Valentines Inspired Engagement Session

If you’ve recently gotten engaged, you’re likely busy planning your big day. One of the best ways to show your adoration is an engagement photo shoot on or around Valentine’s Day, a holiday inspired by LOVE! If you desire to have an engagement photography shoot around Valentine’s Day, here are a few tips for planning it.

How to Plan a Valentines Day Inspired Engagement Session

Plan Your Outfits, Accessories and Backdrop

Bold red is the standard color for Valentine’s Day, so incorporate it into your outfits, your florals and your decor. One member of the couple might sport a res dress, red shoes, ruby colored jewelry, or hold and arrangement of roses or red dahlias. Your partner may coordinate their outfits with a pop of red in their scarf or tie. Create eye-grabbing contrast by sporting black and white with a smidge of crimson. Planning your outfits in advance of your engagement session gives you enough time to buy any accessories you might need.

Find a Creative Photographer

Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it, and professional wedding and engagement photographers will be booking quickly. Ask for recommendations from friends or family who have booked photographers for weddings, birthdays, or anniversaries. Browse their websites to look at their portfolios, set up appointments with your top three, and then select the best one for you and your partner. See how they shoot in low light as well as in broad daylight to confirm their talent. Read reviews about your photographer, as much can be learned between the lines.

Scout Your Locations

Central Park – Bethesda Terrace

The location for your engagement shoot can have personal significance to you, or it could be a snow-sprinkled winter location you are visiting for the first time. Before the day arrives, confirm that you won’t need any special permission to shoot in your chosen spot, such as the steps in front of a museum, the public gardens or park. If you’re planning to shoot outside, have a few backup indoor locations in case the weather is unsuitable for engagement photography.

Brooklyn Newborn Photography

It was super fun to photograph Zorah’s sleepy Brooklyn newborn photography session in the Heights this fall. I’ve never met such a calm baby! My camera’s shutter clicking, the nearby trucks honking, and the wind blowing – nothing woke up Zorah until the end when her outfit was changed.

What a quiet and relaxing photo session, and thankfully the new parents loved their family photos! :)

River Cafe Brooklyn Wedding

I loved shooting Alisa and Richard’s River Cafe Brooklyn wedding this summer! What a lovely couple! The weather was warm in late August, but not too warm to stroll before the ceremony. We walked around DUMBO (short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) and took portraits amongst the food vendors, the cobblestone streets and in the courtyard of St. Ann’s Warehouse (in old Tobacco Warehouse), adjacent to the Brooklyn Bridge. We utilized different photo techniques such as long exposures, shallow depth of field, and silhouette to highlight the bride’s flowing gown and veil, as well while featuring bokeh of the bright city lights. The River Cafe never seemed prettier than it did on this day.

Book a Fall Family Photo Session!

Are you interested in a fall family photo session? Why not book it now, for October, November or even early December, in Prospect Park, Brooklyn? Plan it f’or when the temperatures begin to cool and the leaves start to change colors.

The sooner you book a family photo shoot, the sooner you can get started on designing your holiday cards!!

Here is a bright and fun shoot I did for my friend and fellow photographer Sheila Griffin. What a pleasure it was to photographer her, with her husband and sweet newborn son Isaac, as well as with Ivy, their greyhound! I photographed them on film and digitally, to mix it up and capture the season’s beauty in full color.

Prospect Park Engagement Session

Thunder and grey skies didn’t stop me from photographing Alex and Zach’s Prospect Park engagement session. We just stayed near the boat house, to be safe!

Take a look at this joyful and cozy series of portraits I made. You will see just why this loving couple is tying the knot next year!

Catskills Fall Wedding on Style Me Pretty!

Please check out my Catskills Fall wedding photos, also featured on Style Me Pretty! Here is an excerpt from the feature, I couldn’t have described Hanna and James’ impeccable style any better!

“And the bride wore…GOLD! And a stunning, gold Pnina Tornai dress at that! Hanna and Jimm said their ‘I Do’s’ at The Kaaterskill, a family farm that they visit each year, which felt just like home surrounded by family and friends, horse pastures and beautiful backdrops. The bride’s dramatic dress mixed with an array of colorful florals by Saipua made for the perfect pair and Karen Wise Photography captured it beautifully! Take a look and see why this wedding has us ready for fall and be sure to check out their gorgeous hand-painted wedding cake!”

Family Session Photos in Prospect Park Brooklyn

Interested in family session photos in Prospect Park Brooklyn? Why not choose Brooklyn’s Karen Wise as Your Family Photographer?

Karen Wise Photography, based out of Park Slope, is a well-known Brooklyn wedding photographer. She was named one of American PHOTO Magazine’s Top Ten Wedding Photographers in the World. She is also a sought-after maternity and family photographer. If you want to capture treasured memories of your pregnancy, birth, newborn baby or entire family, she can provide you with keepsake portraits you will enjoy forever.

What a Professional Family Photographer Offers

Consumer cameras have never been of higher quality or as affordable as it is now, and you have an iPhone, so you may wonder why you’d need to hire a professional photographer for your family photos?! The skills required to be an exceptional family photographer go beyond the camera you have. They also require finding that perfect moment, and being able to engage young subjects. A great family photographer works quickly while her young subjects are running, playing and wriggling all around!

Karen has been honing her skills for more than 15 years, and her work has appeared in countless publications, including New York Magazine, Martha Stewart Weddings, VOGUE India, and Marie Claire China. She is herself a mother of a 3-year-old and understands how quickly time passes and how important it is for parents to capture images of their family at each stage and all ages. A Brooklyn resident, she knows the area well and can recommend photogenic locations for your family or maternity photo shoot, including the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, and around Park Slope including Prospect Park.

For an experienced, talented, and dedicated Brooklyn family photographer, contact Karen Wise Photography. She blends technical skills with experience, creativity, and an unmatched eye for a memorable shot.

Karen’s specialties range from wedding and event photography, to maternity, newborn and family portraits, so you can enjoy a lifetime of beautiful images. Call 917-539-9908 to schedule a consultation.

Indian Wedding at Pleasantdale Chateau

I’m honored to be featured in Grace Ormonde Wedding Style magazine for Nandini and Karan’s 3-day Indian wedding at Pleasantdale Chateau!

Being able to capture so much color, joy, and tradition among this wedding’s festivities reminds me of why I am so in love with my craft. The chateau was the perfect setting to make vibrant images in which you could almost hear the beat of the drums and the chanting during the groom’s horse procession.

I was enamored by Nandini’s hand embroidered reception dress designed by Zara Umrigar. The color red in Hindu culture represents prosperity and fertility. Sabyasachi designed Nandini’s other fabulous lehengas.

What a regal wedding!

I’ve photographed many Indian weddings, including one in Udaipur, India, but this is one of my favorites!

Brooklyn Wedding Photographer: Karen Wise / KarenWise.com / Instagram @karenwisephoto
Venue: @pleasantdalechateau
Bride: @nsharma0077 Groom: @karanification
Planning: @eventscherished ⠀
Floral Design: @crestflorist
Event Design: @elegant.affairs ⠀
Ceremony Gowns: @sabyasachiofficial⠀
@bridesofsabyasachi
Reception Gown: @zaraumrigar
Catering: @moghulcaterers
Makeup/Hair: @stylebysusmita
Video: @theweddingfilmer
Publication: Grace Ormonde @wedding_style

Brooklyn Winery Wedding

Alexis and Lee had a stunning Brooklyn Winery wedding. The couple got ready at the Wythe Hotel, where they also had a smashing portrait session. Their Chinese tea ceremony took place in a rustic room at the Brooklyn Winery. Their ketubah signing took place adjacent to it. Both ceremonies were surrounded by family and friends. You’ve gotta love a unique mingling of cultural traditions at a wedding!

Brooklyn Wedding Photographer: Karen Wise is a Brooklyn wedding photographer based in Park Slope. She photographed this wedding using both film and digital cameras. Karen has been photographing local and destination weddings for over 15 years, both digitally and on film.

Brooklyn Wedding Venue: Brooklyn Winery is a rustic and chic Brooklyn wedding venue located in the heart of Williamsburg. It’s proximity to Manhattan, to many unique boutiques and romantic restaurants make it ideal for out of town guests. Furthermore, this venue is close to chic Brooklyn hotels, including the Wythe Hotel where the couple got ready.

Floral Designer: Designs by Ahn designed the most luscious and springy florals for the chuppah, the centerpieces and for Alex’s bouquet.

Wedding Dress: Alexis wore a stunning Tara Keely by Lazaro bridal gown in ivory. The lace and crepe trumpet dress had a built-in sweetheart corset bodice with lace straps. All I can say is Wow!

Cake Maker: Lael Cakes designed their red and gold cake. Brooklyn based Lael Cakes specializes in organic, gluten-free, vegan, or dairy-free cakes!

Groom’s suit: Lee looked dapper in his navy suit by My.Suit!

Publication: Alex and Lee’s Brooklyn Winery wedding photos were published on Carats and Cake. Scroll down to see the featured images!