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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.