IndianWeddingSite.com presents leading photography studio, House of Talent Studio. This team has perfected the delicate balance of artistic and traditional photography styles to cater to both the couples and their families. Find out more about their background and check out some of their favorite pictures.
Where are you based and do you travel for weddings?
We have locations in New York & New Jersey. We travel all over the United States.
How long have you been in business?
Sumdarash Kanwal & I (Sudeep Kanwal) have been doing weddings since 2003. In 2006 we decided to start House of Talent Studio.
Tell us about your team. How many photographers are there and what are your backgrounds? House of Talent can handle up to 3 weddings in a day. Sudeep Kanwal, Sumdarash Kanwal & Rajesh Dave work as the main photographers. Sudeep Kanwal finished his MFA in film in 2007 and jumped full time in to the wedding business. Sumdarash Kanwal took advanced photography courses from SVA & QC and turned his passion in to profession. Rajesh has been in the industry for over 17 years. Sudeep and Sumdarash first started in the industry under his guidance.
Andrey, Sean, Jenny & Danny work as second/assistant photographers. Vaibhav Khanna, Das Malhi & Ravi are the main videographers.
Describe your most memorable South Asian wedding.
There are so many. But there's one I shot in 2007 which will always stay with me. The couple moved their wedding from September to July as they wanted the bride's mother to attend the wedding, who had just found out that she had cancer. Everyone at the wedding was so emotional. A few months later, the couple came to collect their albums. They went through the books and tears started rolling down the brides' eyes as these were the last joyous memories she shared with her mother.
What is your favorite part of an Indian wedding?
The family drama! This is an Indian wedding exclusive and it's so much fun. All jokes aside, it's truly great to see parents and siblings putting so much effort in making it all happen.
How do you incorporate the couples' individual style in your photos?
This is so easy. The chemistry the couple shares clearly shows in the pictures. When we first meet the couple, we go over different styles of photography and get an idea of what interests them the most. Even though we work with different styles, we primarily use a photojournalistic approach.
What sets your photography apart from others? The blend of different styles. It's not just journalism, it's also artistic and traditional for variety and to cater to the parents and families, along with the couple. Also, understanding post production is as important as the actual photography.
What should South Asian couples look for when choosing a photographer?
They should always meet with the photographer who will be present on the day of the wedding. Some studios hire a salesperson and the couples never get to meet the designated photographer until the wedding day. For South Asian couples specifically, look for someone who can balance the style they want along with the needs of their parents and families. Not all photojournalists are good with family shots. If someone doesn't specialize in South Asian weddings, they might not be able to deal with the last minute plans and long days.
What can couples do during the planning process to assist you in delivering the most optimal results?
We go over the preliminary schedule with all the couples. This gives them an idea about the time we need for each photography session. I recommend a pre-shoot approximately 2 months before the wedding. This makes the couple familiar with the photography process and they can also display these shots at the wedding.
What is your favorite compliment from a couple after they have received their photos?
At a recent wedding I had a day between the ceremony and the reception. The venue had a bunch of plasmas in the cocktail area. So I made a surprise slide show out of the wedding pictures to be displayed at the reception. While getting ready for the reception, the bride got upset over something. We started playing the pictures before the guests arrived. As we walked through the cocktail area, she saw her pictures on all the screens and got very excited. She recently sent me a thank you card. It said, "Thanks for the wonderful slide show, it put a smile on my face during such a stressful time."
