CORI KLECKNER ON INSTAGRAM//Are you following?
Are you following on INSTAGRAM?
This past week I noticed that my Facebook updates were getting about 20% of the reach that they usually get. This means out of roughly 1100 followers, only about 220 followers see my posts. Facebook wants us to pay to reach our fans. Even if you hit “LIKE” on a page, Facebook wants you to pay Facebook to give them the content they want.
So, if you’d like to BE SURE you don’t miss out on all the great content I share, you should hop on over to INSTAGRAM and follow me. I often post more personal stuff on there anyways, as a way for my followers to get to know me! ;)
Newborn Twins Session // Newport Beach Newborn Photographer// Orange County Newborn Photographer
Make-A-Wish Family Session // Newport Beach Family Session {Newport Beach Family Photographer}
L i n d s e y + D e r i k + Z o i e + I v i e
About a month ago, I was asked to photograph a family for their sweet little girls Make-A-Wish trip to Orange County , CA. Zoie, age 4yrs, has a genetic disorder called Microcephaly which causes CP and epilepsy, and also has Cystic Fibrosis. I wanted to capture this time for their family, as an addition to their Make-A-Wish trip so that they could have these memories documented to last a lifetime. Both their girls have never been to the beach, never dipped their feet in the ocean or sand and I got to capture them experiencing this for the first time as part of their visit to California . (Wow brings me to tears just writing this) Another part of Zoie's make-a-wish trip was also to visit Disneyland .
Zoie is one of the strongest little girls you will ever meet, or at least that I ever have. This family story is one that tugs my heart strings, but I think the mother Lindsey says it best in her narrative below :
The Cissell’s Family Story
"Derik and I were married in the summer of 2010 in a little town in the Foothills of Colorado. We got to enjoy a beautiful Honeymoon in Playa Del Carman, Mexico, and soon after that we started to plan for a family. We always wanted a lot of kids; I did anyways! I have always loved being surrounded by the comfort and love that family brings. We got pregnant with Zoie, shortly after our honeymoon, and I was a para in a special needs classroom at the time. My pregnancy was smooth and up until our 36 week appointment everything was perfect. At 36 weeks I started to measure small so we went in for an ultrasound. Zoie's head was measuring small, but nothing was brought up because everyone thought it was just a bad angle. At our 37 week appointment and after our doctor reviewed the ultrasound in detail we were rushed in for an emergency C-section to get Zoie out because there were some growth concerns. When she was born, she was healthy, she cried, her color was great, but she looked a teensy bit different. There were whispers of Down Sydrome that my husband heard, and there were multiple chromosomal tests that were done while we were there for our 3 day delivery stay. As new parents for the first time, this was scary, but everything came back totally normal so they sent us on our way and we were a happy family at home. A few weeks later while Derik was at work, I received a phone call from our pediatrician about Zoie's newborn screen test coming back positive for Cystic Fibrosis. I remember not even knowing what this was or who to turn to. Instead, I started bawling and got on the phone with my husband for him to come home right away. 2 weeks later a sweat test at Children's Hospital Colorado confirmed our sweet Zoie Rae indeed did have Cystic Fibrosis. CF is a chronic lung disease that is passed down only genetically and both parents must be carriers. Unfortunately, Derik and I had no idea we were carriers before we had Zoie. It causes secretions to build up on the lungs which can cause infections, lots of coughing, and when a CF person gets sick, their body has a very hard time getting rid of the sickness. Zoie gets vest therapy treatments daily to keep mucus loose, she gets extra salt, and extra vitamins daily to keep her healthy, and we have a great pulmonary team at Children's Hospital to help guide us in the right direction. Currently there is no cure for CF. As a family we were in shock about CF. It came out of no where, but we were also in for another shock. When Zoie was just 2 1/2 months old she had her first seizure. After spending time at Children's she was diagnosed with what's called Microcephaly, which means "small head." Zoie's Microcephaly is also genetic which isn't common at all, and once again, Derik and I both had to be carriers, and we both had to pass the Micro gene onto her. Zoie has seizures, Cerebral Palsy, learning delays, is almost all non-verbal, and can only eat puréed foods with assistance because of her Microcephaly. As I tell a lot of people, she got a double whammy thrown her way.
