Harini + Vijay - A post Wedding shoot
I did not photograph Harini and Vijay’s wedding but they wanted me to do a post wedding photoshoot for them 6 months after the real wedding. I was thrilled to do so for this very lovely couple! They both looked lovely and we were blessed by the most beautiful golden light !
My Daughter’s Senior Shoot at SF City Hall and Fort Point
The first pic is the very first pic I took with my DSLR. This is my daughter Trisha and she has always been my go to practice model from age 5 to age 17 when I was learning how to use a camera or trying a new setup. I finally had the opportunity to photograph her for her high school Senior Pics. As a mom I couldn’t be happier! Sharing a few of my favorites from the shoot!
PS: I have to pinch myself at how fast kids grow up in a wink of an eye
A Lovely Winter Evening at the Filoli Historic Mansion, Woodside
A Fashion Shoot with Silk and Stones.
In Frame: Aryamann and Rhea
Outfit: Silk and Stones
A+A - A Holiday Fashion Shoot with a real couple at Montalvo Mansion in Saratoga
Vendor List:
In Frame: Aakriti Sachdeva
Outfits: Gaurav Gupta now available at TC Urban Couture and Mander by Karn
Make up: Faces by Gaia
Video: Danny Rey Films
Venue: Montavlo Mansion in Saratoga
Supraja + Vybhavv A Telgu wedding at the Shiva Vishnu Temple in Livermore
Vendor List:
Decorator: Sri3 decors
Makeup and Hair: Sugar Glam MUAH
Videography: Danny Rey Films
From Day to Night
Like a Makeup artist changes the look from Day to night with their expert brush strokes, I paint similarly with light. From Bright and airy to dramatic images, I use light to convey the mood and feel I want to.Lucky to Have an all amazing women team on this one.
How do I approach lighting? To me lighting is one of the most important tools in a photographers bag. I use it in different ways. Sometimes very subtly to correct natural lighting (Quality/Quantity/ and Direction), Sometimes to create a mood and add the oomph to my images or to light a venue completely devoid of light. How I decide what would be the best way to light a subject depends on the colors in the background, What you wear and what is the vibe you want to convey. There is no perfect formula that works every time.
And Since I am visual artist, I think this post answers it better than any amount words could ever do.
Model: Anushka Shah
Makeup: Makeup elegant by Sonam
Jewelry: Timeless Treasures Dimple Ahuja
Assisted by an amazing friend: Avni Bid
Emily and Onkar’s Wedding at The Genral’s Residence Fort Mason San Francisco
I distinctly remember the day Onkar called me to ask about my availability to shoot their wedding. I wasn’t available and had blocked those dates for a family vacation. Onkar told me he is photographer himself and loved the colors and skin tones in my images. I absolutely love it when couples are as passionate about photography as I am and they know exactly what they like. After a lot of discussion with family changed my vacation dates from June to August, and I am so glad I did. We had a zoom call and I knew it was a perfect fit and after that and the rest is history.
Note: I love having a zoom call so I get to know the couples I am shooting a little better. For couples looking to book a photographer, remember you will be spending a lot of time being photographed on the best day of your life and it is always nice to know each other to make sure it is a perfect fit both ways. It is not just the images that matter, it is the entire experience that counts. The camera captures ever little detail that our eyes miss and how comfortable you are and how much at ease you are with your photographer often shows up in your images.
I shot Emily and Onkar’s wedding over a period of 3 days. They had an intimate Haldi at his brother’s house, a sangeet at the New Delhi Restaurant in San Francisco and wedding at the Genral’s Residence Fort Mason in San Francisco. Not only were Emily and Onkar amazing subjects to photograph , but also very warm and fun to work with. We planned the timeline so we had ample time for portraits and creative shots on all 3 days and I had the most willing model subjects. Add to it beautiful views at the Genral’s residence, Fort Mason. What more could a photographer ever want? Thank you for your patience and trust Emily and Onkar!
Vendors:
Hair and Draping: The Magic Touch by Babita
Henna: Henna by Jinal
Venue: The Genral’s Residence, Fort Mason
Live Music: David Trevor Music
DJ: Bay Area Beats dj
A fashion shoot with TC Urban Couture at iChina Restaurant, Santana Row San Jose
The Team that made is happen
Outfits: TC Urban Couture
Muse: Shalini Srivastav
Hair and Makeup: Shalini Shrivastav
Venue: iChina Restaurant
Krishna and Joel’s Sangeet at Ruby Hill and Intimate Backyard Wedding at Silver Creek , San Jose
Krishna was the first bride who booked me for her wedding last year sometime in October 2022 (although the 4th wedding I shot). She found me on instagram but back then I did not have any weddings to show her. All I could tell her is I have 6+ years of experience, have been part of an award winning album in a 2 people team, photographed at most venues in the Bay Area but cannot show her any images from my past job. I clearly recall that it was one of the shortest client calls I have ever had.
