Cori Kleckner Photography

Newport Beach Newborn Session | The Samuels Family | Victoria, Josh, Kent, Iris & Baby Murphy | Cori Kleckner Photography

Newport Beach Newborn Session | The Samuels Family | Victoria, Josh, Kent, Iris & Baby Murphy | Cori Kleckner Photography


In my opinion, the most beautiful backdrops are the ones that have quietly held generations of laughter, heartache, celebrations, milestones as well as ordinary days.

This wasn’t just a beautiful house. It is the home where this mama grew up. The home where she got married. The home where she brought home her first two babies. The home where she cared for her own mom through one of life’s most tender seasons.

And now, years later, it has become the place where another tiny life is welcomed into a story that began long before he ever arrived.

That’s what makes a place feel sacred.

It remembers who you were long before you became who you are today.

As an Orange County newborn photographer, these are the sessions that remind me why I love photographing families in their own homes. While beautiful light, thoughtful styling, and timeless portraits are all important, it’s the history within a home that gives photographs their deepest meaning.

This lifestyle newborn session in Newport Beach wasn’t simply about documenting a new baby. It was about preserving an entire family’s legacy. Every room held memories. Every doorway had witnessed another chapter of this family’s story. From childhood, to marriage, to welcoming three babies into the world, this home has quietly stood as the backdrop to a lifetime of love.

Why I Love Lifestyle Newborn Photography

Unlike a studio session, in-home lifestyle newborn photography allows families to remember not only what their baby looked like, but also what life felt like during those first few weeks.

The nursery you spent months preparing.

The cozy living room where everyone gathered.

Dad changing diapers between photos.

Older siblings proudly showing off their new baby brother.

The familiar windows where the morning light pours in every day.

These ordinary details are often the ones that become the most meaningful years later.

As a Newport Beach newborn photographer, my goal is never to create overly posed images that feel disconnected from your life. Instead, I gently guide families while allowing genuine moments to unfold naturally. The result is a gallery filled with authentic connection, timeless portraits, and memories that become more valuable with every passing year.

Serving Families Throughout Orange County, Newport Beach, Los Angeles & San Diego

I specialize in lifestyle newborn photography for growing families throughout Newport Beach, Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Whether we’re documenting your first baby or your fifth, my hope is always the same, to create photographs that feel honest, emotional, and deeply personal.

Every family has a story that deserves to be remembered, and every home tells that story in a way no studio ever could.

If you’re looking for an Orange County family photographerNewport Beach newborn photographerLos Angeles lifestyle newborn photographer, or San Diego newborn photographer, I’d love to help document this fleeting season in a way that feels true to your family.

Because years from now, these photographs won’t simply remind you of how your baby looked.

They’ll remind you of where your story was unfolding, and just how much love filled the place you called home.


CORI KLECKNER PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZING IN MATERNITY, NEWBORN, BABY, FAMILY, CHILDREN’S AND LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY


The Rhodes Family - Orange County In-Home Newborn Session- Cori Kleckner Photography | OC Newborn Photographer

The Rhodes Family - Orange County In-Home Newborn Session- Cori Kleckner Photography | OC Newborn Photographer


Montage Laguna Beach Golden Hour Maternity Session | Orange County Maternity Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography

Montage Laguna Beach Golden Hour Maternity Session | Orange County Maternity Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography


Warm, sun drenched maternity sessions along the cliffs, coastal trails, and quiet stretches of beach are what make Laguna Beach so iconic. As an Orange County maternity photographer, I love photographing expecting moms and families in Laguna for its golden light, natural scenery, and timeless coastal feel. If you’re searching for an Orange County maternity photographer for an outdoor beach maternity session, Laguna is always one of my favorite locations.



CORI KLECKNER PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZING IN MATERNITY, NEWBORN, BABY, FAMILY, CHILDREN’S AND LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY


The Howell Family | Film-Inspired In-Home Newport Beach Lifestyle Newborn Photos | Newport Beach Newborn Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography |

The Howell family welcomed their sweet baby girl . We chose to do their newborn photos at their home in Newport Beach and it was the perfect space to document their first days at home together.

