It’s very difficult to point out what really made
me stay; it’s not that I think about India as the
country of Alladin lamps and Genie, but yes I
feel India is magical somehow. I am still trying
to understand India beyond touristic cliché
but when I stand up to sing National Anthem,
I get goosebumps. I think this reason is good
enough to stay back in this country.
How did you get into wedding photography
and what draws you to it?
As a child I do remember my photo walks with
my father who was a photographer himself.
But I never really thought about choosing
wedding photography as a profession before.
One day when I was sitting at my desk and I
realized I was fed up with words and opinions
working as a journalist and editor. Soon I
started with Photo Journalism as a part time
job and realized that it made me feel more
alive.
And then, becoming a wedding photographer
in India was the project of my life. By the
time I came to India to fulfil my dream, I
had already shot several weddings. In India,
I started working for one small studio in
Agra. As I always wanted to see India from
inside and not like a tourist, I got the best
opportunity ever to explore different cultures
and customs.
You’ve captured different traditions,
rituals, customs and other cultural aspects
of different regions of India. Which one
intrigued you the most and why?
I love small ethnic weddings with a touch of
rituals. I also love multi-cultural weddings
where it’s so beautiful to see how people
belonging to different cultures exchange their
customs.
Indian weddings have a lot of hype around
them and are often referred to as “the big fat
Indian wedding”. Did the weddings live up
to the hype?
At some point may be yes, but I have been
lucky to capture small weddings as I prefer
small and intimate celebration, where I
can tune with couple and guests. In my
collection most of the love marriages, and
mostly interracial and interacts weddings. So
probably I am not the person who can give
you glimpse on the market.
How would you describe your photography
style?
I believe you can call it fine art wedding
photography.
What are the difficulties that you come
across while shooting Indian weddings?
Well, you have to be prepared for every
scenario, know how to work under pressure
and collaborate with other photographers
and videographers around.
What’s the best thank you that you have
ever received?
Best thank you is when the client is happy
with pictures and when they say “we want to
frame each and every picture”.
What advice would you give to couples who
are looking for a wedding photographer?
Well, on the day of the wedding you have to
be sure that you need not point and drag your
photographer for a particular frame, make
sure to discuss your expectations. Book some
time for creative shots not only with your
fiancé but with your family and friends.
Very importantly - be on time so you won’t
miss good lighting. And last but not least -
smile and enjoy no matter what.
K
atia now resides in East Delhi, has
overwhelming love and passion for
India and photography. She is fond of
understanding Indian culture and celebrates
the weddings while capturing the most
exquisite and candid moments. You can reach
her on her page peshakova.com.
Vishakha Jha
[email protected]
She is 3/4 engineer, a dedicated
learner and believer in magic of
words and power of pronoia. Her
main indulgence includes reading
and travelling. She is zealous and
believes in being her own version.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III 50mm F/3.5 1/125s ISO2000