Deepthy and Pradeeps Engagement shoot at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco

There is something incredibly special about blending "home" with where you are now. While Deepti and Pradeep were preparing for their traditional wedding in Kerala, they wanted to capture their life together in the Bay Area with a pre-wedding session in San Francisco.

When I first spoke to Deepti on the phone, and later when they visited my home to plan their session, I was immediately struck by their energy. They are two of the most joyful, fun-loving people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.

The one thing I knew I had to capture? Deepti’s laugh and her child like innocence. It’s truly infectious, and I wanted her vibrant personality to be the heartbeat of these images.

San Francisco is one of the most photogenic cities in the world, offering a mix of dramatic coastline, European-style architecture, and "hidden" urban gems like Bakers beach, legion of Honor, Lovers lane, City hall, embarcaderro building, painted ladies, ghiradeli square, Union square and more. We decided to go with the white and gold onam traditional onam outfits against the beautiful architecture of the Palace of Fine Arts in San Fracisco for their shoot.I loved the white against the warm, earthy browns of the Palace pillars and the lush California greenery.

I’ve always believed that the best photos aren't just posed—they’re felt. To achieve a cinematic feel, I focused on movement: the way the fabric of the traditional attire caught the breeze, the way they walked through the rotunda, and those unscripted moments of pure emotion.