Family and extended family portraits of the people you love most, in san juan capistrano.
A luxury portrait experience for San Juan Capistrano 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 ten minutes south in San Clemente, and between Caspers Wilderness Park and Northwest Open Space, this might be the city I shoot on location in more than any other.
twenty years experience | private san clemente studio | by appointment only
I'm Julie Boucher. San Juan Capistrano is only ten minutes from my studio, and between Caspers Wilderness Park and Northwest Open Space, it might be the city I shoot on location in more than any other.
san juan capistrano
Family Photography in San Juan Capistrano
Northwest Open Space and Caspers Wilderness Park are two of my go-to locations here, and they couldn't be more different. Northwest Open Space is small and easy, covered in wildflowers and rustic wood fencing, especially beautiful in spring. Caspers is the opposite, 8,000 acres of oak and sycamore groves, and it's genuinely one of the best places in Orange County to shoot in the fall, when the sycamores turn and the whole park changes color. Both are OC Parks properties, which means professional sessions need a permit.
The Los Rios District is the oldest residential neighborhood in California, adobe homes, narrow tree-lined streets, and a genuinely cute backdrop if you want some history behind your session instead of open space. It sits right next to the newer River Street Marketplace, which most people still call the Riverwalk, a walkable mix of shops and restaurants that's turned into a nice reason to make an afternoon of your session.
Downtown San Juan Capistrano has become a real food destination. Heritage Barbecue is the one everyone talks about, and it earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand, not quite a star, but real Michelin recognition all the same, and it's worth the wait. Between the Mission, Los Rios, and downtown, it's an easy city to turn a session into a full day out.
multi-generational sessions
Extended Family & Legacy Sessions in San Juan Capistrano
Caspers Wilderness Park has the space a big group actually needs, wide valleys and open trails instead of a tight backdrop everyone has to squeeze into. It's an easy pick when family is in town and you want the session to feel like part of the day, not a stop on the way to somewhere else.
The permit and timing work the same way as any OC Parks property, I handle both as part of booking, and I'll help you figure out whether Caspers or Northwest Open Space fits your group better based on size and what backdrop you're picturing.
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 San Juan Capistrano 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 San Juan Capistrano, or do I need to drive to San Clemente?
My studio is in San Clemente, about ten minutes south. I photograph San Juan Capistrano families on location at Caspers Wilderness Park and Northwest Open Space, and also in the studio if you'd rather shoot indoors.
What's the difference between Caspers Wilderness Park and Northwest Open Space?
Northwest Open Space is smaller and easier, with wildflowers and rustic fencing, especially beautiful in spring. Caspers Wilderness Park is much larger, with oak and sycamore groves that turn color in the fall. Which one fits depends on your group size and the look you're going for.
Do you need a permit to shoot at these parks?
Yes. Both are OC Parks properties, so professional sessions require a permit, the same as Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park in Coto de Caza. I handle the permit as part of booking your session.
What is the investment for a family session?
Sessions start at $395 on weekdays and $495 on weekends. Collections start at $1,590. Most San Juan Capistrano 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?
Most families book four to eight weeks out. Sessions at Caspers or Northwest Open Space need a permit arranged in advance, 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, and Caspers Wilderness Park's wide valleys give a large group real room to spread out instead of squeezing into a tight backdrop. 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. 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?
As many as you're bringing. Extended family sessions in San Juan Capistrano often include grandparents, siblings, and cousins across several generations, and Caspers Wilderness Park's open valleys give a large group plenty of room. The San Clemente studio is also built to comfortably hold a large group.
What ages do you photograph for family sessions?
All of them, together. 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 San Juan Capistrano.
Julie Irene Photography, a luxury portrait studio in San Clemente, California. Newborn, family, maternity, headshots and personal branding for Orange County
san clemente, ca
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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.
