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!
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 ringing in the new year with a wedding proposal, use this guide to find romantic and safe outdoor proposal locations and engagement session spots.
4 Outdoor Locations for Proposal or Engagement Photos
1. Central Park
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.
2. Prospect Park Brooklyn
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!
3. Brooklyn Bridge Park
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.
4. The SoHo 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.
As the end of 2020 approaches, now is the perfect time to snuggle up with your loved ones for a family photography shoot. Despite the drop in temperature, winter creates some of the most beautiful scenery. This season provides an opportunity to capture unique iconic images in NYC. I am excited to offer winter family photos in Brooklyn on your stoop or in the park.
Outdoor Winter Family Photography Sessions
A major benefit of getting photos taken in the winter is the soft lighting and gorgeous sunsets. Even cloudy days are ideal for a photo shoot, as the soft light is flattering for skin. The darker, moodier setting enhances colorful sweaters and jackets. Some iconic locales like Prospect Park, The Brooklyn Promenade or the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, tend to be quieter in the colder months. This makes it ideal for capturing quiet backgrounds, and for young children to stay focused. You’ll be able to get a beautiful shot whether you’re taking pictures in the park or on your Brooklyn stoop.
Your loved ones will be thrilled when they see your final pictures. Putting these winter photos in frames or in albums are perfect presents for the holidays. Additionally, you can create holiday cards to send to relatives and friends you have not seen in a while.
Book Your Winter Family Portraits Today!
Don’t wait to book your Brooklyn Stoop Portraits during the most magical time of year. If you’re interested in making memories of your loved ones before 2021 arrives, call (917) 539-9908 to reserve a date soon.
September is finally here! It won’t be long ’til school (whether remote or in person) is underway. With fall around the corner, the next few weeks will be busy with elopements, engagements and many family sessions (Brooklyn Stoop Portraits – Fall Family Portraits).
In August, I shot a few more Brooklyn Stoop Portraits in Park Slope, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill and Bushwick. I also photographed a socially distanced rooftop wedding in Jersey City. I love that these sessions have expanded to many different neighborhoods around the borough, and have even crossed state lines!
Cooler weather and fall colors will be here sooner than we think! Why not plan your engagement, ceremony or family session in the next few weeks? To book your session, please call, email, text or click HERE to fill out my contact form.
You may have seen the hashtag on Instagram, #dontcancelpostpone in regards to 2020 weddings. Of the 12 2020 weddings I had booked in April, only 2 are actually taking place this year. Most of my events have been postponed until 2021, but some of my clients have chosen to celebrate “micro weddings” on their original 2020 wedding dates!
Micro weddings are similar to elopements, except there are a few guests and sometimes details you’d see at a larger wedding. Micro weddings may include immediate family or a a handful of close friends as guests. Before the pandemic I occasionally shot elopements and also micro weddings. Sometimes the couple came from California or from the UK to NYC to elope. Often times we started at Manhattan’s City Hall, or sometimes an officiant met us in Central Park for the ceremony or on the Brooklyn Promenade.
Please take a look at Sherryl and Jonathan’s rooftop micro wedding I photographed this summer in Jersey City. It was a beautiful sunny day, and the couple chose to have a friend officiate. An intimate family style dinner was prepared by the groom. The bride held a stunning and full bouquet and the groom sported a matching boutonniere. The rooftop ceremony I photographed couldn’t have been sweeter, with Sherryl and Jonathan, their moms, Jon’s sister, their 2 kids +1 on the way!
I’ve been experimenting with making duotone portraits in Adobe Photoshop by altering images of my niece, my sister and I. These images are recent, all shot in 2020, but some were made right before the start of the pandemic.
As we continue to try to keep our families healthy and safe, and strive for equality and justice, the passing of time has been on my mind now that we’re contemplating reopening our city.
In June I photographed families on their front steps, in the park, and in closed off streets. Maternity sessions, second birthdays, Fathers Day portraits and newborn babies were all my subjects. I’m continuing to offer Brooklyn Stoop Portraits this summer (shot from a safe a distance) throughout July and August.
For $499, you can have a gallery of beautiful, professionally shot and edited images of you and your loved ones with 5% of each session donated to No Kid Hungry, a charity which helps children in need.
These 30 min sessions are social distancing approved, and shot with a telephoto lens. You can make it dressy or casual – whatever way you would like to remember this point in time. Let’s make the most of the summer, be with family and capture the memories you are making right now!
To schedule your stoop session, please call, text or email me. You may also reach me via Instagram. I look forward to capturing this unique time in your family’s life! – Karen
Your loved ones will be thrilled when they see your final pictures. Putting these winter photos in frames or in albums are perfect presents for the holidays. Additionally, you can create holiday cards to send to relatives and friends you have not seen in a while.
