When children will not smile for the camera
Shy toddlers, restless five-year-olds and teenagers who hate photos: what we do, and what parents can do to help.
Diwali family portraits: making the most of a festive session
Diyas, silk and evening light: how to plan a Diwali session, what to bring, and how we photograph lamplight without flash.
Our Diwali family sessions run from mid-October until 9 November, and many families book them every year as a record of how the children have grown. A festive session is a family portrait session, ₹6,500 for 60 minutes and 15 edited photos, styled for the season.
We set up a corner of the studio with brass lamps, clay diyas, marigold strings and a low wooden seat, and keep part of the room plain for simpler portraits. The diyas are real. Photographing them well means working with low light: we use a soft continuous lamp at a low level, a wide aperture and a steady camera, so the flames glow and faces stay warm, without a harsh flash that flattens everything. Children are kept a safe distance from the flames, and an assistant watches them throughout.
Wear what you would wear on Diwali evening. Silk sarees, pavadai, kurtas and sherwanis photograph beautifully, especially in deep colours like maroon, emerald, mustard and royal blue. Avoid outfits with large printed logos. If you bring a family heirloom, such as a grandmother’s brass lamp or a rangoli design you make every year, we will build a frame around it.
Sessions in the last week before Diwali fill quickly, so book by mid-October. If your online gallery is ready before the festival, there is still time to order a printed card or a framed print as a gift for grandparents. Allow ten days for prints.
