weddings Radhika Navelkar weddings Radhika Navelkar

Emily and Onkar’s Wedding at The Genral’s Residence Fort Mason San Francisco

I distinctly remember the day Onkar called me to ask about my availability to shoot their wedding. I wasn’t available and had blocked those dates for a family vacation. Onkar told me he is photographer himself and loved the colors and skin tones in my images. I absolutely love it when couples are as passionate about photography as I am and they know exactly what they like. After a lot of discussion with family changed my vacation dates from June to August, and I am so glad I did. We had a zoom call and I knew it was a perfect fit and after that and the rest is history.

Note: I love having a zoom call so I get to know the couples I am shooting a little better. For couples looking to book a photographer, remember you will be spending a lot of time being photographed on the best day of your life and it is always nice to know each other to make sure it is a perfect fit both ways. It is not just the images that matter, it is the entire experience that counts. The camera captures ever little detail that our eyes miss and how comfortable you are and how much at ease you are with your photographer often shows up in your images.

I shot Emily and Onkar’s wedding over a period of 3 days. They had an intimate Haldi at his brother’s house, a sangeet at the New Delhi Restaurant in San Francisco and wedding at the Genral’s Residence Fort Mason in San Francisco. Not only were Emily and Onkar amazing subjects to photograph , but also very warm and fun to work with. We planned the timeline so we had ample time for portraits and creative shots on all 3 days and I had the most willing model subjects. Add to it beautiful views at the Genral’s residence, Fort Mason. What more could a photographer ever want? Thank you for your patience and trust Emily and Onkar!

Vendors:

Hair and Draping: The Magic Touch by Babita

Henna: Henna by Jinal

Venue: The Genral’s Residence, Fort Mason

Live Music: David Trevor Music

DJ: Bay Area Beats dj

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weddings Radhika Navelkar weddings Radhika Navelkar

ਲਾਡੋ (lado) -A Punjabi bridal styled shoot

ਲਾਡੋ (lado) - It means Beloved daughter in Punjabi.

I have never been to Punjab, a Northen State in India which gets its name from the 5 rivers that make the land fertile. I imagine a bride ( A beloved daughter) getting ready for her anandkaraj and her beloved sister helping her with getting ready, early in the morning as warm sun rays enter a house made of clay . The set is a figment of my imagination influenced by movies like DDLJ and Veer Zara, folk songs and stories I have heard. As photographers and artist we draw inspiration from all we see and feel.

I imagine it to be a place where daughters are loved and respected and lovingly called ਲਾਡੋ(Lado) ….

Looking forward to doing a series - Brides of India and hopefully will be supported by friends and vendors without whom this shoot would be impossible. Definitely looking to photograph a Marathi bride/couple dressed in a maharasthrian Navari - a 9 yard saree).

The Thank you Roll call below:

  • Thank you Vini for responding to my post on Facebook for a model call and not just letting me photograph one, but both of your beautiful daughters. Thank you Noor and Mehma for being extremely patient and amazing models.

  • Zairin (@HennaFairy) for the beautiful henna without which a Bridal look is incomplete.

  • Kavita and Sujata from Moraa Moraa Jewelry for letting me borrow their beautiful jewelry for the shoot.

  • Navpreet, @Soohab.by. Kaur for lending me the beautiful phulkari shawls.

  • Neighbors and friends who pitched in when I was looking for a myriad of missing pieces to complete the outfits. I think whole shoot was something which was thought of and executed in a week. So thank you to all again who helped and all who have always been encouraging!

Ending with my favorite folk song …

dedicated to all the loving daughters , The sherniya’s of Punjab

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