Celebrating Pride with this Beautiful Tamil and Telgu Intimate Fusion Wedding in Walnut Creek
What a wonderful way to step into Pride Month! The wedding was absolutely magical. The blend of Telugu and Tamil rituals made for a truly unique and vibrant celebration, filled with rich cultural traditions and, most importantly, the boundless love of their friends and family. , love was joyfully celebrated by everyone around them.
their happiness truly shines through!
Vendors:
Decor: Made by Mahira
Makeup: sugarglam_muah
Henna: Sowji’s Mehandi
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Multi day Telgu Wedding in Danville, Elliston Winery, Livermore Temple and Villa Raghusa
A + K’s wedding celebration started with an intimate Mehndi event in their backyard in Danville. K looked gorgeous in an ombre chiffon saree. on the day.
The following day festivities continued with Haldi event at the Elliston Winery, a truly picturesque venue. Elliston Winery provides an ideal spot for capturing beautiful moments, offering a blend of historic charm indoors within their mansion and stunning outdoor landscapes for photographs. The gorgeous yellow and orange marigold decor by Sahi Events created a breathtaking and vibrant atmosphere.
K. A.'s wedding was a deeply cultural affair, held at the Livermore Shiva Vishnu Temple. The ceremony was enriched by a custom mandap, designed to evoke the grandeur of South Indian temples, providing a truly magnificent backdrop for the rituals.
The reception at Villa Ragusa was a lively affair, filled with fun games and heartfelt performances by friends and family.
I had a wonderful time capturing all these precious moments for the happy couple and their loved ones!
The amazing Vendors:
Decor and Coordination: Sahi Events
Venue: Elliston Vineyards, Shiva Vishnu Temple
Makeup: Namrata Belleza
DJ: djDinnu
Mackynley + Jacob Wedding at the Wedgewood Redwood Canyon in Castro Valley
A Spring Celebration Filled with Vibrant Hues and Joyful Moments at Wedgewood Redwood Canyon
We had an absolute blast capturing Mackynley and Jacob's wedding at the stunning Wedgewood Redwood Canyon in Castro Valley this spring! From our very first conversation last year, they emphasized how much they loved the vibrant colors and candid images in our portfolio, and they wanted that same lively, authentic feel for their own big day. We're thrilled to say we delivered!
The venue itself provided a beautiful backdrop, with a gorgeous ceremony area that felt intimate. Afterwards, we ventured into the groves of Oak trees, which offered a naturally stunning setting for their portraits.
But the real magic happened throughout the day, as Mackynley and Jacob, surrounded by their loved ones, radiated pure joy. We focused on capturing all those unforgettable candid moments – the laughter, the heartfelt embraces, and the spontaneous expressions of happiness. As the sun set, the party truly lit up! Everyone was on the dance floor, celebrating with incredible energy, and we had an amazing time documenting every lively detail.
It was truly a privilege to photograph Mackynley and Jacob's wedding. Their vision for a day filled with vibrant colors and genuine emotion came to life beautifully, and we're so excited to share a glimpse of their unforgettable spring celebration!
Purvi and Santosh’s 25th Wedding Anniversary Celebration at the Thomas Fogarty Winery in Woodside
Vendor Team
Decor: Fine Linen Creations
Catering: Jalsa Catering
Venue: Thomas Fogarty Winery
Purvi and Santosh marked their special milestone anniversary at the picturesque Thomas Fogarty Winery. It's truly wonderful to capture love that blossoms and endures through all ages.
Hannah + Vivek Indian/Persian Wedding at Willow Heights Mansion in Morgan Hills
Hannah and Vivek celebrated their beautiful fusion wedding at the stunning Willow Heights Mansion. Their ceremony was a rich tapestry, blending South Indian Hindu rituals with Persian traditions. Willow Heights Mansion provided an exquisite backdrop for their union, offering numerous photo opportunities both within the elegant mansion and amidst the beautiful surrounding hills outdoors.
Kjellen + Arjun Telgu Wedding at Hakone Garden in Saratoga
When Kjellen first booked me, she shared something that truly resonated: she'd scoured Instagram and what really stood out in my portfolio was how I capture the genuine connection between couples. That meant the world to her, and she emphasized how much she wanted that same authentic, heartfelt connection documented on her own big day.
