by I can’t stress enough the importance of Bengali wedding reception photography to make a Bengali wedding photography complete. The reception is filled with so many things and especially so much love and joy that it deserves to be captured with utmost perfection.
Receptions are often a grand affair in a Bengali wedding, they combine a mix of cultural heritage and a modern celebration. Your Bengali wedding pic will not be complete without great reception photos.
Each interaction in reception is a unique part of the Bengali wedding celebration whether it is the couple’s entry to the venue or the heartfelt blessings from family and friends.
You may do a very great job at creative Bengali wedding photography and pre-wedding photography but if you mess up the reception photos, you are gonna regret it for a long time.
Make it a point to capture these moments, along with the cultural performances, the traditional attire of the bride and groom and the beautiful decor of the venues. These shots are essential for creating a memorable Kolkata Bengali wedding album design.
By being a little thoughtful and prepared in advance you can preserve these memories for your clients, allowing them to relive their special moments for decades to come.
Overview of Bengali Wedding Receptions
What comes to your mind when you think about Bengali wedding receptions?
If right now you are imagining a vivid tapestry of customs, colours and celebrations then congratulations – you guessed it right.
The reception is a culmination of the wedding festivities where the newlywed couples are showered with lots of blessings and best wishes from their elders and loved ones.
The event usually begins with the grand entrance of the couple with traditional music playing in the background and lively cheers from the guests.
In most of the semi-luxury to luxury Bengali weddings, there often are cultural performances and is a great time to indulge in the Bengali culture and create photos and videos that can give justice to this rich and immersive experience.
You must not take this moment lightly, it is one of the most important highlights of the whole wedding. Photographs of these moments from the couple’s entrance to the entertaining cultural performances and the blessings of the elders capture the very heart of the celebration.
When you’ll look back at your own Bengali wedding photoshoot, these are the images that will make you feel – “Wow, I took these photos. Never knew I was that good”.
Importance of Photography at Bengali Wedding Receptions
I guess by now you already do know the importance of Bengali wedding reception photography but still I would like to share a few more points to emphasise it even more.
Now this goes for all weddings and not just Bengali weddings in specific. You must realise that wedding reception photography is all about capturing the essence and beauty of the day. No matter whether you are doing it for a Bengali wedding, a Marathi wedding, a Tamil wedding or a Telugu wedding.
I always see reception as an opportunity to freeze moments of pure joy and genuine emotions. The smile on the bride’s and groom’s face, the expression of their family members. There’s just so many moments that you just can’t miss.
The reception also allows us to take photos of the couple with their family as well as friends in candid and posed shots both.
If you want your photography career to go to new heights, its very important that you balance both types of photographs. You can create a really beautiful composition with posed shots and on the other hand candid shots will help you to capture the authentic energy of the moment – you must capture photos using both styles.
Here are a few key moments I always focus on during a Bengali wedding reception:
- Couple’s entrance: This is a grand moment and sets the tone for the evening. I always make sure to capture the expressions on the couple’s faces as they enter the venue.
- Blessings from family and friends: These heartfelt moments often make for emotional photos that the couple will cherish.
- Cultural performances: Whether it’s traditional music or dance, these performances add a touch of cultural richness to the evening and deserve to be captured.
- Dining and socialising: Photos of guests enjoying the feast and sharing conversations bring a personal touch to the wedding album.
Pro tip: Use a zoom lens, preferably a f2.8, 24 – 75mm to capture these moments without disrupting the flow of the event.
One thing that I am really glad that I do is working closely with the couple to understand their preferences. This has helped in so many ways that I can’t stop stressing how important it is. Knowing what moments are most meaningful to the couples allows me to capture the day in a way that truly reflects their vision and the unique aspects of their celebration.
Key Moments to Capture At Bengali Wedding Reception Photography
At any reception that I shoot, my eyes are always on the lookout for those moments that stand out and make the event memorable. Capturing moments that highlight your Bengali wedding reception photos is essential if you want to create a stunning Kolkata Bengali wedding album design.
If you want to increase your chances of capturing these shots then take this tip from me, “They often revolve around significant traditions, celebrations, and the heartfelt connections between the couple and their loved ones.” Always be on the lookout for these moments.
A story that comes to mind is when I was photographing a wedding reception where the couple’s families had prepared traditional dance performances as a surprise.
No one from the groom’s family was known to be a good dancer, they practised in secret and put on what I’ll call a FANTASTIC show. The bride’s reaction to this performance was so natural, genuine and her smile – oh boy I would have felt like hitting my head against the wall if I missed that shot.
