Anbu Jawahar
+91 9845122401
www.about.me/anbujawahar/bio

A perfect opportunity to get to know the Wedding Photographer
We love old fashioned romance and glamour, so we chose to have our pre-wedding shoot in Paris. The shoot was the perfect opportunity to warm up with the photographer Aziz and for him to get to know us as a couple before the wedding. It was also a fun way to have a collection of stunning individual pictures which Aziz incorporated into a guest signing book for the wedding reception.

Relaxed modern and classic glamour
We liked the idea of a relaxed modern take on classic glamour. I wanted to look stylish and be myself, so I chose a long black evening dress from Monsoon and Gucci kitten heels. My scarf was from a vintage boutique in London. My husband wore a Hugo Boss black tux and shoes from Kurt Geiger. I always remember the morning I arrived in Paris, on the day of the shoot, the morning coffee and croissants, and all the excitement and anticipation that day.

Parisians enquired if we were Bollywood stars
Aziz beautifully captured our love and affection with his camera- and photographed us at different places- at the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Jardin du Luxembourg. What we had not anticipated was the attention we’d get from local Parisians- they came up to us and asked if we were famous Bollywood stars!

My favorite shots
Two of my favourite shots are where I am looking back and holding my husband’s hand, with a beautiful old wall behind us. The other is of us on the Paris metro, on the escalator.

Photographs courtesy : Aziz
Email : info@airaphotography.com
Website : www.airaphotography.com

Taapsi and Jagdeep, Delhi
Taapsi and Jagdeep’s pre-wedding shoot was at Delhi’s famous Lodhi Gardens. Srikanth Vasudevan says: “Taapsi and Jagdeep forever in love with each other are an amazing couple to work. With their eyes locked into each other, smiling for the camera came naturally to them, so obviously all their pictures looked lovely!”
www.srikanthvasudevan.com

Mehvish and Affan, Bangalore
Mehvish and Affan (from Dubai and Canada respectively) got married in Bangalore in October 2011. These pictures were taken at the Sheraton Bangalore, by Ankit Singh who the couple hired specially for the couple shots.
www.ankitsingh.in

K and K, Mumbai
“In a couple portraiture it is the chemistry between the couple which lights up the pictures and makes them truly memorable” say husband-wife photographer duo Aditi and Devendra. These shots are of a Mumbai based couple, taken at their home in Juhu.
www.facebook.com/pages/Photosynthesis-by-Aditi/

Abhishek and Nupur, Bhilwara
Abhishek and Nupur got married in the beautiful town Bhilwara near Jaipur. Priyam Malhotra says: Abhishek: “We had very less time for the shoot, but their love and the beautiful sun setting of Bhilwara made the shoot my most memorable experience.”
www.priyammalhotra.com

For more ideas on Wedding Photography visit kodak.weddingsutra.com

For an Air India Pilot, who could not pursue his childhood passion of photography earlier but was now eager to learn, it was looking at photography in a completely new light. For Parna Banerjee, a homemaker who wants to make a career in wedding photography, the workshop was the platform to understand the market requirements, what to do and how to go about it to make it big. Anand Patankar, Head of marketing of a German firm with a deep interest in photography stated: “This workshop a must-experience for new photographers. What I would have learnt only after covering 5-6 weddings, I have learnt here in just a couple of hours.”

Anand Patankar, Head of marketing of a German firm, says the workshop is a must-experience for new and budding wedding photographers. Parna Banerjee, a homemaker now wants to make a career in wedding photography

Pruthviraj Ranavade, fashion photographer loves wedding photography because it gives him a chance to learn about different cultures

It was not only part-time photographers who found it useful. For Pruthviraj Ranavade, a full-time fashion photographer, it was refreshing and surreal. “I love exploring different cultures which is why I want to pursue wedding photography too and this workshop has allowed me to look at people with many different perspectives through the lens. Milind Ketkar’s shots were a great insight into the kind of angles to choose for a frame to make it look unique”, he said. Then there was Parag Shinde who is into photography since 25 years and exclusively into wedding photography for the last 8 years. Even after so many years in the business, he says attending Better Photography workshops always give him something new to experiment with. And that is what brings variation in his work.

Milind Ketkar and Ranjan Zingade shared a lot of practical experiences with participants. There was a complete module on how to approach the client and a module on what unique things they do today to delight customers. They also discussed various photographic techniques, how to improve the quality of photograph, how to control low light situations and use artificial light creatively. Whether it was the innovative questionnaire at the end gauging at what level you are at, as a photographer or the very interactive Q & A sessions, the atmosphere was electric.And at the end of the workshop, participants sure looked enthused, their heads buzzing with numerous fresh ideas.

Report by Jaspreet Soni (askjaspreet@gmail.com)

Mili and Sid Ghosh, Chicago
The highly talented couple run ‘Memories in Motion’ which specialises in bollywood-inspired wedding films. The two met on yahoo chat 12 years ago, and they got married in 2004. Today, they are one of the most sought-after photographers/ film-makers for big budget Indian weddings. Says Mili: “We have been shooting weddings for the past 6 years. I take care of the creative aspect while Sid is in-charge of the administrative and technical aspects. This way we compliment each other’s traits. We both interact with the client extensively since they’re usually having an overseas destination wedding and a lot of logistics are involved in putting a creative team and executing the production of the wedding photography and cinematography.”

