Manifest Spotlight: Wedding Photographer and Filmmaker Ankita Asthana of WeddingNama

In an industry where wedding photography often gets boxed into traditions, there are few photographers who stand out for their craft. Ankita Asthana of WeddingNama is one such name. Starting her journey in 2013, she has made a mark for herself in the field of wedding photography and filming–a segment that had been dominated by men for the longest time. With a distinct eye for the cinematic detail and a sensibility that marries cultural nuance with global aesthetics, she seeks to redefine how Indian weddings are captured and remembered for posterity.

With a master’s in photography, Ankita had explored fashion, product, and editorial work prior to trying her hand at wedding photography and excelling in the same. She has been awarded the TOP 10 wedding photographers of the world in 2022 and 2023 by the World Photojournalist Association (WPJA), and has also been featured in the global campaign for Nikon Z8. An ambassador for various brands, Ankita began WeddingNama to share her know-how and skills with fellow photographers.

In Conversation With Ankita Asthana of WeddingNama

Manifest: What first drew you to photography as a medium of storytelling, and how did those early years of experimenting across genres shape the way you see weddings today? 

Ankita Asthana: I grew up as the child of a forest officer, which meant a childhood filled with travel and constant movement. We spent a lot of time exploring new places as a family, and those journeys became stories we carried back home. What stayed with me most was the ritual of waiting for photographs to be developed. That pause between living a moment and reliving it through images fascinated me even as a child.

Photography became my way of preserving the present and carrying it forward. I loved the idea that a photograph could keep a memory alive and allow you to revisit it whenever you wanted. That emotional permanence is what drew me to the medium.

While studying architecture, I realised photography was not just an interest but a language I already spoke fluently. Architecture trained my eye to think in terms of composition, structure, balance, and light. It gave me a strong visual foundation and the confidence to see the world deliberately rather than instinctively alone.

Later, my training at NID Ahmedabad expanded that perspective further. Documentary projects required patience, research, and emotional sensitivity. Photographing communities like the Van Gujjars and understanding their lives, homes, and relationships shaped how I approach weddings today. Every wedding is a living ecosystem of people and emotions, and all my early learnings continue to influence how I observe, anticipate, and tell those stories

M: Before WeddingNama, you explored fashion, product, and editorial photography. At what point did weddings begin to feel like a canvas expansive enough for your creative voice?

AA: After completing my Master’s in Photography Design from NID, I explored a wide range of photographic genres. Fashion became a significant part of my early career. I worked on model portfolios, editorial shoots, advertising campaigns, fashion weeks, and assignments within the Bollywood ecosystem.

That phase introduced me to high fashion aesthetics, controlled lighting, styling, and visual precision. This experience played a crucial role in shaping my editorial sensibility. It taught me how to craft portraits, understand light deeply, and build a strong visual narrative within a frame.

However, when I photographed my first wedding, the experience felt fundamentally different. Weddings offered something no other genre did, an abundance of real emotion, human connection, and layered relationships. There was no need to manufacture feeling; it already existed in its most honest form.

What truly drew me in was the creative freedom. At a wedding, I was not just executing a brief. I was shaping the visual narrative in real time. I was the observer, the problem solver, the creative director, and often the calming presence in the room. Indian weddings, with all their scale, chaos, and intimacy, felt like the most expansive canvas for my creative voice.

M: WeddingNama was born at a time when wedding photography followed a set visual grammar. What made you trust your instinct to challenge that and build a new narrative language?

AA: When we started WeddingNama, contemporary wedding photography in India was still evolving. There were very few references, and we consciously chose not to follow existing wedding photographers too closely.

Instead, we looked at art, cinema, architecture, and editorial photography for inspiration. This approach kept our perspective fresh and allowed our work to develop organically rather than imitate what already existed. Because we were not bound by an established wedding aesthetic, our visual language evolved naturally and distinctly.

One principle remained constant from the beginning, timelessness. Trends are temporary, but wedding photographs live far beyond their moment. For us, the focus has always been on capturing real emotion, honest interactions, and moments that will remain relevant decades later.

We often imagine a future generation opening a wedding album and feeling emotionally connected to a time they never lived through. That idea continues to guide every decision we make. Building trust with our couples and creating photographs that hold long term emotional value has always mattered more to us than following trends.

M: You come from a strong academic background in photography at NID Ahmedabad. How did formal training influence your approach to something as emotionally fluid and unpredictable as weddings?

 AA: Formal training taught me patience and discipline, both creatively and emotionally. It trained me to observe deeply before reacting and to understand context before creating images.

Since NID is a postgraduate and research-driven program, a significant part of our learning involved studying people, cultures, and behaviour. That research-oriented approach has stayed with me and directly influences how we work at WeddingNama today.

