Today we’d like to introduce you to Cori Kleckner.
Cori, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started about 15 years ago with a camera in hand and no real roadmap, just a fascination with freezing moments in time. But it wasn’t until I became a mother that photography for me truly shifted. When my daughters were born, photography stopped being a hobby and became something much more meaningful. I found myself wanting to preserve every fleeting expression, every messy, magical, ordinary moment. It wasn’t about creating perfect images, it was about creating a record of something real, something I could return to when the moment had already passed.
That instinct, to hold onto the little things, eventually turned into a calling. Friends began asking me to document their families, and over time, what began as a personal passion evolved into a business built on storytelling and trust. I didn’t launch with a business plan or marketing strategy, I grew slowly, intentionally, always keeping the emotional core of my work front and center.
I’ve built this journey while raising my girls as a single mom, navigating challenges and learning to carve out a life where creativity and caregiving coexist. That lived experience has deeply shaped the way I approach photography, especially family work. I understand how chaotic and beautiful life can be at the same time, and I believe the most powerful images come from that intersection of rawness and love.
I’m based in Huntington Beach and feel lucky to serve families all over Orange County, San Diego, and Los Angeles. My style is rooted in authenticity, more documentary than posed, because I think the most meaningful photos are the ones that feel honest. I’m drawn to connection, to movement, to subtle emotion. Photography, for me, has never been about surface-level beauty. It’s about memory, legacy, and giving people something to hold onto when time keeps moving forward.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course it hasn’t been a smooth road and honestly, I think that’s the point. The only real way to grow in any creative field is through doing, making mistakes, and adjusting along the way. It’s all trial and error. I started photographing friends, charging $50 a session, and slowly increased my rates as I invested more deeply in my craft not just in terms of gear or editing, but in studying light, connection, emotion, and storytelling.
Behind the scenes, I had to become a student of everything building my own website from scratch, learning SEO, blogging consistently, creating contracts, figuring out invoicing, navigating client communication, and staying on top of industry shifts like performance marketing and algorithm changes. Running a photography business, especially as a solo creative, means wearing a lot of hats, and most of those skills aren’t taught they’re earned through experience, mistakes, and persistence.
There are seasons where the growth feels exciting and aligned, and other times when it feels like everything’s uphill. I’ve had moments of burnout, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome especially when people ask if I offer mentorship. It’s flattering, but also surreal, because I still feel like I’m evolving every single day. I don’t think you ever fully “arrive” as a creative or business owner. You just keep showing up, refining, learning, and adapting.
That mindset, staying teachable, has helped me not only improve my work, but also stay connected to the heart of why I do it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a lifestyle and documentary-style photographer specializing in capturing families, motherhood, maternity, and newborns. My work is rooted in emotion and authenticity, I’m not chasing perfection or stiff poses. I’m drawn to movement, connection, and the in-between moments that tell the real story of a family. What I do is less about directing and more about observing. I step into people’s lives for an hour and try to bottle up what’s real.
I think what sets me apart is how personal this work is for me. As a mother myself, I know how fast time moves and how easy it is to forget the details. That lived experience gives me an intuitive sensitivity when photographing others. I notice the way a child clings to their mom’s leg, the way a partner quietly supports during a newborn session, or the way a parent’s eyes soften when they look at their child, those quiet, unspoken moments that carry the most meaning.
What might set me apart from others is that I approach each session less like a business exchange and more like being invited into someone’s world. I’m not there to just take photos, I’m there to witness something real and meaningful. I try to hold space for people to simply be themselves, and I think that shows in the work. it’s about connection, emotion, and presence.
My goal is always to create images that feel timeless and emotionally resonant, photos that you can feel, not just see.
I’m proud of the relationships I’ve built through this work and the trust families place in me. To be invited into such intimate spaces in people’s lives is something I never take lightly. It’s not just photography, for me it’s legacy work.
What makes you happy?
Happiness for me shows up in the quiet, everyday moments…watching my daughter laugh uncontrollably, sharing a slow morning by the beach, or capturing a fleeting expression through my lens that I know will mean everything to someone later. I’ve learned over time that happiness isn’t loud or constant, it’s subtle, layered, and often rooted in presence.
Creating something meaningful with my hands and heart, being of service through my work, and feeling deeply connected to the people I love, all of that brings me joy. I think happiness comes when we stop chasing it and start noticing it in the little things we’d miss if we weren’t paying attention.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.corikleckner.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coriklecknerphotography?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
