orange county family photographer

In-Home Lifestyle Newport Beach Family Session | The Anand Family | Orange County Family Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography

In-Home Lifestyle Newport Beach Family Session | The Anand Family | Orange County Family Photographer | Film Aesthetic | Cori Kleckner Photography

A morning at home with the Anand family in Newport Beach. We spent most of our time following the kids’ lead, moving between the backyard, trampoline, living room, and bedrooms. There were piggyback rides, shoulder rides, tickle fights, jumping on the bed, and plenty of time spent playing in the curtains.

What I enjoy most about in-home family sessions is everything that happens in between. The kids taking breaks to show me their favorite toys, the baby stopping for a snack, the family pet wandering in and out of the frame, or everyone piling onto the couch for a few minutes before moving on to something else.

There’s a lot of freedom in photographing families at home. The kids can come and go, take breaks when they need to, and move through their own space without much direction from me. We still make time for family portraits, but I find that some of the most interesting photographs come from the moments when no one is particularly thinking about being photographed.

This is what draws me to in-home lifestyle family photography. It’s an opportunity to document not just what a family looks like, but what this particular stage of life feels like for them. As a Newport Beach family photographer, I love being invited into these everyday spaces and capturing the routines, personalities, and small details that make each family’s story different.

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

Montage Laguna Beach Family Session | The Fliglia Family | Laura + Rob + Beckham + Sienna | Orange County Family Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography

Montage Laguna Beach Family Session | The Fliglia Family | Lau + Rob + Beckham + Sienna | Orange County Family Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography

Some Laguna Beach locations that give you so much variety without ever feeling like you’re photographing in the same little stretch of beach the entire time, and Montage Laguna Beach is one of them.

For this family session, we were able to move through so many different looks in one evening. We started with bright, open light and those warm sun-filled images that feel so quintessentially Southern California. From there, we wandered toward the cliffs and rocks, incorporated the sand and water, and ended up with a gallery that feels incredibly diverse while still flowing together naturally.

One of my favorite parts about photographing families at Montage Laguna Beach is how much the landscape changes within such a small area. You have open beach, rocky coastline, dramatic cliffs, soft sand, ocean views and pockets of beautiful light all within walking distance. It gives kids room to move and explore instead of feeling like they have to stand in one place and smile at the camera.

Their son especially loved climbing around on the cliffs, which ended up creating some of my favorite photographs from the session. Those are always the moments I’m drawn to most. Letting kids interact with the environment, climb, explore, run near the water and actually be themselves gives the photographs so much more personality than trying to keep everyone perfectly posed.

We also had the prettiest warm sunlight coming through during part of their session, giving us those bright, glowing Laguna Beach family photos alongside the moodier rocky coastline. I love being able to give families both. Some images feel soft and sun-filled, others feel a little more dramatic with the cliffs and ocean behind them, and then there are the simple barefoot moments right on the sand.

That variety is one of the reasons I continue coming back to this part of Laguna Beach for family photography sessions. You can create an entire gallery that feels like several different locations without having to pack everyone into the car and move somewhere else halfway through.

For families looking for a Laguna Beach family photographer, Montage is especially beautiful if you want your photos to feel relaxed, coastal and natural while still having plenty of visual interest in the background. I photograph family sessions throughout Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and Orange County, with a focus on candid interaction, movement and all of those little in-between moments that actually feel like your family.

And while the Laguna Beach coastline is obviously beautiful, the location is really just the backdrop. The best part is getting to photograph your family exactly as you are in this season: kids climbing rocks, sandy feet, windblown hair, someone running toward the water and all.

Those are usually the photographs that end up meaning the most.

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

San Diego Newborn Photographer | In-Home Lifestyle Session with the Bandak Family | Welcoming Sweet Sutton | Their First Baby Girl | Cori Kleckner Photography

San Diego Newborn Photographer | In-Home Lifestyle Session with the Bandak Family | Welcoming Sweet Sutton| Their First Baby Girl | Cori Kleckner Photography

Sweet Sutton was just two weeks old when I photographed the Bandak family at home in San Diego, and she happens to be their first baby girl after three boys.

She may not have been part of the original plan, but somehow she already feels like the piece they never knew was missing. It’s hard to imagine this family without her now.

It was so sweet getting to see all three boys again. The last time I was in their home, I was photographing Ford as a newborn four years ago, and now I was back photographing him as a big brother to their first baby girl. Seeing all three boys with Sutton made the whole session feel a little full-circle.

