Nirali and Bhavya are probably the perfect balance of how a couple can be. One of them is very quiet yet extremely creative and witty. The other is strong willed and abundantly nurturing. This was a special photoshoot for me because I know them both personally. All three of us met each other at our place of worship many years ago through volunteer work. When I came to know that both of them were to be married, I was delighted of the news.
A photoshoot was organised during a very busy schedule for this couple as they had a very small time frame to get everything from this photoshoot, mehndi night, grah shanti and their wedding during the Sydney partial lockdown in May 2021. I covered their photoshoot and, mehndi and grah shanti for Nirali.
The location for the photoshoot was Bicentennial Park in Homebush. I had pre planned a walk around the area just long enough but not tiring or uncomfortable for the couple, to help me get the shots that I needed for them. The whole photoshoot lasted just under 2hrs as we took a relaxed approach. This also helped both of them destress a little before the big day taking place just after a few days from this photoshoot. I informed them both prior to the photoshoot to wear comfortable clothing, usually smart casual. I was impressed to see them both in their chosen outfits because it really helped me get the right compositions around the park and had an awesome time editing the photos.
My equipment for the day was Sony A7r iii with Sigma 35mm f1.4 and Sony 85mm f1.8. These two focal lengths are bread and butter for me right now as they cover all the styles of images I tend to look for from a photoshoot such as this.
I tell all my couples to relax and sometimes its harder for others than most. I spend the first few moments with them to talk about anything really. Whatever is on their mind, if it’s something to do with the wedding coming up or how their day was going, how they met, their interests etc. It’s one of those things where your personal instinct will guide you how to steer conversation and connection with the people in front of you, in the surroundings you’re in. When I take out my camera, and when the couple see it, I tell them “...just because there’s a camera here, don’t feel the need to look at the camera every time. I will guide you through the photoshoot. I will ask you to look at the camera when the need arises.” Or thereabouts, because this really helps them relax a lot better. Nobody is 100% confident in front of the camera unless they’re trained actors. We all (including myself) get camera conscience, it’s perfectly natural to feel like this.
So, as we walked around getting shots here and there (of course semi-planned by myself, the other part I adapt to light and surroundings) the couple relaxed I think quite well and started to respond to my direction when required very well. Half way through the shoot I gave them a break, which Nirali took the opportunity to chase some vendors for the wedding. I took this moment to capture some images, as I feel this was also part of their photoshoot to add to the story of their day. Another moment was when Bhavya noticed some small leaves had fallen into Nirali’s hair when we were walking, taking this photo also adds an intrinsic value for them and highlights their personalities.
This was such a smooth and flowing photoshoot with no problems whatsoever. Issues such as bad weather or lighting can be the major challenges for any photographer, but when those incidents do occur, we carry on, adapt and deliver for our clients.
Client Experience
Nirali: I absolutely dislike being in front of the camera, and feel very self-conscious. Therefore, it had to be someone who could distract me and make me comfortable enough to stand in front of one. I was anticipating it to be more awkward with my partner, just because we both get self-conscious. Hence why we chose Vivek – not only that we both knew him, but also we know how good he is at what he does, and how good he is at creating a comfortable atmosphere for the photos.
Bhavya: He is incredibly creative in the most constricting circumstances. Being a photography enthusiast myself, I can be a harsh critic – yet, I could fully trust Vivek to cover the best moments of our lives.
Nirali: Having only ~3weeks to pull off an Indian wedding was a insanely hectic. Both Bhavya and I were exhausted and were looking for an opportunity to just sit back and relax, even it it’s just a few moments. Vivek advised to do the photoshoot a day or two before the pre-wedding events start, and that this is generally relaxing. While I wasn’t fully convinced about how relaxing it may be with constant emails, phone calls and messages, I am glad I took his advice and went with the flow. Those 2 hours that we were away for the photoshoot were hands down the most relaxing time we had pre-wedding. It gave us a chance to just get away from everyone and put aside all the worries. Plus, it was like we were hanging out with a friend (Vivek) because we had a chance to catch up during the walks in the park, which again added to the comfort level for us. Vivek provided the edited photos (hand picked) so quickly that we could use that as a cover photo at the wedding venue, which added hugely to the feel of the occasion.
Secondly, he went above and beyond, and sent us a customize photo album to NZ, which was such touching and heart-warming gesture. It was one of the best gifts we had received for our big and memorable day.
Thirdly, all the photos were provided in a very timely manner – photos from this photoshoot have been the ‘most watched’, not only for us but for the entire family, near and far.
Bhavya: On the day, the photoshoot barely felt like it took any effort on our part. Vivek took the time to understand us, our boundaries, what kind of photos we liked and didn’t like, all while keeping it easy and breezy. That takes empathy and skill.
He followed through on everything we had requested and went beyond it. The end of a “transaction” was not the end of care for Vivek. He stayed in contact to ensure we were satisfied and even sent us an album as an added surprise after the wedding.