4 Wedding Photographers Reveal The Secret Behind The Perfect Shot

In an exclusive conversation, some of the best wedding photographers in the country take us behind the lens and reveal what makes a shot go viral, what goes on at celebrity weddings and so much more. Take a look…

Badal Raja Company

Founders, Badal and Raja Jain

Brothers Badal and Raja Jain have been working in the wedding industry for more than two decades. Known to cover some of the most coveted destination weddings across the world, they believe that capturing moments like these makes wedding photography one of the happiest jobs in the world.

“In between all the dancing, music and ceremonies, there are real moments filled with intimacy and love. Wedding photography is a personal job, few professions lead you to meet people and be with them in their most cherished moments,” says Badal, “When a bride is tying the knot, she is vulnerable because everything around her is happening in a jiffy. To be able to capture those moments and gift them back is an experience in itself. Often, the main day becomes about what the bride is wearing and who is doing her make-up, among other frivolous worries.” His top advice for brides and grooms? Be present in the moment. “All I want to say is that when you walk down the aisle, it is all about you and not the décor or the food. Weddings are the most organised chaos that we witness. It is imperative to celebrate them with emotions and simplicity, and the photographs will be a treasure for you.”

House On The Clouds

Founder, Siddharth Sharma

Siddharth and his team have captured some of the most viral Instagram weddings over the years. Be it Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt’s, Kiara Advani and Siddharth Malhotra’s wedding or even Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha tying the knot–every special moment has HOTC’s watermark.

“The most fulfilling part of my job as a wedding photographer is capturing the interactions that the couple and their families experience,” says Siddharth, “When on the job, it’s crucial to pay attention and record every amazing moment because each moment is priceless and deserving of being kept.”

From the private moments shared by the couple and their loved ones during the wedding rituals to the natural interactions between them, Siddharth and his team work to ensure that the couple can relive their big day through his lens and appreciate these memories for the rest of their lives. “Every wedding has had some sort of effect on me, and thankfully I have had the privilege of documenting a few celebrity weddings. Each one of them had a profound impact on me. It’s intriguing to witness how famous people, especially actors who play different roles on-screen from their real personalities, strive to present their authentic selves on their special day,” he says, “Everything about them, including their choice of clothing and decor is a true expression of who they are, enabling them to celebrate their love in the most sincere way possible.” The celebrity wedding photographer reveals how Sidharth and Kiara’s varmala ceremony was his favourite, “The celebrations were intimate but it was their varmala ceremony that was noteworthy. It was such a heartwarming moment to witness Sid and Kiara came together in union.” However, he says there’s no difference between a celebrity or a regular person’s wedding for him. “Whether the couple is well-known or not, they all have similar requirements for a wedding photographer. All they want is their true essence and feelings to be portrayed in a genuine light. This common expectation transcends the differences in status and reminds us that, at the heart of it all, weddings are all about treasured moments and genuine connections.”

Sam And Ekta

Founders, Sam Walzade and Ekta Rekhi

The husband and wife by qualification have pursued MBA in marketing, but somewhere along the way of falling in love with each other, they fell in love with photography. They left their corporate careers behind and took the plunge of turning photographers for special moments of love.

“We believe that every wedding is like a bubble of happiness. And as photographers, we are at the core of the bubble responsible for documenting the couple’s joy,” says Sam, “There comes an innate sense of responsibility when you are a wedding photographer because we are around the couples at their most emotional moments.” According to him, this is why it’s imperative to choose a photographer who not only understands your sense of aesthetics but also someone you feel comfortable with to just be yourself. “Our favourite part of being wedding photographers is finding and capturing what makes every couple unique and special. We believe in approaching weddings with curiosity. This allows us to smoothly respond to moments as and when they occur.” He recalls Shibani Dandekar and Farhan Akhtar’s wedding as a great example of how an atmosphere of pure joy with friends and family can transform wedding photos. “The ceremonies were full of emotion and everyone on the main day was overjoyed as Shibani walked down the aisle. They went on to say their vows and narrated Javed Sahab’s poetry. Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy composed music during their first dance too! There are so many memories that we witnessed that day that are etched in our hearts. This is what makes everything so much more special.”

Ramit Batra Photography

Ramit Batra, Founder

With an experience of over 15 years, Ramit has evolved into a master of candid photography. After leaving his job at UTV Motion Pictures, he photographed his first wedding in Delhi, the second in Mumbai and the rest, as they say, was history…

“It all began 15 years ago when I shot my close friend’s wedding in Mumbai. Since then witnessing the pure joy and capturing authentic emotions sparked a passion that has burned brightly ever since,” he says, “As someone who has studied engineering and dabbled in film direction, wedding photography was the perfect canvas to showcase my love for storytelling. My favourite part about my job is the dance of emotions—the stolen glances, unabashed laughter and tender moments that often go unnoticed in a room full of crowd.” But, capturing the tapestry of feelings woven on the day of a wedding isn’t easy, he admits.  “I believe the best photographs are captured when you communicate thoroughly. Photographers want the couple to share their dreams, fears and visions with their photographer. This is the invisible thread that weaves the narrative. Not only that, trust too is paramount. So just set yourself free and don’t overthink anything. Posing is an art, but authenticity trumps perfection. Embrace each other and forget about the lens. Let the photographer capture the magic in your connection because it is always the genuine moments that tell the most enchanting stories.”

Cover image credits: House On The Clouds