Beautiful imagery for a life worth living

San Diego Newborn and Personal Branding Photographer

Luxury Newborn Photography | Brand Photography for Mompreneurs

Every mother has a journey and a story

Life happens quickly, and no one understands this better than moms. While the days can feel long, the years seem to fly by in an instant.

I am honored to serve San Diego mamas in every stage of motherhood. Whether you’re pregnant with your first baby or running a company while raising a houseful of children, I capture the moments you want to remember.

Each photo portrait you receive allows you to revisit important times in the life of your children, your family, and move forward with your business. Every mother has a journey and a story, and it’s a privilege to help you tell your story in photos.

By developing strong relationships with my clients, I capture their unique personalities in each photograph. I’m honored to be part of these moments, and many clients have become great friends, too.

about me

Work With Me

My Services

Maternity and Newborns

From the second you get that positive pregnancy test, things move lightning-fast for moms. I get it because I’m a mama, too. I help you slow things down just a bit by capturing the beauty of each important step in your family’s life:

Maternity pictures
Newborn and baby photos
Baby milestones and cakesmash

I provide both in home and in studio sessions, because my first priority is the comfort of your family. My sessions are full service, which means I will provide everything we need (newborn props, backdrops, outfits, etc), so let me do the shopping and styling according to your vision!

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Child and

Families

I cherish the opportunity to help you document all of your family’s special times. And I love capturing the unique personality of each family I serve so that you have treasured photos to keep forever.

My family sessions are play-based, so you are guaranteed to have a stress-free fun time! I’m committed to taking a mix of posed and candid pictures of your family. And the bigger the personalities, the more fun it gets!

And please do not forget your fur kids! I absolutely love dogs and treat mine as my children (and including them in my photoshoots is a must!)

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Personal Branding

If you own a business of any size, you deserve to celebrate it! Running a company is hard. Being the CEO is challenging. I help women business owners in the San Diego area build their marketing materials with:

Personalized Branding Photos
On-Brand Social Media Content
Modern Lifestyle Headshots

From the planning call to our brand photoshoot day, I will guide you through finding your message and showing up as the boss you are! You will end up with impactful images that speak directly to your dream clients, and a boosted confidence to conquer your most ambitious goals!

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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.

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

Newborn baby nestled in a soft wrap, photographed by San Diego newborn photography studio The Portrait Mama

adorable newborn portrait, showcasing one of the poses and setups offered by San Diego's premier newborn photographer.

Older sister holding baby, captured in a professional San Diego milestone photography session, showcasing sibling love.

Newborn baby posed in an simple setup, highlighting the beauty of infancy in a San Diego photography studio.

Family portrait during a newborn session photo shoot highlingting the love for a new baby

Newborn baby posed in a simple set up during a newborn session with the La Jolla baby photographer The Portrait Mama

Confident woman presenting celebrating business success in San Diego, embodying confidence and expertise in personal branding photography.

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.

      
   The Portrait Mama
   14 Google reviews 
  Write a review 
  
 
 
   
 
 
        
   Diana Ramon 
 September 21, 2022.
 
 
  From maternity to milestones, Renata has documented significant and oh-so precious moments of my and my family's lives. As I go through all the photos from our sessions, I see time pass by and my little ones grow a little older. While it can be nostalgic,  Renata amazingly captures these moments in time and turns them into treasures. She is patient and always strives to find ways to make the session comfortable and tailored to  you and your family. I am beyond grateful for her dedication and aim to always get the best shots. Through pregnant bellies and cake smashes, Renata has captured moments in time that I will forever cherish.
  
 
       
   Dawn Predium 
 July 26, 2022.
 
 
  Working with Renate was so great!  I was more than hesitant to get in front of the camera but she made me feel so relaxed and comfortable.  She was patient and had great ideas for shots.  I love all my pictures and can't wait to work with her again in the future.  If you are hesitant or nervous in front of the camera Renata is your girl!!  She will get great shots and you will have a blast!
  
 
       
   Ashley Nicole 
 January 20, 2022.
 
 
  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!
  
 
       
   naheemah mcmicheaux 
 January 16, 2022.
 
 
  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.
  
 
       
   Kara Lee 
 January 15, 2022.
 
 
  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.
  
 
       
   Amanda A. 
 November 13, 2021.
 
 
  Renata is simple the best! We take our Christmas photos with her every year and she is always professional, sweet, and so wonderful with our toddler! Her work is gorgeous and looks amazing blown up and hung on our wall! We always love our photos and experience and can’t recommend her enough!
  
 
       
   Rachelle Wright 
 April 1, 2021.
 
 
  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.  She has excellent rates and I am looking forward to our next photoshoot!
  
 
       
   Allison Shamrell 
 March 22, 2021.
 
 
  We had a great experience with Renata! The photo session was easy & quick, the images of our daughter were adorable, and Renata was so flexible & fun to work with. Looking forward to our next photo session with her!
  
 
       
   Katie Alpizar 
 March 10, 2021.
 
 
  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!
  
 
       
   Gloria Alejandra Zelaya 
 March 1, 2021.
 
 
  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.

Think we are a great fit?

I offer 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!

Let’s connect!

Contact me!