Indian wedding photography
Encyclopedia
Desi
wedding photography is the photography of activities relating to Indian and other South Asian weddings.
Indian weddings are a Rs. 800 billion industry, which is expected to grow by 25% per annum, with a significant part dedicated to photography.
Indian weddings are significantly different from western marriages. While the western marriage rituals have become common in many countries, they have not become common in India except among the Christians. Indian weddings use bold colors, not white. Loud music is considered to be proper during parts of an Indian marriage. The ceremonies are elaborate and can take considerable time even when condensed. An Indian marriage is traditionally a public affair, with the bridegroom taken in a procession through the town. Even a modest Indian wedding can have several hundred participants, who are all thought to be "relatives and close family friends". By convention a photographer is required to include each guest in at least one photograph which includes the bride and the groom. These factors make photographing an Indian wedding significantly different from western weddings.
Wedding photography is a now a major commercial endeavor in India that supports the bulk of the efforts for many photographers. There are photographers outside of India that specialize in Indian weddings.
Bright colors such as red and orange are considered appropriate, and the photographs often use saturated colors. Generally Indian wedding proceedings do not pause for photographs, requiring the photographers to anticipate the next event and be ready with the right angle.
Photographs from some famous Indian weddings have been published widely in newspapers:
Lavish marriages are often portrayed in Bollywood movies.
In India, a huge number of weddings take place in the "wedding season". For example, in early October, the city of Delhi can have up about 15,000 weddings a night. That can make it hard to locate wedding photographers for those who have not planned sufficiently in advance. Wedding planning
in India is now a $10 billion market.
Photo stories of Indian weddings occasionally are published in US newspapers.
They need to know when the symbolically significant moments will occur. R. Gunasilan, who specializes in Indian weddings in Malaysia says:
Indian wedding events can often take multiple days, and may take place in multiple locations. Mehendi/Sangeet can often take place at bride's home, whereas the wedding is held at a hotel or function hall.
Desi
Desi or Deshi refers to the people, cultures, and products of the Indian subcontinent and, increasingly, to the people, cultures, and products of their diaspora. Desi countries include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh...
wedding photography is the photography of activities relating to Indian and other South Asian weddings.
Indian weddings are a Rs. 800 billion industry, which is expected to grow by 25% per annum, with a significant part dedicated to photography.
Indian weddings are significantly different from western marriages. While the western marriage rituals have become common in many countries, they have not become common in India except among the Christians. Indian weddings use bold colors, not white. Loud music is considered to be proper during parts of an Indian marriage. The ceremonies are elaborate and can take considerable time even when condensed. An Indian marriage is traditionally a public affair, with the bridegroom taken in a procession through the town. Even a modest Indian wedding can have several hundred participants, who are all thought to be "relatives and close family friends". By convention a photographer is required to include each guest in at least one photograph which includes the bride and the groom. These factors make photographing an Indian wedding significantly different from western weddings.
Bright colors such as red and orange are considered appropriate, and the photographs often use saturated colors. Generally Indian wedding proceedings do not pause for photographs, requiring the photographers to anticipate the next event and be ready with the right angle.
Photographs from some famous Indian weddings have been published widely in newspapers:
- MittalMittalMittal was once an enormous worldwide steel company before merging to create ArcelorMittal.Mittal is a gotra in the Agrawal community in India that is often used as a family name...
wedding(video search) - Bachchan wedding (video search)
Lavish marriages are often portrayed in Bollywood movies.
Photographed moments
Common moments that are recorded in Indian wedding photography include:- Mehendi (hennaHennaHenna is a flowering plant used since antiquity to dye skin, hair, fingernails, leather and wool. The name is also used for dye preparations derived from the plant, and for the art of temporary tattooing based on those dyes...
) on the palms of the bride indicating she is getting ready (video search). - The bride in a wedding dress with heavy wedding jewellery.
- Arrival of the groom on a horse in a procession (video search), and being greeted at the door.
- The wedding mandapWedding mandapA wedding mandap is a mandap temporarily erected for the purpose of a Hindu or Jain wedding. The main wedding ceremonies take place under the mandap....
