Indian marriages are a wee bit different from marriages across the world. Here a simple ‘I do’, won’t do. They are complicated with millions of rituals and religious procedures that purify the wedding alliance in agni. What is even more difficult is to document the wedding where a wedding photographer is the key charioteer of ‘everything that went by’ be it the ritual, the candid shots, the relatives, the in-laws. It’s no easy task and avant grade photographers have found a way to deliver the best most comfortably!  SP talks to the acclaimed photographer Mahesh Shantaram who dared to venture into wedding photography at a young stage in his career…

The Inspiration

After finishing my photography studies and returning to India, I had to start a new career at the age of 29. As a documentary photographer, I tell stories through pictures. I realized the potential to apply the photojournalistic approach to wedding photography, very much against the present standard. Nobody else was doing it at that time (and very few still are), so it seemed like a good idea.

Another factor that propelled me was the fact that my wedding photographs still make my blood boil when I think of the photos from my own wedding. I didn't know much about photography back then (six years ago), but people know bad photography when they see it, especially when they're in it. Taking up wedding photography as a career was the perfect way for me to channel my anger into something positive.