Blog - Hey Karis

Family

Lavallette Beach NJ | Christina + JR Family

September 4, 2020

My husband and I photographed Christina and JR’s wedding in 2017, now they are a family of four! Spent the most perfect evening watching the sunset over Lavallette beach NJ with Christina, JR and their charming two daughters.

Younger the children are it is definitely difficult to photograph, you really can not plan or predict how the family session is going to go. It all depends on the child’s mood of the time. But as a photographer you need make the family session experience as less painful and boring as possible for the children. I hope I was able to give Karlie a positive experience getting her photos done for the first time with her parents this past weekend running around Lavallette Beach.

Sunset family session at Lavallette Beach NJ with my previous wedding couple Christina and JR. Christina and JR got married in 2017 at Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank NJ and now they have two charming daughters becoming family of four! It’s always so good seeing old wedding clients with their growing family. Christina and JR’s family session down Jersey Shore town Lavallette NJ was especially meaningful to them because it’s where Christina and JR both grew up. The beach, sand, most amazing sunset is all very familiar to Christina and JR and it was so amazing photographing them with their two beautiful daughters. Christina, JR, Karlie and Maddy’s family session photographed by Karis from HeyKaris.

Breathtaking sunset over Lavallette beach NJ was beyond spectacular more so because I shared it with Christina, JR, Karlie and little Maddy.

Engagement

Rutgers University New Brunswick NJ Engagement| Danny + Andrew

August 25, 2020

I think we made a great decision choosing Rutgers University in New Brunswick NJ for Danny and Andrew’s engagement backdrop. Not just because Andrew graduated Rutgers & currently works as an art director but because of all the different backdrops.

Danny & Andrew’s chemistry with each other during the engagement session was just too adorable and we shared many fun moments during Danny & Andrew’s engagement session at Rutgers University.

Danny and Andrew originally picked Colonial Park in Somerset NJ but we changed last minute to Rutgers University in New Brunswick NJ. Danny and Andrew chose to go to Rutgers University in New Brunswick because Andrew graduated Rutgers and now works at the University as an art director for the athletic department. Also Rutgers New Brunswick campus as lots of greens, grass, trees, arches and now modern buildings making it perfect backdrop for Danny and Andrew’s engagement session. The sunset during Danny and Andrew’s Rutgers University New Brunswick engagement session was just perfect, we caught the perfect golden hour and made some magical photos toward the end of the engagement session. Danny and Andrew’s Rutgers University engagement session captured and photographed by Karis from HeyKaris.

Hot and humid day well spent with Danny and Andrew waking around Rutgers University, and Andrew telling us about his college life.

Wedding

Park Pavilion Seaside Park NJ Wedding | Shauna + Tom

August 15, 2020

Woke up with the sound of heavy rain. Shauna and Tom’s outdoor beach wedding at Park Pavilion in Seaside Park was in few hours, I looked outside and decided not to worry.

Rain hit hard onto the windshield as I drove down Parkway, grey sky everywhere. Shauna waked in to the airbnb bright face, smiling. Knew everything was going to be ok today.

And magically rain stopped minutes before their outdoor wedding ceremony by Lavallette Gazebo followed by wedding reception at Park Pavilion in Seaside Park boardwalk. Wedding reception under the tent with cafe lights, sand in their toes Shauna and Tom got married.

Woke up to the sound of heavy rain, Shauna and Tom’s outdoor beach wedding was today and it was pouring outside. Worried and drove to Shauna and Tom’s airbnb Seaside Park NJ. Well into Shauna and Tom’s wedding prep it was still raining outside. With no backup plan due to COVID/pandemic silently we all wished for the rain to stop. And magically few minutes before Shauna and Tom’s outdoor wedding ceremony at Lavallette Gazebo the rain stopped. Shauna and Tom had their dream beach wedding at Park Pavilion Seaside Park NJ having long talks with their family and friends. Enjoying cold drinks by the beach, taking their shoes off to enjoy the sand between their toes. Shauna and Tom’s Park Pavilion Seaside Park NJ beach wedding photographed by Karis from HeyKaris.

Most loveliest sunset over Park Pavilion Seaside Park NJ as if they were for celebrating Shauna and Tom’s wedding day. Everyone kissed good night.

Amazing vendors that made Shauna and Tom’s wedding day possible: Venue: Park Pavilion | Catering: Joe Leone’s in Point Pleasant Beach NJ Ceremony Officiant: Mike Silvani | Groom Hair: Tom- Swagger and Blade, Asbury Park | Bride Hair: Alexis from alchemy studio | Make-up: amber x edge | Dress: Seng Couture in fanwood | Groom Suit: Boss Tuxedo | Floral/Décor: Skips Florist, Toms River Invitation: truly engaging by magnet street | Favors: Sauter and Daughter | Entertainment: Limelight Entertainment

Wedding

Park Pavilion Seaside Park, NJ Wedding Sneak Peek | Shauna + Tom

July 27, 2020

Like most of couples planning their wedding during this pandemic, Shauna and Tom also had to navigate though some bumps but this past Friday Shauna and Tom said their “I do’s” with sand between their toes, under the most dreamy pink sunset.

Shauna and Tom’s wedding sneak peek for now, full wedding post to come soon!