We moved from the master bedroom to the living room and eventually out into the backyard, letting the session unfold naturally wherever everyone felt most comfortable. That is what I love so much about an in-home newborn session in San Diego. Nothing has to feel overly structured. Baby can eat when she needs to, the older kids can come and go, and we can simply follow the rhythm of the family.

Some of my favorite photographs are usually the quietest ones anyway. A baby curled against Mom. Dad holding her close. Brothers piling onto the bed to get a better look at their new sister. Tiny hands, sleepy stretches, and all the little things that start changing almost immediately.

There is something so meaningful about photographing a family exactly where life is happening.

First Baby Girl After Three Boys

There was something especially sweet about watching this family welcome a daughter after three sons.

The boys were curious, proud, affectionate, and already completely taken with her. Those early sibling dynamics are such a huge part of a newborn story, and they are some of my favorite things to photograph because they cannot really be recreated later.

A few months from now, Sutton will already look completely different. The way she fits into their arms will change. Her brothers will settle into having a little sister, and this brand-new chapter will start to feel normal.

That is exactly why these first weeks are worth documenting.

A Relaxed Lifestyle Newborn Session at Home

I never expect newborn sessions to be perfectly quiet or perfectly posed. Real life with a newborn rarely looks like that anyway.

If baby is awake, we photograph her awake. If someone needs a snack or a break, we take one. If the older kids need a minute to run around, that is completely fine too.

The goal is not perfection. It is connection.

That relaxed approach is what makes lifestyle newborn photography feel so personal. The images can still feel beautiful and intentional while also feeling like your family.

For the Bandaks, that meant photographing the way their home felt in those first few weeks with Sutton and letting each family member interact with her in their own way.

Thank you, Bandak family, for trusting me with another chapter of your story.

Welcome to the world, sweet Sutton. You are already so deeply loved.

Cori Kleckner Photography offers natural, in-home newborn photography throughout Orange County and select Southern California locations, including San Diego and Encinitas.

San Juan Capistrano District Family Photos | Orange County Family Photographer | The Kohnke Family | Luciana + Corey + Mikey & Keira

San Juan Capistrano District Family Photos | Orange County Family Photographer | The Kohnke Family | Luciana + Corey + Mikey & Keira | Cori Kleckner Photography

For this family session, we explored the San Juan Capistrano historic district, moving between little pockets of open greenery, quiet pathways, historic architecture and a beautiful butterfly garden tucked into the area.

These are always my favorite kinds of family sessions, the ones that feel less like a formal photo shoot and more like an afternoon spent together. Giving families room to move and interact naturally creates photographs that feel relaxed, connected, and true to who they are, while still creating the light, airy and film-inspired imagery my work is known for.

As an Orange County family photographer based in Huntington Beach, I photograph families throughout Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, San Juan Capistrano and surrounding Orange County locations, as well as select sessions throughout Los Angeles and San Diego.

Whether we’re wandering through open greenery, exploring the coast, or photographing your family at home, my goal is always the same: to create natural family photographs that preserve this season of your life..

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

Huntington Beach Family Maternity Session | The Samuels Family | Huntington Beach Sunset Session

Huntington Beach Family Maternity Session | The Samuels Family | Huntington Beach Sunset Session

There is something incredibly special about documenting a family in the season just before everything changes.

When I met Victoria, Josh, Kent, and Iris for their maternity session in Huntington Beach, it wasn’t just about celebrating a pregnancy. It was about preserving the last few moments of life exactly as they know it before welcoming a new baby into their family.

These in-between seasons are often the ones that slip away the fastest.

One day, Kent and Iris will be older siblings with little memories of life before their newest sibling arrived. The routines, the family dynamic, the way they all fit together in this exact chapter will slowly become something they can only revisit through photographs. That’s why I believe maternity sessions are just as much about documenting the family as they are about documenting the pregnancy.

For their session, Victoria wore a beautiful dress from Shop Doen that felt perfectly at home against the soft coastal landscape of Huntington Beach. The effortless silhouette moved beautifully in the ocean breeze and complemented the relaxed, timeless feel we wanted for their evening together.

As the sun slowly dropped toward the horizon, we wandered the shoreline together, giving the kids room to play, explore, and simply enjoy being together. Some of my favorite photographs always happen between the posed moments, the spontaneous hugs, tiny hands reaching for mom and dad, quiet glances between parents, and the laughter that naturally unfolds when children are allowed to just be themselves.

That’s one of the reasons I love photographing families at the beach.

Huntington Beach offers one of the most beautiful settings in Orange County for family and maternity photography. The open shoreline, soft neutral tones, and warm golden light create a timeless backdrop that never competes with the people in front of the camera. Years from now, these images won’t feel trendy, they’ll simply feel like your family.