Ronicka Kandhari and Vickrant Mahajan, Mumbai
Their clients include India’s who who and they have photographed weddings of the rich and famous at some of the world’s most exotic locales. Says Ronicka: “We met 10 years ago while pursuing a photography course at the Triveni Kala Sangam and got married in 2006. I shoot glamourous pictures of the bride and the groom as well as minuscule, consummate details that make up the event while Vickrant focuses on atmospheric pictures thereof.”

Avani Patel and Abhinav Sah, Mumbai
In November 2009 Avani and Abhinav photographed a friend’s wedding and soon lots of assignments started coming in, and they started their new venture ‘PhotoKhichega’. Says Abhinav, “On the way we work it’s a very fluid division of work, if I’m on wide lens, she shoots with a telephoto or a macro or vice versa. Perhaps, being a husband-wife team makes it easier.”

This year, they got the highest number of nominations at the prestigious Kodak Better Photography Wedding Photographer of the Year Awards and won the award in the ‘Behind the scenes’ category.

Snigdha Sheel and Vinayak Das, Bangalore
Snigdha and Vinayak met at a conference called BarCamp in Bangalore in 2007 where Vinayak was a speaker and Snigdha a participant. Says Vinayak: “We hit it off instantly, what followed was a whirlwind courtship and after about a month and a half we ran off to the Himalayas to a place called Tunganath and got married at the 13000 year old Tunganath Temple. We were the only two people there, no guests or photographers, just the two of us under a canopy of stars. When we came down to earth we had an Arya Samaj wedding.”

“We shot our first wedding in Bangalore and subsequently in Jhansi. In 2010 we formed our company Phototantra. Usually Snigdha and I shoot the bride and the groom separately, then we get together and shoot with different perspectives. I could be taking wide angle shots and Snigdha could be focussed on taking shots using a prime lens like a 35mm f1.4.”

(Left) Dina Douglass of Andrena Photography, (Right) Annie Heslop. (Below) Photograph by Dina Douglass

Cory Goldberg who lives in Khar, Mumbai tells us what he looks forward to most: “Action at the baraat! It’s very intense and as a photographer, it’s important not to get overwhelmed with all the many things happening in so many places. It can get chaotic– but in terms of capturing raw emotion and unforgettable candid moments, nothing beats the baraat.” He adds: “The style in which I work is a combination of candid, photo-journalistic, semi-posed portraiture, as well as a good amount of still life and landscape. I believe it is important when covering an event as dynamic as a wedding, to be versed in more than one style of shooting.” Cory is in India from September through May, and he goes back to the US during the monsoons. He explains: “Although I find the monsoon quite beautiful, my equipment hates the rain and humidity!”

Photograph by Cory Goldberg

Wedding Planners opine that traditionally, India’s wedding photography industry has had a community connection— most clients felt a photographer from their own community would be the best person to photograph the family wedding, but this is changing. And while India’s wedding market may be huge, that doesn’t mean all talented wedding photographers can get many assignments soon. As Prakash Tilokani, one of India’s most successful photographers explained in an interview to WeddingSutra: “Talent is of course one of the most important requisites for success, but you also need to be patient, sensitive and possess an astute business sense to grow and prosper.” Josh Komanappali originally from Andhra Pradesh, lived and worked in the US for 15 years, and he recently relocated to Hyderabad. He says: “In the US, I hardly got a chance to photograph Indian weddings, and it’s an all-new experience here, the market and mind-sets are different but that’s part of the learning experience.”

Photograph by Annie Heslop

Cory, Dina and Annie believe Kodak Better Photography Wedding Photographer of the Year (WPOY) Award is one of the best initiatives for India’s Wedding Photographer fraternity. Says Cory: “I was fortunate to attend WPOY 2010 and pleased to see such an array of genuine talent and innovation among the photographers.” Dina who is the only solo female photographer to make it onto the list of American’s Photo’s top 10 international wedding photographers, is elated to hear that more Indian females are joining the traditionally male-dominated profession: “In 2011, I hope Kodak and Better Photography institute a special award to recognise female photographers, and I’d love to be a part of it.”

Photograph by Dina Douglass

And while they are fascinated by the Indian Wedding, there are other passions and interests that make their India sojourn more enjoyable or meaningful. Annie Heslop spends time teaching photography to children in a school in Orissa, where she lives. She says: “I’m happiest when I’m shopping for Indian spices, music and essential oils, and I love eating out—Bhel Puri and all street food are my favorite.” Cory takes up freelance acting assignments and enjoys seeing music and theatre performances and travelling. He adds: “I’ve been a vegetarian for over a decade, so I prefer eating out in India. When I’m back home I’m always on the look-out for good Indian restaurants and when I find a South Indian thali, I couldn’t be happier.”

