India - Priti and Jaouad
New York - Diana and Osman
Philadelphia - Joy and Bob
Hamptons - Jade and Chris
Westchester - Julia and Scott
Palm Beach -Anjali and Reco
Cape Cod - Kristen and David
New York II - Shining and Karl
Mexico - Giselle and AJ
Favorites
1_MSW_S08
2_MSW_Spr08
2a_NYMagW09
3_NYMag_W08
4_MB_DecJan07
5_EB_Fall07
6_Knot_FW0506
7_Knot_S08
8_KnotBest07
9_WPJA_W05
9a_MB_AugSept08
10_BridesPhila
11_BridesNY_SS08
12_NYTimesW07
13_NYTimesW08
14_KnotBook
15_Knot_SS06
Karen's updated KarenWise.com launches!!
Take a look at Julia and Scott enveloped in sparklers for their grand exit, in New York Magazine Weddings, page 110. One of Karen's food still lifes (a dish of sea urchin meze) appears in Modern Bride this season too.
Check out Irene and Yano's ceremony in the Spring issue, and Anjali and Reco's portrait in the Summer issue of MSW. Both are in the "one thing i learned" section.
Take a look at Stacey and Ben's North Salem, NY wedding on page 34 of The Knot New York Metro Magazine. The Knot also featured an online gallery.
Check out the feature here.Check out Sean and Deborah's Yale Club wedding on page 105 of Brides New York Magazine.
Chandler and I traveled for 10 days to Liguria, Tuscany and Umbria, Italy. I recorded the trip on film, and photos can be seen on my new blog under "Italy"!
Please click here to see them.Check out my new photography blog! I launched it this Spring, although it has entries dating back to January 08.
Check out my blog here.American Photo Magazine named me one of the Top Ten Wedding photographers in the world for 2008.
Click here for the article.karen wise
Karen Wise’s clients have described her photographic style as "high art, but nimble enough to improvise and catch the moment.” In a recent quote from the New York Times, “Karen Wise treats shooting your wedding like photojournalism”, striving to capture all of the creative aspects of a wedding, including the food and décor. Using her “documentary and artistic style to capture and tell a beautiful story in the most honest and creative way possible,” Karen has received critical acclaim for her work.
In 2008, Karen was named one of American Photo Magazine’s top ten wedding photographers in the world. In 2007, she was ranked by The Knot as one of the top 10 New York wedding photographers in The Knot’s Best of Weddings. She also won an award for Best Creative Portrait from the WPJA (Wedding Photojournalist’s Association).
A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Karen’s recent publications include The New York Times, New York Magazine Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, Modern Bride, The Knot and Elegant Bride. With over 10 years of elegantly photographing weddings, Karen still enjoys shooting near and far, and has shot weddings from New York to Palm Beach, and around the world in countries ranging from Mexico to India.
Karen was born in Canada and now lives and works in Park Slope. Brooklyn. She’s close to her family and visits them in Montreal as much as possible, sometimes even combining a trip home with a wedding shoot or an assignment.
some of the locations where karen has photographed weddings include:
5 West Studios
Alger House
Banchet Flowers
Battery Gardens
Belvedere Mansion
Blue Hill at Stone Barns
The Boat House
Bridgehampton Racquet & Surf Club
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Candela
Central Park
Cipriani
Daylight Studios
The Essex House
Estherwood Mansion
The Foundry
Gotham Hall
Gramercy Tavern
Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden
Harry's Loft
Lake Palace, Rajasthan
Le Jardin, Rittenhouse Square
Liberty House
Loft 11
Lot 61
The Mark
Metropolitan Building
Metropolitan Pavilion
Mohonk Mountain House
New Leaf Café
New York Botanical Garden
Le Parker Meridien
One&Only Palmilla, Mexico
Oriental Mandarin Hotel
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
Penthouse 15
Per Se
Picnic House, Prospect Park
Picnic House, Pier 45
Pochran Studios
Puck Building
Ramscale Studio
Regent Hotel
Ritz Carlton, Palm Beach
Rockhouse Hotel, Negril
Round Hill Club, Greenwich
St. Regis
Soho Grand Hotel
Soho Studios
Steiner Studios at Stage Six
Studio 450
Tribeca Grand Hotel
Tribeca Rooftop
Twenty Four Fifth
W Hotel
Wadawanuck Club
Wainwright House
Yale Club
What is your approach to photographing weddings; can you describe your style?
