A packed crowd rings the dance floor while two performers in police style uniforms dance among green triangles

Ramit & ArushiAn NRI wedding at Ramada Lucknow, part one

Ramit and Arushi live in the USA. For their wedding they came to Lucknow, booked the Ramada resort for a few days, and filled it with family and friends.

We already knew this family well. It started a couple of years earlier, at the wedding of Ramit's brother Rhythm to Ritika in Lucknow. Other teams were covering the events, and I was hired for one job: stay with Rhythm and his family and photograph what mattered most to them. After that, the calls kept coming. A birthday party for Rhythm's son. Ramit and Arushi's pre-wedding shoot in Bangalore. Then this wedding, where we came with a full team.

Part one covers the welcome and the black light party, the haldi and the mehendi. Look closely at the first set of photos. They look like a lively party in decent light. The room was lit with black light, the hardest light I know to photograph in.

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A collage from the first day: the graffiti wall at the welcome party, the haldi, the mehendi and the dance floor

The welcome and the black light party

The welcome, the black light party and a rehearsal for the sangeet. Every party photo here was taken in a room you could barely see in.

The Ramada hotel entrance glowing against a black night sky, the road empty in front
Black light dance floor painted with neon stars, green flags and a glowing wall behind it
A man sweeps a woman off her feet, both draped in a neon green and pink feather boa
Black and white close frame of an older woman laughing warmly while holding a phone, men's shoulders in the foreground
A man and a woman twirl with clasped hands in front of a grey curtain, both mid step
Two men in a tight bear hug, one burying his face in the other's shoulder
Three men meet in a hotel lobby and shake hands, one carrying a backpack and another in a blue shirt
A woman looks on as two men in conversation talk with lively hand gestures
A woman in an orange top throws up her hands in mock protest as a man stands hands on hips
Two women hug and laugh hard with cheeks pressed together, one in a brimmed hat, in black and white
A man in a blue tee points and grins as a woman ducks behind him and another man strides past
A woman laughs with her head tipped back in blue light as a blurred hand waves close to the lens
Black and white frame of a man in a patterned shirt dancing with arms out as others dance around him
Black and white frame of a woman in a brimmed hat lifting one hand to her ear, looking off camera
A man in a yellow checked shirt smiles at a phone as friends lean around him in neon light
A round table draped in neon green cloth under black light, party flags strung across the dark hall
Black and white portrait of a woman with light tracing her hair, glancing to the side in the dark
Two women in hot pink feather boas lean together and laugh hard in the dim room
A man in a pink patterned shirt and a woman in a blush dress dance and laugh together
A man and a woman dance with arms flung wide while friends cheer on the lit floor
A black light backdrop painted with names and doodles in green and violet, balloons at its base
DJ laptop and turntables glow in blue light with guests moving in the dark behind
Bottles of whisky, wine, beer and vodka on a table with bright fluorescent laser lines glowing behind
Two men in patterned shirts lean in together, one punching an arm high with a drink in his other hand
A crowd mid dance with men in hats and a turban, one grinning with a hand on another's shoulder
A woman in an orange dress laughs in a warm amber glow with people blurred behind her
Black and white frame of a woman pressing close to a man's cheek while another woman leans in
A man in a patterned hat poses with one arm raised before a backdrop of glowing scribbles and names
An older man with a drink and a woman in a pink feather boa pose in neon glasses
Women on the dance floor stretch out their arms and cheer toward the camera as a man joins in
Black and white frame of two women in a tight embrace, one kissing the other's cheek in the dim room
Two men laugh together on a hotel bed, one holding a beer bottle, a gift bag between them
Black and white frame of a man laughing into a microphone while a friend rests his chin on his hand
Friends lean in to clink shot glasses under a pink screen, the whole group laughing
Five men stand shoulder to shoulder with arms around each other against glowing laser lines
Four friends pose with arms around each other on a dance floor, fluorescent balloons and green panels behind them
Friends strike dance poses in front of the glowing backdrop that carries the names Ramit and Arushi
A man in a neon patterned hat tips his head back as a friend pours a shot
Guests crowd the dance floor in warm red light, a woman in pink swaying at the center

How we photographed the black light party

Most of the light in that room was light you cannot see. A black light gives off mostly ultraviolet. Only white fabric, neon paint and other fluorescent things turn it into visible colour, and faces stay close to black. A dance floor in a dark room is hard enough. Under black light there is even less to work with. Several teams photographed this party, and these frames look like a normal party for two reasons: how we shot it, and how we edited it.

On the night. First, a camera that is good in very low light: we were using Sony a7 II bodies. Second, the centre focus point, which is the most sensitive one, so the camera can lock focus in the dark. Third, position: we stood where a little light was falling on the people we were photographing, which helps the camera focus. Fourth, a small amount of flash, never aimed at anyone. We bounced it off the surroundings so the reflection lit the faces and the room kept its glow.

In the edit. Each photo was worked in two parts, the people and the background, edited separately. On the background we brought out the black light colours so the room looks as vibrant as it felt. On the people we kept faces clear and natural. It is an intensive edit, and it is the half of the job most people never see.

Haldi

The dhol led the family through the hotel corridor. Then the turmeric came out.

