Flapper Style Brooklyn Wedding

It is always an honor for me to photograph a friend’s wedding. I first met Jennie a few years ago at The Clay Pot, a jewelry store in my Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope. For years I would visit and buy small gifts for myself and others. I’d often gaze at the gorgeous, unique hand-crafted wedding rings in the back room. It was, and still is, a very special place to me.

My husband proposed to me in Hawaii with a ring from The Clay Pot. Chandler and I ended up purchasing our wedding bands there too – a lovely and patient woman, Jennie Fiske, welcomed my repeated visits to view the Jessica Fields and Overmann designs. She never got tired of pulling out ring after ring for me to see, over and over again! I left with rings that I still cherish three years later, and I still get compliments on them all of the time. A few years later, it was Jennie and Joe’s turn to get married. I was thrilled when I received her call asking if I would photograph their Flapper Style Brooklyn wedding this spring!

Jennie and Joe used a very glamorous Roaring Twenties theme at the Montauk Club in Park Slope, where fittingly, a number of episodes of Scorscese’s classy Boardwalk Empire were filmed. Jennie’s feathered headpiece was absolutely stunning on her flaming red curled hair. The bride and maid of honor’s flapperesque dresses were very svelte, not to mention the smaller details like their shoes, fine beading on the maid of honor’s dress, the rich and colorful bouquets, and the bride’s feather shawl! Joe’s ensemble was simple and understated, balancing out the glamour of the other details. Below are a few of my favorite portraits and moments from Jennie + Joe’s flapper style Brooklyn wedding.

On a personal note, I just want to say how grateful I am Jennie and my paths crossed. I’m so thankful for her help in finding us the perfect rings. Wishing you both all the best in love and life.

Creative Team: Floral Design: Edelweiss Floral Atelier // Dress: Anna Sui for BHLDN // Feather shrug: The Wedding Dresser // Hairpiece: Etsy // Suit: Ralph Lauren // Jennie’s Shoes: Spanish Leather // Joe’s Shoes: Cole Haan // Makeup and Hair: Drea Coney Lorraine // Rings by Marian Maurer, Megan Thorne and Jerry Spaulding all from The Clay Pot // Band: Empire Beats // Cake: LadyBird Bakery // Cake toppers: Etsy // Event Coordination: The Reverend D.

Sneak Peek: Jennie + Joe’s Flapper Style Brooklyn Wedding

Sneak Peek: Jennie + Joe’s Flapper Style Brooklyn Wedding at the Montauk Club in Park Slope, Brooklyn. This image was shot on Kodak Film and developed, scanned and printed at Chelsea Photographic in Manhattan.

I love this photo for so many reasons. I’ve known Jennie for about 5 years now. My home + studio are a few blocks away from this gorgeous 1920’s prewar building. They are always shooting historical period films here and it’s like stepping back in time when I enter. I’m excited to share more beautiful images from Jennie and Joe’s flapper-style Brooklyn wedding soon.

Please stay tuned for more!

Food Photography Workshop at Runner & Stone

Last week I hosted another food photography workshop in Brooklyn. My previous workshops were so enjoyable, I was really looking forward to working with this new group! We started the day off meeting at Naturally Delicious‘ newly renovated space called PDR (Private Dining Room). Chef owner, Loren Michelle, and her talented staff prepared and styled both delicious and beautiful plates for us to photograph, including some lovely cocktails.

Our group spent the latter half of the day shooting on site at Runner & Stone bakery and restaurant. Runner & Stone is the delightful by-product of the combined ideas and dreams of pastry chef Peter Endriss and savory chef Chris Pizzulli. Not only does their space have stunning light, but also the food is unbelievable. We were thrilled to work with their friendly staff and be able to sample many of the items on their menu.

We had a great turn out, and I was so pleased to meet my attendees – some of whom traveled all the way from New Jersey and Chicago to be there! It was a warm, interesting group of photographers (most of them wedding photographers!) who were passionate about shooting. Any time you gather a group of artists together you are guaranteed to see creative sparks fly!

One of the benefits of doing a hands-on workshop is that you can troubleshoot as you go. We ended up covering many different topics including food styling, shooting angles, exposure, highlights and shadows, and especially and always composition.

I’m glad I had the opportunity to lead this group, and I am looking forward to the next workshop on July 9th. I take every opportunity I can to shoot alongside my students, I always learn new things, too!

Credits: All of the above photos were taken by Karen Wise, except for the last portrait of Karen + Jennifer shooting, which was photographed by Emilia Schobeiri, and the Instagram images which were shot by Hill Honeck.

Upcoming Food Photography & BBQ Workshop!

Last week’s workshop went so well we are excited about the next one!

Join us for an Upcoming Food Photography & BBQ Workshop! next week on July 9th for BBQ in Loren’s gorgeous garden at Naturally Delicious in Brooklyn, while simultaneously shooting and enjoying the barbequed food and refreshing drinks!