I photograph each wedding as if I am describing a story, with a beginning, a middle and an end. I shoot in a variety of styles using my background in photojournalism, commercial food and still life as well as my training in Fine Arts to make my pictures. I create my compositions with mostly modeled natural lighting, and set up professional strobe lighting when natural light is unavailable. My ultimate goal is to capture personalities, and the emotion and joy of the day by using these blends of styles.
Do you shoot on film or digitally or with both?
I love shooting film! I use both black and white and color medium format film to shoot weddings, with fast sharp prime lenses. My negatives are scanned so these images are provided to the couple in print form (printed from the detailed negative) and also provided as jpegs on DVD. My assistants shoot in both film and digitally with professional digital SLR cameras. The couple would receive a DVD of the assistant’s images as well.
How long does it take for the un-marked proofs & DVDs to be ready?
About 3 weeks after the wedding date. I contact the couple after the prints and DVDs are ready and we arrange a time and place to meet so that I can hand-deliver the custom-made silk proof-box to them. If the couple is based outside of New York, we can schedule a Fed Ex shipment instead.
How long does it take for our albums to be made after the images are chosen?
Once the couple has chosen their favorite images for the matted or flush-mounted coffee table album, it takes about 4 weeks for the printing and 2 more weeks for me to finish and send the layout to Queensberry in New Zealand. In total it takes about 2 months for the album(s) to be completed.
Do you just photograph weddings?
No, I am also a food and still life photographer too. I shoot my food images and still lifes on film as well, with medium and large format cameras. Some of my food and still life work can be seen on my other site: foodandart.com.
Have you been published? Have you won awards?
Yes, my wedding and food photographs have been featured in many national and international magazines and books, including Martha Stewart Weddings, The New York Times, Modern Bride, Elegant Bride, Brides, The Knot, Grace Ormonde, The Way We Cook (Houghton Mifflin), The Boston Globe, Time Out New York, Child and American Photo Magazine. I was named one of the top ten wedding photographers in the world for 2008 by American Photo. I won a Best Creative portrait award through the WPJA and I was also selected by The Knot in their Best of the Knot issue, in 2007 as one of the top ten wedding photographers in New York.
Are the negatives and DVDs from the wedding ours to keep?
Yes, I now release the negatives to my bride and grooms. Like other photographers, I used to retain the negatives, now I give them to the brides and grooms so that they may hold onto their cherished film forever.
What happens if you get sick before our wedding day? Is there a back-up photographer to shoot our wedding?
This has yet to happen to me but one of my associates would be able to take my place. My associates have shot weddings on their own as well as have assisted and trained under me. I also have skilled assistants who can assist the associate. I would still do the couple’s printing and albums.
Who develops your film and scans it into digital format? Who does your printing?
The couple’s black and white film is carefully developed at a top black and white lab in Manhattan. The color film is developed at a different top color lab in Manhattan. The proof prints are printed on a rich, and colorful Fuji Crystal Archive paper in 4x6 with white borders, while the black and whites are printed on tonal and rich Kodak Endura paper.
Are you fully insured?
Yes. I have full liability insurance coverage, often required for large venues, hotels and botanic gardens. I am covered (for up to 4 million dollars in liability) and I can get specific certificates of liability too.
Can we pay with a credit card?
To make it easier for the couple, they can use a credit card through Paypal. However, Paypal does charge me 2.8% per transaction, which I will have to add to the expenses. I normally take a personal check (10 business days prior to the event) or cash payments.
