Specializing in all types of Indian wedding photography, I had the honor to be a part of Hindu, Punjabi, Sikh and other beautiful Indian weddings. I had a chance to learn about different traditions, and I know exactly when to get my camera ready to shoot an important moment, how to get the best angles and which details to focus on. From a photographer’s point of view, Indian weddings are fascinating and very dynamic, which means they require unique skills. I know that my role is to capture and immortalize all those beautiful traditions, ritual dances and elements of the ceremony that entail so many noteworthy details.
HINDU WEDDINGS
Over hundreds of centuries of Vedic custom, Hindu weddings have become deeply spiritual, visually enticing, and highly complex ceremonies. They’re colorful, they’re spiritual, and they’re joyful. You need a wedding photographer who knows how to recognize all of those aspects of your wedding and be able to capture them for you. Good photography is difficult. Good wedding photography is much more difficult. Great Indian wedding photography is on top of the difficulty scale. It requires a great photographer with knowledge and experience in these remarkable wedding celebrations.
There are several dozen significant elements of a Hindu wedding that are must-have shots. From the singing and dancing the night before, to the application of intricate Henna designs on the bride’s hands and feet, to the veneration of Lord Ganesh in the first part of the ceremony. The ceremony begins when the bride and groom meet each other to exchange garlands. The mandap/canopy is blessed, the vermillion or the red dot is applied to the groom’s forehead by the bride’s mother, and the bride is escorted to the mandap by her maternal uncle. All this is followed by the ceremony of asking for the blessing of the planets. The groom is given milk and honey, and his feet are being washed before he joins hands with the bride while his father pours water and newlyweds are taking seven vows in Sanskrit. The couple is then circling around the fire from four to seven times before they turn to the north star. Take a big breath! The bride and groom receive blessings from the priest, their parents, and older members of both families. And let’s not forget those significant moments when a coconut is cracked open, purified butter is thrown onto the fire, the bride receives jewelry, and a red string is wrapped around the hands of the newlyweds. Because the ceremony is taking place inside the mandap, the photographer has to deal with the lighting work out how to cover different angles to cover these spectacular events. His experience is always the deciding factor.
A Hindu wedding isn’t just about the union of the bride and groom; it is a sacral ritual of joining two families together. During the course of the day, the two families are moving from one location to another.
SIKH WEDDINGS
At Sikh weddings, the couple attends a beautiful religious ceremony at a gurdwara (Sikh temple). The ceremony is called Anand Karaj, which means a blissful union. The bride and groom are getting married in front of the Guru Grant Sahib while the guests are gathered around them (men are standing on one side and women on the other. There are many significant moments worth capturing by the wedding photographer, including Laavan Pheras, which are the four prayers that seal the marriage while the bride and groom are tied together with their shawls. The couple then exchanges the garlands, and in the Karah Prasad ritual, guests are offered ceremonial sweet treats made by the bride’s family.
PUNJABI WEDDINGS
Punjabi weddings are by far the most vibrant, cheerful and flamboyant. There From the Chooda ceremony when the bride receives a set of gorgeous white and red bangles previously kept in milk to Joota Chupai (stealing the groom’s shoes), many fun customs are unique to Punjabi weddings, and it’s a thrill to photograph them.
PHOTOGRAPHING SANGEET
Sangeet is one of my favorite pre-wedding rituals because it is vibrant, joyful and interesting to photograph. Typical for Punjab weddings, this ceremonial gathering involves so many fun elements such as live music, dance performances, henna tattoos and delicious food bursting with color and flavor. Best of all, the sole purpose of this event is to build positive energy around the couple by singing, dancing and simply enjoying life! What used to be a traditional bride’s party has grown to become a large gathering for both families, and nowadays, it is considered to be one of the most important pre-wedding events.
PHOTOGRAPHING MEHNDI/HENNA PARTIES
Mehndi parties offer a wealth of amazing photo opportunities as the bride’s family and friends come together to have their hands and feet adorned with beautiful henna art. There are many emotional moments worth capturing as everyone gathers to enjoy food and catch up. In addition to wonderful close-up images of henna tattoos, I love making portraits and candid images of girls mingling and chatting.
