Brooklyn Stoop Portraits this Fall

School is underway, and the temperatures are dropping.
Soon the trees will be bursting with color! Let’s take some Brooklyn Stoop Portraits this fall!

Your kids are growing quickly and it’s about time you had pictures you were actually in. As a mom, I know just how stressful the thought of a family photoshoot can be; you can trust me to take care of a lot of the fuss. I have some great techniques to help parents stay calm and in the moment, while the kids have fun being themselves and everyone looks great for the camera! Let’s take some Brooklyn Stoop Portraits this Fall!
Please don’t hesitate to contact me to plan your 35-45 minute family sessions.

These photos were taken in either Prospect Park, in the Berkshires or on a Brooklyn stoop.

Prospect Park is considered Brooklyn’s back yard! It is beautiful all year round. I love photographing in Prospect Park in the spring with the cherry blossoms and magnolia trees. I also love to shoot engagement sessions and family sessions against it backdrop of colorful autumn leaves. Whether you’re interested in baseball, soccer, birdwatching, hiking, skating or nature programs, there are thousands of ways to enjoy Prospect Park with your family.

Buttermilk Falls Wedding

I loved photographing this Buttermilk Falls wedding! There were so many beautiful details including a teal vintage car, an airstream photo booth, unique vintage garden furniture, canoes as props.

The seasonal flowers and wedding colors all coordinated so perfectly. Thank you, Ali and JP, for inviting me to photograph your wedding. It was so gorgeous and everyone had a blast!

Karen Wise Photography - Buttermilk Falls Inn Wedding

A Buttermilk Falls Inn Ceremony.

Buttermilk Falls Inn is located on the edge of Hudson River, which depicts the perfect backdrop to their Riverfront Patio which can comfortably host 150-200 guests. This stunning two-tiered patio, on which a tent is placed, allows the guests to enjoy the serenity of Buttermilk Falls Inn’s grounds, while dancing the night away under the stars.

Venue: Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa

Planner: Green Apple Weddings

Photographer: Karen Wise Photography

Vintage Car: Brook Shore Classics

Floral Design: Eltingville Florist

Cake: Ten Cakes Studio

DJ: 74 Events

Lighting: Storz Lighting

Brooklyn Maternity Sessions

Here are some recent Brooklyn maternity sessions that I photographed. I photographed Samantha and Joe’s session on a windy day in December. A few weeks later, the couple welcomed their beautiful baby girl, Lana! She is super adorable and sweet and loves hanging out with my 6 year old son Henry!

I loved posing for my maternity photos. At this point in time, I was 34 weeks pregnant and my belly was getting really big and heavy! It was such an exciting time for me and my husband. You can also see the beautiful cake I served at our baby shower, designed by Betsy at Nine Cakes.

I recommend taking pictures between 28-32 weeks for the maternity session. You will be more comfortable and look and feel more limber in your poses!

Mawra’s maternity session was photographed at 32 weeks this fall. We photographed in Prospect Park and around the neighborhood in Park Slope. She was thrilled with the photos.

Megan had her second child, a boy, shortly after we took these pictures in her Brooklyn home. It was fun to have her 2 year old involved in the shoot, she didn’t want to leave her Mama’s side.

Yaryna, Lev and her son Cole welcomed a baby girl this summer a couple of months after I photographed their Brooklyn Stoop Portraits in Park Slope. Arielle delivered a baby during the beginning of the pandemic, so we did a maternity session a bit socially distanced, outdoors in front of her home. I love documenting this exciting time in a family’s life.

Karen is also a newborn photographer with 4 years of experience documenting babies on their second day of life in hospitals in Manhattan.

Brooklyn Stoop Portraits

Nine Cakes – It’s a Boy! – Karen Wise Photography

Brooklyn Maternity Portraits

Maternity

Summery Park Slope Brooklyn Wedding

Nothing quite like a summery Park Slope Brooklyn wedding on a hot day in July! Megan and Joe were married at Stone Park Cafe surrounded by their closest family members. Here is a preview of some photos from their intimate wedding at Stone Park Cafe. I loved the floral bouquet designed by Zuzu’s petals, the blues and lavender color palette was so unique!

Park Slope Brooklyn Wedding

First Look

Megan started her day at Medusa hair salon, next door to the venue, and since it was such a hot and humid day, they decided to have their first look in front of the restaurant/salon because it was slightly cooler there. The couple lit up once they saw each other. We went into the most beautiful portrait session around the neighborhood before the ceremony at Stone Park Cafe.

Floral Design by Zuzus Petals

Hair and Makeup by Medusa Salon

Wedding at the Culinary Institute of America

Happy Pride Month!

In May, Brendon and George had their wedding at the Culinary Institute of America, the “world’s premier culinary college”, on the beautiful Upstate New York campus. As a foodie, home cook and food photographer I was honored to photograph at this incredible venue! Some well known graduates of the CIA include Anthony Bourdain, Anne Burrell, Sarah Baldwin, Roy Choi and Melissa Rodriguez to name a few.

What I loved most about Brendon and George’s wedding was how relaxed the day was. The couple decided to get ready together, so there wasn’t a first look. It was just the two of them, helping each other to prepare, which was sweet and serene.

The couple wanted the focus to be on portraits and candids with family and friends. Their first dance was professionally choreographed. A drag show followed and took over the stage with two performances in two different outfits.

I loved photographing both film and digital on this wedding. The shots at sunset on film were my favorite ones, with the unique look of grainy texture and rich color. Congrats to the happy couple!

