San Diego Maternity, Newborn, and Brand Photographer

It is your legacy

Minimal. Intentional. Timeless Portrature.

— Award Winning La Jolla Luxury photographer

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San Diego Photographer Renata Lutz, The Portrait Mama recently mentioned in NBC, FOX, Style Magazine, CBS, Times of San Diego, SD Voyager

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My Services

Maternity

Newborn

Mother smiling tenderly at her milestone baby, captured in a serene studio motherhood session by a top San Diego motherhood photographer.

Motherhood and Family

Personal Branding

Empowering Women Through Elegant, Bespoke Photography

In San Diego, life moves fast, and no one understands this better than moms. From the moment you discover you’re pregnant to watching your children grow, time seems to fly by. Days are long, but years go by in the blink of an eye. Capturing the beauty and importance of these fleeting moments is my passion. As a luxury photographer in La Jolla, I offer full-service maternity, newborn, family, and personal branding photography to ensure these memories last a lifetime.

I’m honored to serve mothers across San Diego County, from La Jolla to Encinitas, and from Rancho Peñasquitos to Coronado. Whether you’re welcoming your first child or managing a business while raising a bustling household, I specialize in photographing the milestones you’ll want to remember forever.

Every photo portrait I create is designed to help you relive the most important moments in your family’s life. And for the business owners I work with, my personal branding sessions are crafted to reflect your unique story and professional journey. Every mother has a journey and a story, and I’m privileged to help you tell yours through timeless, high-end photography.

I pride myself on developing strong relationships with my clients, allowing me to capture their personalities in every image. My clients often become great friends, and I’m honored to be part of these pivotal moments in their lives.

about me

Client testimonials

the kindest words …

Book your session with Renata today it will be a wonderful investment with memories to last a lifetime!
Where do I start with Renata’s amazing professional photography talent? She’s been our go to photographer since we’ve moved to the area and we’ve entrusted her with some of our most special memories. My children immediately warmed to her and were at ease, no small feat considering these two are often uncooperative when taking photos. Her kindness, ability to connect with her clients and patience are amazing! Renata captured milestones for my daughter, family sessions and our beloved dog who is no longer with us. I am so grateful to have found such a talented photographer who has such passion for her work. She not only tries to capture everything you are hoping for but also manages to get the most beautiful candid images. Book your session with Renata today it will be a wonderful investment with memories to last a lifetime!
Katie A.
Mom of 2
We’ve started posting some of the brand shoot photos onto our social platforms and marketing materials and have already seen a huge increase in engagement and overall interest.
Working with Renata was an absolute dream! When it comes to planning a brand shoot it can be a big project, but Renata made the whole process easy and enjoyable. She worked with us on developing a game plan before the branding shoot, making sure our brand voice came through our photos. As someone who can feel uncomfortable in front of the camera, Renata made me (and everyone else involved) feel so confident. She also perfectly captured the aesthetic and look we were going for. We’ve started posting some of the brand shoot photos onto our social platforms and marketing materials and have already seen a huge increase in engagement and overall interest. If you’re in need of content that embodies your brand and speaks to your target audience – Renata is the photographer for you!
Ashley Hughes
Co-Founder of ‘Do the thought work’ podcast
CEO of Willow Marketing
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE my brand photos!!!
Working with Renata for my Brand Photos was a dream. She had everything taken care of – from poses, location, and even suggestions for wardrobe and props, she made my experience “The Best.” She gently guided me with conversation and laughter to capture my essence in my photos, and left meeting a new dear friend. She was also able to take the vision I had for myself & brand and bring it into reality in a way that was even better than that what I imagined. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE my brand photos!!! Renata, is phenomenal and recommended her to anyone I know needing brand photos that truly brings out the essence of you & your brand.
Naheemah McMicheaux
CEO of The story inside you
The results are always spectacular and will leave you wondering how she captured the moment so quickly!
Renata has been such a blessing to our family! She is so warm and genuine, she always goes out of her way to help keep the photoshoot going even with a fussy toddler and puppy!! The results are always spectacular and will leave you wondering how she captured the moment so quickly!
Veronica A.
She has somehow made my shyness and awkwardness in front of the camera disappear in her shots.
Working with Renata is always such a good experience! Also the product and the user friendly interface to review and order your photos… she has exceeded our expectations every single time, it only gets better with her! She is patient and great at guiding us to capture natural candid moments. She has somehow made my shyness and awkwardness in front of the camera disappear in her shots. I am convinced that she is a dog and toddler whisperer: try getting a good photo of 5-6 toddlers at the same time like she does! 🙂 She has beautiful locations, backdrops and fresh ideas for her sessions. 110% recommended! Keep up the great work, The Portrait Mama! We’ll see you again very soon.
Alejandra Z.
My business is not just a business. It’s a culture. Renata captures the essence of what we’ve worked so hard to create.
Renata is one of the very kindest and professional people I’ve ever worked with. The balance of kindness, fun and professionalism can be hard to find- but Renata has managed to do just that. Every photo she’s ever taken of me has become a favorite. In fact, Renata wins for taking my favorite picture of all time. And let’s be real, we are our own worst critic. But I love this photo! I’ve also had the joy of getting to sit with Renata on branding. My business is not just a business. It’s a culture. Renata captures the essence of what we’ve worked so hard to create. A culture that’s soft, peaceful, kind, pretty, accepting. Her pictures tell our story better than any words could. She is truly the best.
Kara Lee
Founder and CEO of The Well Community for Women
I have had three photoshoots with Renata, and all were amazing experiences!
I have had three photoshoots with Renata, and all were amazing experiences! Our first was with our newborn baby girl. Renata was always patient and gentle, and we got the most incredible photos. The second and third were for our daughter’s first and second birthdays and for each one, Renata managed to capture our her silly personality.
Rachelle W.

