fee at Julie Irene Photography is not a transaction. It is the beginning of an experience — one that starts with a real consultation before a single photo is taken, moves through a carefully planned session in a studio or at a location designed entirely around your family, and ends with a private reveal where you see your portraits for the first time and choose exactly how you want to enjoy them and display them in your home.
Everything is handled. The wardrobe. The styling. The posing. The pacing. The artwork selection. You show up. We take it from there.
The investment reflects that. It is not the cheapest option in Orange County — and it is not trying to be. It is for the family that understands that the portraits on the wall in twenty years are worth doing right the first time.
I do realize we live a digital world and understand the value people put on digital negatives to share with family and friends, so all purchased products will come with their matching digital image to share as you would like.
what every session includes
The session fee is not just for your time in front of the camera.
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01
Style & Concept Consultation
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Before your session, we meet — in the studio or in your home — to talk through wardrobe, the look you want, and exactly how to set the session up for the best possible portraits. Nothing is left to figure out on session day.
02
Studio Wardrobe Access
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Full access to an extensive studio wardrobe — gorgeous maternity gowns in every color and size, and hundreds of outfits for newborns and babies, as well as children. You do not need to shop for something new unless you want to.
03
The Portrait Session
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A fully guided studio or on-location portrait experience with expert posing, lighting, and direction throughout. With nearly 20 years of experience, every detail is thoughtfully handled so you and your family can simply enjoy the moment.
04
Ordering & Design Appointment
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A private appointment after your session where you see your portraits for the first time in a curated slideshow. You select your favorites, design your collection, and choose how you want to enjoy them. This is where everything comes together.
starting investment
Sessions begin at $395
The session retainer secures your date and covers everything above. Portrait collections and wall art are selected at your ordering appointment — so you only invest in the portraits you truly love.
weekday sessions
$395
session retainer
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Maternity, newborn, baby milestones, children, tweens, seniors, and family sessions. Includes consultation, studio wardrobe, and ordering appointment.
weekend sessions
$495
session retainer
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Limited weekend dates available. Same full experience — consultation, wardrobe, session, and ordering appointment — on the day that works best for your family.
she means business
$790
complete experience
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Personal branding for women entrepreneurs. Includes professional hair and makeup, custom mood board, BTS footage, magazine feature, gallery event invitation, and 2 fully-edited digital images.
The Session Fees listed above DO NOT INCLUDE PRINTS ORDIGITALS. PORTRAITS AND PRODUCTS ARE PURCHASED SEPARATELY
Portrait collections — which include matted prints and fully-edited digital files — begin at $1,590 and are selected at your ordering appointment. Wall art is available separately. Full investment details are covered at your consultation, so you know exactly what to expect before your session day.
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.
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On the blog
what you take home
Portraits made to live on your walls, not just on your phone.
Every product Julie Irene Photography offers is chosen because it is the kind of thing that stays in a family for decades. Not a USB drive in a junk drawer. A portrait on a wall. An album that gets pulled out at Christmas. Something real.
portrait collections
Matted Prints & Digital Files
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Three collection tiers — 8, 16, and 25 portraits — each including archival-quality matted 8x10 prints and matching fully-edited digital files. The 25 Portrait Collection is also available as a handcrafted leather-bound album. Collections are the core of the investment, and the place where most families find exactly what they were hoping for.
Collections from $1,590
8, 16 and 25 portrait tiers available
wall art
Framed & Unframed Wall Portraits
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Available variety and custom sizes — from a smaller statement piece to a portrait large enough to anchor an entire room. Every wall art piece includes master art retouching. Framed and unframed options are available. Clients who purchase a collection on the day of their ordering appointment receive 20% off all framed wall art. Wall art is where the portraits stop being files and become part of your home.
Wall Art from $510 unframed
custom sizes available · framed and unframed · 20% off with collection purchase
how it works
From first conversation to finished portrait — here is the process.
There are no surprises. Every step is laid out for you before anything happens — so the session day is calm, the ordering appointment is easy, and the portraits end up exactly where they belong.
01
The Conversation
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You reach out. We talk — about your family, what you're envisioning, which session is right for you, and what the investment looks like. No pressure. Just a real conversation.
02
The Retainer
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You book your date with a retainer. For newborn sessions, this holds your month — the exact date is confirmed once your baby arrives.
03
The Consultation
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Before your session, we meet to plan wardrobe, session style, and exactly what you want to walk away with. Pricing is covered in full here — so there are no surprises later.
