I like to call myself as a wedding photographer, or as a photographer who sees weddings in the realm of stories – a visual storyteller. But, the marketing of Indian wedding photography industry is built on the phrase – the candid wedding photographer.
I do candid wedding photography and I am a candid wedding photographer too. But, I don’t want to oversimplify the work that I do in the context of complex Indian weddings into that single phrase alone.
Yes, looking for unscripted candid moments forms the crux of the day I spend photographing a wedding. But, then there are other creative styles of photography that I do along with pursuing the candid moments.
Wedding portraits, for example. I think good portraits are the outcome of a successful collaboration between the photographer and his subjects. Staged indeed, but the objective is to create something meaningful for the couple.
Also, the anticipated moments in the scripted ceremony – can I call them as truly candid when I know what’s bound to happen the next moment? Perhaps, creative photography would be a better word here rather than candid.
The styles mentioned above and a many more approaches are all part of the contemporary wedding photographer’s playbook.
This is a compilation of my favorite candid moments from the Indian weddings that I photographed in 2016. When I say candid, these include neither the ‘couple portraits’ nor anything creative from the ceremony or rituals. These are completely unexpected moments, and not at all choreographed. They probably happened along the sidelines of the main events, or sometimes in between the scripted ceremony as a breath of fresh air. These are all split-second decisive moments to which I was not only a witness but also made good of them by framing it for posterity.
Making these pictures were like I being a little kid walking along a beach in search of pebbles and suddenly discovering a stone that I had never seen before.
I present to you my favorite truly candid moments from the Indian weddings that I photographed in the year 2016. These are in no particular order and are all held together by a string of being completely unguarded moments.
Somewhere in the middle of the bridal portrait session, her niece darted down the stairs. And suddenly she looked up, and all I saw were her sharp eyes. Ganjam Matap, Bangalore.
Do I even need to explain this moment between a father and his daughter? I guess, not. Tumkur.
Weddings are full of conversations ranging from various topics. I bet some fun secret was revealed in this moment. Bangalore.
Laughter is contagious. And it is beautiful. So let it be. I get a high when I witness and photograph these unguarded moments. Bangalore.
As soon as the main ceremony of the wedding got completed, the father of the bride called out to his daughter and his son-in-law and wished them both a happy married life. He was the first one to wish them. Mumbai.
Haldi ceremony held early in the morning is no different from taking an Ice bucket challenge.
I don't think it needs a caption. Turn on the volume and you'll know what I mean.
I love to shadow kids at weddings. They come up with some unpredictable and original moments.
School annual day or a wedding party, it is always priceless to watch your kids dance irrespective of how old they are.
A lot of my clients are young Indians returning to India to get married in the presence of their families. Their friends from abroad are often part of the guest list here. And they seem to love everything about India they discover in their trip to this country. As a photographer, I love this cultural diversity that I get to see at the weddings.
And she wishes her brother the very best.
From out of nowhere, she darted out to her grandma and fell on her lap like the old times. Few things come close to receiving your grandparent's unconditional affection. I am glad that I got to make this picture. It holds a lot of value to this young woman(bride's cousin) as her grandma passed away few months after this wedding.
When the Youtube video instructions of how to tie a turban go all wrong.
She was just about a year old, or probably even younger during this wedding. But, it looked like she was wishing her aunt a happy married life. Or maybe she was just happy to hold her hand. But, I was happy to spot this.
Bollywood has redefined the way weddings are held in India. Sangeet ceremony is no longer the domain of North Indian weddings. It has spread its wings far and wide. This is a moment from a Telugu wedding. This was a mixture of Mehendi and Sangeet, but the Telugu way I guess. After the completion of the choreographed sequences, a cousin invites the entire family to shake a leg to some mainstream cinema dance tracks. Vishakapatnam (Vizag).
I have a companion project from the weddings I am commissioned to shoot. It is called as the Democratic photographic Republic of India. This definitely was an addition to that project.
It was decided by his sisters that he will not be allowed to enter the home with his bride unless he pays a 'bribe'. The question was how much money. Some said the offer was too less, but one was eager to take what was given. And she had to be stopped to increase the stake.
'Language of the Image' was one of my favorite subjects when I studied photojournalism at Ateneo de Manila University. It dealt with the elements or vocabulary that can be used in effective visual communication or visual storytelling. It gave me a framework that subconsciously was being used by me when I made photographs for the newspapers or my own projects. Years after leaving the mainstream media, the frameworks still guide me while I make photographs elsewhere - at weddings, in portrait sessions, on assignment for non-profits. Weddings probably give me the largest canvas of all genres of photography to experiment with various visual elements. During a late night wedding procession in Hubli, I got to experiment with one of my favorite elements - juxtaposition - and make this photograph.
I remember this priest who was officiating this Tamil wedding. He was a very cordial gentleman. He was cooperating with the photographers very well, and that's not always the case in weddings where situations can get hostile. Here, in between shooting a symbolic ritual of the couple pointing out to the star named Arundathi, the priest thought that the pose was not right.
Behind-the-scenes moments and getting ready for the wedding can be chaos. And this is one of those moments.
This photograph is possible only when the bride and the makeup artist are good friends.
When you are rushing for the ceremony and your sari gets entangled into you husband's shirt button. It even gets better when you are the Parents of the bride.
I was so excited to spot three different sets of people making selfie (or self-portrait? ) at the same time.
Whatsapp forwards and mobile phones are sometimes good. Especially when you pull the groom away from the ceremony to share something funny.
Kids can get tired easily during a long Indian wedding ceremony. It takes immense skill to keep kids happy and entertained during that time. This man took the honors that night for his talent that requires a lot of patience.
One of my mentors told me that the 'eyes' are most often the strongest point of entry in photographs. He was right. The first sight of the groom during an early morning wedding in Bengaluru.
Just like the lady on the extreme left of this photograph, even I have no idea what led to this joyous cacophony. Mumbai.
Just after they tied the knot, she knew it that the moment had arrived.
I envy that little photographer. The lady posed so well for her.
Someone had to hug the emotional father of the bride who was experiencing some private emotions.
To know more about my wedding photography, do check the link Wedding Photography Collection. To contact me for assignment or other queries, do write to me using this contact form.
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Nishant is a Bangalore, India based Wedding, Portrait & Editorial Photographer. He is available for assignments across India. He also conducts photography workshops and offers personal photography mentorship.
Nishant is a Bangalore, India based Wedding, Portrait & Editorial Photographer. He is available for assignments across India. He also conducts photography workshops and offers personal photography mentorship.
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