As an Orange County family photographer, my goal is never just to create beautiful portraits. I want to preserve connection. The way your children naturally reach for your hand. The way your partner looks at you when you’re not paying attention. The little expressions that change so quickly as children grow.

Because the photographs that mean the most decades from now usually aren’t the perfectly posed ones.

They’re the ones that remind you exactly how it felt.

It was such a joy spending the evening with the Samuels family, and I already know this next chapter is going to be such a sweet one. I can’t wait to meet their newest little one during their upcoming newborn session and document the beginning of another beautiful season for their family.

If you’re looking for a Huntington Beach family photographer, an Orange County maternity photographer, or an in-home newborn photographer serving Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa, Los Angeles, and San Diego, I’d love to help tell your family’s story in a way that feels natural, heartfelt, and timeless.

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

Orange County Baby Photographer | In-Home Six Month Milestone Session in Newport Beach, California


Orange County Baby Photographer | In-Home Six Month Milestone Session in Newport Beach, California | Cori Kleckner Photography

Six months is made of details.

The kind families do not always think to document because they are small and ordinary and happening every day.

The chubby rolls at the wrists.

The way she dangles comfortably off her mama’s hip.

Learning her own neck support.

The tiny saliva bubbles she makes when she pushes air through her lips, so proud of what she just discovered.

As an Orange County baby photographer, this is one of my favorite stages and one families often skip. They photograph newborns and then suddenly it is the first birthday.

But 6 months is magic.

Helen was once a newborn in front of my lens. Wrapped up, sleepy, brand new. And now she is grabbing at her mama’s hair , making steady eye contact and full of the biggest smiles.

These in home baby sessions in Newport Beach are my favorite because they feel real. Feeding moments in the kitchen. Mom pacing and soothing her around the house. A bottle mid morning in soft window light. Everyday motherhood documented in a way that feels elevated but honest.

Styling matters too. I love mimicking the look of black and white film, the softness, the contrast, the timeless quality. I adore shooting film, but it is not always cost effective when running a business, so I create that same natural, film inspired aesthetic digitally.

The texture of Helen’s little scalloped edge sweater.

The little bloomers that let her baby rolls peek through.

Mom’s ruffled eyelet blouse from DOEN.

All of it chosen to feel timeless.

Babies wearing bloomers is one of my favorite things,

their little legs, their belly, the way mom leans in to kiss it.

Those details matter.

If you are searching for a Newport Beach baby photographer or an Orange County baby photographer for a six month milestone session, do not skip this stage.

It disappears quietly.

It passes faster than you think, and documenting these small details , the chubby hands, curious expressions, and growing independence , preserves a season that disappears quietly.

Orange County Baby Photographer

Huntington Beach Sunset Session | Huntington Beach Family Photographer | Orange County Family Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography

Huntington Beach Sunset Session | Huntington Beach Family Photographer | Orange County Family Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography

If you’re planning family photos in Huntington Beach, sunset is one of my favorite times to photograph here. Those pastel skies, sometimes with the moon peeking through, always get me. I feel genuinely inspired every time. I also love how the light translates on skin tones, keeping everything creamy and soft while avoiding the harsh shadows that come with bright sun. I photograph Huntington Beach at all different times, including morning, midday, and even full afternoon sun, but sunset will probably always be my preference. It is the most consistent, the most flattering, and it gives me the freedom to shoot almost anywhere without fighting the light.

A lot of times clients assume you cannot make something beautiful from a flatter beach like Huntington without cliffs or rocks, but I actually see Huntington Beach as an open canvas. Families are usually pleasantly surprised when they get their gallery back and realize Huntington Beach is an incredible backdrop for family photos. It is one of the beaches in Orange County that gets overlooked, and it often stays less crowded than Laguna Beach or Newport Beach. It also gives kids so much more space to spread out, run, play, and explore, and with toddlers, we all know how helpful that openness can be. If you’ve been overlooking Huntington Beach for your family photos, this is your sign.

CORI KLECKNER PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA 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

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

San Clemente Family Session | Surfside Strolls an Golf Cart Rides | Honest, Playful Storytelling on the Coast | Cori Kleckner Photography

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San Clemente Family Session | Honest, Playful Storytelling on the Coast | The Burge Family | Cori Kleckner Photography |

This session felt like summer in motion. The family hopped into their golf cart and we started with a few shots right in their neighborhood, which already set the tone for how relaxed and connected this session would feel. From there, we made our way down to Riviera Beach in San Clemente, one of my favorite spots in South Orange County. It has everything I love; open sand, rocks to climb, a view of the San Clemente Pier, and the kind of laid back energy that lets kids just be kids.

