I had no idea that my wedding photos would mean so much to me. And, certainly, no idea that HOW the photos were taken would feel so critical. I was not one of those, "This is my day" brides that needed the most expensive version of everything -...- I just wanted to celebrate our union with family and friends and figured having photos of the experience later would be meaningful.
Vineet changed all that for me. He helped me get in touch with the sacredness of our experience in a way that I would have never expected from a photographer that I didn't even know prior to our engagement. That's the thing -- he's not just a photographer. He's like a container of presence, holding the experience -- whatever the moment brings -- with such reverence and loving attention, that he somehow guided me to do the same. Without a lick of pushing, he opened doors for pausing, appreciating beauty, and capturing authenticity.
Of course we did the traditional posed pictures thing. My extended family will have those framed forever. They were perfect. But what I'll cherish the most, forever, are the unexpected moments he captured.
He's truly a master. I can see now how all his experience as a street photographer allows him to move beyond the traditional 'wedding photographer' box. Vineet doesn't fit in any boxes! If I had to offer a label, I'd offer this: Vineet is an artist of presence.
What that means to me now is that I have captured moment of what did, in fact, end up being one of the most precious days of my life. And not just any captured moments -- not canned renditions of an experience -- but the beauty of what was most authentic. My nephew intentionally getting grass stains on his new pants bought just for the wedding. My mother tearing up as I came down the isle. My best friend making a funny face in a private moment that I was sure no one saw. My little cousin swiping icing off the cake when her parents weren't in the room and everyone else was focused on the dancing.
That's the thing -- Vineet saw it all. And somehow he did that without being in anyone's face. It seems miraculous to me now!
And, again, the guiding. He'd pause us as a couple, without being intrusive, not to create posed and canned shots, but to invite us into an experience of presence. Like lovingly reminding a kid on her birthday to pause and appreciate the homemade cake rather than simply wolfing it down while gabbing with others.
I can't recommend Vineet highly enough. I can't imagine anyone regretting that choice.
Oh, and one last thing -- Vineet makes sure that he has a point person to work with. So he had my first cousin, who I'm very close to, tell him which people to be sure not to miss. Aunt Sara flew all the way from Spain, for example. That allowed him to capture moments of her with all the important family members. The average person would have had no way of knowing were important. I'll cherish that forever, as I imagine that there will never be another circumstance in this life where this particular grouping of family will all be in the same place at the same time.
How fortunate I am that I will have these photos to cherish forever. It's Vineet's sensitivity and kindness that made all the difference. Combine that with his exceptional skill and, like I said, you'll never regret hiring this special man!