Riz Ahmed and Priyanka Chopra Jonas at theSouth Asian Excellence
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South Asian Wedding PhotographersBraja Mandala
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WELCOME TO OUR ENCHANTING INDIAN WEDDING BLOG, WHERE WE DELVE INTO THE RICH TAPESTRY OF CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS THAT MAKE INDIAN WEDDINGS TRULY EXTRAORDINARY. This blog is dedicated to sharing over 20+ years of photography experience. JOIN US AS WE UNRAVEL THE BEAUTY AND MAGIC BEHIND THESE TIMELESS UNIONS, BLENDING ANCIENT TRADITIONS WITH MODERN TRENDS.
Riz Ahmed and Priyanka Chopra Jonas at theSouth Asian Excellence
A DEVOTED HARE KRISHNA SINCE 1995 AND INITIATED DISCIPLE OF HIS HOLINESS RADHANATH SWAMI, COMBINING HER PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE HINDU FAITH SHE HAS A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE RITUALS AND CELEBRATIONS OF AN INDIAN WEDDING. OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS SHE HAS TRAVELED THE WORLD AND PHOTOGRAPHED SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LOCATIONS. HER WORK CAN BE SEEN IN HARPER'S BAZAAR, VOGUE, AND MANY OTHER INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS. BRAJA ALSO HEADS HER OWN PUBLICATION AND IS THE EDITOR OF MANDALA WEDDINGS.
A DEVOTED DISCIPLE OF HIS HOLINESS BADRINARYAN SWAMI, HIS EXTROVERTED PERSONALITY IS CONTAGIOUS AND PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN HIS PHOTOGRAPHY. BORN AND RAISED IN LOS ANGELES, EDUCATED IN SAN FRANCISCO, A 23 YEAR PHOTOGRAPHY CAREER HAS TAKEN Kishore TO THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH. FROM PENGUINS ON THE BEACH IN SOUTH AFRICA TO THE WHITEWASHED LANDSCAPE OF SANTORINI MAKING HIM AN EXPERT ON DESTINATION WEDDINGS. BEING NAMED AS ONE OF THE TOP TEN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS IN THE WORLD BY AMERICAN PHOTO MAGAZINE.
MANDALA WEDDINGS MAGAZINE AND INSPIRATIONAL BLOG
BRAJA AND KISHORE ARE ALSO THE FOUNDERS OF MANDALA WEDDINGS, THE MAGAZINE. AN ANNUAL PRINT MAGAZINE AND DAILY INSPIRATIONAL BLOG DEDICATED TO BEAUTIFUL INDIAN WEDDINGS. THE MAGAZINE IS A COLLECTIVE OF INSPIRATIONAL WEDDINGS, PHOTOSHOOTS, ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS AND VIDEOS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.THEY ARE CURRENTLY BUILDING A ONLINE COMMUNITY DIRECTORY TO HELP BRIDES FIND VENDORS WHO SPECIALIZE IN SOUTH ASIAN AND MULTICULTURAL WEDDINGS.
1. ARE BRAJA AND Kishore PHOTOGRAPHers THE ACTUAL PHOTOGRAPHERS?
BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP WITH BRAJA AND Kishore THROUGHOUT THE PLANNING PROCESS Will BE ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO GETTING GREAT WEDDING PHOTOS. THINK OF THEM AS FAMILY WITH BIG FANCY CAMERAS READY TO CAPTURE THE DAY. THEY WORK HARD TO UNDERSTANDing YOUR FAMILY dynamics, BUILDing TRUST AND PLAY OFF EACH OTHERS STRENGTHS.
2. HOW DO THEY WORK AS A TEAM ON OUR WEDDING DAY?
Kishore AND BRAJA STAY IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION THROUGHOUT THE DAY TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS COVERED. IF YOU SEE BRAJA IN THE AISLE OF THE CEREMONY, Kishore MIGHT BE RUNNING UP A SET OF STAIRS TO GET THE WIDE ANGLE SHOT. WHEN Kishore IS GRABBING CANDIDS OF THE COCKTAIL HOUR, BRAJA IS PHOTOGRAPHING ALL THE RECEPTION DETAILS. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHATEVER PHOTOGRAPH EACH ONE IS TAKING THAT THEIR CAMERAS COMPLIMENT ONE ANOTHER TO TELL YOUR STORY. YOU WILL NEVER SEE THEIR CAMERAS POINTED IN THE SAME DIRECTION AT THE SAME TIME.
3. WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER?
Kishore IS THERE TO ENGAGE PEOPLE TO MAKE IT ALL COME TOGETHER. WHETHER IT'S GATHERING OF LARGE GROUPS IN A BARAAT OR simply BRINGing OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE. BRAJA IS MORE STYLIZED AND SEES THE BIG PICTURE. SHE SEES BEYOND THE PHOTOGRAPH AND LIGHT. THEY ARE COMPLETE OPPOSITES, BUT, LIKE ANY WORKING RELATIONSHIP IT WORKS IN THE CLIENT'S FAVOR. You receive the best of both worlds, Candid and Style!
