Mimi & Mara

April 1st was a great shoot--Mimi & Mara got married at The Mill in Spring Lake, New Jersey, and we were honored to be a part of it. The ceremony was particularly beautiful and the rabbi was amazing. It was especially nice to be a part of a same-sex marriage and show my support for something that I believe should be a nationwide right.

WPJA Winter 2006 Contest Winning Image

In a hugely popular, international wedding photojournalism competition, even 11th place is a TREMENDOUS honor. Thanks to the folks at WPJA for recognizing us.

WPJA Winter 2006 Contest Winning Image
ELEVENTH PLACE: Karen Gordon / New York

Shoot What You Know

In photography and in writing, teachers always stress shooting (or writing) what you know. These days, I am fascinated by the dynamic between my daughter Gwen, 19 months, and my step-son Miles, 4. As they get to know each other and adjust to living together in a new house as brother and sister, it's been amazing to watch their relationship unfold. So much so, that i've decided to begin a photo essay documenting the transition and the interplay between them. Here are my two favorite shots so far.

I'm Back.

So i started this blog back in november, and as it was barely in its humble beginnings, i went MIA. where'd i go? well...it's been a blur...all i remember is that it had something to do with a busy holiday season...and then...
**a calendar chock full of weddings to shoot and process
**a major change in the structure of our company (if this is your first time visiting, we've recently grown from a one-woman operation to a full-service wedding studio with several hand-picked amazing photographers)
**on the personal front, a move from a studio apartment in the city to a big house in the suburbs, two kids
**and, as always, more weddings, and then some more weddings, and then even more weddings after that!

but a true blogger never quits and so enough excuses, i'm back! and i'm here to stay!!!

....while i've been gone, a lot has happened, and i plan summarize the past four months with several upcoming posts. but, most recently, i am inspired to share with you the engagement shoot i did on friday...






Not only was the shoot a lot of fun, but i had the pleasure of receiving this email from the bride, heather, after the photos went up:

Hi Karen.
Holy crap! They're awesome. YOU are awesome. Thank you so much! I can't believe how fast you turned these around and I love the pictures! I keep finding more and more great shots as I look through the gallery. You are a miracle worker! Wow. Once again you've made me feel like a rockstar super-genius for booking you for our wedding pictures. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Can't wait to see you next month for the wedding.

You are the best.
Heather.

And then, the next day, i was privileged to receive this very kind email from Heather's mom:

I am Heather's mother and just before going to bed this evening, I checked my computer to find the message from Heather to view your absolutely beautiful and amazing pictures of them...Their love radiates from your pictures...From a mother's very happy heart your work is true genius and I cannot wait to meet and thank you in person.

With sincere appreciation,
Pat

This is the kind of feedback that makes me feel so lucky to do what i do. Thank you Heather & Kenny, and Pat for your beautiful words and a great shoot.

Hava Nagila Encore

Unlike a couple weeks ago, when Hava Nagila started blaring from my cell phone during a very quiet church ceremony, at this week's wedding the rendition of the tune was by a live band, not a phone, and it was absolutely appropriate. We were shooting at Florentine Gardens in River Vale, NJ, where the main reception room boasts a balcony from which I was afforded the pleasure to photograph the festivities in a new way. Behold the results...


i love a bride who doesn't bother with pretense just because it's her wedding day. michelle is all about being exactly who she is, whatever that means (very cool) and in this case, it meant saying "i do" followed by "gimme a ciggie". i caught her in mid-drag, admiring her new ring...

I heart NY

The city in the fall is amazing, and I reveled in its beauty with David and Michelle on Thursday in Central Park, where we met for their engagement shoot. They are my favorite type of couple to photograph, which is to say that they'd do almost anything with no concern of getting dirty or being goofy. They were a blast and between their fun personalities and the myriad of colors, it turned out great.


Saturday was a special treat since I didn't have to leave the city, or even get in my car. We were shooting David and Julie's wedding at the Puck Building in Soho, which is just a quick cab ride from my apartment...lovely. The Puck is a great open loft space, so it leant itself to shooting details from many angles, which is always fun. Below are two versions of the same cake, and the photos look so different to me it almost seems like two separate cakes from two different weddings.

Hava Nagila & Photographic Karma: My Triple-Wedding Weekend

Triple-headers are all about sustained momentum--lots of energy bars and diet coke, and lots of driving. It goes something like, shootsleepshootsleepshootsleep. By the time it's over, I'm not sure what happened at which wedding, with the exception of a few key moments, and, of course, the photos. Here's a few of both.

friday night we were at the castle on the hudson in tarrytown, ny. here are a few of my favorites from the event:





saturday's wedding was in cold spring, ny at the plumbush inn, and was a great example of what i like to call photographic karma. here's what happened--last weekend i was just down the road from cold spring in beacon, ny, at boscobel gardens, and i had this idea for a shot of the bride and groom rolling around in the leaves. but it had rained earlier and the leaves were still wet, and the bride was, quite reasonably, concerned about her dress getting dirty. so, i had to let the idea go...but i've found, in my years of shooting, that the universe has an awesome way of aligning circumstances to let all my ideas come to fruition at some point. big up to the universe for a very quick turnaround this time, as i was able to get the shot i had envisioned last saturday at boscobel with dennis and lauren this saturday in cold spring. no rain, and a willing bride, and it turned out great.



their cake-topper--the original from lauren's grandparents' wedding--was a very cool way of incorporating family history into their wedding day (and on top of something that would be history by the end of the night).
sunday's wedding brought a different kind of photographic karma--the kind that i have nightmares about. it all started months ago, when i downloaded the famous jewish celebratory song "Hava Nagila" to my cellphone (it brings back fond memories from many jewish weddings). anyway, so here's the scene: it's halfway through the ceremony in a very large, very quiet, very formal church. i am crouched down in front of the eight or so groomsmen in the first row. it's so quiet....you could hear....a pin....drop...but that's not what happened. that would've been fine. instead, my phone (which is always set to vibrate) was in my suit jacket pocket when it decided to randomly and inexplicably begin playing Hava Nagila. now, since my phone's always on vibrate for the very purpose of avoiding a situation like this, it didn't occur to me that this intrusive and awful sound could be coming from me. i looked over at the groomsmen with utter disdain, wondering when they were going to turn off their very rude phone.....and....yes....i then...slowly....realized what song was playing, and came to the horrifying conclusion that it was in fact my phone. of course, upon noticing this the groomsmen all burst out in hysterics and i escaped through the side door, sorta mortified. for the rest of the night, i would be referred to as "hava nagila" by the bridal party.





of course, none of this would have been possible without my amazing associate shooter/assistant, and buddy, gulya, who has been surviving triples with me for almost two years now. thanks g!

till next time,
karen