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

The Marathi Bride

The Marathi Bride ( Writeup below credits )

Model: Apurva Lonkar ,couldn’t imagined this shoot without you

Makeup and Hair: MiShal Sahdevv thank you for working your magic

Jewelry: Beautiful jewelry by Moraa Moraa Jewelry Thank you for your providing jewelry for Bothe the bridal shoots. Kavita Maheshwary and Sujata Singh

Henna: Henna Fairyy thanks for completing the look with your beautiful henna Zairin Hussain

assisted by : @avnibid @aayushkhator @varsha_vagad

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It has been a year since I shot the Punjabi bride and ever since then have wanted to photograph 'The Marathi Bride'. An ode to the diversity and beauty of my motherland.

Maharashtra is a state in the Western Peninsular region of India. A culture whose pillars are Simplicity and Humility. A community that values education over everything else.

The Marathi bride wears a saree drape style which is called 'Nauvari' 9 yards. The Nauvari saree, which means Nine Yards, has a historical milieu. It is said that during the Maratha rule, women were entrusted to help their fellow male warriors. To facilitate easy movement, Maharashtrian women introduced the Nauvari saree which resembled a male trouser.A society that was modern and progressive enough to include women in the army.

She wears a nose ring called the nath and adorns a chandra bindi. Lastly she also wears a thread around her head called the 'Baashing'

We tried to portray the scenes where the bride is getting ready for the wedding. She prays and calls upon her favorite God before the big day. In my culture daughters are referred to as Godess Laxmi so I thought of using the Lotus as a prop.

Thanks to everyone in San Ramon who offered everything required to create the set and more than what I had ever asked and needed. Blessed to be part of an amazing community! Shipra Marwaha Geeta Goyal, Kirti Maheshwari Chauhan Bindu Vijay Latha Amilineni

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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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