4. WE HAVE A BIG FAMILY. HOW DO YOU PHOTOGRAPH FAMILY PHOTOS?
THEY UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THAT EVERYONE WANTS A PICTURE WITH THE BRIDE AND GROOM. OVER THE YEARS OF WORKING SIDE BY SIDE, THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A SYNERGY TO WORK QUICKLY THROUGH FAMILY PORTRAITS. BRAJA TAKES THE PHOTOGRAPH MAKING SURE THE FINAL SHOT IS PERFECT. Kishore IS HELPING FAMILIES POSE, FIXING AUNTIES SAREE OR UNCLES TIE, WHILE ENGAGING THE LITTLES ONES TO SMILE. IT'S A TRICK THAT WORKS EVERY TIME AND REAL PEOPLE PLEASER.
5. WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS?
IT'S RARE TO FIND 2 FULL TIME PROFESSIONALS WORKING SIDE BY SIDE. WHILE OTHER TEAMS HAVE ASSISTANTS OR ASSOCIATES AS A SECOND SHOOTER OR LEAD. THEY BOTH CAN TAKE THE LEAD AT ANY TIME TO MAKE A SITUATION FLOW WITH EASE. BRAJA AND Kishore COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER IN SO MANY WAYS AND ARE COMPLETELY COMMITTED TO ONE ANOTHER GOALS TO GET THE SHOT. Always keeping what the clients wants in mind.
6. WHAT ARE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY STYLES?
Kishore IS A MASTER OF GETTING PEOPLE TO LOVE being in front of THE CAMERA. HIS CAMERA IS AN EXTENSION OF HIS MIND'S EYE AND IS QUICK TO MAKE SITUATIONS COME TOGETHER. He has the gift of engaging people to make situations more exciting and enjoyable, but is respectful to know when to take a step back and let the moment happen. BRAJA IS A VISIONARY. SHE HAS A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT MAKES A PERFECT Portrait. Encompassing the background, light and posing gives a client the perfect comfortable situation to make You look your best. THERE'S A LIGHT AND AIRY FEELING TO HER PHOTOGRAPHY, WHILE Kishore IS MORE CANDID. THE JUXTAPOSITION OF THEIR PHOTOS GIVES THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS IN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY.
7.WE ARE HAVING A MULTI-CULTURAL WEDDING. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH OTHER FAITHS?
IN RECENT YEARS, THE CALLS TO COVER MULTIPLE CEREMONIES HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. THE SHORT ANSWER IS, YES. NIGERIAN, JEWISH, CHINESE TO NAME A JUST A FEW OF THE CULTURES THAT HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THIS DUO. THE RESPECT FOR FAMILY TRADITIONS REMAIN THE SAME.
8. CAN YOU COVER MULTIPLE EVENTS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME?
HIRING BRAJA OR Kishore TO COVER AN PRE-WEDDING EVENT IS GREAT ICE BREAKER FOR THE FAMILY. WE CAN NOT TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES THEY RECEIVED A TEXT OR EMAIL WITH FAMILY PRAISE. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IS ESSENTIAL FOR GREAT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY.SMALL PUJAS ALSO OCCUR ON THE DAY OF, Kishore USUALLY COVERS THE MEN AND BRAJA THE WOMEN. MAKES FOR A COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT.
9. WHAT'S YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR A BRIDE AND GROOM ON THE WEDDING DAY?
BRAJA SUGGESTS A STRONG LINE OF COMMUNICATION LEADING UP TO THE BIG DAY. GIVING HER A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S NEEDED AND WANTED WHILE BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP. Kishore'S ADVICE IS TO STAY IN THE MOMENT AND DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF. LET OTHERS TAKE CARE OF YOU. EMOTION IN A PHOTOGRAPH IS WHAT MOVES YOU.
10. WE ARE PLANNING A DESTINATION WEDDING. Do you have experience with weddings abroad?
Kishore IS THE VERY FIRST PHOTOGRAPHER WHOM TAUGHT PHOTOGRAPHERS ABOUT DESTINATION WEDDINGS. HIS VERY 1ST INDIAN WEDDING COVERAGE TOOK PLACE IN LUDHIANA -PUJAB, INDIA in 2003. ONCE COVERING OVER 18 COUNTRIES IN YEAR AND PUBLISHED IN BACK TO BACK 20 ISSUES OF DESTINATION WEDDINGS AND HONEYMOONS MAGAZINE. BRAJA IS NOT FOREIGN TO THE EXPERIENCE. SHE HAS COVERED MANY WEDDINGS IN INDIA, AUSTRALIA, HONG KONG AND EUROPE TO NAME A FEW. THEY HAVE SOME STORIES TO TELL, SO WHEN YOU MEET, ASK THEM TO SHARE SOME OF THEIR ADVENTURES
Below are galleries of current photography at weddings and editorial photo shoots across the us.
Covering different faiths to exotic locations.
