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

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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. 

The Wiekamp Family Session // San Clemente State Beach // Orange County Family Photographer

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The Hatch Family // Calafia Beach Family Session// San Clemente Photographer

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Sarah+ Blake // Montage Laguna Beach Engagement Session// Laguna Beach Engagement // Orange County Photographer

This Montage, Laguna Beach engagement session was full of passion & connection for these two Sweden's. Yes, thats right they came to California to have their engagement session captured along the beautiful coast! It was so incredible to capture these two and all the love between them with the sun shining , waves crashing and birds flying all around us . You could just feel the emotion in these moments and thats when I love my job most. 

Congrats Sarah + Blake on this new chapter in your lives! 

S t a c e y + M i k e // Shaw’s Cove Maternity Session // Orange County Maternity Photographer

Capturing memories with your IPHONE / S u m m e r // C h i l d h o o d // Jae+Audrey

Often I think people assume because I'm a photographer I have my camera on me all the time to document my own family but the truth is I use my iPhone more than anything. I  do find it important to capture the day-to-day moments of my kids growing and learning and changing but my camera is just such a pain to carry everywhere and a liability when we go places that I have learned to rely on my iPhone primarily for the day to day stuff . When I use my iPhone to capture moments I typically work hard at getting crisp sharp images by stabilizing the camera and using the focal point given (selecting the araa of the screen I want to focus on) and playing with the light wherever I am. What I like about it? I LOVE that new technology has really improved the quality of phone cameras and therefore it literally captures what your eyes see , which sometimes I have to work really hard adjusting my BIG camera settings to achieve . Not to undermine my expensive equipment I use for work , just to say that you can really get good photos with your phone these days and the convenience factor of already having it glued to our hands 24/7 helps! SO, start playing with your iPhone camera (if you have one) or whatever phone camera you have! I wanted to share with you on the BLOG all photos captured with my iPhone. Every single image you see below , I took of my munchkins at play and WITH my PHONE! These are the memories of childhood I want my kids to remember, to be able to look back on and one day share with their own children or get passed around in a circle of loved ones reminscing  .

I LOVE Summer, my family loves summer so you’ll find lots of shots from yard play, beach outings, water play, donut shop pit stops, bike rides, zoo fun, nap times, target trips -

ok ok ok , you will see for yourself ! Ha. Scroll on down. If this blog inspires you to capture more of the ‘everyday' for your kids than it’s fulfilled its purpose! If you have questions on how to achieve a certain look in your images, feel free to leave me a note and I will do my best to answer your questions!

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Beach days // San Clemente , CA // Calafia Beach

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Audrey's badonka donk . . .  

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Bed head hair don't care  

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Because I wouldn't let her have a cookie for dinner . 

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Grocery store naps . 

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Many donut shop morning stops in PJ's

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Audrey's not pleased to share her bike with mommy . Ha. 

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Jae discovered her love for roller skating. She is fearless and gets up after each fall with such determination to learn .  

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Her stink face competition  .  

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The Dunbar Family// Lifestyle Baking Session // Lifestyle Family Session Orange County

 A little fun baking with Paisley . . .

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY PAISLEY!

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO WATCH YOU GROW!

And lastly . . .

this is her sitting in her MOMMYS rocking chair from when she was a baby! I mean , c’mon , how cool is that?!

Joanna + Alan // San Juan Capistrano Engagement Session // Hamilton Oaks Winery Session

The Smyth Family // Newport Beach Family Session // Newport Beach Family Photographer

One thing I love about this time of year is getting the privilege to capture memories for families vacationing here in beautiful Southern California! This sweet family came all the way from Texas to visit our gorgeous city Newport Beach . I just adored all of them! They were so down to earth and fun to photograph! I feel so honored to be able to document a special time for their family, a time where they are splashing in the water and giggling on the beach , embracing the beauty of the coast sunset that we sometimes take for granted living here. Thank you to the Smyth Family for allowing me the privilege of meeting tour sweet family !

The Hersperger Family // Montage Resort Laguna Beach Family Session // Orange County Family Photographer