What Being an Indian Wedding Photographer Has Taught Me About Identity, Beauty, and Representation
Image by The HP Collective
(Spoiler: It's A Lot More Than Just Pretty Photos)
Hey, it’s me — your friendly neighborhood wedding photographer, here to drop some real talk. 💁🏽♀️
If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I’m passionate about more than just snapping pretty pictures (although, I do that pretty damn well). What I’ve learned over the years as an Indian wedding photographer is that my job is about so much more than just taking photos of beautiful people in beautiful outfits. It’s about capturing stories, identity, and pushing boundaries in an industry that’s still trying to catch up with what true representation looks like.
So, grab a seat (and maybe a snack, we’re about to dive deep).
Identity: It’s Personal, and It’s Everything
Let’s talk about identity first. As a South Asian photographer, every wedding I shoot feels personal. But not in the "I’m just doing my job" kind of way. It’s personal because, for me, the wedding day represents a mix of memories, family traditions, and cultural pride that goes far beyond the white dress and the first dance.
In Indian weddings, everything has meaning. The bridal henna, the turmeric ceremony, the rituals passed down for generations. But here’s the kicker — when these weddings are featured in media, it’s often treated as a “novelty” or “exotic” event. Why is that? Why does an Indian wedding — something that’s steeped in rich history and culture — get reduced to “bright colors” and “big parties” instead of being recognized for the depth and significance it holds?
The representation of my culture in wedding media is still so limited, and that hurts. You can’t truly understand the beauty of a South Asian wedding until you see it in all its forms — not just through the lens of “otherness.”
Beauty: It’s About More Than Just What’s on the Surface
Now, let’s talk beauty. Oh, beauty. I’ve spent my career learning that beauty is not one-size-fits-all. Growing up, I saw very few people who looked like me on magazine covers or in media. My skin wasn’t “light enough,” my features weren’t “Eurocentric enough,” and my hair? Well, let’s just say I spent a solid amount of time straightening it to look like everyone else.
But then I started photographing Indian weddings — and I quickly learned that beauty is more than what mainstream media has been pushing for decades. Beauty is everywhere. It’s in the rich tones of a bride’s mehendi, the vibrancy of a baraat, and in every little detail that makes an Indian wedding so unique.
As an Indian wedding photographer, I’ve had the privilege of capturing people in all their forms — their joy, their pride, their authenticity. And let me tell you: there is a beauty in that authenticity that no magazine cover or Instagram filter can replicate. We need to celebrate beauty that reflects our true selves, not what a glossy magazine thinks it should look like.
Representation: This is Not a “Nice-to-Have” — It’s a MUST-HAVE
Let’s get to the real heart of this post: Representation. As an Indian wedding photographer, my job is to capture real love stories. But when you look at the wedding industry as a whole, it’s still pretty glaring how underrepresented South Asian weddings are. Take a scroll through most wedding blogs, and you’ll see endless white weddings, garden parties, and rustic barn setups (which are cute, don’t get me wrong). But where are the South Asian couples? Where are the vibrant, culturally rich, beautiful celebrations that I get to witness every day?
Representation isn’t just about diversity for diversity’s sake. It’s about reflecting the world we live in — a world where love knows no boundaries, and cultural traditions are to be celebrated, not sidelined. And when I capture those moments, it’s about more than just getting a good shot. It’s about pushing the wedding industry to acknowledge the diverse love stories happening every day and creating space for them.
I’m lucky enough to be part of an industry that can shape narratives, and let’s be real — we’re doing that, slowly but surely. It’s about showcasing every kind of wedding, not just the ones that fit neatly into a cookie-cutter mold. Diversity in weddings isn’t a trend, it’s a necessity. And I want to be at the forefront of that change.
What I’ve Learned So Far (And What You Can Do Too)
Being an Indian wedding photographer has taught me one thing for sure: Representation is everything. And we, as an industry, still have a lot of work to do to make sure that every couple — no matter their background, culture, or identity — feels seen, heard, and celebrated.
So, here’s what I’ve learned:
The more we celebrate diverse cultures, the more we normalize them.
True beauty is about being yourself, unapologetically.
And representation isn’t just a “nice-to-have” — it’s the foundation of an inclusive wedding industry.
Now, I’m going to keep doing my part by capturing the beauty of Indian weddings, sharing these stories, and pushing for more inclusivity in the wedding space. And hey, I know I’m not the only one. We’ve got a whole community of vendors, couples, and creatives who are making waves, one wedding at a time.
But here’s the thing — I need your help. If you believe that every love story deserves to be seen, share this message. Support diverse photographers, planners, and publications. And if you’re planning a wedding — no matter your culture or background — remember that your love is valid, your traditions are beautiful, and your wedding deserves to be featured just as much as any other.
So, Here’s to More Representation, More Love, and More Diversity.
Because every couple deserves to feel seen, loved, and celebrated. 🧡