Welcome to Cristina Salvador Klenz's website. This page provides the viewer with information on my career and experiences as a photojournalist and as a freelance photographer.

I consider myself very fortunate to have spent my life in a field that allows me to be around people and to be creative at the same time. As a photojournalist, I have had the privilege of experiencing the lives of others first-hand. From covering news events like the Los Angeles Riots, and sporting events like the Olympic Trials, I have also gained knowledge in many aspects of life. Taking photographs, being creative and understanding human nature are the gifts I have received from my career as a newspaper photographer.

I graduated from the University of Missouri/Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism degree and an emphasis in photojournalism in 1986. Since then I have worked at various newspapers nationwide and spent the last 18 years as a staff photographer at the Long Beach Press-Telegram. My interest in human nature prompted me to return to college and receive a second Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Cal State University Long Beach in 2005.
Cristina gets caption information from a subject at the Long Beach Marathon in 2005.
Cristina covers firefighter training with the Downey Fire Department in Downey, California in 2004.
I began working as a part time newspaper photographer in 1994. This gave me the opportunity to work on my documentary project American Gypsies. The collection of photos includes an intense look at the lives of the descendents of European gypsies (Rom) as they live in America today. As far as I know, I am the only American photojournalist to have had access into this secretive culture. Although I am still hoping to publish a book, some of the work was published by Aperture in 1996. Photos from the project have also been published by Geo France, and Photojournalism the Professional's Approach- a textbook by Ken Kobre. The work was also exhibited at the University of Texas-Austin.
Cristina hangs out in the bullfighting arena at the Portuguese Hall in Artesia, CA, 1990.
I began my freelance photography business in 1993. Some of my clients past and present have included: City of Long Beach (Economic Development Center, Parks and Recreation, Long Beach Airport), Port of Long Beach, Rancho Santiago Community College District, Davis and Associates, DENSO, Downey Savings and Loan, Epson, Rancho Los Alamitos, Loretta Sanchez Campaign, Long Beach Symphony, Public Corp. for the Arts...Senator Betty Karnette Campaign, Long Beach Bar Association, The Banning House Residence Museum, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center
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