Can I pay in installments?
Yes, for local weddings, I will accept a $1500 deposit upon choosing me as your photographer. 1/2 of the remainder is due 10 business days before the wedding day.The last 1/2 is due upon receipt of the proofs.
Is there a rush to order our albums?
No, there is no pressure you at all. Some clients order them right after their wedding and others take months to order them!
Could you make us some Thank You cards from one of the images?
Sure. For $375 I can make 250 white cards with a color or black & white image of the couple’s choice on the front and can have their message written on the inside. I can also make postcards with a similar layout. I have sample cards to show at our meeting.Envelopes are available for both the greeting cards or postcards.
Do you ever work with a videographer or a filmmaker at weddings?
Yes, I work with a few different and excellent videographers, who vary in price and style. I also work with a Super 8 filmmaker who shoots gorgeous Super 8mm movies of the wedding day, which can vary in length, and which are set to a song. Please ask me for their contact info.
Do you have a time limit?
On average I shoot for 8 hours (not including travel time). After 8 hours of shooting, I charge an additional ____ per hour for my time (including my shooting assistant and the film & developing). Some weddings are inherently smaller, and others like Indian weddings, are often longer. For smaller weddings, we can negotiate price based on the day or season of the wedding.
Do you shoot engagement portraits?
Yes, I do. The engagement portraits are a great way for the couple to feel more at ease with being photographed on their wedding day, and it’s a great time for me to get to know my clients. If the couple also books me for their wedding I discount the cost their engagement photos. If I shoot their engagement photos only, the cost is $550. As with their wedding photos, I shoot primarily on film and the couple gets to keep their prints, scans (DVD) and their negatives too.
Rachael and Kevin
"We can't thank you enough for sharing our special day and for the beautiful photographs. Our family and friends have loved following the events of the day. Everyone comments on how incredible the shots look and how well the events were documented. Your calm, reassuring manner was much appreciated and helped us relax and completely enjoy the whole experience. Your unobtrusive style meant that you captured perfectly the informal and relaxed spirit of our wedding - just looking at the pictures brings back a rush of emotion and memories of a truly perfect day."
Rebecca and Dan
"I just went through our photos for the third time in less than 24 hours and I still cannot believe them. I do not know how to thank you for capturing our day so exquisitely. There are so many different aspects that I love -- from the portraits, to the candids, to the foods and flowers and the settings ... I feel like you've given us a gift no one else could have. There are things I remember seeing and experiencing & other things I had forgotten or never saw at all. You are truly blessed with a wonderful talent. I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate your work."
Kim
"We went with Karen for several reasons. First, she’s so laid-back it’s easy to relax around her. On our wedding day she was an oasis of calm and reassurance amid a background of tension and activity. I was trying to get my makeup on before the ceremony and she was instrumental in helping me get the space and tranquility I needed (and that’s beyond the photographer’s job) while she was taking shots of us getting ready. Also, the way she frames the scenes are so original and thoughtful. My sister, who is a designer, really noticed that aspect and all of the detail and facial expressions she caught. She also worked with a great assistant whom we really liked. Another reason to go with Karen, which might seem irrelevant, but made a big difference to me, is that some photographers can be pretty brusque and even rude. Karen was so sweet and helpful. She kept telling me how great and happy I looked. And of course, no bride can hear that too much. Finally, she showed up on the day looking gorgeous herself. Looking into a beautiful, kind face while having your picture taken certainly had a positive affect on my expression in all the photos."
