Roli & Sanket

I have been blessed to work for people who have been very clear to me what they expect from their wedding pictures. Almost always the brief is to capture them how they are and not make them do anything. I met Roli and her family five months before the wedding and it was one of the fastest booking I have ever had. I remember I was ecstatic after the meeting as it reinforced the confidence that there are takers of your vision who appreciate it and recognise it as soon as they see it. It is not to boast (because there are many more who also not end up booking with us) but they mentioned that I was the last one they met that day and were quick to like my portfolio. If you are into a creative industry on your own, you can understand how easily we undermine and self doubt ourselves all the time and small gestures like this keeps your mental health at peace for some days.

Roli and Sanket are both PhD. scholars at IIT and throughout these five months I couldn’t set up a meeting or phone call with her to understand her taste for the portraits although she had already told me she wouldn’t like to pose for any pictures but as it turned out, she straight away came to the ‘mandap’ and we didn’t get any time for the portraits as I had some slight hope to convince her as i find it to be the most challenging part in a wedding.

As a wedding photographing team we had been yearning to shoot a wedding out in the open during daytime as most weddings that we shoot happen late in the night in four walls. Luckily this wedding was scheduled for 10:30 in the morning which is very refreshing.

The mandap being looked after by Roli’s brother-in- law as he was one of the first ones to arrive and oversee the decorations.

As the time progressed, the guests starting poring in for this early morning winter wedding.

Meet Sanket, the most smiling groom have ever met till now.

and here comes our bride……

The case of the shining shoes.

One of the kids, not happy with the price offered for the shoes, tries to saperate the newly wed couple.

Roli & Sanket photographed for their reception in the evening.

Parshvi & Tushar's Wedding story.

Weddings are an awesome affair, exciting as it gets a photographer on his toes because of the music, lights and revelry all around and a slight nervousness to not miss any special moments nearby or afar( also when he's clicking another one). This season I didn't take many assignments, primarily because I injured my ankle on an early morning run which will keep me at home for good 2-3 months and also because the types of weddings I want to shoot are little far and apart to come by. That will be discussed later but I wanted to share one which I could manage because ofVimal, my go to second shooter with whom by my side I didn't have to get into foot stomping baraat and high up ladders. Though I did learn very important lessons this time regarding shooting a wedding.

The wedding day started with the bridal portraits, we could only meet the bride after she got ready at the venue, the makeup artist has a strong policy of not allowing a wedding photographer to shoot in her studio. As soon as I met Parshvi. the bride, she told me there would hardly be any place for the shoot so we decided to use the corridor to the stage for the same.

Instead of making the subject 'pose' I prefer to give them some directions in terms of what the situation is, what they are feeling and why to get a more emotive picture rather than just a body pose and angle.. Here I told her that the baraat was getting a little late in reaching the venue and she is supposed to be waiting to see Tushar for long.
 

And as the faint sound of drums and dance approached us, she lit in a half smile.

The baraar arrived and that's Tushar at helm of it. But the most energetic award of the night goes to his father.

The bride looks on as the 'baraat' enters the gate.

And then they finally meet....

The sindoor ceremony.

I like how coyly Parshvi is holding her saree which reminds me of 70s Bollywood village belles.

Just don't get misled by this picture, this bride will not cry profusely at the Vidai, the proof follows.

In all I had fun shooting this wedding, I will be coming up with a post soon regarding wedding photography which will help future wedding photography clients clear some myths and doubts regarding it so that it helps us in creating in better pictures for them..

For more pictures you can visit the Khicchik facebook page and for my non commercial work you can always visit my Instagram feed. Would like to know what you liked, didn't like what you would like me to post next or just a 'Hi' , it will be highly appreciated. :D