And that's exactly what we set out to do! Instead of separate preparations, the bride and groom got ready side-by-side, creating intimate and beautiful moments to capture.
The ceremony happened at Hakone Gardens in Saratoga. From stolen glances and tender touches to the bursts of laughter and emotional tears, we focused on those beautiful, unscripted moments that truly tell their love story.
Juhee Saif Nikah in Saratoga and Reception at Villa Ragusa
Juhi and Saif's wedding journey began with a radiant Nikkah ceremony in Saratoga, where we captured their joyful pre-ceremony portraits. We especially enjoyed capturing the shared glances and smiles during the ceremony, moments that truly tell their story.
The celebrations continued with a grand reception at Villa Ragusa in Campbell, capped off by captivating, regal portraits at the Egyptian Museum in San Jose.It was a night full of fun performances and heartfelt speeches from friends and family. We particularly enjoyed capturing all the candid moments on the dance floor, where the joy was palpable.
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Harsimran and Kenton’s Wedding at the Palm Event Center in Pleasanton
A Beautiful Blend of Cultures: Harsimran & Kenton's Fusion Wedding at The Palm Event Center
We were so honored to photograph Harsimran and Kenton's incredible wedding, a truly beautiful Sikh and American fusion celebration held at the elegant Palm Event Center!
Their day was a vibrant tapestry woven heartfelt personal touches, reflecting both Harsimran's Sikh heritage and Kenton's American background. They held a beautiful, intimate vow ceremony, made even more special as it was officiated by Kenton's brother. The vineyards at The Palm Event Center provided a stunning, natural backdrop for their heartfelt exchange of vows, adding an extra layer of romance to the moment.
Harsimran looked absolutely breathtaking in a truly unique dress she designed herself, lovingly repurposed from her mother's wedding gown. This personal touch made her bridal look incredibly meaningful and beautiful.
We truly feel lucky to work with such sweet and thoughtful couples like Harsimran and Kenton. Their wedding was a beautiful testament to the power and beauty of blending traditions, creating a truly unforgettable experience for everyone present. We can't wait to share more from their magnificent day!
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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
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
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
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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
Styled shoot with TC Urban Couture and Mander by Karn at the Legion of Honor, San Francisco
To the Team that made it happen
In Frame: Apurva Lonkar and Vikas Anandatta
Bridal Outfits for Apurva and Vikas: TC Urban Couture
Reception Outfit for Apurva: TC Urban Couture
Reception Outfit for Vikas: Mander by Karn
Hair and Beauty: Mishal Sahdev
Safa: Royal Turban Tying Service
Henna: Henna by Jinal
ਲਾਡੋ (lado) -A Punjabi bridal styled shoot
ਲਾਡੋ (lado) - It means Beloved daughter in Punjabi.
I have never been to Punjab, a Northen State in India which gets its name from the 5 rivers that make the land fertile. I imagine a bride ( A beloved daughter) getting ready for her anandkaraj and her beloved sister helping her with getting ready, early in the morning as warm sun rays enter a house made of clay . The set is a figment of my imagination influenced by movies like DDLJ and Veer Zara, folk songs and stories I have heard. As photographers and artist we draw inspiration from all we see and feel.
I imagine it to be a place where daughters are loved and respected and lovingly called ਲਾਡੋ(Lado) ….
Looking forward to doing a series - Brides of India and hopefully will be supported by friends and vendors without whom this shoot would be impossible. Definitely looking to photograph a Marathi bride/couple dressed in a maharasthrian Navari - a 9 yard saree).
The Thank you Roll call below:
Thank you Vini for responding to my post on Facebook for a model call and not just letting me photograph one, but both of your beautiful daughters. Thank you Noor and Mehma for being extremely patient and amazing models.
Zairin (@HennaFairy) for the beautiful henna without which a Bridal look is incomplete.
Kavita and Sujata from Moraa Moraa Jewelry for letting me borrow their beautiful jewelry for the shoot.
Navpreet, @Soohab.by. Kaur for lending me the beautiful phulkari shawls.
Neighbors and friends who pitched in when I was looking for a myriad of missing pieces to complete the outfits. I think whole shoot was something which was thought of and executed in a week. So thank you to all again who helped and all who have always been encouraging!
Ending with my favorite folk song …
dedicated to all the loving daughters , The sherniya’s of Punjab