04
The Session
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Your portrait session. Calm, guided, and handled entirely by Julie. You show up. Everything else is taken care of.
05
The Reveal
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Your private ordering appointment — you see your portraits for the first time, select your collection and wall art, and finalize your order. Digital files are delivered within two weeks.
is this the right investment?
Honest answer: it depends on what you're looking for.
Julie Irene Photography is not the right fit for everyone — and that is by design. The studio is built around a specific kind of client: someone who understands that a great portrait is not a commodity, who values the experience as much as the result, and who wants their portraits to end up on the wall rather than lost in a cloud backup.
If you are comparing prices across five photographers and choosing whoever is cheapest, this is probably not the right place. There is no judgment in that — it is just an honest statement about what this studio is and what it is not.
If you are the kind of person who wants it done right, who appreciates being taken care of from the first phone call to the finished product, and who understands that the portraits your family will still have in thirty years are worth investing in — then yes. This is exactly the right place.
You are probably a great fit if...
- You want portraits on your wall — not just digital files you may or may not ever print.
- You value being taken care of. You want someone who handles the details so you can just show up.
- You understand that your children are only this age once — and that the portraits from this season are irreplaceable.
- You have been thinking about getting portraits done for a while and keep waiting for the right time. (The right time is now. It is always now.)
- You want a photographer who has done this for seventeen years and knows how to get a beautiful portrait out of a shy kid, a fussy newborn, or a family that insists they are bad at photos.
- You want the experience to feel like something — not a photo factory, but a real session with someone who cares about the result as much as you do.
Questions about the investment
The most common things people want to know before reaching out — answered directly. If something isn't here, just ask.
Why don't you list your full pricing online?
Because the right portrait investment is different for every family — and the number on a pricing page, without any context for what you actually want, is almost never the right starting point. What makes sense for a family who wants a single large wall portrait is completely different from what makes sense for one who wants a full collection and an album. The consultation is where we talk through what you're envisioning and match the investment to that. Pricing is covered in full at the consultation — so when you arrive at your ordering appointment, there are no surprises. It is a deliberately transparent process, just in the right order.
What does the session retainer cover?
The retainer — $395 for weekday sessions, $495 for weekends — covers the session itself, the pre-session style and concept consultation, full access to the studio wardrobe, and the ordering and design appointment after the session. It does not include portrait collections, digital files, or wall art — those are selected and purchased at the ordering appointment, after you have seen your images.
Do I have to buy anything beyond the session fee?
Technically, no — the retainer is the only required payment before your session. That said, the session is designed with the ordering appointment as the natural conclusion. The portraits are retouched and presented because they are meant to be displayed, not just viewed once and filed away. The ordering appointment is where most families find exactly what they were hoping for. You are not obligated to purchase a specific collection, but there will be something you love — and you will want it on your wall..
When do I pay for my portrait collection?
At the ordering and design appointment — after your session, when you see your images and select what you want. Full payment is made at that appointment before retouching begins. Digital files are delivered within approximately two weeks of the ordering appointment. Printed products typically arrive within three weeks of approval.
Is the retainer refundable if I cancel?
Retainers are non-refundable. If you need to reschedule, the retainer applies to your new date — there is no penalty for rescheduling. The policy exists because the date is held exclusively for you, and a last-minute cancellation leaves a gap that cannot always be filled. Exceptions are made for genuine illness, particularly for newborn sessions where a sick family member should not be in the studio.
What is the typical total investment for a portrait session?
Most families invest between $1,985 and $4,285 total — the session retainer plus a portrait collection. Families who add wall art typically invest more. The full range is discussed at your consultation so you can plan ahead. There is no pressure to choose a specific tier — the ordering appointment is designed to let you select exactly what you love at a pace that feels right.
Are payment plans available?
Reach out and we will talk through options. The goal is never to put beautiful portraits out of reach for the right client — and a real conversation is always the best place to start.
How long until I receive my portraits after the session?
Your ordering appointment is scheduled within a week or two of your session. Digital files are delivered within approximately two weeks after that appointment, once payment is made in full and no additional changes are requested. Printed products — matted prints, albums, wall art — are sent to the lab after images are approved and typically arrive within three to five weeks of approval.
I have never had a client tell me they regret getting portraits done. I have had many tell me they wish they had done it sooner.
— Julie Irene
ready when you are.
Let's talk about what you're envisioning.
Tell me where you are in your family's story and what you're hoping to walk away with. We will figure out the right session, the right timing, and the right investment from there. No obligation — just a real conversation.
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.