Their home had the kind of light that makes everything feel gentle. The tones were soft and neutral, which photographed beautifully and gave the entire gallery that timeless, film-like feel.

Mom wore a gorgeous neutral dress from Dôen, the kind of piece that feels feminine and dainty but effortless, and photographs so beautifully for an in-home lifestyle session. It added just the right amount of movement and texture.


The newborn stage is so short it almost feels unfair.

You spend months waiting… and then suddenly they’re here, and the days blur together. One minute they’re curled up and sleepy. Then they’re stretching out, growing out of newborn clothes, and the tiny features you swore would never change are already different.

Thats why I love documenting families in the comfort of their home. The space where love grows.

You don’t have to pack up the diaper bag. You don’t have to get out the door. You don’t have to worry about timing your baby’s mood around a drive or a location. You can stay home, take breaks, feed your baby, change diapers, and breathe.

As a Newport Beach newborn photographer, I’m always mindful of how vulnerable and exhausting this season can feel for moms. My job is to take away some stress , it’s to create something beautiful while you get to stay in the comfort of your own space, in your own rhythm with access to everything your newborn needs.

The result is always more natural, more meaningful, and more you when its in the same space you make memories in on the daily. It’s life as we want to remember it.

Because one day, this home won’t feel like the newborn days anymore. The nursery will change. The tiny swaddles will be packed away. The quiet moments on the bed, the way you held her, the way you looked at each other like you couldn’t believe she was real… will start to feel like a dream you almost forgot.

But these images will bring you back.

To the truth of it.

The tenderness. The exhaustion. The love.

The beginning of your family.


CORI KLECKNER PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZING IN MATERNITY, NEWBORN, BABY, FAMILY, CHILDREN’S AND LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY


Cori Kleckner Featured in Voyage LA Magazine | Los Angeles Maternity, Newborn & Baby Photographer |

CORI KLECKNER FEATURED IN VOYAGE LA MAGAZINE | LOS ANGELES MATERNITY, NEWBORN & BABY & FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER | CORI KLECKNER PHOTOGRAPHY



I’m excited to share that I was recently featured in Voyage LA Magazine. It’s always an honor to be asked to share the story behind my work and the passion that drives it, a meaningful reminder that the work we pour ourselves into doesn’t go unnoticed especially in a space that highlights creatives and small businesses across Los Angeles. It’s a privilege to do this work in a place so creatively alive as Los Angeles.

If you’re interested to read more, click the link below:

 

Los Angeles Family Photographer | Cori Kleckner (As Featured in VoyageLA)


While I’m based in Orange County, I photograph families throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego .



Cori Kleckner Photography was featured in Voyage LA Magazine. Based in Orange County but serving Los Angeles and Southern California, Cori specializes in documentary-inspired family, maternity, and newborn photography.

If you’re looking for a Los Angeles family photographer, newborn photographer, or maternity photographer, I’d love to connect. I’m based in Orange County, but I photograph families across Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego.




Cori Kleckner Photography Featured in San Diego Voyage Magazine | Southern California Photographer


Cori Kleckner Photography Featured in San Diego Voyage Magazine | Southern California Photographer





I’m honored to share that Cori Kleckner Photography was recently featured in San Diego Voyage Magazine! For the last 15 years, I’ve had the privilege of capturing meaningful moments for families throughout Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego. This feature highlights my journey as a photographer, the challenges I’ve overcome, and the heart behind my work.






Book a Session

If you’re looking for a professional photographer who aims to captures real life, I’d love to connect. I currently serve clients throughout Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego.


Crystal Cove Family Session | Newport Beach, CA | Orange County Family Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography

Crystal Cove Family Session | Newport Beach, CA | Orange County Family Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography



CORI KLECKNER PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN ORANGE COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZING IN MATERNITY, NEWBORN, BABY, FAMILY, CHILDREN’S AND LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY

Newport Beach In-Home Newborn Session | Orange County Newborn Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography

Newport Beach In-Home Newborn Session | Orange County Newborn Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography


Home is where your story actually begins.
where you rock your baby to sleep in the quiet hours,
prepare late-night bottles,
and pace the floors learning their cries.
It’s the place where tiny routines turn into lifelong memories, where one day those same floors will hold first steps and familiar corners will witness how your family grows.