When Zoie was 2, I became pregnant with our second little sweetie, Ivie Mae. We worked hard and closely with genetic doctors and in the end we put our whole heart and faith in God to give us a healthy baby without CF, and without Microcephaly and He did so without skipping a beat. Ivie Mae was born in 2014 and we call her our little miracle baby. She is a carrier of both CF and Microcephaly, but didn't get either one of them. Zoie is now 4, and Ivie is now 1 1/2. My husband and I eat, sleep, and breath our girls. Zoie is the smiliest, happiest, closest thing to an Angel that you will get here on Earth, and Ivie Mae, she's brought so much light and normalicy into our lives. She loves her sissy, and they are both learning so much from one another. Ivie is blessed because she will know a type of love that a lot of other kids don't, and that's how to accept anyone for who they are and see past what society sees as normal. This week we are spending time in Newport Beach for Zoie's Make-A-Wish trip and Cori got to capture some of the things we wanted to make sure our girls did for the first time together, like putting their feet in the ocean, or touching ocean sand. Thanks to God we are getting to experience this and we are so grateful to Cori for giving us these memories in pictures. "
Elly + Matt + Baby Peggy // Riley Wilderness Park Family Session
These guys came all the way from England to vacation in sunny California ! I love this family to pieces even though I just met them, ha. Their sweet love for their daughter Peggy is so apparent and shines thru in every shot you see. These guys have quite the sense of humor especially considering what troopers they were thru the heat & bugs clinging on them during our session! Mat & Elly’s strong english accent had me at hello. I just adore the way they call to their daughter “prescious” and tell those dang “bloody” ants to stop biting them during our session . I couldn’t have laughed harder.
Thank you Mat & Elly & sweet baby Peggy for your laughter & joy during our session, I’ll be visiting England one day to see you again! ;)
xoxo-
Cori
Joanna+Alan // Scott's Restaurant & Bar Wedding , Costa Mesa CA // Orange County Wedding Photographer
Joanna+Alan // Scott's Restaurant & Bar Wedding , Costa Mesa CA
Joanna & Alan tied the knot at Scott's Restaurant & Bar in Costa Mesa, CA. This wedding was one I’ll never forget. Alan & Joanna met on match.com and prior to meeting each other Alan had a written list of what he was looking for in his soulmate. During their reception , he wanted to read this list , the one he wrote before ever meeting Joanna. He wanted friends and family who knew her to listen carefully because this list, which I have to also mention was not cliche , embodied exactly who Joanna is. This list wasn’t the kind that says “I want someone good looking and funny”, rather deeper then that actually. This list talked about wanting someone who would love to travel but could be content if they never could afford to , about how he wanted a companion not just a lover, and so forth. At the very end he even mentions if this person was tall, it wouldn’t hurt either. Funny part about this is of course, Joanna happens to be a tall gal! Ha. Alan, with tears in his eyes, shared his deepest love for Joanna in such a way that the audience was all in tears. Alan & Joanna are a couple who are silly & goofy, not ones to take life too seriously. In fact, during their ceremony the music stopped playing and in a room of mere silence (which Alan runs to the rescue) the bride, laughing decided to converse with the crowd. Joanna truly doesnt sweat the small stuff , making those mishaps turn into beautiful memories that we all will look back on smiling.
Joanna & Alan each have beautiful teenagers, merging into a family of now , 7. I love witnessing families merging and becoming ONE, it is such a rewarding experience to capture such a precious time in your lives.
Thank you for sharing your big day with me Joanna & Alan! I know these memories will last a lifetime!
Floral design : Browne's Flowers / Blooms Corona Del Mar // Susan Brown
Chloe’s 1st Birthday Session // Orange County Baby Photographer// 1 year photos
The Lavelle Family // Shaw’s Cove Family Session // Laguna Beach Family Photographer
Audrey & Jae // Lifestyle// Childhood Unplugged // Orange County Lifestyle Photographer
L i f e s t y l e // Some fun shots of my munchkins as they get settled into their new rooms in the new house .. It’s been chaotic since we are in the process of moving but when I take a moment to sit down to watch my girls play like this I am reminded it’s all worth it. I am reminded to slow down, the packed boxes can unpack later, the laundry can wait , the dishes can wait- because these girls are my world and time is so precious. I love love watching them play and love when they are using imaginative play. It is as if time freezes and nothing else around us is as important as living this very moment. My oldest loves to sing, dance and is creative at heart. She can make something from nothing - I want her to remember these times in her childhood forever .
