Kirsten Nicolaisen Photography

Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing

Prices start at $2,100

Elopement pricing

Prices start at $500

About Kirsten Nicolaisen Photography

Kirsten Nicolaisen

Photographer

I’m Kirsten Nicolaisen, a Brooklyn-based photographer specializing in weddings, hospitality, travel, and documentary work. My photography blends vivid, candid scenes with quiet, sincere moments that evoke feelings of nostalgia and familiarity. I spent years working in the news industry, where I learned to anticipate moments set to unfold and respond quickly to the reality in front of me. That experience shaped how I photograph weddings now: with an attentive eye, a steady presence, and a deep respect for authenticity.  Wedding brings together everything I love about storytelling — people, emotion, movement, community, and love.

My approach to wedding photography is rooted in documentary storytelling. Rather than directing every moment, I tend to act as a fly on the wall observing what naturally unfolds: quiet exchanges, unscripted laughter, and the subtle details that make the day uniquely yours. My greatest strength as a photographer and editor is the value I place on longevity. Yes, trends may fade, but honest photographs are timeless. My aim is to deliver images that evoke all the happiness, warmth, community and love you felt that day, so that you can relive the moments time after time through the years. 

Services

Services

  • Bride-only session
  • Engagement session
  • Extra hours
  • Image editing
  • Printing rights
  • Second photographer

Photo formats

  • Digital
  • Film
  • Hybrid

Deliverables

  • Digital files
  • Online gallery
  • Same/next-day sneak-peek images

Reviews

Write a review
Rating: 5.0

5.0 out of 5

6 reviews

  • D

    Dani

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Oct 12

    Kirsten Forever

    Kirsten was an absolute gem to work with! She shot our Brooklyn marriage license bureau ceremony and our wedding in the Catskills, and she was calm, present, and professional throughout the entire weekend. My husband and I felt so comfortable and natural with Kirsten behind the camera. She provided very gentle, subtle photography direction while also letting us also just simply be ourselves, be in the moment, and do our thing. In our planning meetings leading up to the wedding, Kirsten asked thoughtful & specific questions about our vision, vibe, and desired shot lists. She's organized and a clear communicator, so we felt fully prepared for what to expect. We love the mix of film & digital photography from our wedding. She caught the light during sweet little moments, and the resulting photos feel so special and textural. Kirsten was also very efficient in delivering the preview gallery, full photo galleries, and some requested extra crops afterwards, too. We felt at ease working with Kirsten. I'd recommend her to anyone looking to hire someone calm, confident, and excellent at their craft to capture their special moment, whatever that may be. She's a talented photographer and such a kind human!

  • CO

    Caitlin O.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Sep 30, 2026

    Hire Kirsten!

    Kirsten was an absolute pleasure to work with and have at our intimate wedding. She did a perfect job capturing the vibes of our special day. I couldn’t be happier with the photos.

  • BE

    Briana E.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Jul 20, 2026

    Kirsten was an absolute DREAM!

    From the moment we booked Kirsten I knew we had made the right choice. I had worked one-on-one with her in a session before the wedding, so I had an idea of what to expect day of our wedding... but STILL, she exceeded all of our expectations! Kirsten was incredibly personable, easy to talk to, and genuinely a *cool* person! My husband and I are both pretty uncomfortable in front of a camera, and she completely understood. She never made us feel awkward or forced. Instead, she created such a relaxed environment that we were actually able to enjoy being photographed. Throughout the day, she wasn't just taking pictures, she was documenting the entire day... all the way into our After Party. Any time a special moment was taking place that day and I had the thought "Oh! This should be documented, where's Kirsten?!" I'd look to my side, and Kirsten was already there capturing genuine moments. Seeing her be proactive about the shots she wanted to capture made me feel so at ease. Knowing I could count on and trust her instincts took a stressor off of my plate and we got to enjoy our day. Her attention to detail was unmatched & she always seemed to have her finger on the pulse of the day. She had a sixth sense for when something special, funny, or "picture-perfect" was going to happen and she adapted effortlessly when plans changed. It is so clear through not only the quality of her work, but also through our own experience, that she cares about her clients and takes so much pride in her work. We are so lucky to have had Kirsten, and I can't recommend her enough! If you're on the lookout for a photographer that is incredibly talented, kind, and will make you feel at ease on your big day, Kirsten Nicolaisen is your person! We are so grateful for the part she played on our wedding day and will treasure these photos and memories forever.

  • AP

    Aryan and P.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Jun 21, 2026

    Captured our day perfectly

    We had such a wonderful experience working with Kirsten. She captured all of the special moments so beautifully and made the entire process feel easy, relaxed, and natural. We never felt overwhelmed by the photo schedule or tasks, and she helped us feel comfortable throughout the day. The final gallery was stunning!! Thoughtful, creative, and full of moments we’ll cherish forever. We’re so grateful for her work and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a talented and kind photographer.