PHOTOGRAPHING BARAAT
The Baraat ceremony is one of the most exciting and most photogenic parts of an Indian wedding. This ritual announces the beginning of wedding festivities as hundreds of guests are involved in traditional music and dancing while the groom is arriving on a beautifully adorned elephant or horse. It is an honor to be a part of this joyous celebration and get the chance to make thousands of stunning images after photographing this lavish event from different angles.
PHOTOGRAPHING INDIAN WEDDING CEREMONIES
With the majority of wedding ceremonies being conducted in Sanskrit, photographing the whole event can be difficult for English-speaking photographers. Over the years, I familiarized myself with these lovely rituals so much that I know exactly what to expect and where to point my camera at. It took me a lot of time to learn about the deeper meanings of these religious ceremonies such as Ganesha Puja or Vivaah Homa.
Now I developed the sense of what is going on and which moments will look incredible on photos such as the exchange of floral garlands in Varmala ritual or the moment when the bride and groom are smiling at each other while their hands are being tied together in the Hastmelap ceremony.
The challenge is to capture everything that is going on at the altar with so many people involved in the wedding and so many beautiful details that are drawing your attention. I learned that I need to be very mobile and ready to act quickly to get the best candid images. A combination of wide-angle shots and close-ups gives me the possibility to encapsulate all those magical moments the proper way.
Capturing Portraits of the Bride and Groom
The best time to capture Indian couples dressed in their colorful wedding attire is during daytime when there is plenty of natural light.
I also love sunset and nighttime photos because I can get even more creative with camera and lighting. These photos are fun to make because the suits, the dresses, jewelry and other details are so vivid and full of filigree details. Portraits are usually a mix of traditional photography, candid pictures and creative imagery. They are not just about posing, but also about capturing the romance, the mood, the scene and the vibrant ornaments that make Indian weddings so unique.
CAPTURING PORTRAITS OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM
The best time to capture Indian couples dressed in their colorful wedding attire is during daytime when there is plenty of natural light. I also love sunset and nighttime photos because I can get even more creative with camera and lighting. These photos are fun to make because the suits, the dresses, jewelry and other details are so vivid and full of filigree details. Portraits are usually a mix of traditional photography, candid pictures and creative imagery. They are not just about posing, but also about capturing the romance, the mood, the scene and the vibrant ornaments that make Indian weddings so unique.
I also love sunset and nighttime photos because I can get even more creative with camera and lighting. These photos are fun to make because the suits, the dresses, jewelry and other details are so vivid and full of filigree details. Portraits are usually a mix of traditional photography, candid pictures and creative imagery. They are not just about posing, but also about capturing the romance, the mood, the scene and the vibrant ornaments that make Indian weddings so unique.
THE DETAILS
The best times for amazing close-up shots of the bride getting ready is early in the morning. I love photographing the bridal jewelry and accessories, ornate shoes, beautiful rings and gorgeous headpieces. Wedding ceremony setup is also inspirational for close-ups because it is jam-packed with florals, drapery, crystals and other delicate decorations that stand out on photos. Whether it is a Sangeet or Mehndi Party or the wedding ceremony and receptions, I always arrange to arrive 15-20 minutes earlier to be able to photograph all of these carefully designed setups before the guests arrive.
Capturing Lavish Wedding Receptions
Indian wedding receptions are eventful, exciting and fabulously designed, providing endless photo opportunities. The venues are spacious and intricately decorated. From elaborate illumination and oversized floral pieces to gigantic wedding cakes and decadent table settings, everything is just picture-perfect. My job as a photographer is to create a spectacular photo story. To be able to that, I must make sure I’m always at the right place at the right time to capture the most anticipated moments, such as an emotional speech or a traditional dance.
CAPTURING INDIAN WEDDING RECEPTIONS
Indian wedding receptions are eventful, exciting and fabulously designed, providing endless photo opportunities. The venues are spacious and intricately decorated. From elaborate illumination and oversized floral pieces to gigantic wedding cakes and decadent table settings, everything is just picture-perfect. My job as a photographer is to create a spectacular photo story. To be able to that, I must make sure I’m always at the right place at the right time to capture the most anticipated moments, such as an emotional speech or a traditional dance.
