The Ceremony
The main room is big, with a stage at the front. The priest was already there when I arrived, laying everything out. I set up my two Godox AD200s while he worked, and we mostly stayed out of each other's way.
Then Glenda and Bharat walked in, her henna, the jewelry, the color of everything against that gold and red backdrop. I've shot a lot of weddings in Tampa and I hadn't seen anything like it.
They exchanged garlands, and there's a part where they dodge each other as they try to put them on, which had everyone laughing. They fed each other. Incense went up. People threw rose petals. Offerings went into a pot at the center. They kissed the priest's feet.
Then we moved to another part of the temple. Everyone's shoes came off. They bowed to the statues, made offerings of food, and Glenda's mom rang the bell. It was quieter in there, and it was probably my favorite part of the day.
Portraits
We shot on the temple steps afterward, then moved into regular portraits. It was hot. I was in all black and I was cooking, and I couldn't imagine what they were dealing with in full ceremonial dress.
My favorite frame from the whole day is the two of them kissing in front of the temple. Wide angle, low, with flash. The building goes up behind them and it just works. The other one I keep coming back to is them in the Bentley afterward, wide and cropped low.
Shooting at the Hindu Temple of Tampa
If you're a photographer working here for the first time, a few things worth knowing.
Be respectful first and a photographer second. They were strict about where I could stand, especially early on, and they were right to be. This is a place of worship before it's a venue.
Shoes come off in the inner temple.
The ceilings are high and there are chandeliers, so plan your lighting for that. I ran two AD200 Pro IIs and they handled the room fine, though I'd bounce them or throw a diffuser on next time to soften the shadows.
Outside, the light is brutal. I pulled them into shade for the portraits, and I still lost a few frames to overexposure. Learn from me.
Hindu wedding photography in Tampa Bay
I shoot candid. I document what happens instead of directing it, which means my job at a ceremony like this is mostly to know when to be invisible.
If you're planning a Hindu or fusion wedding in Tampa, St. Petersburg, or Clearwater, send me your date and tell me what you've got in mind. I'll tell you straight if I'm the right fit.
