DESTINATION: HOUSTON!

A few weeks ago I was off to Houston to shoot my first Indian wedding... well the first one under my name.
And I was very excited. Indian weddings are colorful, rich, vibrant, happy and filled with beautiful people! And the music is so alive.
I had not met Anu before the wedding but had met Hitesh at my studio. He told me that Anu was beautiful but I didn't expect her to be so much so!
The first part of the day was a bit tough for me because Anu's family is bit
traditional and they did not want me phtoographing them getting ready. But in the end, I got some really amazing shots and had a great time with everyone there.
This was also the first time that I photographed some obvious wedding crashers that came in the form of teenage girls in shorts and t-shirts... It seemed no one in the wedding really minded, some were even laughing and talking with them. Can you believe that event the father of the bride was getting down with them?
Great people!

enjoy!!!

The wedding crashers have fun with the father of the bride!

For a slideshow presentation go here. Watch out for the music and have patience while it loads (9mb).

QUE VIVA COLOMBIA!

I'm wondering how many of you know I'm Colombian. because if you did know, then you would begin to understand why a Colombian wedding would be extra special for me.
I'm wondering because then everyone will understand why this entry will seem a bit biased.

Natalia was my first Colombian bride...
And she was beautiful, and was so proud of being Colombian.
There was the moment when she knelt before her mom, and then her dad to receive a benediction and words of love right as she was about to leave for the religious ceremony...
My favorite moment however, was when Natalia at the dinner party took out candles she had brought just for this occasion, passed them around to all the guests, lit them and then told the history of the Cumbia dance in Colombia while everyone held the candles and prepared to dance with them!
Then the dancing began, and boy did she dance! (I remember looking over at Stefan and he was -put simply- mesmerized!)
It's hard to put in words how moving and beautiful this wedding seemed to me...

One of the reasons why I love shooting weddings is that I get to see and experience so many different traditions, cultures, rituals, people... But with Natalia's wedding it was a bit different, only because it reminded me of my childhood, my family, my life... I felt awed, proud and humbled, it was hard at moments to hold back my tears.
But alas, I did!!!
Thanks guys!
Enjoy...

For more images go here for the slideshow! (careful with the music! and have patience as it may take a minute to load). Enjoy!