What is the value of a professional south Asian wedding photographer?

What is the value of hiring a photographer who is knowledgeable and who specializes in South Asian weddings?

Why prefer to hire and search for in Google a “top professional Destination South Asian wedding photographer” vs someone you know who is a “photographer” who claims (and may be rightly justified) to be able to photograph your once-in-a-lifetime South Asian multi-day wedding event? 

That person may create really neat pictures and video. But, knowing how to use a camera and being able to use a camera, Lead the Photographer’s team (second photographer and videographer), guide the wedding couple through their South Asian pre-wedding home events with family and close friends, Haldi, Mehndi and Sangeet (if Ismaili there is a Pithi), Pre-wedding pictures, Milk Ceremony before Nikah for Ismaili wedding couples, Nikah or Hindu wedding ceremony (with Baraat and those important numerous following ceremonies leading up to wedding ceremony), during a Hindu wedding The couple performs multiple rituals below a Mandap and one of those rituals includes circling 7 times around a small fire pit bound together with a Dupata connecting the two), or with an Ismaili wedding and before wedding party leaves JK (Ismaili Jamatkhana) there’s the breaking of the coconut, after wedding ceremony they go to Groom’s house after Nikah to play games, Koba-Kobi is one of those (and before the Ismaili couple enters the house the mother-in-law performs a short ceremony), and reception and after the reception of Ismaili weddings there will be a joyous and sad moment when the bride throws Rice behind her (signifying she prays for good luck to remain in her home after she leaves and a slow exit walk) - all of these events occur over multiple days. Each event contains very important memories during each event that if they were lost or not captured properly would be heartbreaking. 

If you’re a nerd like me, and want to learn more about complete Hindu-Punjabi, Pakistani Ismaili and Muslim weddings. Please refer to this guide I wrote on my website: South Asian Weddings: A look at both Indian Hindu-Punjabi and Pakistani Weddings

Again…is your friend aware of the unique differences between Hindu, Ismaili, and Muslim multi-day wedding events? 

Does your friend know that Ismaili during Mehndi there will be a Pithi ceremony after Mehndi or is it before Mehndi? Does your friend know the customary order of events? 

Does your friend know that an Ismaili wedding has a Milk ceremony the morning of the Nikah and a Muslim wedding does not?

How would you (honestly) feel if your south asian wedding photographer in Houston was not aware of these important nuances? I won’t put words into your mouth because I am not you. I can imagine one may feel anxiety. A south asian bride already has a lot she is dealing with (especially if she hasn’t hired Sobi Qazi as her South Asian wedding planner in Houston): ensuring wedding vendors arriving on-time and doing their jobs, your family and guests getting along with each other, you notice your flowers are the wrong shade of pink but you’ve got more important things to worry about because you’re Christian Louboutin heels are hurting your feet when you walk. But, you do allow yourself to think and feel: did I hire the right professional wedding photographer in Houston Woodlands? During your wedding, you feel like they may miss moments without you notifying the south Asian wedding photographer? Imagine feeling like you’ve got to micromanage, and be “Karen” during your wedding and you’re the Bride? Imagine hearing your maid-of-honor ask you if you’re ok because she tells you she sees a frown on your face; but what they don’t realize…you don’t want to admit you think you made the wrong decision when hiring this south Asian wedding photographer in Houston - because that would be embarrassing to admit, right?

I’ve been in situations like this. You know how it goes: a friend has a need, you refer them somewhere or to someone. Then, that friend tells you that referral didn’t do a good job. How would that make you feel? Mad? Embarrassed (because you know even though it wasn’t your fault that is still affects your reputation as a reputable source?

Of course, sometimes when we made certain decisions, we felt, at the time, it was good, and it ended up not the best choice. We’ve all been there.

But what frightens you more…will I be able to turn the pages in my custom album and see all of these moments or will some be missing because you recall the photographer asking people what is happening next? Imagine not seeing your father-in-law placing the flower garland around your fiancé (husband’s) neck after his Baraat during the wedding day of your Indian wedding in the Post Oak Hotel at Uptown? How would you feel?

I won’t tell you what to do in this post nor who to hire as your professional south Asian wedding photographer in Houston. 

As a professional south Asian wedding photographer who photographs many Indian Hindu-Punjabi and Indian Catholic; and Pakistani Muslim and Ismaili brides. I will admit that south Asian weddings are difficult because they include so many logistical nuances and many different people to please. 

I would be lying to say “professional Indian wedding photographers do not run into issues during multi-day wedding events because they’re professional”. I have the wisdom to admit I have photographed South Asian weddings with many moving parts and with difficult clients who were very testy (they may be lovely, normal kind people. But you have realize they are experiencing many emotions during their wedding day). But I have also successfully delivered pictures to those clients who were pleased with their delivered pictures because my team and I captured all important and mandatory moments and fun expressive candid moments in between. 

As a South Asian Bride. You see and experience the true value of a professional South Asian wedding photographer as their ability to problem-solve during fast-paced wedding day issues to prevent them from ruining your wedding day as they surface. You are investing in a peace-of-mind customer service experience on your wedding where you can celebrate and trust the wedding photography with your Woodlands wedding photographer.
This professional Houston wedding photographer also should be good with people.

They should come to your formal event dressed in nice, formal attire. This may seem obvious to a lot of us who live stylish lives and drive BMW, Audi, and Mercedes…but I’ve witnessed some “professionals” come dressed in casual attire (jeans and t-shirt - at least it was black lol) to a black tie, tuxedo wedding at The Astorian events venue in Houston. Do you have any idea how much Houston Bride’s invest to reserve that modern luxury wedding venue?

If this post provoked you to consider hiring a professional South Asian wedding photography company in Houston for your photo and video. Contact us! We specialize in South Asian wedding photography in Houston and we can help create wedding timeline. We put emphasis in organization because without organization there may not be sufficient time during important events, and the venue may need to switch the room for reception, and your family pictures will have to be finished elsewhere…not in front of your beautiful stage setup, expensive flowers, and candle decor.

Contact Us for your South Asian wedding photography and videography!