To register please go HERE!

Karen Wise and Naturally Delicious Team Up

Last month, wedding season started with a bang! I photographed a gorgeous, joy-filled 3-day Indian wedding in New York, and since then it’s been shoot after shoot. This week, I am posting a series of food + party images from a recent collaboration between my team and Naturally Delicious in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.

Naturally Delicious is the professional home of chef and food stylist, Loren Michelle. Loren and I have a mutual appreciation for delicious food and beautiful imagery, and we enjoy collaborating whenever possible, whether it be on weddings or food photography workshops. When she told me that she was opening Private Dining Room (PDR) – a new business adjacent to her catering kitchen – I jumped at a chance to do a shoot on location.

Karen Wise and Naturally Delicious Team Up

Loren hosted a very successful dinner to celebrate the opening of PDR. The guest list included Anne Chertoff of Anne Chertoff Media, Herve Riou of Tartinery, Jess and Jilly of Carats and Cake, and Shira Savada of Martha Stewart Weddings.

Loren and her staff pulled out all the stops. The evening was full of food, drink, and warm conversation. What follows is a collection of images that I hope you will enjoy. The cooperative efforts by everyone involved made for a stunning and tasty dinner.

Location / Private Dining Room

Floral Deisgn / Tinsel & Twine

Catering / Naturally Delicious

Stationery (Menus, Place Settings and PDR’s logo on door) / Fourteen-Forty

Calligraphy / Paula Y. Lee

Photographer’s Assistant / Hillary Honeck

Videography / Courtney Arcese of Love + Brain Films

Karen Wise Food Photography + Blogging Workshop

FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY + BLOGGING WORKSHOPS – 2 upcoming classes w/ KAREN WISE

Choose 1 or choose BOTH!

June 24 – “Camera Fundamentals + Restaurant Visit”
Location: Meet greet and technique at PDR (Private Dining Room). Lunch, styling and shooting at Runner & Stone, Brooklyn
$200 / 11am-5pm

July 9 – “Photography, Blogging + BBQ”
Location: Naturally Delicious’ Garden. Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
$200 / 11am-4pm.

Learn how to improve your photography technique, how to use better lighting, master composition in a controlled setting and out in the field. Learn styling and plating from professional chef Loren Michelle and learn the tricks to photo editing, social media and blogging.

Special guest, Loren Michelle of Naturally Delicious will be helping with plating and styling. Her chefs will be preparing food for us to shoot on July 9th. On June 24th we will be dining out and shooting inside a local Brooklyn restaurant (Runner & Stone)!

You don’t want to miss this Karen Wise Food Photography + Blogging Workshop!

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Camille + Jonathan at The Foundry

Happy May Day everyone!

I had the pleasure of photographing Camille and Jonathan’s wedding last year in May 2013. As I was looking through their images again almost a year later, one thing particularly strikes me–and that is the warmth they feel towards one another and towards their children–so beautifully evident in their faces throughout the ceremony and reception.

They chose the Foundry in Long Island City for its intimate and rustic rooftop garden. The sprawling ivy was perfect for creating natural, lush portraits of the bride and groom. The floral arrangements were full of radiant, exploding peonies. One special detail that I absolutely love from this wedding is the hanging altar piece. It was so elegant and lovely; I could hardly take my eyes off it!

Check out this wedding as featured on Style Me Pretty.

Photography: Karen Wise Photography / Wedding Dress: Alita Graham For Kleinfeld Kollection / Cake:Cheryl Kleinman Cakes / Catering: Lifestyle Event Group / Event Planning: Mario Rivera – MR Hospitality / DJ: Upscale Sound | Grooms Attire: Vera Wang / Designer: Sibel Kurun / Leis: Handmade With Love + Shipped From Hawaii By Groom’s Mother / Sister+Mom’s Performance Dresses: Handmade With Love By Groom’s Mother + Sister / The Foundry: The Foundry, L.I.C.

Dana + Stuart’s Angel Orensanz Wedding

Hello and Happy Spring!

I just returned from a beautiful Indian wedding in Locust Valley, New York. A huge affair spread over three amazing days! This week I’m busy developing film and editing images. The colors, the outfits, the emotions are all still very fresh and inspiring to me.

Meanwhile 2 of my New York weddings from last year are being featured on Style Me Pretty this week!

Here are pictures of Dana and Stuart’s gorgeous Jewish Fall wedding at Angel Orensanz in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. James Abel Events designed and planned this beautiful wedding.

When Dana and Stu were beginning to plan their wedding, there were several things that were important to them. Creating a fun, relaxed yet interesting environment for their guests was top on their list. With Stu’s love of Steve McQueen and Dana’s of Audrey Hepburn, these elements were definitely going to be incorporated. Overall, this wedding was one of the most unique, that totally embraced the couple and their interests.

Check out this wedding as featured on Style Me Pretty.