That’s why documenting these early days at home feels so meaningful ,

this is where your story starts.
Photographing those early days holds a kind of meaning you can’t recreate anywhere else.

There’s no pressure to get out the door or look a certain way.

You’re already where you’re most comfortable, and that ease shows in the photos.

The moments unfold naturally because you’re simply living them.

Your home holds memory.
Years from now, you won’t just see your baby, you’ll remember the couch you paced on, the bedroom light you left on, the window you stood by rocking them to sleep.

Those details matter more than you realize.

Home has a way of slowing things down. There’s more patience, more tenderness, and more room for real connection , especially with adjusting to a new rhythm.

These photos age differently.
Studio backdrops fade out of relevance. Home images become heirlooms. They don’t just show what your baby looked like , they show where your life was happening.

And that’s where the magic lives.


CORI KLECKNER PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN ORANGE COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZING IN MATERNITY, NEWBORN, BABY, FAMILY, CHILDREN’S AND LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY


Montage Laguna Beach Family Photos | Orange County Family Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography

Montage Laguna Beach Family Photos | Orange County Family Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography


This sweet session at Montage Laguna Beach was a fun one to shoot with the Miller family. We started with soft sunlight breaking through clear skies and eased into pastel purples as the evening settled in, with the coastline stretching behind us. It’s just a really gorgeous beach and one I love photographing for family sessions because it offers so much variety , from rocky areas and cliffs to open sand and water moments.

I first photographed Sophia as a newborn, so coming back to document her again at six months felt especially full-circle. And honestly, this age is one of my absolute favorites , the chubby cheeks, the little rolls, the expressions that change by the second. It’s that in-between stage that often gets skipped when families jump from newborn photos straight to one year, and I’m always a little sad when it’s missed. Six months holds so much sweetness and personality, whether they’re sitting with a bit of support, standing while holding onto mom’s hands, or melted right into her hip , it’s such a special stage worth documenting.


CORI KLECKNER PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN ORANGE COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZING IN MATERNITY, NEWBORN, BABY, FAMILY, CHILDREN’S AND LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY


Orange County Engagement Party with Generational Moments - Jack + Kiya - Backyard Engagement Party Film Documentary Photography | Cori Kleckner Photography


Jack & Kiya’s Orange County Engagement Party – A Timeless Celebration of Love and Legacy


Orange County Engagement Party with Generational Moments - Jack + Kiya Brennan - Backyard Engagement Party Film Documentary Photography | Cori Kleckner Photography



Jack and Kiya’s Orange County engagement party was one of those evenings that felt both deeply intimate and beautifully intentional. This wasn’t the usual kind of work I take on, but as soon as I arrived, I knew it would be something special. Hosted in a private residence, their celebration was a perfect blend of curated details and genuine connection, a true reminder of why I love documenting events.

From the moment guests arrived, it was clear that every aspect of the evening had been carefully considered. The tables were set with incredible attention to detail, with seasonal fruits, soft florals, and a stunning spread curated by Taylor Made Catering. Even the figs felt intentional, adding a quiet kind of beauty that made the entire cocktail hour feel elevated and effortless.

As an Orange County event photographer, I’m drawn to the in-between moments, the way loved ones gather, the subtle details that might otherwise go unnoticed. Jack and Kiya’s celebration was full of those fleeting, poetic details that make a story come alive through photographs.

While the day was a celebration of Jack and Kiya’s future, I found myself especially moved by the presence of those who came before them. The grandparents, the quiet observers who have seen love span decades, grounded the day in legacy. They squeezed hands, offered knowing smiles, and added a depth to the joy that made the evening even more meaningful.

These are the portraits that become heirlooms, the images that years from now will serve as a reminder of where we come from and who first showed us what love could look like. As a photographer, I make it a point to capture those moments intentionally, not just in passing.