(video search). - Bride and groom seated and engaged in worship.
- Bride and groom walking around the sacred fire.
- Special moments such as
- tying the knot
- holding hands
- tying the mangalasutra (video search)
- filling the parting of the hair with sindoorSindoorSindoor is a traditional red or orange-red colored cosmetic powder from the Indian subcontinent, usually worn by married women along the parting of their hair. Usage of sindoor denotes that a woman is married in many Hindu communities, and ceasing to wear it usually implies widowhood...
(video search)
- Portrait of the couple as a royal couple, with guests on their sides as blessing dignitaries or attendants.
- BidaaiBidaaiThis page is about the Indian Bollywood film. You may be looking for the popular Indian drama Sapna Babul Ka...Bidaai , also commonly referred to as simply Bidaai ....
, the crying of the bride as she leaves her fatherBabulBabul or is a 1950 Bollywood film directed by S.U. Sunny produced and with music direction by Naushad. The film stars Dilip Kumar, Munawar Sultana and Nargis. A box-office success, the film became the second highest earning film of 1950, earning an approximate gross of Rs. 1,25,00,000 and a nett...
's home (video search). - Wedding portrait: showing the newly wedded husband and wife.
India's "wedding season"
Wedding planner
A wedding planner is a professional who assists with planning and organization of weddings. Weddings are significant events in people's lives, and those involved are often willing to spend a considerable amount of money to ensure it is organized as perfectly as possible.Professional wedding...
in India is now a $10 billion market.
Indian wedding photography overseas
Indian children, who have been raised overseas, also expect to get married in the Indian tradition.Photo stories of Indian weddings occasionally are published in US newspapers.
Technical and cultural challenges
Indian wedding photographers need to aware of the cultural aspects of Indian wedding photography. They need to understand the symbolism of specific religious rituals and perhaps meet with in-laws to ask whether traditional photo compositions are desired. They also need to take into account the variation in skin tones.They need to know when the symbolically significant moments will occur. R. Gunasilan, who specializes in Indian weddings in Malaysia says:
- "You can’t afford to miss crucial moments like the wedding kiss or the tying of the taliTali-Places:* Tali, township, part of Kozhikode, Kerala* Tali, Finland, town in Finland* Tali, Helsinki, Finland* Tali, South Sudan, town in South Sudan* Tali, Estonia, village in Saarde Parish, Pärnu County, Estonia...
(in Hindu weddings) or the exchange of rings,”
Indian wedding events can often take multiple days, and may take place in multiple locations. Mehendi/Sangeet can often take place at bride's home, whereas the wedding is held at a hotel or function hall.
See also
- BabulBabulBabul or is a 1950 Bollywood film directed by S.U. Sunny produced and with music direction by Naushad. The film stars Dilip Kumar, Munawar Sultana and Nargis. A box-office success, the film became the second highest earning film of 1950, earning an approximate gross of Rs. 1,25,00,000 and a nett...
- Hindu weddingHindu weddingHindu wedding is thought to be the bringing of two people who are said to be compatible. Hindu wedding ceremonies are traditionally conducted at least partially in Sanskrit, the language of most holy Hindu ceremonies. The local language of the people involved is also used since most Hindus do not...
- Hindi wedding songsHindi wedding songsHindi-Urdu wedding songs are a major genre of Bollywood songs. They often form the backdrop of some very memorable emotional or joyful scenes in Hindi movies.These songs are often played during Indian, Pakistani and other South Asian weddings....
- Punjabi wedding traditionsPunjabi wedding traditionsPunjabi wedding traditions and ceremonies are traditionally conducted in Punjabi and are a strong reflection of Punjabi culture.The actual religious marriage ceremony - among Sikhs, the weddings are conducted in Punjabi; among Muslims, in Urdu; and among Hindus, in Sanskrit. There are...
- Wedding mandapWedding mandapA wedding mandap is a mandap temporarily erected for the purpose of a Hindu or Jain wedding. The main wedding ceremonies take place under the mandap....