From multi-day destination events around the world to intimate backyard locations, Stephen Karlisch has been documenting weddings for the past 15 years using his signature style of spontaneous photography and classic portraiture. His stunning, emotional work takes your breath away and has been featured numerous times in national and regional magazines such as Town and Country, InStyle Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Brides. Outside of the wedding world, Stephen is recognized for his interior and commercial work, shooting for clients as diverse as Neiman Marcus and Pottery Barn, to editorial clients like Veranda and Architectural Digest.

It is our distinct pleasure to introduce you to the amazingly talented Stephen Karlisch of Karlisch Photography…

{THE BRIDAL CIRCLE}: HOW AND WHEN DID YOUR LOVE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY BEGIN?

{STEPHEN KARLISCH}: I’ve always loved photography, even when I was very young, traveling the world with my family, watching my dad take endless photos of cities we visited.  It didn’t start to become a reality until college, where as an architecture student, I became very interested in pursuing photography. So much so that I changed my major as a junior, spending the last years in school engrossed with everything about photography, printing, cameras, and photo history.

WHAT THREE WORDS BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE?

Honest, Beautiful, Timeless.

WHICH CAME FIRST, INTERIORS, COMMERCIAL OR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY?

I’d have to say commercial came first, I spent several years as a commercial photo assistant to many national photographers, and that was what I knew and the path I was on.  When I met my wife that all changed.  She was moonlighting for a small wedding company, second shooting for them, and then I got dragged into it so I could spend my Saturday nights with her.  So I started shooting with her, and we formed Karlisch Photography in 1998.  Editorial assignments  are always coming in, and I’ve shot for numerous magazines over the years.

WHAT’S YOUR IDEA OF THE PERFECT COMPOSITION? DOES IT DIFFER WHEN SHOOTING WEDDINGS FROM WHEN YOU’RE WORKING ON A COMMERCIAL PROJECT?

The perfect composition to me is when the subject, background, and light all work together to give you a layered and balanced image, nothing in the image becomes objectionable, it just looks right.  On commercial shoots you can plan the composition for days, wait for the right light, position your subjects, etc.  At a wedding, you are under a different set of constraints, and that is where experience and talent come to play, knowing how to anticipate that moment or spot where someone will be, and how best to capture it.  You don’t have the luxury of time.

ARE YOU AVAILABLE TO BRIDES AROUND THE WORLD? IF YES, WHERE HAVE YOUR WORKED SO WE CAN SHARE THAT WITH OUR GLOBAL READERSHIP.

Yes, I’m available to travel. A high percentage of my weddings are destination, and I’ve shot in Antigua, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Mexico (several locations), Hawaii, Italy, and all over the United States.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU, IN TERMS OF LIGHTING, BACKDROPS, MOMENTS YOU LOOK FOR, ETC?

I tend to favor subtle backgrounds for portraits, wanting my subject to be the hero, but lighting tends to play the biggest role in looking for locations, if I’m using available light.  When I’m forced into a dark environment, using strobes, I’ll try to find areas that might offer some architectural structure to the image, and make sense to the location of the wedding.  For moments, I know when certain emotions will play out, and I thrive on those.  Sometimes it’s the last little joke or nervous smirk from the father of the bride before the doors open to reveal the bride, or the mother of the bride during the first dance, to the groom choking up giving a toast.  Many weddings share the same emotions, and I am always aware of them, but then being aware of what makes each wedding unique and seeking out those moments is key too.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO MAKE THE BRIDE & GROOM, AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES AND BRIDAL PARTY, FEEL COMFORTABLE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA?

I think the best way to make them feel comfortable is to show them you are in charge of the situation.  But you have to be charming and assertive at the same time.

WHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED AS YOU’VE PHOTOGRAPHED WEDDINGS OVER THE YEARS?

Timing.  Moments only happen once.  If you miss it, it’s gone forever.  And, never put your camera away until you have left the wedding.  You never know what you might encounter on your way out the door.

WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST FRUSTRATION WHEN PHOTOGRAPHING WEDDINGS?

Guests who think they are wedding photographers, bad weather, and unrealistic timelines.

HOW HAVE YOU EVOLVED AS A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER FROM YOUR FIRST DAYS AT THE CRAFT?

Today I use a completely different type of camera than when I got into the business 15 years ago.  That alone has given me a new outlook on capturing images that I couldn’t with film.  But, I still favor the same style that I started with. I learned with film and still shoot that way.  I avoid trends, and don’t look at much going on in the industry, I like my style and stay true to it.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WEDDING PHOTO YOU’VE TAKEN RECENTLY, WHAT WAS THE CREATION PROCESS BEHIND IT AND WHAT MOVED YOU ABOUT THE IMAGE?

Shooting a bridal portrait recently, in a gorgeous home, with opportunities at every turn, suddenly became a bit overwhelming, so playing off the architectural scale of the room, and the shape of her dress, I was drawn to a moment of her just sitting in the window.  The calmness of the shot and chance for the bride to relax makes the shot more candid in technique, but effective in tone.

FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE, HAVE YOUR BEST SHOTS COME FROM PERFECT PLANNING OR HAPPY ACCIDENTS?

I’m usually more pleased with images that I have anticipated, versus the accidental shots, but I think I end up with a lot of both.  Sometimes a happy accident can be pure magic.

NAME THE PHOTOGRAPHER THAT HAS INSPIRES OR INSPIRED YOU THE MOST, IN TERMS OF ARTISTRY, PROFESSIONALISM AND SKILL.

I’ve always been visually inspired by Rodney Smith, his compositions, style and simplicity are what I strive for in my wedding work.

IF NOT A PHOTOGRAPHER WHAT PROFESSION WOULD YOU BE DOING?

I could see myself in art direction or graphic design, or possibly as a tennis pro.

MOST CHALLENGING AND/OR FAVORITE WEDDING SHOOT YOU’VE BEEN ON?

Years ago, I was shooting a wedding in Kennebunkport, and President George W. Bush was still in office, and his daughters were both Maids of Honor.  At the last minute he attended the ceremony, and the rush of changing gears suddenly to cover a sitting President who was now a guest, was extremely challenging and thrilling.

My favorite wedding was at Jumby Bay Resort.  There were 4 days of parties, and the island was all ours.  Fireworks and beach parties, elegant dinner parties, it was a treat to document.  Nothing better than having an entire island all to yourself.

YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS TO LEAVE FOR A WEDDING SHOOT – AND CAN ONLY BRING ONE CAMERA AND LENS — WHAT WOULD THAT BE? AND WHY?

I’d be completely comfortable with my Canon and a wide lens.  I’d keep it very editorial, and still be able to capture all the key moments and ambiance of the scene.

YOU’VE JUST BEEN GIVEN A BLANK CHECK TO GO SHOOT A WEDDING ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD– WHERE WOULD THAT BE AND WHY?

New York City.  Sounds like a cliché, but in 15 yrs of shooting destination weddings I’ve never been booked to shoot a wedding in NYC.  It’s number one on my Wedding Bucket list.  The locations I’ve seen there are spectacular.  I’m typically in a beach, tent or hotel ballroom, so the architectural backdrop and energy of the city would be a welcome challenge. 

WHAT’S NEXT FOR KARLISCH PHOTOGRAPHY? ANY NEWS TO SHARE, FABULOUS WEDDINGS, EDITORIAL FEATURES (WEDDINGS OR NOT) OR TRAVEL COMMISSIONS WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

I’m currently shooting more personal work,  geared towards my commercial/advertising side, and hope to continue to pursue more fine art opportunities for my photography. I’ve also been booked to shoot  two great weddings coming up at One&Only resorts, the Ocean Club in the Bahamas followed by Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico.  Can’t think of a better way to spend my November!