THE GALLERY

Recent Work

frequently asked questions

Newborn sessions

Personal brand sessions

Although I always recommend scheduling your newborn session while you are in your second to third trimester, your baby is still a newborn after that! As a matter of fact, I have photographed older babies frequently.

The recommendation is to have your newborn session while the baby is around 7-14 days new. But, I totally understand the fog you go through after bringing that baby home, and I will do my best to fit you in and get those memories documented!

Absolutely not!!!! I offer a full-service session and will provide everything we need for the session: newborn props, outfits, fabrics, accessories, and backdrops.

I take newborn safety VERY seriously. I have been trained and certified in newborn safety and infant CPR. I will follow the baby’s lead throughout the session and will never ‘force’ a pose. My newborn props and outfits are inspected and sanitized between sessions. I am also fully vaccinated (including influenza, Tdap, and COVID-19).

I offer both in home newborn sessions and in studio newborn sessions. The location is completely up to you and where you feel more comfortable.

Not really. Although you will get some killer headshots during your session, personal branding sessions are way more than that! We will dive deep on your message and your ideal client, and create images that speak directly to them. We will showcase who you are, what you do and why you do it! We will create images that you can use for your website, mailing and online marketing, social media platforms, and much more!

Absolutely yes! As a matter of fact, it can be an accelerator into building up your business! I offer three different branding packages so I can serve women and their business in every stage.

I not only can, but I will. A big part of the preparation work for you photoshoot is actually diving deep in all aspects of your personal brand: brand aesthetics, brand message, and of course you as the face of your brand!

I do! I offer a package that includes multiple branding photo sessions with monthly payments. These packages can keep your social media content up to date and allows you for seasonal imagery.

Mariah Tabor

Highly recommend Renata for any maternity shoot you are considering - I will be coming back for newborn pictures as well!! We did a maternity session together and although I am not the photoshoot type, I'm so happy that I found her and I booked it! The photos turned out ever better than the inspiration and Renata was a true professional coaching me through the shoot and making sure I felt comfortable. You will no doubt have an amazing experience with her as well!!

danielle gee

Renata did an incredible job with my brand photos for my organization business! I was a bit nervous about posing and making sure everything looked natural, but she made the entire experience so easy and enjoyable. She was warm, professional, and gave great direction, helping me feel comfortable in front of the camera. The final photos captured my brand perfectly and made my website look more polished and professional. I couldn’t be happier with the results. Highly recommend Renata for anyone looking for a talented and supportive photographer!

Leticia Guillen Estrada

Renata was recommended to me and I would highly recommend her to anyone who needs newborn photos. She is very talented, patient, kind, professional and an expert. She has a beautiful studio full of many props and outfits. She helps you and it is not overwhelming. She did an incredible job with my 1 week old. I am very grateful for her and so happy with all the photos. I will proudly print and display the photos in my home and also share the photos on my social media. If you need a newborn photo shoot I would schedule with Renata! Thank you so much for all you do! We can’t wait to come back for more photos in the future.

Lisa Acosta

Renata has such a gift and an eye for detail. She photographed our now 6-year-old as a newborn and had such a way with him. She knew just how to soothe him, got him in the cutest positions, in the most adorable outfits, and never batted an eye when he pooped all over her. She has since been our photographer for hour-long whole + extended family photos at Presidio Park, mini sessions at the beach, and most recently, the most magical Santa meet and greet. She knows how to set up experiences. From the moment my son walked, Santa already knew his name and had his name written on the nice list. He made him feel comfortable as they read books together and he got to help decorate nutcrackers. It was unlike anything we have ever experienced. Renata has an eye for detail. She knows how to work with children and makes everyone feel at ease. I would highly recommend Rentana to capture all the special moments for your family.

Bonnie

Fantastic experiences. We have used Rentata who owns and runs The Portrait Mama at least 4 times for family photos. She is reliable, skilled, great with kids and just a fantastic person. Highly recommend her for any kind of brand or personal or family photography.

Christina Bombay

I was very nervous to take photos, especially branding photos for my business. Renata made me feel very comfortable and she made it really fun! I’m glad that I decided on going with The Portrait Mama because she doesn’t just take your photos, she helps build your brand! I will be forever grateful for the work that she does. Every time I look at my website, flyers, marketing materials, etc. I see a mama building her brand and a legacy for her family! She made me feel confident and beautiful! Thank you Renata for supporting my business!

Kristy Orosco

Renata is not only an incredibly talented photographer, but is the warmest soul that makes you feel comfortable and confident throughout the process. She has captured our family on many occasions and has created images that we will treasure for our lifetime. She's creative, reliable, communicative, and professional. We can't recommend Renata enough as a family photographer.

Lindsay Kramer

Renata is amazing! She has a gift and is able to capture beautiful memories. I would highly recommend her to anyone (she has photographed my family as well as headshots for all my coworkers). She also has such a kind heart and is wonderful to work with!

Becky Niemiec

Our family is spread out and we have had family portraits done with Portrait Mama when we’ve been able to be together. Renata does a great job with our multi-generation group. I hope we can schedule another session with her soon.

Think we are a great fit?

I offer maternity and newborn photography, family photography, and personal branding photography to women in San Diego, La Jolla, Del Mar, Encinitas, Escondido, San Marcos, Chula Vista, La Mesa and beyond!

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