They showed up barefoot in cozy knits and denim, already laughing and fully in the moment. We wandered, explored, and let things unfold naturally. The whole session felt like an extension of their everyday rhythm, which is exactly what I hope to capture.

I have always had a soft spot for those ethereal, golden hour portraits, and I still do. But lately I have been leaning into something more grounded, more colorful, and more reflective of what life actually feels like. Think surf culture, slow beach mornings, backyard chickens, scooters to the coffee shop , all the little things that make up a family’s rhythm.

As a photographer, I’m drawn to documenting the in-between moments, the barefoot adventures, the spontaneous play, the slice-of-life scenes that feel specific to your family. If you are dreaming of a session that captures your family’s unique vibe, whether that is soaking in your everyday SoCal life or chasing the tide at your favorite beach, I would love to create something honest and lasting for you.

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

Nostalgic Backyard Family Session with Chickens | Orange County Lifestyle Photographer | Michelle+Landon+Liam | Lifestyle Session with Chickens and Baby Chicks | Cori Kleckner Photography

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Nostalgic Backyard Family Session with Chickens | Orange County Lifestyle Photographer | Michelle+Landon+Liam | Lifestyle Session with Chickens and Baby Chicks | Cori Kleckner Photography

I’ve had the honor of photographing both of these boys since they were newborns, and watching them grow, watching the way they move through their world now, feels like flipping through the pages of a story I’ve been lucky enough to document from the beginning.

We let the morning unfold outdoors in their yard, under trees, alongside free-roaming chickens and laughter. Liam rode his little John Deere tractor like a pro, scooping up baby chicks and hauling them around like old friends. Landon climbed trees barefoot, wild and free, with that kind of ease that only childhood allows.

We photographed the baby chicks separately, since they were still too little to safely be around the older hens.

The vision for this session was rooted in nostalgia. I drew inspiration from vintage motherhood imagery, something timeless, like 1940s farm life but modernized in a soft, documentary way. Michelle wore a classic Doen blouse. Liam in denim Zara overalls and, not to be dramatic, but I’m pretty sure Zara Kids owes him a check. Somebody call them. He’s ready.

Climbing trees, chasing chickens, barefoot in the grass—this is the kind of childhood I love to photograph. The kind that doesn’t need posing or prompts. The kind that exists whether I’m there or not.

Why these sessions matter: legacy, honest childhood, storytelling that lives on long after the perfect poses fade.

This is the work I want to make more space for.

The kind that’s quiet.

The kind that holds.

The kind that says, this is what our life looked like.

Warning: I will be oversharing this session unapologetically.

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

A Golden Hour Beach Session with the Dufreche Family | Huntington Beach Family Photographer | Huntington Beach Vacation Photography | Cori Kleckner Photography | Orange County Family Photographer

A Golden Hour Beach Session with the Dufreche Family | Huntington Beach Family Photographer | Huntington Beach Vacation Photography | Cori Kleckner Photography | Orange County Family Photographer | Huntington Beach Family Photos at Sunser

If you’re visiting Southern California and looking for a Huntington Beach family photographer to capture your vacation memories, you’re in the right place! The Dufreche family did just that, and I had the absolute honor of documenting their beautiful evening by the coast.

As a fellow creative and photographer, Ana Dufreche knew the value of preserving this special time with her family while visiting California. They traveled here for a getaway, and what better way to remember it than with a sunset family session at Huntington Beach? For many families, vacations are a rare opportunity to slow down, soak in the moment, and spend uninterrupted time together. Capturing these fleeting memories ensures they’ll have them to look back on long after the trip ends. Whether you’re visiting from out of state or just taking a break from everyday life, having professional vacation photos lets you relive those golden moments.

We planned their session right at golden hour, when the California sun is low in the sky, casting the softest, warmest light. The Dufreche family started their session playing together in the sand, laughing and cuddling in that dreamy glow. As the sun dipped lower, we moved closer to the water, letting the ocean waves add a little magic to the session. The result? A collection of timeless, sun-kissed family portraits that truly reflect their joy, love, and connection.

If you’re planning a family vacation in Southern California or just want to capture your time in Huntington Beach, I’d love to document your family’s story. Whether you’re looking for a sunset beach session, a Southern California vacation photographer, or candid, natural family photography that feels like YOU, I’d be honored to capture those moments for you. Reach out to book your session today and let’s create something beautiful together.

📍 Now booking family sessions in Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, and beyond!

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

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