My Favorite Las Vegas Locations for a Family Summer Session + One Cali Destination

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I 100% prefer summer for family photos over fall, even here in the desert of Las Vegas. For me, it’s relaxed energy, I love summer style and fashion, and the fact that kids are out of school make it the perfect time to update your family photos. Whether you’re dreaming of something playful, editorial, or effortlessly candid, I’ve gathered a list of my absolute favorite places to shoot family sessions during the summer months in Las Vegas, plus a surprise destination location that is a road trip away:

An Omni Lens Baby kit is my go-to for creativity during family session.

1. The White Space– Downtown Las Vegas

The White Space is a natural light studio I own in DTLV. I designed the layout and with intention specifically curated all the props. The White Space is perfect for clean, timeless family portraits—especially during those scorching Vegas days when outdoor sessions just aren’t ideal. The large windows, minimal design, and soft textures allow your family’s connection to shine without distractions. Bonus: it’s air-conditioned, comfortable, and toddler-proof.

2. Mt. Charleston – Just Outside Las Vegas

Only 45 minutes from the city, Mt. Charleston offers cooler temperatures, tall pines, and sweeping mountain views. I literally get gitty when a client mentions a session here. It’s such a dreamy escape from the desert heat and creates a completely different look for your gallery. Think cozy blankets, wildflowers, and barefoot kids running through the woods. Sometimes wild horses and deer pop. Sessions can either be stylish and elevated in the Meadows, or we can light a fire and break out the smores with your kiddos. How fun would that be? Either way, you’ll be the best time with your family and I’ll be here to document it for you. Check out a family session from Mt. Charleston HERE.

3. Your Home – Your Personal Haven

There’s something incredibly special about photographing families in their own homes. The comfort, the familiarity, the little details that tell your story—these sessions are always deeply personal. Whether it’s baking in the kitchen, playing in the living room, or snuggling on the bed, your home is full of beautiful light and love. Homes are particularity for newborn sessions, and session with toddlers. I promise that you’ll look back on these for years and years and not only love the younger faces, but your old couch, or that first family home. These are super sentimental! Check out an In-Home Family Session HERE.

A sweet personality portrait during this family session at The White Space.

4. Backyard or Pool Sessions – Playful + Personality-Packed

Summer screams pool days and popsicles. Backyard sessions are fun, relaxed, and full of personality. We can photograph your family splashing in the water, lounging poolside, or enjoying golden hour with games and snacks. These are especially great for families who want a documentary-style gallery filled with color and movement. I had Hi & Hello Photography do a backyard session for us this summer, and I feel so incredibly lucky to have such beautiful images of my family in our favorite spot where we spend so much of our time together.

5. Santa Barbara, CA – Beachy, Breezy, and Beautiful

Ok, so definitely not in Las Vegas, but just a six hour drive away. Santa Barbara is a dream location, and I’m lucky to have family there, so I love to take the kids there when I can. With stunning beaches, soft pastel skies, and Spanish-style charm, it offers a coastal vibe that’s hard to beat. So if you are thinking of a quick family getaway, and want to include getting family pics taken, I’m often there visiting family and would love to photograph yours, too.

Crayons and plexiglass give this a rainbow effect.

Ready to Book Your Summer Session?
No matter which setting speaks to you, my goal is always the same: to capture your family as you are right now. I want it to be fun, goofy, chaotic, snuggly, all of it.. Reach out to reserve your summer date—openings are limited through August, and I'd love to help you create something truly special this season.

Let me know which location feels most like you, and we’ll bring your dream session to life!

Alyssa Charboneau has been photographing families and newborns for nearly 10 years. With experience as an elementary teacher and a television journalist, Alyssa has combined her love of visual storytelling and working with kiddos. Ready to plan your newborn, family, or other session?

How Motherhood Made Me a Better Photographer

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I’m a photographer, a studio owner, and someone who thrives on capturing real, meaningful moments. But before all of that — I’m a mom. And the truth is, being a mother has shaped everything about the way I photograph.

Family and Maternity Session

Life Behind the Lens - and Behind the Scenes

I have three kids: two daughters (12 and 8) and a son (6). Life is full — full of school runs, snack requests, sibling dynamics, dance parties in the living room, and quiet, unexpected moments that make my heart skip a beat. These aren’t just memories I want to keep — they’re what inspire me to capture those same fleeting moments for the families who step in front of my camera. As my baby has recently graduated from Kindergarten last month, I feel like my chapter with truly little kids has closed. So what do I have to remember the last 12 years of having babies, toddlers, and little kids running around, just the pictures. Oh, and all the art work. If you have good solution for saving the art work, I’m all ears. Back to the images though, it’s what I have left to remember the lost teeth, the favorite dance costumes, the silly smiles, and the sweet toddler snuggles.

Family and maternity pool session.

I Photograph What I know - and What I Love

I think that’s why so many of my clients feel super comfortable with me — because we’re walking similar paths. I know what it’s like to show up to a session a little flustered (and even a lot), hoping your kids are in a good mood, wondering if you remembered the snacks, and crossing your fingers that someone smiles. I’ve been there. I was literally that person at our own family pictures last month!

That’s why I approach every session with patience and empathy. I don’t expect or want perfection — I’m looking for the real stuff. The in-between moments. The way your toddler reaches up to hold your hand. The proud look your child gives you after you fix their hair. The crazy laugh that escapes when someone says something silly. These are the things that matter. These are the memories that last. When you see an image of your kiddo laughing, I want you to be able to hear that laugh when you see that image.

Las Vegas Family & Maternity Outdoor Session

As a mom, I know how fast the days go — and how slow they can sometimes feel. I know what it’s like to scroll your camera roll and realize you’re in so few photos. I know the tug on your heart when you catch a glimpse of your child looking older than they did last week. And I carry all of that with me when I’m behind the camera.

Motherhood didn’t just make me a better photographer — it made me a storyteller. One who sees what matters, who understands what’s at stake, and who’s deeply honored to help you hold on to this season, however messy or magical it may be. I really do take my job personally, and want to give you the absolute best memories to look back on!

Because at the end of the day, these aren’t just pictures. They’re pieces of your legacy. And it’s a privilege to be the one who helps you tell it.

Family pool session.

Let’s Slow it Down - Together

If you’re a mama who’s feeling the whirlwind of life and wants to pause—just for a little while—I’d be so honored to document those everyday special moments for you. Whether it’s an afternoon in your backyard pool, a quiet cuddle on the couch, or the simple joy of your kids being themselves, I’m here to capture the real, unfiltered love that makes your family unique.

Let’s create something together that doesn’t just live on your walls or in your albums, but something that will carry the weight of these memories — the laughter, the chaos, the tenderness — and mean even more to you 10, 20, or 30 years from now. Because these moments deserve to be remembered exactly as they are, now and always.

Family and maternity pool session.

If you’re ready to capture your family’s story, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out anytime to chat about your vision or to book a session. Let’s create memories that will warm your heart for years to come.

 

Las Vegas family on vacation.

Alyssa Charboneau is a Las Vegas newborn and family lifestyle photographer. As a mom of three, a former elementary teacher and former news reporter, documenting young families is a true dream job! Alyssa is also the owner of The White Space, a natural lights photography studio and small event space in Downtown Las Vegas. The images from this blog post were taken by Alyssa at the Elena S. Blair Mastermind Retreat at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs.