Multi-Cultural Affairs Articles in American newspapers about the meshing of cultures is nothing new. In fact, the New York Times tends to have at least one of those every few months (keeps the readership interested I suppose). Just noticed an article in the Washington Post which hits on many points that we see every weekend while we're covering wedding events.

Two Cultures, Slowly Uniting In Matrimony

For so much of this cultural meshing, it's basically just a part of life. the callout of a wedding aisle where the bride enters is basically a part of the culture here along with so many elements that never see the light of day in India. The non-Indian horse trainer? Check. The bridesmaids in matching attire? Check. Etc, etc. So nothing really new here for a wedding photographer, but definitely something interesting to track regardless.

Labels: The Biz, Weddings

  Permanent Link 1:44 PM  0 Comments

  Nishi & Devang's Engagement Portraits It was a pleasure taking these portraits....I've known Nishi for 20 years! And the wonderful Westside weather didn't hurt either :) Starting in Marina Del Rey and making our way north through Venice and ending up in Santa Monica was a great afternoon. The completely different environment definitely got my creative juices flowing and Nishi had to remind me that they loved taking photos, but they had to get going to their evening plans...talk about an ethusiastic photographer!

Anyways...enjoy....


The Venice canals...a hidden gem on the Westside...amazing that they're nestled just a couple blocks from a major street with tons of traffic!


What always makes me smile is the expressions that couples have on their faces when they're having a great time. This usually happens during wedding receptions when the newly married couple are dancing together, but I just love Nishi's smile in this photo. Spontaneous and fleeting...just love capturing that.


Obviously much more posed...the setting sun, beach, and ocean in the background? Makes me want to go right back and take another couple there. Traveling photographer? How about traveling clients?!


Loved the lines on this wood bench and the people nearby conveniently got up just as I wished there was more space on the bench to get a slightly askew shot. Photographing people, I tend to forget about lines, but I just had to get this bench into their shoot.

How can you do a shoot in Santa Monica without looking out on the Pacific?

Labels: Engagements, Portfolio

  Permanent Link 1:51 AM  0 Comments

  Deepa & Neel's Wedding We mentioned Deepa & Neel before when they sent a sweet thank you note after their wedding. Well, here finally are some of their photos....

With so many people coming from out of town, this wedding party was ready to dance! The day turned out just perfect outside and these photographers were definitely not complaining :)
After several smaller weddings, it was a nice change to have such a big event. It's also nice when they all line up for a nice photo-op and we don't even have to ask :)
One of the toughest things regardless of the wedding size, is any ceremony where everyone wants to look. Hindu ceremonies are notorious for being events that come and go without the guests taking notice, but one part where everyone cranes their neck to see is the milni - literally "the meeting". Amongst the crowd, the bride's mother greets the groom and conducts a short prayer. After a wild baraat, this is considered to be the start of the wedding ceremony. And so your friendly neighborhood photographer has to make himself invisible, yet be right next to the action. Lest the photos are of people's backs, rather than the bride's mother welcoming her new son-in-law. With several hundred people pushing and on tip-toes, photography "on the ground" takes on a new meaning...just ask our knees :)
Check out Deepa's mendhi...she was concerned it wouldn't turn out dark enough...the color came out to be such a nice match with her outfit and jewelry.


I think of the sindoordara to be one of the bollywood moments. It is when the groom places the sindoor (vermillion) on his new bride's forehead (well, the part in her hair actually). So why is it a bollywood moment? Well, it's something that's a very common part of Indian film and TV, but it's not really something which means anything to the couples...it's just another part of the ceremony, for all intents and purposes. But of course, it leads to nice photos :)
Okay, okay, my cake snobbery is quickly fading. Just look at it! So pretty!

Now here's a cool idea..instead of flowers for the centerpieces, edible arrangements! Yum! The funniest thing was that the guests had to be reminded several times throughout the night that the centerpieces were actually edibles. Ha!
I'm always supportive of guests bringing their own cameras to these events. Especially when it results in a nice coincidence like this....amazingly, it's quite rare to catch another flash in our own photos.


And finally...just a little trickery with shutters and extended exposures.

Labels: Portfolio, Weddings

  Permanent Link 9:55 PM  0 Comments

  Where Did Time Fly? Wow, it's been two and half weeks since we posted...where the heck did we lose track of time?! With lots of coverage and lots of travel it's actually been a bit tough setting aside time for this blog. We promise to be more diligent with it if you promise to keep coming back :)

We've got lots of recent work to show off so expect a few posts pretty quickly. Hope you enjoy.

Labels: The Biz

  Permanent Link 9:24 PM  0 Comments