We invest a lot of time in understanding our couples before the wedding. We create detailed moodboards, visual references, and project documents that are tailored to each couple. The more we understand their psychology, expectations, and family dynamics, the more accurately we can photograph their story and match their expectations.

Weddings may be unpredictable, but preparation allows intuition to work with clarity. That balance between structure and spontaneity is something my formal education helped me develop.

M: Building WeddingNama alongside your husband Akash, who comes from a finance and consulting background, has been a defining part of the journey. How did your contrasting skill sets shape the company in its early years?

AA: Building WeddingNama with Akash has been one of our greatest strengths. His background in finance and consulting brought structure, strategic thinking, and clarity to the business, while his own creative sensibility allowed us to speak the same language.

From the beginning, every creative and business decision could be discussed openly and approached from multiple perspectives. That balance helped shape WeddingNama into a brand that is emotionally driven yet professionally structured.

We have been together since our undergraduate years, so there is a shared value system and deep trust. That reduces conflict and encourages thoughtful, constructive discussions. Being a couple ourselves also helped us connect more naturally with our clients. Understanding pre wedding nerves, building comfort in front of the camera, and creating a safe emotional space came instinctively.

Traveling together, working side by side, and growing the brand as a team made the process organic. It never felt forced. That partnership continues to define how WeddingNama functions today.

M: WeddingNama’s work often feels cinematic yet deeply intimate. When you arrive at a wedding, where does your creative process begin, observation, emotion, or instinct?

AA: All of the above!

It begins with observation. Always.

Over the years, I feel I have developed a kind of sixth sense. With experience, you begin to anticipate moments before they unfold. I can often sense when an emotion is about to surface, when a reaction is coming, or when the energy in the room is shifting, and instinctively turn my camera towards it.

I arrive quietly and take time to read the room. I observe the dynamics between people, the relationships, the pace of the day, and the overall emotional temperature. Once you allow yourself to truly observe, emotion follows naturally. I am especially drawn to reactions around the main moments, the glances, the pauses, the in-between expressions, and the overall vibe of the celebration.

Instinct is what brings it all together. It tells me when to step closer and when to disappear completely. The cinematic quality comes from intentional framing and light, while intimacy comes from trust and presence. Both can only coexist when you are fully immersed in the moment without forcing it.

M: What kind of conversations do you have with couples before a wedding to understand their story beyond aesthetics and logistics?

AA: Our relationship with a couple begins much before the wedding day. From the very first inquiry, we avoid treating it as a transactional conversation. Instead of simply sharing our fee, we get on a call to understand who they are and how they envision their wedding experience.

We have ongoing processes at WeddingNama such as Nama Conversations and Namagraphy that continue through the planning phase, the wedding days, and even into post production. These conversations help us understand their personalities, comfort levels, emotional priorities, family dynamics, and how they want to remember their wedding years later.

We are genuinely interested in what excites them, what makes them nervous, how involved their families are, and what kind of energy they resonate with. The goal is never just to understand how the wedding will look, but how it should feel for them. That emotional clarity allows us to photograph their story in a way that feels personal, honest, and aligned with who they are.

M: Could you share a wedding or assignment that remains especially close to you, one that challenged you creatively or changed the way you approached your craft?

AA: Every assignment challenges us creatively in its own way, but Nikita and Rishi’s wedding in Greece remains especially close to my heart.

We shot that wedding with a very small team of just five people, which itself was creatively and logistically demanding. What made it truly special was the couple. They were incredibly real, present, and deeply immersed in their celebration. They were very clear that they did not want anything posed or directed, especially for their wedding trailer.

The result was pure energy. The trailer became a reflection of who they are, full of movement, joy, chaos, and emotion. Their photographs carried the same spirit. We documented half-eaten plates, unfiltered dance floor madness, loud laughter, and moments that were beautifully imperfect.

That wedding reaffirmed our belief that when couples trust us fully and allow themselves to be present, the work naturally becomes modern, timeless, and vibrant. It reminded me that authenticity always creates the strongest visual language.

M: Having photographed weddings across India, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and beyond, how has global exposure refined your visual sensibility?

AA:Shooting weddings across the world has expanded our perspective in more ways than one. International weddings come with their own set of creative and logistical challenges, from understanding cultural nuances and unfamiliar rituals to adapting to new locations, light conditions, and production realities. I love the clear air and beautiful light that I find in most of the international destinations.

At WeddingNama, global exposure has taught us adaptability and sensitivity. Each country, culture, and family operates with a different rhythm. Observing these differences has helped us become more intentional and respectful storytellers.

 It has also reinforced our belief that while emotions are universal, the way they are expressed is deeply personal and cultural. Our job is to tune into that context rather than impose a visual style. This global experience has helped us refine a storytelling approach that feels rooted, thoughtful, and emotionally relevant no matter where we are shooting.