  • SH

    Sarah H.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Mar 24, 2026

    Fantastic Photos

    Kirsten is incredibly professional, responsive, and talented. I wouldn't have wanted anyone else to take our wedding photos! I highly recommend her for trendy, documentary style photos for your next big event.

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With a background in journalism and other photography practices, I shoot in a documentary style. My goal is to be as unobtrusive as possible, capturing candid moments, fleeting expressions, stolen glances and the little details that sometimes go unnoticed. The best images are made when life is really happening. That being said, posed shots with each other and with those closest to you are a critical component of wedding photography. Family portraits are organized and curated to make sure I capture all the various combinations of loved ones that you desire.
To sum it up: I’m an easy-going hard worker. I have a steadfast attention to detail, work ethic and love for my craft, while simultaneously being very go-with-the-flow and relaxed. Weddings can be stressful sometimes, and my clients have told me that my jovial yet calm presence puts them at ease. You can rely on me to get the job done to the very best of my ability, while leaning on me for any support, laughter or reassurance you may need throughout the day.
I request a pretty basic shot list for each wedding. I need a simple structure of the day’s timeline, as well as any preferences you may have on backdrops for posed photographs at your venue. A typical timeline is: arrival time, first look (if applicable), ceremony, family portraits, couples portraits, dinner and dancing. What is also necessary is a detailed list of the various combinations of family members / close friends you want photos with. Going through this shot list is something your wedding planner or a close friend will help with (in terms of wrangling people!)
For weddings over 150 people, I strongly recommend having a second photographer. This would be someone I bring onto my team who I have worked with before or have vetted extensively. Second photographers are vital for larger weddings and/or weddings with several locations and dynamic elements to make sure nothing gets missed. I will of course lead the photography direction and provide editing and delivery of the final gallery.
In the unlikely event of sickness or a major emergency, I will provide you with a backup, trusted photographer that I have either worked with directly or vetted. I will still be a part of the team and will deliver your fully edited gallery. If all else fails, I will issue a full refund.
We’ll start by scheduling a video call to get to know each other. It’s so important for me to learn about you as a couple and the vision for your day, as well as for you to learn more about me as a photographer and person that will be present for one of the most important moments of your life. If you decide to move forward with me, I will send through a contract and require a non-refundable 25% deposit to secure your day. After this, we’ll keep in touch to iron out any details before your wedding.
Yes, I carry standard coverage for both liability and venue COI options.
I accept various forms of payment including Venmo, Zelle, CashApp, PayPal, cash or check.
Yes. I price my 1-2 hour engagement shoots at $500. Please see my pricing and packages for more details.
My packages are inclusive of all expenses involved in New York City and tri-state area weddings, including photography, travel and vendor meals. Please inquire directly about pricing for destination weddings. I make sure to confirm start/end times and timelines before the event so we know we’re both on the same page.
All images are sent in high resolution JPEG format. This is suitable for printing as large as 11X14 or higher. The gallery is sent via email through Pic-Time, a reputable hosting platform for wedding photographers, that you can download directly from, order prints/photobooks/cards/etc., and easily share with friends and family.
In short, no. By choosing to work with me you are also trusting my professionalism as a photographer and editor. All images I release are given the utmost care and detail, and reflect my standard of quality and style.
Editing is color correction, adding slight contrast, fixing highlights and shadows, cropping and straightening images, as well as culling and curating galleries by removing closed eyes, duplicates or unflattering angles. I do not provide extensive retouching. Should you desire services like air brushing and reshaping figures, I can help connect you with talented photo-retouchers who can do whatever you need.
I will keep your gallery online for at least one year. Within this time frame, please take care to download the entirety of your gallery and back it up on both an external hard drive and cloud storage service. Unfortunately due to subscription and hosting fees, I cannot keep galleries online indefinitely, nor can I guarantee file recovery should you fail to download and store your images.
For Digital I use a Canon R5 and Canon 5D Mark IV. I bring a variety of lenses including a 70-200mm f/2.8, 70-24 f/2.8, 17-40mm f/1.4, and a fixed 50mm f/1.8. For film, I usually bring 2-3 bodies with me: a standard 35mm, a point-and-shoot 35mm with flash, and a 120mm (medium format) camera. Aside from external flashes, I don’t typically work with any other lighting gear.
Both 35mm and 120mm film bring a unique timelessness to your images. The grain, texture, and feel is truly irreplicable.
One thing I pride myself on is the ability to pivot quickly. We planned your couples shoot outside by the lake and now it’s pouring rain? Let’s find a better spot. That being said, it’s important for us to discuss a back-up plan for this kind of thing ahead of time. Some of the most romantic wedding photos I’ve seen are in the rain under clear umbrellas.
I primarily serve NYC and the tri-state area, but yes! Please inquire about pricing and details for destination weddings, as extensive travel is not reflected in my current packages.
Absolutely. I price these in the same bracket as engagement sessions. Please inquire for further details!

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