What I want to talk about is something that is huge deal to everyone but it is even a bigger deal in India, or so it seems. it is the big ‘P’: “What would the Parents say”? What would they say about the wedding photographer and who will they choose?
Almost every family I have met so far have a ‘family photographer’. Some older contact from the times of the Raj that has been shooting all the family’s events since the time before independence, and is most likely to be the first choice for the parents looking for a photographer to shoot the new couple’s wedding.

The couple on the other hand, are well traveled and know what they want. they want the new documentary approach and not to be forced to stand the attacks of the photographer directing them into the strangest positions on their own wedding. they want to see the magic and they cant get it. why? because although the venue might cost a Zillion dollars and the flowers alone cost enough to feed a medium size village for a year or more, the photography should cost about Rs 20,000 (about $400) and the parents cannot be convinced otherwise. They know the price as everyone in the family have been using the same guy since ever, and they “KNOW” they can ‘trust’ him :-))
What they end up with is a sad event where the couple miss the best day of their life, suffer for the sake of the pictures for the next generations to see, and get the absolute worst results. I think the majority of the young couples in India would agree with me but in this society, at this point in time, it is what it is and that’s it! :-)

what do you think?

And since no post is good without pictures, here are a few more from the Buddhist wedding in Ladakh. They did not have a problem with photography. they simply do not hire a photographer as they only care about the present and not the memories :-) Live in the NOW! :-)