I met Krishna and Joel for the first time on the day of the Sangeet.The Sangeet was hosted by her mama at the Ruby Hill Community Center. They are fun couple and it shows in their images. All I wanted to do is capture the happy genuine smiles.
The next day was a Pooja at Krishna’s house
The Wedding took place at her other mama’s house in San Jose attended by close family and friends. Krishna looked absolutely gorgeous and happy and I tried my best to capture and translate that feeling in the portraits. It is easy to capture what you see but often It is hard to ensure that you are also capturing the vibe and feeling that you feel as a spectator in the room.
I met the same group of people for 3 consecutive days and all the families were so warm and welcoming. These are the things I cherish as a photographer more than anything else. I will always be grateful to Krishna for believing in me when no one else did.
Awesome Vendors on the day:
Henna: Henna Sensation
Makeup and Hair on Wedding day: Makeup by Abhilasha Singh
Wedding Decor: Punjab Tent House Decor
Priest: Nilesh Pandya ji
Shefali + Mihir Engagement shoot at San Francisco city hall and Land’s End
Almost all photographers will agree we love the city hall but, imagine landing there on the busiest day I think I have ever seen. 5 different ceremonies happening at different levels in addition to Quincieras and engagement shoots. I reccomended we move away from the mad rush and to our luck we were blessed with beautiful backlight and smoke coming out of the vents which made it look even more magical. ( well I grew up watching Bollywood, smoke machines to recreate clouds and all) Add to it Shefali’s beautiful smile 😍once we moved away from the brawl and you have a fun session. Yes the city hall architecture is beautiful but to me what is most important is capturing the love 💕 . I would hate to have images which are technically so perfect but fail to capture that chemistry . I should say I have been blessed with clients who trust me completely.
Ankita’s Bridal Shower at Angelicas Restaurant in Redwood City
I had the opportunity to photograph Ankita’s bridal shower at Angelica’s restaurant in Redwood City. It was a fun filled event hosted by her mom and attended by friends and family. Decor by Piqniq Events inspired by the citrus colors added a punch of bright happy colors to the already very adorable venue perfect for hosting birthday’s, showers and small gatherings.
Venue: Angelica’s Restaurant in Redwood city
Decor: Piqniq Events
The Marathi Bride
The Marathi Bride ( Writeup below credits )
Model: Apurva Lonkar ,couldn’t imagined this shoot without you
Makeup and Hair: MiShal Sahdevv thank you for working your magic
Jewelry: Beautiful jewelry by Moraa Moraa Jewelry Thank you for your providing jewelry for Bothe the bridal shoots. Kavita Maheshwary and Sujata Singh
Henna: Henna Fairyy thanks for completing the look with your beautiful henna Zairin Hussain
assisted by : @avnibid @aayushkhator @varsha_vagad
.
It has been a year since I shot the Punjabi bride and ever since then have wanted to photograph 'The Marathi Bride'. An ode to the diversity and beauty of my motherland.
Maharashtra is a state in the Western Peninsular region of India. A culture whose pillars are Simplicity and Humility. A community that values education over everything else.
The Marathi bride wears a saree drape style which is called 'Nauvari' 9 yards. The Nauvari saree, which means Nine Yards, has a historical milieu. It is said that during the Maratha rule, women were entrusted to help their fellow male warriors. To facilitate easy movement, Maharashtrian women introduced the Nauvari saree which resembled a male trouser.A society that was modern and progressive enough to include women in the army.
She wears a nose ring called the nath and adorns a chandra bindi. Lastly she also wears a thread around her head called the 'Baashing'
We tried to portray the scenes where the bride is getting ready for the wedding. She prays and calls upon her favorite God before the big day. In my culture daughters are referred to as Godess Laxmi so I thought of using the Lotus as a prop.
Thanks to everyone in San Ramon who offered everything required to create the set and more than what I had ever asked and needed. Blessed to be part of an amazing community! Shipra Marwaha Geeta Goyal, Kirti Maheshwari Chauhan Bindu Vijay Latha Amilineni
Jahnavi + SreeKrishnan Brentwood Intimate South Indian Wedding and Reception at the Wedgwood Brentwood Rise
Jahanavi and Sree got married in an intimate wedding ceremony in their backyard in Brentwood, California. The groom built the mandap himself which I think is such a sweet gesture. I had the most fun time capturing beautiful moments for this very sweet, goofy couple. What I will cherish as a photographer is how warm and inviting the families were and how friendly the bridal party was. I shot for 3 days Wedding, reception and haldi and it never felt like work!
The Reception took place in Brentwood Rise, A Wedgewood property. We started with couple portraits followed by some very energy packed performances by the friends and a smashing dance floor. It almost felt sad to say goodbye. I pray, May I always get clients like this.
The Awesome Vendor List
Wedding
Makeup Artist: Namrata Belleza
Henna Artist: Henna by Jinal
Reception
Venue: Brentwood Rise by Wedgewood Weddings
Makeup Artist: Morsalz
Henna Artist: Henna by Jinal
