Lensmen get a bigger slice of pie

Marriage is an important part of life! It’s a partnership one forms and it’s a companion one chooses for the rest of their lives. Someone who helps you, who supports you and vice versa. But how we “look” at marriage in India is very important.

 Marriage is one occasion where people don’t think twice before splurging. They are lavish to the core and use it as an opportunity to ‘show-off’. 

Even rising costs and a slowing economy haven’t darkened the mood of weddings in India. More than ever, couples are willing to spend thousands of rupees on photo albums, pre-wedding shoots and videos, allowing photographers to take a bigger slice of India’s billion dollar weddings business.

People are willing to spend more money now compared to what they were spending few years back but only after a stiff bargain! It has somewhat become a status symbol now to spend money and have good pictures and ‘wedding documentary’.

Anshul Paul, who recently got married was very clear that he doesn’t want any regular stuff for his D-day. Talking to Metrolife, he shares, “I always wanted a wedding documentary and not a regular video. I briefed the production house that I wanted my VO in the background too. Although it was a bit expensive, once I saw the final product I was really satisfied. I was also sure about the kind of a decor I wanted. So, for the big day I had the Mughal-e-Azam theme with gold walls, lanterns, beautiful flowers and LED screens all over the venue.”

Nowadays, people are increasingly hiring wedding film makers and photographers who can capture the essence of their weddings through candid shots. Brides and grooms are sure of what they want and also what kind of shoot they want. 

Jhumki Dutta, who just had her engagement shot and is also looking forward for the wedding next month, says, “I was quite clear from the beginning that I only wanted stills and not videos as I find them more appealing. So, that is why I asked one of my friends to arrange someone for the shoot and the result was just amazing. These photographs are not ‘made-up’ and are natural unlike pictures taken four-five years back. They customised things according to me and also adjusted a bit in terms of money because I knew them.”

If on one hand, brides and grooms are happy to see their ‘wow pictures’, people shooting them have a tough time explaining them the budget. Saurabh Mallik, director business development of MADReels Films, says, “The toughest part is to convince the bride’s or the groom’s parents about the budget. They will spend on frivolous things like inviting celebs to dance and sand artists but not on a wedding documentary. They don’t understand that their grandchildren can see the video even after 10-20 years, but won’t remember who a Shahrukh Khan or Katrina Kaif is.”

This concept of wedding documentary is really popular abroad and is catching up in India. If people compromise on the cost them quality is also hampered. People also need to understand that hiring equipments is also a task. “If we hire HD cameras, equipment, lapel mikes, lights, etc, the cost is around 50,000 a day. Then, where is our profit? You see, to get the good things of life you have to spend more,” adds Saurabh.