Bridal Portraiture- Vivek Sequeira (Mangalore)

Couple Portraiture-Mahesh Shantaram (Bangalore)

Family & Friends- P Vijay Kumar (Nellore)

Emotions- Ankit Singh (Bangalore)

Behind the Scenes-Abhinav Sah (Mumbai)

Photo Series on a single wedding- Dinesh Madhavan (Mumbai)

Traditional Indian elements and fairy-tale glamour
My wedding photographs combine traditional elements and fairy-tale glamour to tell a beautiful story. While designing the wedding album I keep a simple philosophy in mind: ‘the wedding album should be interesting for a four year old child too’. Each of the colourful pictures showcasing love and unique moments should entertain a child.

Simple, stylish albums and Photo books
My albums are simple yet stylish in design, where the focus is on the picture, printed on the best-quality paper. I don’t believe in rich edges or borders, which take away from the beauty of the pictures. Nor do I pay much importance to captions, because the picture speaks a thousand words! If photo albums have a lot of sentimental value, photobooks are treasured. I introduced the concept of Photobooks in India, and I’m so happy that they are so popular today.

Favorite Wedding locales
In India, my favourite destinations include Neemrana Fort and Devi Garh in Rajasthan. Amby Valley is another awesome destination wedding venue. Though I must add, the charm of a beautiful destination shows up in the pictures, only if it’s a day wedding, and at night most exotic venues look the same. I also look forward to shooting weddings in Europe- the great climate and pollution-free environment contribute to much better photographs.

Pool Party and Portraits
At Destination Weddings I enjoy photographing the pool parties—its one event, where all adults act like kids. In our hot, sweaty climate, water lifts everyone’s spirits so they are on a high! I also enjoy the portrait sessions with the bride and groom—it’s interesting to observe how much they’re silently communicating on the most important day of their lives.

Funny incident @ a Shaadi
Once at a Gujarati wedding, as is the tradition in some families, the bride and groom were lifted by friends and family members to garland each other. There was this funny competition, where each side kept trying to lift higher, they went so high, both the bride and groom couldn’t keep the balance;  they fell on the ground, embracing each other.

Advice for budding wedding photographers
Think big and change with the times. Being a successful photographer has two elements to it—your skill at photography and your business acumen, and both contribute equally to your success. With creativity and talent, you also need to improve your attitude, observation skills and patience. Thanks to Kodak Better Photography Wedding Photographer of the Year Awards, there’s a new excitement among the Photographer fraternity. They look forward to participating and winning the most prestigious awards—and it pushes them to explore the new.

Suchita Sitani, Naina Redhu

Richa Kashelkar, Deepa Netto

‘Easier Access to the Bride’
Says Gurgaon-based Naina Redhu who participated in WPOY 2010: “Difficult to generalise what advantages or disadvantages women photographers have but sometimes it’s easier when the other photographers don’t come in your way.” When Redhu has a free moment between the shots, she loves observing the flowers and decor, and jewellery that everyone is wearing. “And mingling with the guests is great fun”, she quips. Richa Kashelkar, a qualified architect who started photographing weddings by a chance event, and now pursues it as a full-time career says: “As a woman you have easier access to the bride and women guests, so you can click some really nice ‘getting ready’ moments.” Navi Mumbai based Deepa Netto, states: “At the end of the day it makes no difference whether you’re a man or woman—because every client requires quality work for the money they have spent.”

Financially Rewarding and Emotionally Satisfying
Suchita Sitani who graduated from Ooty Light and Life Academy last year, participated in the Bridal Portraiture category for WPOY 2010. “I specialised in Fashion Photography, and while initially I was interested in Portraitures only, I’m now keen to capture the wedding ceremony too” says Sitani. “Of course there are a host of challenges there—different and sometimes tough lighting conditions, the need to be perfect with timing and not miss a single opportunity. But from what I hear, it’s financially rewarding and emotionally satisfying.”

Photographs by Deepa Netto

“At a wedding—in wet and mud stained jeans”.
Says Naina Redhu: “I love dressing up for weddings, so if I’m going as a guest, I enjoy figuring out the what-to wear bit and spend an hour at the salon. But on the job, I have to run around, and kneel and lie down quite a bit, so my dress is highly functional. I try to put on minimal makeup so I don’t stick out like an eye-sore. Deepa Netto adds: “I ensure I wear comfortable footwear since I have to stand upto 10 hours. At one weddng I fell down on a mucky football ground and then I had shoot the entire wedding in wet and mud stained jeans– since then I always carry an extra set of clothes.”

And then there’s the new decision-maker on wedding photography—the bride. Web evangelist and gadget geek Madhulika Mathur explains: “Unlike earlier, when families chose the wedding photographer, today the bride plays an important role in deciding who should click the wedding ceremonies; and she wants to be photographed by someone she is comfortable with. I’m not a professional photographer but interestingly, at some family and friends weddings, I’ve had the bride tell me to get click-happy since she’s confident I’ll do a good job with capturing those candid and ‘getting ready’ moments.”