Alka + Chandra | Bangalore Candid Wedding Photography

Alka found me through a search online. As the story goes, she’d seen some photos that I had taken at one of her friends’ weddings. She contacted me, enquiring whether I was available to shoot her wedding and we took off from there!

Both hoteliers working in different parts of the country, Alka and Chandra were only back in Bangalore a few days preceding their wedding. I like to make it a priority to meet my clients before I shoot for them so we carved out some time and met at Coffee Day on MG Road.

Drink orders were placed and then we launched into conversation, not realising that our drinks were no where to be seen a good part of the hour later! Actually, mine came pretty quickly but Alka and Chandra were waiting a LONG time. The time went pretty fast though! I grilled the two on the places that they’ve worked, and traveled. I was especially intrigued by the fact that the two met while working in Udaipur! Chandra in turn threw some photography-related questions at me and all in all, it was a pretty awesome coffee-date. I headed home feeling (once again) super grateful that the work that I do allows me to meet such lovey people on a regular basis.

And I also get the opportunity to document some special moments for them. It’s a pretty sweet deal, I’d say ;)

A BIG thank you to Sharan Ranjit for second-shooting for me!

What just happened?

Phew.This past week has been a whirlwind. Seems like about a month ago I turned 25 but actually it was only last week! I am now 25 and 1 week old, people and I can positively say that I am LOVING it already.Apart from getting older, I also shot two weddings over the last 7 days. One was here in Bangalore and the other in Chennai. Both were so different from the other but equally special. These are clients who placed their trust in me early on when I was just starting out! So grateful. You have no idea how you have encouraged me. Looking forward to starting the editing process and sharing some previews over the next few days.Traveling to Chennai was fun! I shot Adi and Apoorva’s engagement ceremony last year so I very much felt at home with their families and friends because I had met most of them already! In the free time that I had on Monday, I spent some hours on my computer at this beautiful cafe called Chamiers. I also got to hang out with an old friend from my Hebron days who also happened to be in Chennai at the time! So proud to hear all the cool planet-changing stuff he’s creating and can’t wait to tell you all about it ;)Shooting the wedding it self was, as usual, an interesting experience. There was another set of photographers that I think were slightly flabbergasted at my being there. Navigating with the other photographers is always a challenge; they are not always willing to cooperate! It’s definitely a learning process and keeps me on my toes. Sometimes (only sometimes) their crazy lighting also helps in creating some interesting images like this one a friend took of me while shooting!

Notice how my flash goes off on the right corner? Now notice the other huge bright light on the left-corner? That’s the other guys’ light being triggered by my flash. Not desirable for me and I tried telling them to make sure it doesn’t happen. Sometimes they listen, sometimes they don’t. You just have to adjust maadi.

Love my job.

Also, LOVE this photo!

Photo credit: Robert D. Stephens

Priyanka + Chirag | Mumbai Candid Wedding Photography

Priyanka found my work through a mutual friend who, like her, is also a Virgina Tech alumnus (they are fondly known as ‘The Hokies’ I am told.) We bonded over the fact that our name was the same (Yes, Priyanka is my not-so-undercover real name) and after figuring out the time difference between us, we finally managed to ‘meet’ over Skype and worked out a way for me to be there to shoot their wedding in Mumbai on the 5th of Jan, 2013.

What a wedding it was. I honestly had so. much. fun. The ‘Mala Badal’ part of every wedding is always always my favourite and always a challenge to capture. There are always loads of people crowding around and you have to get creative, (if you’re short like me) climb things and make sure you balance yourself enough and not fall on anybody! Ha! Well, I managed somehow and I love love what resulted. You really had to be there to see how fun it was but I hope the images will bring you close enough.

A HUGE HUGE thank you to both Pri and Chi’s families and friends. It was a pleasure being amongst you and THANK YOU for so enthusiastically using the Photobooth!

This one is for Jo, my BFF from college days in Mumbai. I gave Jo a crash course in changing lenses and the basics of taking photographs in Manual Mode before the wedding and she rocked my world. Changing lenses quickly is so much less stress-free when someone you trust is there to help you! She also pretty much took charge of setting up our Photobooth at the reception which was a HUGE support. As I keep saying, where would I be without you, girly?

Also, a huge shout-out to Kosh, the amazing amazing designers who created Pri’s beautiful wedding saree!