All of couples planning their wedding in the tie of pandemic covid-19, faced bumps, cancellations, postponements and so much uncertainties. Shauna and Tom also faces many bumps and rescheduling but this past Friday July 24 Shauna and Tom finally got their dream wedding at Park Pavilion in Seaside Park NJ. Shauna and Tom's wedding ceremony held at the park pagoda by the ocean then beach wedding reception set on the sand under the tent, between sand in their toes Shauna and Tom’s magical wedding was a success. The most romantic sunset painting the sky pink, purple, red and orange in celebration of Shauna and Tom’s wedding. Shauna and Tom’s Park Pavilion Seaside Park NJ wedding photographed captured by Karis from HeyKaris. Wedding sneak peek for now, full post with more wedding photos coming soon!

Everyone grabbed a cigar and took one final photo on Shauna and Tom’s wedding day.

Engagement

Central Park NY Engagement | Julianne & Thomas

July 19, 2020

City was still very empty and quiet. Restaurants were trying their best with outdoor dinning spilling into the road. Very few cars, handful of people walking to their corner deli all wearing masks. As I got closer to Central Park, I saw more people. People getting fresh air with their dogs, jogging, cycling.

Bethesda Fountain quickly filled with joggers and their dogs, we got photobombed by too many dogs during Julianne and Thomas’ engagement session at Central Park. It was super humid and sticky but Julianne and Thomas rocked their e-session, looked fabulous!

Empty New York City felt so surreal and strange. No traffic with almost no cars on the road was nice but wan not normal New York. As I got closer to Central Park I started to see more people walking their dogs, jogging and just coming out to get fresh air. Of course everyone was wearing their masks, social distancing, so that was good to see. I arrived little early than Julianne and Thomas to Bethesda Terrace so I hung around Bethesda Fountain and took some sunrise photos with the Central Park Boathouse in the background. Julianne and Thomas arrived looking fabulous early in the morning to their engagement session with me. We walked, kissed, hugged and laughed together at Central Park wrapped up the engagement session in the NYC streets with yellow cab passing by. Julianne and Thomas’ engagement session captured by Karis from heykaris.

I had such a fun time with Julianne and Thomas at Central Park while snapping some photos for them early Saturday morning.

Lifestyle / Maternity / Photography

Watchung Mountain NJ Maternity | Michelle

July 10, 2020

With most of my weddings rescheduled to next year due to COVID-19 regulations, all of the sudden I have all my weekends available for the first time in 10yrs. Finally I am able to fill my weekends with non-wedding stuff! So when Michelle reached out to me about her maternity session I was super excited.

Michelle and I met awhile back working a wedding together. Michelle is owner of Pink Comb Studio where they offer bridal hair & make up. Just look how beautiful she is, and that glow! I had such a fun time with Michelle and her girls and that overcast light giving us that deep rich greens, blending so well with their purple dresses.

I was thrilled when Michelle from Pink Comb Studio reached out for her maternity photos. Following COVID-19 rule, keeping social distance I photographed Michelle and her two beautiful girls at Watchung Mountain NJ. With overcast weather three trees and grass showed such a rich deep green colors. I love bold rich colors in my photos as much as I love sunset golden hour. Michelle was just glowing and looked so beautiful. Was so happy to have such a beautiful mama in front of my camera before Michelle becomes mama of three girls. I can not wait to see her new baby girl and see her family grow. Michelle Surgent’s maternity session captured by Karis from heykaris.

Can not get over how stunning she is during this maternity session with her two girls.

Engagement

Bear Mountain NY Engagement | Jeanie & Ingoo

June 9, 2020

Last three months of 2020’s definitely has been one of the longest months and most weird and strange time. Corona Virus wiped the entire World putting human race in panic, scare and pain. We’ve been locked in our own homes following stay at home order due to covid-19, schools closed, all businesses, companies and office closed, basically everything was shut! After three painful months we are allowed out, parks have opened, and weather is finally nice and sunny. Our couples are slowly scheduling engagement sessions, life seem to relax a bit. It’s been over three months since I picked up my camera so I was bit worried about being rusty but soon got my vibe back and saw all the places I wanted to photograph and all different light scenarios I saw while hiking up the Bear Mountain. Jeanie and Ingoo were up for anything and everything that I told them to do, at any moment as I got my inspiration. I love the mountain, the rustic vibe, the smell of wood, soil and earth. We finished the e session with Jeanie and Ingoo at the top of the Bear Mountain by the tower and we made it just in time to catch the sunset. Wind was blowing and this time wind was at our advantage, making Jeanie’s dress and hair flow in the wind making it ever so romantic. Jeanie and Ingoo Bear Mountain Engagement session captured by Karis from heykaris.

After three longest months of stay at home order due to COVID-19, the big PAUSE button on life was lifted, we received a partial green light to slowly go back to life before COVID.

During the past three months, I did try to document our daily life but not nearly enough shooting as our normal wedding season. So for Jeanie and Ingoo’s engagement session I was bit nervous and excited at the same time. That morning I made sure my batteries were full, memory cards in, and packed all my lens.

Met Jeanie and Ingoo at Bear Mountain Inn, started our hike up hoping to make it in time to catch the sunset.