My very technical aspect of prepping for a Photo Shoot

Biceps is very useful.
He can open jars.
He carries heavy things.
He eats my leftovers.
He intimidates bad people.

And he stands in for me when I am prepping for a photo shoot.
Although, he gives me lots of sass while he is helping me.

Underneath this seemingly quite demeanor, an insubordinate man lives.
I had to request a little less spice in my monitor. (Spinal Tap reference.)

Even amidst his disruptive behavior, Biceps was able to help me prepare for this photo shoot which ran with my article in This Land Press.
I guess I need to add ‘Standing In’ to Bicep’s list of helpful attributes. But, I should make a notation of possible sass overload while he is doing so-just to be prepared.

An Indian Ceremony

The two preparations that I was asked to photograph-
The Henna Ritual and An Indian Engagement, preceded this day which I have deemed, ‘The Indian Ceremony’.
I am sure there are fancier names, but since I am drinking red wine out of a plastic cup and lounging in a hotel room-I ain’t feelin’ too classy.
However, the bride-to-be that I was photographing was the epitome of class.

Let me catch you up: The exquisite bride-to-be was escorted to her waiting future husband, surrounded by family, shrouded from harm.

As she and her entourage entered the expectant ballroom-cheers erupted, cameras flashed and children ran willy nilly with excitement.

The couple sat on their designated thrones; available for photographs-all the while smiling for the better part of an hour.

I do believe she’s had enough.

And then the ‘blessings’ for the couple began.

Money was gifted, flower necklaces adorned their necks, more pictures taken, tummy’s were growling…

I think we were all ready for the buffet at this point. Some of us, more than others….

The Henna Ritual

The night before the Indian Engagement Party, I was invited to photograph the bride-to-be’s side of the family during a traditional henna application ritual. They are a wonderfully spicy bunch of people that welcomed me with open arms.

Some of the ladies applied the henna to themselves; decorating both sides of their hands with intricate designs.

When they offered to decorate my hands, I was very tempted. But, how do you recommend I photograph with this stuff all over me?

The future bride was ‘tsk-ed’ by the elders when she moved around as her special ‘wedding’ henna was being applied by a cousin. Naughty, antsy girl.

The whole family stayed up until the wee hours of the morning talking over all the details of the engagement party happening the next day. Some got cranky….

Some passed out…
And me? Well, I got cranky and then I passed out. Finally, I went home at about 1 am and settled in for a long winter’s nap.

The next day, amidst the make-up application and the intricate outfit preparation, the bride-to-be was exquisitely beautiful and appeared calm. (see for yourself-An Indian Engagement).

However, I looked like death warmed over due to lack of sleep…but no one was looking at me. That was a blessed relief.

An Indian Engagement

Other than watching a few Bollywood movies, my knowledge of the Indian culture is slim. I know I like the food, the hookah and the nose rings. And that’s about all that I know.
Recently, I had been invited to photograph the engagement ceremony for one young Indian couple.
The experience left me wanting more of my family in my own life.

Americans are independent and proud of it; to a point of loneliness and depression.

This bride-to-be’s family was ‘all up in her business’. They were a part of the entire ceremony-from decorating the ballroom, to dressing her, to planning and organizing the event and pretty much anything else a family member could do to make her day special.

Her mother and her aunt literally spent hours putting her veil on in just the right way. These women were very patient…even when the men begin calling every five minutes to say the guests were hungry.
Men.

The bride-to-be wears an intricately decorated scarlet dress to the engagement party-as traditional as our white dresses on our wedding day. She looked like a foreign queen.
I want to be a foreign queen.

She was then escorted into the ballroom, surrounded by her family and protected from anything that might ruin her day.
I can’t wait to see what the families will come up with for the actual wedding a year from now.
It’s going to be quite the party…and I love parties….

(There are two more series along with this shoot: a Henna Ritual and the Indian Ceremony)