Black and white frame of a man smearing haldi on a woman's cheek as she scrunches her face and laughs
Relatives and a young man in yellow crowd around a woman on the floor, all grinning as haldi is applied
Black and white close portrait of the bride with a maang tikka and shy downcast eyes
Dhol players lead two dancing men in turbans through the hotel corridor as a crowd follows
A man in a white head cloth sits cross legged at the haldi beside a priest as elders watch
Three women in bright outfits walk toward the camera down a hotel corridor, the middle one in peach
A woman takes a selfie with friends in yellow outfits on the sunlit terrace
The bride raises a hand wearing a flower bracelet and laughs as women reach in from both sides
Black and white frame of the bride laughing as a woman leans in close and a third looks on
Black and white frame of the bride smiling and showing her henna covered hands as women crowd behind her
Women laugh and show off their hands, one holding up currency notes in the crush
Three close frames of the bride smiling as her makeup and gold choker are finished
A woman in gold and orange walks down a bright hotel corridor carrying a decorated thali
Painted truck style welcome board for Ramit and Arushi's haldi, set on a stand with green leaves at its foot
The bride's smiling face seen through a swirl of pink and yellow blur, a gold tikka on her forehead
Women gather around the bride on a flower decked swing, one holding her hands as she smiles
A group sits on white sheets at the haldi, a man in a head cloth among smiling relatives
The bride sits on the floor with her embroidered orange lehenga spread around her, smiling down at the haldi seating
Black and white group of women seated close together on the floor, smiling toward the camera
Three people in matching yellow outfits stand together under a ceiling of orange marigolds
Ramit and Arushi lean their heads together on a flower decked swing in front of marigold garlands
Two boys in kurtas, one yellow and one green, stand side by side in a hotel corridor

Mehendi

Henna on Arushi's hands, and a little on Ramit's too.

A woman applies henna to the groom's palm as he looks down with a quiet smile, garland on his chest
A friend covers a garlanded man's face with a hand while a man in orange leans in laughing
Black and white frame of two women giggling over a phone, one covering her mouth with a henna decorated hand
Black and white woman in a sparkling jacket smiles at a raised phone as another woman laughs beside her
Women sit shoulder to shoulder with heads bent over their hands as henna is applied
Black and white frame of elders and a young man in glasses gathered around a white block during the pooja
Black and white close portrait of the bride glancing off to the side, hair loose over one shoulder
Black and white man in glasses and a floral jacket beams beside the bride, who laughs with him
The bride looks down with a wide smile in pink and green, an emerald necklace and henna on her hands
Black and white frame of Ramit and Arushi looking at each other and smiling, he in a textured waistcoat
A man in a navy suit stands beside the garlanded couple against a pink curtain as Arushi bursts into laughter
The bride smiles softly in front of hanging paper kites in pink, orange and blue
Three women sit and smile together during the mehendi, one in a pink and green outfit
Black and white pair: a man in a floral jacket, and a woman with palms pressed together in greeting
A woman in a striped top laughs behind her hand while a stylist works in the mirror
A woman with long dark hair smiles down in a pink outfit trimmed in green
A woman in a pink lehenga smiles wide with colorful paper hangings glowing behind her
A man with a white cloth on his head kneels while an elder woman in a pale outfit watches
Two open palms painted with round mehendi circles, flower garlands resting below
Gold high heels rest on a ledge against a wall of deep blue tiles
A pink lehenga with a green border hangs on a hanger against a green hedge wall
Close view of a pink lehenga with green triangle motifs and gold tassels, mirror work catching the light
The groom sits on a yellow mattress in a red garland and olive jacket before the pink Ganesha backdrop
The bride in a pink and green outfit stands among hanging paper kites, looking down at her henna
Two frames of Ramit and Arushi among paper kites in pink, orange and blue, her hands folded, his arms crossed
A row of seven women in colourful outfits stand close and laugh in front of yellow garlands
A man in yellow and a woman in pink stand cheek to cheek as another woman peeks in behind
Seven women make heart shapes with their hands in front of hanging paper kites
A woman in a pink and green embroidered outfit smiles softly, her long hair falling over one shoulder
Ramit in a red flower garland sits close to Arushi, both smiling in a warm moment together

What is a black light party?

A party lit with ultraviolet lamps instead of ordinary lights. The lamps give off mostly ultraviolet light, which the eye cannot see, and a faint violet glow. White fabric, neon paint and anything fluorescent absorbs the ultraviolet and gives it back as bright colour, so it seems to glow on its own while the rest of the room stays dark.

How do you photograph a black light party?

In two parts. On the night: use a camera that is strong in low light, focus with the centre point, stand where some light falls on your subject, and bounce a little flash off the surroundings instead of firing it at people. In the edit: work on the people and the background separately, keeping faces clear and bringing out the glowing colours behind them.

Do you photograph NRI weddings in India?

Yes. Ramit and Arushi flew in from the USA to marry in Lucknow. How we work with NRI couples.

Place
Ramada Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Couple
Ramit and Arushi, who live in the USA
Pre-wedding shoot
Bangalore
In this part
A black light welcome party, the haldi and the mehendi

Part two: the sangeet and the wedding

Continue to part two: the engagement, the sangeet and the wedding. If you are planning a wedding in India from abroad, tell us your date and city, and we will let you know if we are free.

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