Andrea and Rob
"How many ways can I say WOW!! Photos arrived today. I was expecting great things from you - something about your calm and professional manner suggested it! - but the photos have utterly surpassed any expectations. Not only are they beautifully shot, framed and make us look good (!) but you have managed to capture the emotion of the day on paper. Every bride and groom wish they could bottle their feelings on their special day, to savour and cherish forever. All of your photos are a slice of pure happiness for us. Each one prompts a memory. And all this without being intrusive in any way! I was unaware of you taking photos during the service and I cannot thank you enough when I look at those photos and see the happiness and love on our faces. All of our family and friends have commented that it looks like such a happy wedding and are grateful that they have been able to share our day through your work. There is a special quality about the photos that I can only assume comes from the fact they are shot on film; it's very flattering. I am now in a complete dilemma which ones will be displayed on our walls! I've just read this out to Rob and he agrees with every word. He's starting married life in the right way! If you ever make it to Wales, please let us know! With warmest regards; thank you, thank you, thank you."
Sandra and Paul
"I found the pictures on your blog (and they are great compilations - your assistant did a good job) on Friday and we went online earlier today so I could show Paul and we found the movie and we LOVED it - it made me cry, it's perfect!!! All of our friends and family have so enjoyed looking at the photos and have commented on how beautiful they are. We're so glad to have such lovely momentos of the day to treasure."
Julia and Scott
"The photos are beautiful – we just love them! They truly captured every little detail (many of which we failed to notice at the time) of our special day. Thank you so much for everything you did during the wedding to create these amazing photos!! They are just lovely and we will cherish them for years to come."
Diana and David
"I wanted to write a quick hello and say thank you so much for the wedding photos. I received so many compliments about you. Everyone said that you were everywhere and Dave said every time he would have wanted a picture of someone, you were right there with the camera. I just wanted to say thank you."
Iza and Richard
"Richard and I would like to thank you so much for the wonderful photographs we received from you. They brought back so many many great memories when we looked at them that evening, and thanks to you they will stay with us forever. The photographs are the perfect depiction of how much fun we had that day."
Caroline and Nate
"We are so glad that you were able to photograph our wedding. Your personal, unobtrusive style was just what we wanted, and you always seemed to be at the right place at the right moment. Thank you so much."
Brigitte and Tom
"Thank you again for making our wedding so special, and for helping us remember it with your talent. We love the album! We wish the best in all of your endeavors and will continue to refer our friends to you."
Joyce and Philip
"I was just looking through our wedding album the other day [a year after our wedding] and had to contact you. It seriously is perfect. You captured our day so beautifully and for that we will always be grateful."
Kathryn and Robert
"[The engagement photos] are really GREAT! We hired you because I NEVER like any pictures taken of me and these are wonderful-- I have a good sized stack I've chosen for Rob to look at when he gets home and I've narrowed it down to two that I think are perfect for the NY Times."
Nadra and Markus
"I just realized that I never told you how much we love our photos. They are amazing! We have sorted, but still haven't gotten around to putting them up on our site. Our sort pile was very high, so many pictures we like..."
Karen's prices include a thorough consultation with the couple prior to the wedding day to discuss any stylistic preferences, i.e. more black and white versus color, a photojournalistic shooting style with less posed shots, and any other details.!N!N If albums are desired, Karen will meet the couple after the wedding to help select photographs and offer advice on the layout of the album.
Karen's wedding package includes:
8 hours of wedding photography
30 rolls of medium format film (about 900 photos from film)
Karen's film printed as 4x6" prints (about 900 prints)
Karen's Skilled Shooting Assistant
500 Additional high res digital images shot by Karen's Assistant
Scanning of Karen's negatives as high res jpegs, saved to DVD
The negatives for the couple to keep
Silk Archival Prints Box
Additional options:
Additional hourly coverage (over 8 hours)
Rehearsal Dinner Coverage with her Shooting Assistant
Internet Upload
Engagement Portrait Shoot prior to the wedding
Bridal and Parent Albums of varying sizes and styles
(matted, flush-mounted or scrapbook style)
Reprints both machine prints and museum-quality, fiber prints
Please contact Karen for pricing information.
Michelle McGoldrick
Susmita Patel, (973) 844-1555