Here are some of my favorite images from recent newborn sessions in Brooklyn and Manhattan. They never get old to me, as each baby is so unique. I love baby swaddling blankets and styling newborn photo shoots. The last image is of my sweet baby Henry at 3 days old, wearing one of my hand knit baby hats.
Newborn Photographer Brooklyn 
Newborn Photographer NYC
Take a look at this video made behind the scenes on a styled wedding photo shoot. It’s no easy feat planning a wedding, nor planning a styled wedding shoot.
It’s been a few years since we shot this Brooklyn styled wedding photo shoot but it continues to be an inspiration for me.
I photographed this Brooklyn modern winter styled shoot with the following talented New York vendors. I remember how much work it was but also how inspiring and fun it was too!
Couple: Actors Abbi Crutchfield and Luke Thayer, who are really married to one another!
Photography: Karen Wise Photography
Event Planning and Event Design: Ang Weddings and Events
Flowers and Event Design: Rountree Flowers
Video: Love in Progress
Makeup: Lindsey Jones Makeup Artistry
Paper Goods: Regas
Dress: Angelo Lambrou via Gabriella New York Bridal Salon
Shoes: Aruna Seth
Headpiece: Sara Gabriel
Catering and Dessert Table: Naturally Delicious + Viva Max Kelly
Jewelry: Paris via Mark Ingram Bridal
Grey Bridesmaid Dress: 57 Grand
Red Bridesmaid Dress: Thread Design
Rentals: Broadway Party Rentals
Venue: 280 Washington Street, in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
I pinch myself when I remember the time I was published in Vogue Magazine!
A few years back, a writer from Vogue India called to interview me. She requested I send wedding photos to go along with her story. Vogue chose to publish two photos from a local and destination Indian wedding. I love them both. One image was of Priti wearing her Louboutin slippers on the morning after the big wedding celebration. I love this image because she stood on a step at the Lake Palace waving goodbye to all of her guests wearing a flowing silk robe and these elegant kitten heeled slippers. Priti demonstrated elegance wearing these shoes but if you look really closely you can see a chipped painted toenail which reminded me of the jam-packed week of partying and dancing every night away. My very first destination wedding was this wedding of Priti Paul and Jaouad Kadiri in India and I will never forget it.
Publishing an image from Udaipur, Rajasthan, and then one from a garden wedding in New Jersey was also apropos. Many Indian families immigrate to American and hope to keep their customs and traditions. Also, after this big Indian wedding in Delhi/Udaipur, I was asked to shoot many local ones. Neha is depicted in the second photograph in her New Jersey home, she fidgets with her earring nervously and with anticipation as her guests are about to arrive. Neha was visiting extended family in India when she saw the copy on a newsstand and brought the magazine home for me!
Some venues where I’ve photographed Indian weddings are: The Ritz Carlton in Palm Beach, Pleasantdale Chateau in NJ, Cipriani Wall Street in Manhattan, Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia, and The Greenbrier in West Virginia. Other locales include: Birmingham, Long Island, Connecticut, Delaware, The Dominican Republic, and other international destinations.
Morgan pulled off a great Brooklyn engagement proposal, Cody had no idea!
The couple had just arrived from Virginia to visit their friends in NYC. On an unassuming Wednesday in June, Morgan invited Cody to visit their old neighborhood in Brooklyn. They had always loved Cobble Hill Park, and he knew that Cody would appreciate visiting it. The park faces a narrow, quiet and secluded street with historic carriage houses on it, they would often sit with their coffees and wonder what it would be like to live in an old carriage house.
Morgan came up with a proposal plan and he contacted me to secretly photograph the moment inside Cobble Hill Park. We spoke a couple of times on the phone before the big day, as he was nervous and wanted to go over the plan a few times to make sure it would go smoothly. He got in touch the morning of, as well as texted me on their way to the park to ensure that I was in place with my camera when he popped the question.
Because the park was a little bit crowded that day, there was an elementary school graduation in process when I got there, I hid out with some other parents holding cameras and pretended I was one of them. I put my bag down on a bench that I was reserving for them and that I thought would feature the carriage houses in the background. I waited for them to arrive. Once they arrived, I let them have my bench, and they sipped their coffees while I spied on them from the graduation location! I knew it was about to happen when Morgan put his coffee down on the ground…
Brooklyn Engagement Proposal Shoot
Brooklyn Engagement Proposal Shoot
Brooklyn Engagement Proposal Shoot
June is here; take a look below at some Father’s Day family sessions photographed in and around Park Slope, Brooklyn. I love photographing precious portraits of dads and families with their kids. The one film shot of Chandler and my 9 month old son Henry in Ogunquit, Maine makes my heart melt!