Wedding at the Culinary Institute of America

Upstate NY Wedding

Upstate NY Wedding

MASS MoCA Wedding

Karen Wise – Wedding at the Culinary Institute of America

Upstate NY Wedding

Upstate NY Wedding

Upstate NY Wedding

Upstate NY Wedding

Upstate NY Wedding

Upstate NY Wedding

Upstate NY Wedding

Upstate NY Wedding

Olivia & Jed’s MASS MoCA Wedding

Olivia & Jed’s MASS MoCA wedding was colorful, stunning and so much fun! I love how this Berkshires venue juxtaposes the natural beauty of the surrounding mountains with the industrial chic of its large contemporary art museum. Everywhere you turn at MASS MoCA there is another art installation that could be used as a backdrop for portraits. At this time of year – August – it was wrapped in an abundance of lush green too.

Olivia and Jed’s wedding party consisted of loving friends, cousins and siblings. The Brooklyn-based couple incorporated colorful flowers, an emotional Jewish ceremony, and delicious farm to table food catered by Mezze Catering. The long rectangular tables were perfectly placed alongside a 140-foot-long mural in eye-popping reds, pinks and oranges. Green Apple Weddings event planners used their impeccable style to create a room that would feel unique and inviting. Along with the planners, the floral designer, Hybl Fannin Design, made some jaw-dropping arrangements including a bright bouquet of dahlias, roses and lavender.

I used color film for many of the portraits of the couple and their flowers. You may see the borders that frame some of my film shots below. The medium format film images have a classic look and grain to it, which makes sense with images at this historic venue. I love to offer wedding film photography for all of my couples. I had so much fun photographing this Berkshires wedding alongside the awesome modern art. Olivia even got ready at a quaint little house down the street where she and the women in her bridal party had their portraits made. Olivia & Jed’s MASS MoCA wedding was one of my favorite Berkshires weddings to date!

MASS MoCA Wedding on film

MASS MoCA Wedding

Berkshires Wedding Photographer

Berkshires Wedding

Wedding Film Photography

I love to photograph weddings on film, because wedding film photography has a classic, textured and dreamy look to it that nothing can beat. In an article I read last week in The New York Times: “In the Digital Age, Wedding Film Photography Has a Resurgence: Across the country, more couples are seeking out film photographers to shoot their weddings.”
Yes! It’s so nice to see this trend and to have film photography validated by the New York Times. Here are some favorite wedding film images I photographed in the past 15 years. As you can see, the colors can be vibrant or muted, depending on the film stock, or development. The grain of the film is visible. Digital images do not have grain instead they have pixelation when enlarged. In the accidentally blurry portrait of Crissy in her hotel room, you can really see the pretty grain.

Dana and Stu’s first look photographed on film.

Hotel on Rivington - Karen Wise Wedding Film Photography

Details at the Hotel on Rivington, in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Karen Wise Photography - Brooklyn Wedding

Close up of pink peonies decorating the chuppah, photographed on film.

Lisa's bouquet of spring flowers, shot on film.

Lisa’s bouquet of spring flowers at the BBG

Groom’s procession on a boat to the Lake Palace, Udaipur.

Henna / Mehndi Day in Udaipur, India.

Portrait of Alexis at the Brooklyn Winery

Karen Wise Photography - Wedding Film Portrait Tribeca

Tribeca Rooftop Wedding

Karen Wise Photography - Bouquet India House

Bouquet photographed on Film.

Karen Wise - Brooklyn Wedding Photographer

Anli and Ken at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Karen Wise Brooklyn Botanic Garden Wedding in Spring

Spring bouquet at the BBG, designed by Saipua, photographed on film by Karen Wise.

A wedding in Malibu, CA.

A wedding in Malibu.

Wedding Portraits at The William Vale

I loved photographing Jaime and James’ elopement at Brooklyn City Hall and their wedding portraits at the William Vale.

First of all, how perfectly matched are they? Their names are practically the same. Similarly, their love for their puppy Boba Fett was evident. Boba was included in two of their portrait sessions. You can see how much he loved his owners in the pictures.

Jaime and James got married on Court Street in Brooklyn on a chilly October day. They proceeded to The William Vale hotel in Williamsburg for their portrait session and to relax in their luxurious room with 180 degree views. James surprised Jaime by upgrading their room to the Vale Garden suite which has a private, terraced 1,600 square foot balcony with prime views of the city! Congratulations Jaime and James.

William Vale Wedding

Wedding at The William Vale

William Vale Wedding

Manhatta Restaurant Wedding: Katie and Zach

I photographed Katie and Zach’s Manhatta Restaurant wedding on a sunny day last fall. The air was cool and the sun shone brightly. Their first reveal took place at the historic Beekman Hotel. They traveled to First Presbyterian Church on 5th Avenue and we had the opportunity to make beautiful family portraits in the garden.

Manhatta Restaurant is where they hosted their 100 guests for the reception. The restaurant is situated on the 60th floor and has incredible views from all sides! Upon the couple’s arrival at Manhatta, we documented their lively cocktail hour and extended family portraits. Katie was bustled in the Bay room. She and her husband had a moment to relax and take in the incredible southern views of the city river.

Dinner, toasts and dancing took place in the Whitman Ballroom. This ballroom faces west but also has views of the Hudson River and buildings to the north. Designs by Ahn created the florals for this Manhatta Restaurant wedding which incorporated warm peaches, pinks, whites and dark berries.

I highly recommend this luminous and breathtaking venue for a small, medium or large sized wedding reception! You may see more of my recent New York weddings here.