From the curated spread to the soft glow of the evening light, everything about Jack and Kiya’s Orange County engagement party felt equal parts timeless and chic.

While I don’t take on many events outside of my usual family, maternity, and newborn photography, this one made me wish I did. It was an honor to document Jack and Kiya’s engagement party and the generations of family and friends who came together to celebrate their love.


If you’re planning a cocktail hour, engagement party, or private event and want a photographer who captures the real heart of the celebration, the details, the in-between moments, and the connections that matter most, I’d love to help preserve your story.

Contact me to learn more about Orange County event photography and how I can document your next celebration


CORI KLECKNER PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN ORANGE COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZING IN MATERNITY, NEWBORN, BABY, FAMILY, CHILDREN’S AND LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY


Laguna Beach Ice Cream Shop Motherhood Session | SoCal Summer Photo Magic | South Swell Ice Cream | Cori Kleckner Photography |

Laguna Beach Ice Cream Shop Motherhood Session | SoCal Summer Photo Magic | South Swell Ice Cream | Cori Kleckner Photography



More ice cream shop shoots in summer please 🍦☀️ There’s something undeniably nostalgic about the sticky fingers, salty air, and the slow joy of doing absolutely nothing but soaking it all in. That’s the magic I wanted to bottle up during this Laguna Beach motherhood photo session and let me tell you, this mama and her little one truly brought it to life.

This dreamy lifestyle shoot took place at South Swell Ice Cream in downtown Laguna Beach, one of my favorite hidden gems for authentic, documentary style photo sessions. I had a vision: mama in flowy linen, baby in tow, melting cones in hand, strolling along the charming sidewalks of Laguna just doing simple summer things. No stiff posing, no forced smiles — just real, sun drenched moments.

As a Laguna Beach family photographer, I’m always looking for ways to blend natural light with candid emotion, and this session delivered everything I love most: melting cones, sandy toes, sun kissed baby cheeks, and that golden hour glow that feels like pure California magic. 🌊

We wandered around downtown, popped into the ice cream shop, and captured the kind of images that tell a story. The soft forehead kisses, giggles between bites, the quiet pauses where mama just soaked it all in. These are the moments that matter. These are the moments I live to photograph.

So if you’ve been dreaming of a Southern California motherhood session, especially one with a little ice cream and a lot of heart, let this be your sign. These fleeting seasons deserve to be frozen in time just like that first lick of a melting cone on a hot summer day.



CORI KLECKNER PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN ORANGE COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZING IN MATERNITY, NEWBORN, BABY, FAMILY, CHILDREN’S AND LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY


Sunny Days in Huntington Beach | Creamy Film-Style Photos of the Pier & Surf Culture | Huntington Beach | Duke's Huntington Beach | Huntington Beach Pier | Orange County Beaches

Sunny Days in Huntington Beach | Creamy Film-Style Photos of the Pier & Surf Culture | Huntington Beach | Duke's Huntington Beach | Huntington Beach Pier | Cori Kleckner Photography | Orange County Beaches


It’s been a while since I’ve shared anything personal here. Most of the time, this blog is where I feature the families I have the honor of photographing. But every now and then, I think it’s just as important to share the work I create purely for myself—the places, light, and moments that inspire me when no one’s in front of the lens.

Even though I’ve grown up here in Huntington Beach, I still like playing tourist every now and then. I’m always mesmerized by the surf culture—the way it lingers in the air, the sound of boards hitting the pavement, the light over the pier at the end of the day. There’s something about it that feels timeless. I think that’s what draws me to photographing it—trying to capture pieces of it in a way that might feel nostalgic someday, like flipping through old film photos and remembering how things felt, not just how they looked.

I hope this post feels like a visual walk through Huntington Beach in all its sun-drenched, surf-soaked charm—captured in a soft, film-inspired style. You’ll see the iconic pier, Duke’s Restaurant, and the everyday rhythm of Surf City USA.

I created this for travelers, vacationers, or anyone searching for a Huntington Beach photographer—whether you’re planning a visit or just love the feel of coastal California.

If any of these images speak to you, feel free to email me or drop a comment below—I’d be happy to add select prints to my shop.