M: Indian weddings are layered with ritual, scale, and emotion. How do you decide when to step back and document, and when to step in and frame a moment cinematically?

AA: Indian weddings require a deep sense of awareness. Rituals demand respect, while emotions invite closeness.

I step back when my physical presence could disrupt the sanctity of a moment. Some rituals are not meant to be directed or reframed; they need to unfold organically. In those moments, documentation takes precedence over aesthetics.

I step in when framing can elevate the emotion without interrupting it. When a glance, a gesture, or a reaction carries emotional weight, a more intentional composition can enhance its impact. It is never about control, but about sensitivity.

Finding that balance comes from experience and instinct. It is a continuous decision-making process, guided by respect for the moment and responsibility towards the story.

M: Over the last decade, wedding photography has evolved from documentation to immersive storytelling. What do you think couples today understand about photography that they didn’t earlier?

AA: Couples today have a much clearer understanding of intention. They recognise that photography is not just about coverage or deliverables, but about interpretation, trust, and long term value.

They understand that the photographer’s perspective plays a crucial role in shaping how their wedding will be remembered. Instead of asking for a checklist of shots, they are investing in a way of seeing and a way of telling their story.

There is also a deeper appreciation for emotional authenticity. Couples are more open to being themselves, allowing moments to unfold naturally, and trusting the process. They are investing in perspective, not just output, and that shift has fundamentally elevated the way weddings are photographed today.

M: As one of India’s leading female wedding photographers, how has your journey influenced the way you mentor young creatives, especially women, within your team?

AA: I strongly believe in prioritising confidence over conformity. I encourage young creatives, especially women, to trust their instincts, take space, ask questions, and lead without hesitation or apology.

At WeddingNama, more than fifty percent of our team consists of women. Many of them are balancing full lives outside work, including families and children. Watching them grow professionally while managing personal responsibilities is incredibly empowering. They lead by example every single day.

I consciously try to create an environment where women feel supported, respected, and trusted with responsibility. Mentorship for me is not about control, it is about giving people the confidence to own their voice and their decisions.

Representation matters, but ownership matters even more. When women see others like them leading teams, handling pressure, and creating exceptional work, it normalises ambition and balance. That, to me, is real progress. Not seeking special status, but making conscious decisions and taking actions that lead by example.

M: WeddingNama has grown into a globally recognised brand. How do you maintain creative consistency while allowing each photographer and filmmaker to bring their own perspective?

AA: At WeddingNama, we train for philosophy, not for style. Style can evolve, but values need to remain constant. Our entire team is full of people who love weddings and are deeply passionate about

capturing them. They shoot from the heart and understand clearly the responsibility that comes with being a wedding photographer!

Every photographer and filmmaker who becomes part of our team is aligned with the same core foundation: emotion, honesty, and storytelling. We focus on teaching how to observe, how to anticipate moments, and how to photograph with sensitivity and intent. That shared understanding ensures consistency across our work.

At the same time, we actively encourage individual perspective. Each creative brings their own way of seeing, framing, and responding to a moment. As long as the emotion remains real and the story remains honest, the execution is free to be personal.

This balance allows WeddingNama to feel cohesive as a brand while still evolving organically through the people who represent it.

M: Technology, trends, and attention spans are changing rapidly. How do you ensure WeddingNama’s work remains timeless rather than trend-led? 

AA: We approach trends with intention, not urgency. For example, we love AI and what it can bring to the table today but we understand its limitations and know that as of now it is not advanced enough to work in isolation. Every single photo, every single folder, every single edit is double checked by a human to ensure we are delivering things with utmost care and perfection. And weddings are one place where we value reality the most!

Every new technique, tool, or visual trend is filtered through one simple question: does this add emotional depth and long term value to the story? If the answer is no, we let it go.

Timelessness, for us, is a conscious and consistent choice. We prioritise real moments, human connection, and honest storytelling over visual gimmicks. Technology is used to enhance clarity and quality, never to overpower emotion.

By staying grounded in why we photograph rather than how fast the industry is changing, our work continues to feel relevant years after it is created.

M: Looking ahead, how do you envision the next chapter of WeddingNama, and how do you see your own role evolving as a creative force within the wedding industry?

AA: The next chapter of WeddingNama is about deeper storytelling and global narratives, while staying rooted in authenticity. We want to continue pushing the boundaries of how wedding stories are told, without losing the emotional honesty that defines our work.

As a brand, the focus is on mentorship, building strong creative teams, and nurturing long term relationships with our couples. Growth for us is not just scale, but depth and impact.

Personally, my role is evolving from only creating images to shaping perspective. I see myself contributing to the industry through mentorship, education, and thought leadership, while continuing to photograph stories that challenge and inspire me. It is about leaving behind a body of work, and a way of seeing, that outlives trends and timelines. And in having our work printed on people’s home walls and coffee table books and on screen on their televisions!