Brooklyn Stoop Portraits
It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since the pandemic started. On April 7, 2020 I created Brooklyn Stoop Portraits, a project photographing Brooklyn family portraits of local friends and neighbors.
Please check out my new webpage for Brooklyn Stoop Portraits, where you may see a recap of the year in stoop portraits. The neighborhoods in which I shot these sessions include Park Slope, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Red Hook, Bushwick and Bedford Stuyvesant. I also photograph these outdoor family sessions on the Brooklyn Promenade, Brooklyn Waterfront and in Prospect Park.
Spring sessions have started again, and compared to last April, there is much less fear in the air. Many of us have been fully vaccinated, including me! Although we are still wearing masks, and keeping socially distant, there is more to feel grateful for this year. Soon we will get to see grandparents, friends and family who live far away. We have a president who has already helped get this economy going again while vaccinating millions each day.
Feel free to book a family session now to document your family’s milestones. Let’s create new memories and celebrate new beginnings!
Happy Spring! I’m offering 15% off spring family portrait sessions, until April 15, in Prospect Park at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, or on your stoop!
Please take a look at some of my recent family photo sessions and feel free to contact Brooklyn Stoop Portraits today to book your session! If you book before April 15th, you will receive the generous discount.
Another wonderful thing: 5% of the total session price also goes to No Kid Hungry. Since the pandemic started, I’ve raised almost $500 from my family sessions for No Kid Hungry, an organization which helps to feed hungry kids in this crisis. In this pandemic, vulnerable kids need our help now more than ever. I hope to see you in the next few weeks amongst the magnolia trees, cherry blossoms or on your stoop!
I was so happy to see my Brooklyn Stoop Portraits on Good Morning America!
My clients Kristin and Phillip were interviewed by Robin Roberts in the piece titled, “Leap into Love with these secrets to a successful relationship.”⠀Three of my portraits accompanied the interview.
Congratulations, Kristin + Phillip, on an inspiring and great appearance talking about how you strengthened your relationship during the pandemic.
Furthermore, welcome newborn baby Owen, he is simply adorable! Ryleigh is already such a terrific and loving big sister.
A marriage proposal is an exciting major life event. When you are planning your secret proposal why not treat yourselves to some professional photos? Ring in the new year with a proposal or engagement session.
“What I love about photographing marriage proposals is that there is naturally so much joy and emotion in these photos,” says award-winning wedding photographer Karen Wise, “From the exciting moment he gets down on his knee, to the happy portraits that follow, there are so many candid and photogenic moments to capture. Compared to an engagement session alone, which is beautiful but more composed, there is mystery to the proposal shoot. Where will they stand? Will they start to cry? How will the passersby react? I love photographing all of these unpredictable occurrences.”
“After the proposal, we transition into an intimate and joyful engagement session near the proposal location,” says Wise. “Although these portraits are like a typical engagement shoot, what makes them unique is that I don’t need to direct as much to get cute shots. Because the couple are on a natural high, they literally pose themselves!”
If you’re looking for quintessential New York engagement photography, Central Park is a great choice. Whether you choose a snowy wonderland as your backdrop or wait until spring for the cherry blossoms, you’ll find no shortage of photogenic shots throughout the park. Due to its vast size, it’s also easy to maintain a safe social distance while capturing unique portraits.
Brooklyn’s parks offer unique backdrops for proposal photos in NYC. Prospect Park’s outdoor trails are quiet and perfect for popping the question. By contrast, the main meadow in Prospect Park is beautiful and open. Although it is open, it is peaceful in the winter time, for instance if you plan to propose around Valentine’s Day!
Brooklyn Park Bridge offers amazing views of the East River and local landmarks like Jane’s Carousel, St Ann’s Warehouse, and Patsy’s Pizza. South Brooklyn is also known for its beautiful neighborhoods, like Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, and Red Hook, due to their beloved brownstones and waterfront views of Manhattan. Brooklyn Bridge Park, adjacent to the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridges, near DUMBO, is an ideal outdoor space for proposal and engagement photos all year round.
The backdrops of South Brooklyn are breathtaking: they include views of the bridges, views of the Manhattan skyline and views of the Statue of Liberty. Red Hook and DUMBO have historic cobblestone streets and artistic graffiti, while Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens have historic architecture such as brownstones and tree lined streets.
There is no shortage of romantic backdrops in Manhattan and Brooklyn to set the scene for your proposal and engagement pictures.
Ring in the new year with a proposal or engagement session. Contact Karen Wise Photography in Brooklyn, NY. Specializing in wedding and engagement photography, Wise has been featured in acclaimed publications such as New York Magazine, Martha Stewart Weddings, and VOGUE. Schedule your session today by calling (917) 539-9908.