4 photographers give us an insight into clicking the picture perfect moment.

From the moment the dates are set, the wedding planning rollercoaster begins! From finding the perfect venue and picking dreamy decorations, to crafting a mouthwatering menu and, of course, selecting a photographer to capture the beautiful moments, the list goes on.

And let's be real, even after you have everything in place, your choice of wedding photographer and videographer will determine how comfortable you or your guests will be to be clicked and bring out the cutest, most adorable moments. After all, you do not want your wedding photographer to be the (unwanted) paparazzi at your functions catching people mid-bite, capturing not-so-glamorous expressions, or maybe pushing you a little too much to click 'candids'.  

So, we have picked out four exceptional photographers who truly work really hard to make the couple's special day memorable for them and their guests. We delve into their creative process and understand how they skillfully capture genuine moments in their unique style.  

Capturing the perfect moment

"Our approach toward wedding photography and films is to embrace the honesty of the moment and capture it in the most authentic way possible. During weddings, every emotion, every feeling is already heightened as it is a memorable day for the bride, groom, and their loved ones. So, if we approach it with honesty and empathy, they will always treasure these moments," says Sam from Sam & Ekta of the eponymous company.  

"We focus on storytelling and problem solving. Delays at a wedding, sudden change in weather, maybe an unexpected spurt of emotions—everything that catches our eye is documented in the most aesthetic way possible.

Overall, a wedding photographer's mind is a busy place during a wedding shoot, balancing technical skills, artistic vision, and interpersonal dynamics to create beautiful and meaningful photographs that will be cherished for years to come," says Ramit Batra of Ramit Batra Photography

"The first step to photographing a moment is being present enough to see it with your eyes and hear it with your ears. The camera comes later, and honestly the camera is just a tool with a bunch of settings that you need to get right, the critical part is observation and empathy. In that sense, this is less of a thought process and more of a mindset while on shoot. Staying in the moment as a photographer and being present in all meanings of the word is what is needed. Oh, and you have to be able to do that for a few hours at end because Indian weddings do not follow a time schedule!

Finally, I believe in minimal verbal interaction while documenting events, but I am always around with a smile on my face during happy moments. Bonus tip: you need to be physically flexible to fit into weird space, odd angles to get that perfect shot, but that's part of the job!" states celebrity photographer Joseph Radhik aka Stories By Joseph Radhik. 

How do you connect with your clients? 

Making the bride and groom comfortable on their big day could be tricky problem to solve, but when we asked these photographers/videographers to build a rapport with their clients this is what they had to say...

 "So the most important thing that a photographer is required to do with a client, at that point a client but later a friend, is to connect with the bride and the groom at a deeper level. The photographer has to be your friend. The battle is half won at that point. You know, once you're the friend, you know, your best selfies, your best photos, only your friend takes.
So the photographer cannot be a stranger. You know, striking the balance between friendly and firmness on timeline is the key. You can be a good friend, you can, you know, give them the space but keep it firmly in the timeline.So that's a delicate balance to achieve by the photographer,” says Harpreet Bachher, founder of The Wedding Story. 

“Coming from a hard-core film background & being a mechanical engineer, the analytical & creative aspect for me goes hand in hand.No doubt that weddings are an emotional affair, but while shooting the first and foremost is the connection with the couple, the family & their close ones. I always tell my students and team-members that if you are waiting to connect with the client on their wedding day, you are already too late.The journey to connect with them starts from the day they contact us to book us. One cannot be a good photographer if not in the inner circle - by the time s/he reaches the venue.
Once the comfort has been established, the technical aspect comes automatically. 17+years of experience—compositions, framing, lighting, timing—is all a reflection action,” states Ramit Batra.

Does shooting pictures/vidoes connect you emotionally? 

“It does, and in my honest opinion, there is no other way to photograph real moments or even portraits. A good portrait is one that lets you, the viewer, connect with the subject, and the only way to achieve that is through the photographer connecting with the subject. As for moments, if you don't cry a little happy tear or two during the vows, then you are not doing it right!” says Joseph Radhik.

“To be able to do that, one needs to spend a lot of time and effort practicing their craft, and also observing people, and experiencing the world. It all builds to an empathetic, aware artist and a professional with a strong work ethic,” claims Sam.

Feature image credit:@theweddingstory_official/Instagram and @rakulpreet/Instagram

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