The dance added a layer of humour and delight to the evening. Moments like these are why I love creative Bengali wedding reception photography.
Here is a quick rundown of the key moments I aim to capture during a Bengali wedding reception:
| Moment | Description |
| Couple’s Entrance | The grand entrance often features traditional music and lively cheers. It’s the perfect time to capture the couple’s expressions. |
| Blessings | Family and friends bless the couple, offering heartfelt words and gifts, providing an opportunity to capture emotional moments. |
| Cultural Performances | Traditional music and dance performances add cultural richness and excitement to the reception. |
| Dining and Socializing | Capturing guests enjoying the feast and engaging in conversations provides a personal touch to the wedding album. |
| Traditional Attire | The intricate details of the couple’s traditional attire can make for stunning photos. |
| Decor | Capturing the beautifully decorated venue helps convey the ambiance and adds to the overall wedding album design. |
| First Dance | If the couple shares a first dance, this romantic moment is essential to capture. |
| Cake Cutting | Photographing the couple cutting their cake is a classic moment that signifies the start of the celebration. |
If you can manage to capture these key moments then I believe that you are good to go and can tell a visual story full of variety and richness of the reception.
Tips for Photographers Doing Bengali Wedding Reception Photography
In this section, I want to talk about some really important things that each and every photographer must know.
Now, I understand that in today’s digital world it is completely possible that you are maybe from Delhi and you have a client who is from Kolkata, Bengal. Now the big problem is – you most probably don’t know anything about the Bengali wedding timeline or maybe you don’t even know a single thing about the Bengali culture itself.
Photographing a Bengali wedding reception requires both skill and cultural sensitivity. Whenever I am in such a situation where I don’t have much idea about my client’s culture, I make it my top priority to familiarise myself with their traditions and customs as I just have to put in the work once and then I can cater all my future clients from the same cultural background.
I try to familiarise myself with the traditions and customs that are important to the couple and their families. This understanding allows me to anticipate key moments and capture them in a meaningful way and I strongly suggest you put in the work and learn about your client’s culture and traditions.
Being discreet and capturing the genuine reaction and emotions of the day is also very crucial, you don’t want to become a distraction. I had one bad experience in one of the weddings that I did in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. I was from the bride’s side and the photographer that the groom hired really messed up almost all my shots.
Even after I told him so many times not to come to the face of the bride on her entry, he did. Even after I told him not to go up on the stage during Jaimal, he did. He literally messed up all my videos, photos and drone shots. I felt like hitting him on his face.
You don’t want to be this photographer – NEVER. One tip I always keep in mind is to use a longer lens; this way I can keep my distance (no disturbance to any other photographer/=videographer) and still get beautiful, candid shots.
As I always say, “The best photos come from being unseen, yet deeply aware of what’s unfolding.”
Here are some more tips I follow during a Bengali wedding reception photoshoot:
- Communicate with the couple: Discuss their vision and any special moments they want to highlight.
- Plan ahead: Create a shot list of key moments and unique cultural elements.
- Focus on emotions: Capture the laughter, tears, and heartfelt expressions.
- Adapt to changing lighting: Bengali weddings often include both indoor and outdoor events, so I always stay prepared for different lighting conditions.
Ultimately, our goal as photographers is to provide the couples with a set of photographs that truly reflects the beauty of their big day and make for a stunning Bengali wedding photo album that they can treasure for a lifetime.
Conclusion
What I believe is that capturing a Bengali marriage reception with your camera is an honour and a privilege and you must do justice to it by giving it your all.
The cultural traditions of Bengal, vibrant colours and so many emotional moments throughout the receptions make them a photographer’s dream. So many opportunities to get great shots.
You must always strive to create a Kolkata Bengali wedding album design that tells the story of the couple’s special day. You can easily do so by focusing on capturing those unique moments that make each Bengali wedding unforgettable.
By combining your artistic vision with a deep respect for cultural traditions, you can preserve the magic of a Bengali wedding reception. These photos allow your couples and their loved ones to relieve the joy and excitement that they had on their wedding day.
Your goal should always be to capture the moments that matter the most and create a set of stunning Bengali marriage photos that tell a story of love and celebration.
A message to the couples:
If you are looking for a professional wedding photographer for your marriage and are interested in consulting with me, feel free to reach me at +91 63931 68551. You can drop me a WhatsApp message or even better call me directly. To check out my work visit the homepage of my website mihirsoni.in.
If you have any questions, do ask about it in the comments. I’ll catch you in the next article. Until then, capture the world, one frame at a time.
Peace out.
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