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Meet Our New Santa Clarita Family Photographer: Sonja Gilhuys!

Kirsten QuinnAbout the Schlicks, Family

We’re thrilled to introduce Sonja Gilhuys, our Santa Clarita family photographer and new Junior Photographer on the SchlickArt team!

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We are absolutely thrilled to announce our new Junior Photographer – Sonja Gilhuys! Some of you may have seen her out in the community already, as she’s been honing her craft and mastering our SchlickArt signature style. But we wanted to formally introduce her to the community and let you all get to know the beautiful, sweet, hard-working photographer we’ve come to love so much. 

As a specialized Santa Clarita family photographer, Sonja shoots everything from headshots to boudoir, though her greatest passion lies with family photography shot in an outdoor setting.

For her, family is where photography started. 

Meet Santa Clarita Family Photographer Sonja Gilhuys

An Eye For Color & Branding

Santa Clarita family photography, Santa Clarita family photographer, Santa Clarita family photos, Santa Clarita family portraits, outdoor family photography in Santa Clarita, SCV family photography, SCV family photographer, Los Angeles family photography, SchlickArt Studios, Sonja GilhuysBorn on an Air Force base in Germany, Sonja Gilhuys moved around until age 5, when her family settled in California to call Lancaster home. Growing up, she was a creative child with a knack for crafting and DIY projects and, later, expressing herself through hip hop dance. While photography didn’t come into focus until later, Sonja always had an eye for what looked good, including color and style. 

Putting her skills to the test, Sonja worked as the Brand Manager of Express clothing for 8 years, during which she oversaw the consistency of the brand at her local store and managed its implementation at the ground level. While working, Sonja and her partner, Henry Rodriguez, had their first son, Jayden, in 2012, and a little over a year later, they welcomed their second son, Mason, into the family. At that time, they decided motherhood would be Sonja’s main focus, and she enjoyed 7 years at home with her boys. 

A Photography Passion Was Born

It was her boys’ young, smiling faces that inspired Sonja to buy her first “fancy” camera and start playing around with photography. She instantly fell in love with it, cherishing the way she could capture her boys’ lives as they grew up right in front of her. From first-day-of-school photos to capturing them on the soccer field, Sonja’s family and friends began to notice her natural talent — calling her the “baby whisperer.” And the shoot requests followed. 

By 2017, Sonja had built a small business shooting family, maternity, newborn, engagement, wedding, boudoir and other styles of photography. While she loved working with her clients and the camera, she didn’t love the business side of things quite as much, and in 2019, she joined the SchlickArt team as our first Junior Photographer. 

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SchlickArt Family Sessions by Sonja

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Today, Sonja has helped us launch a new revamped, expanded indoor/outdoor family line, SchlickArt Family Sessions by Sonja, which captures your family’s most precious moments with a candid yet polished style that feels as luxurious as the shoot looks. In typical SchlickArt style, Sonja ensures that every family shoot is as fun and easy as possible, and she takes extra steps to care for Mom, as well. 

As a Santa Clarita family photographer, Sonja loves catching those spontaneous moments of laughter and sincere looks of love between families – especially when they’re sharing a moment that couldn’t be captured any other way. 

After hours, Sonja loves her other job just as much – being a busy mom and loving auntie. Though her days are currently being spent between her SchlickArt work and homeschooling her kiddos, she’s taking the changes in stride and finding creative ways to entertain her family at home. (Keep an eye out for her latest photography project – a virtual mini session all moms and dads will want to watch – which we’ll be announcing soon!)

But on a normal day, Sonja can be found taking kids to sports games and hosting their friends and family any time there’s an excuse to get together. When she finally finds a moment to wind down, Sonja loves cheering on the Dodgers and the Cowboys or enjoying upscale Italian at Bestia in LA. If a local date night is in order, however, you’ll probably find Henry and Sonja at Larsen’s, as she tips back a blueberry lemon drop and savors the excuse not to cook. 

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Book With Our New Santa Clarita Family Photographer

Sonja is now taking reservations for her SchlickArt Family Sessions by Sonja, as well as family mini sessions and more. If you would like to be the first to get a session once businesses are back open, please email [email protected] to get on her reservation list, or book a tentative session date for after April 30. 

Once businesses open again, Sonja will be offering outdoor family shoots at the perfect location: Placerita Canyon Nature Center. But she’s more than happy to come to you, too! Family shoots can be held in the comfort of your own home, backyard or favorite family location. (Please note that locations outside the City of Santa Clarita require a travel fee to book.) 

To book with Sonja, please call 661-341-5558 or visit schlickart.com/contact.

About Our Santa Clarita Family Photographer

Our SchlickArt Family Sessions by Sonja are the perfect way to capture your family’s legacy while still enjoying the magic of a luxury SchlickArt photo shoot. We really take care of Mom in this special pampering session, giving her the full treatment with red-carpet hair and makeup services and custom posing instruction. By making sure the entire family is having fun, we help Mom relax and have a great time, too. We take care of everything, so you can walk away with a set of gorgeous family photos that you’ll cherish for generations to come.

About SchlickArt Photography and Video

SchlickArt, a boutique photo and video studio in Santa Clarita, started in March 2012 with the simple idea that empowerment creates a kind of beauty and authenticity that shines through every camera lens. Built on a philosophy — rather than a product, service or person — SchlickArt has rapidly evolved, meeting professional portraiture, business photo and business video needs as diverse as the community we capture. It’s the desire to take care of you, the client, that drives us at SchlickArt.