Capturing their childhood is so rewarding as a mommy.
Jaelene to Audrey -> “Audrey did you really just take all my clean pajamas and unfold them and drag them everywhere? "
Audrey silent pause. Then a pose. haha
Balboa Fun Zone Family Session// The Pagano Family
The Pagano family came all the way from Arizona to beat the heat and vacation in beautiful Newport Beach, CA before summer was over. I was excited to show them around so I thought long and hard about what spot would be most fun for their 3 little munchkins! (Peyton, age 17months; Aiden, age 5 yr; Addy age 5yr) I was SO excited when we agreed on the Balboa Fun Zone for our session together! What could be better then a mini amusement park with ocean views and attractions like bumper cars , a ferris wheel & carnival games? We strolled around a bit, visited the candy shop and captured their visit while visiting Newport Beach for the first time! It was a blast! I am so thankful to be a part of many of my clients vacations (even if I myself am not technically on vacation, haha) because I love watching children experience things for the first time. For this session, baby Peyton hadn’t even seen the ocean before! Pretty cool that my job sometimes allows me to experience these ‘firsts’ with families & their children .
Thanks for the visit Jona & Kyle! Hope you enjoy these memories together from your visit!
xooxo- Cori
Matt+Lauren // Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club Wedding
Matt+Lauren Married
Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club Wedding
Matt & Lauren, two good friends of mine, tied the knot at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club This venue was not only breathtaking but a large enough spot for these two social butterflies to be able to entertain all their friends & family, because let me tell you- they have ALOT. To say these two are loved by many is an understatement. People flew from out of state to come share this special day with them. I tell you this because it is the best way I know how to describe these two , incredibly loved.
Matt and Lauren briefly met through a mutual friend back in 2009. The two lost touch after Matt transferred to UC Santa Barbara while Lauren studied at Cal State Long Beach. After college, Matt moved back down to Orange County. While out with friends in early 2012, they ran into each other. After talking throughout the night Matt nervously asked Lauren out to dinner and she surprisingly said yes. Little did they know this would be their last first date ever. After dating for two and a half years Matt knew that he was ready to marry Lauren.
On a warm & sunny day in Santa Barbara, Matt & Lauren invited all of their closest friends & family to celebrate their big day with them. It was a day full of love, champagne and promises. It was a day full of tears & laughter. Their wedding had such a vibrant & lively crowd (which you will see when scrolling down at these photos) which truly depicts the type of friends & family, they surround themselves with.
It was such a joy to be a part of their wedding day!
(Vendors listed at bottom of this blog post)

Photography: Cori Kleckner Photography // Venue: Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club // Groom getting ready rental : Heartstone Ranch, Santa Barbara, CA // Makeup & Hair: Shine Blow Dry Bar // Florals : Blooming Bud // DJ, Lighting & Photo Booth: AMS Entertainment // Wedding dress: The White Dress, Corona Del Mar , Watters Gown // Jewelry: Fillip’s Fine Jewelry, Westminster // Videography: Caterpillar Wedding Videography // Lashes: Wink Lash Studio, Newport Beach // Invitations: Art & Design by bride Lauren
Baby Arden // Newborn Session // Orange County Newborn Photographer // The unspeakable beauty of motherhood
The unspeakable beauty of motherhood //
Motherhood is truly one of my favorite things to photograph. When a client books me to come and document this new chapter in their lives, I feel so honored. I feel honored that I get to watch your first interactions with this little being you created, that I get to even sometimes hold your precious gift in my arms before positioning her for a shot, that I get to witness this incredible bond between you & your baby! I can remember after having my first child the greatest adjustment for me was not the lack of sleep, the endless laundry, or the huge responsibility that I felt, but the intense sense of vulnerability I experienced with my heart now outside my body. I had never felt so deeply about anything – ever. There is something about holding this precious little defenseless person that simultaneously evokes delirious joy and overwhelming helplessness. You would give your own soul to see them safe and wholly evolved into the fullness of their destiny. You would pay any price; sacrifice any goal; reach any compromise to make them content and complete. THIS is motherhood and getting to document these first moments for you all- it leaves my heart so full as I lay my head down to sleep. Motherhood is simply beautiful.