I’ve been a wedding photographer for the last 25 years. It started off as a hobby. I used to do videography first, then shifted to taking photos, because people wouldn’t allow us to be creative in making videos.
In the last 10 to 15 years the craze for photography has grown. Everyone wants “candid” wedding photography. With the growth of digital photography, every one asks us to show pictures immediately — even the bride and groom while they are sitting in the mantapa! People are very conscious of how they look.
I’ve covered at least 500 weddings across communities. Typically the wedding season is from January to June and then from August to December. In between, I do interiors and construction photography and medical photography, when it’s not the wedding season.
When film-based photography was around, we would simply print 8-by-12 or 4 –by-six pints which would have to be inserted in albums. Now with digital prints, people want complete printed wedding books!
On a lighter note, I’ve become so familiar with the rituals and ceremonies that I’ve many-a-time reminded the priests which ceremony they have missed out! Brides’ parents often ask me “So what’s the next ritual?” so they can be prepared! Bored brides and grooms ask me how long the ceremonies will go on (he laughs).
I try to run as soon as I’m finished with taking pictures, because I’m bored of eating the same wedding food. Moreover, I often have more than one event to cover in a day. Typically there’s one wedding in the morning, another couple’s reception somewhere else in the evening. During the season, I have associates who will share assignments.
The profession brings in good money and it’s great for youngsters coming into the field. Couples in the IT industry often request pre-wedding shoots where we take them to scenic places and do photography. I even got a request to do a Bollywood-style post-wedding song from a couple. Every one is willing to spend; no one thinks twice about money. They are willing to pay up to Rs. Four lakh just for the entire photography and videography of the ceremonies. At the end of it all they want small edited clips and photos to share with friends on the phone, and on Facebook.
