There were hundreds of moments throughout my visit to India that led up to this one. But it happens to be one of my favorite captured. This was after the final blessing of the last ceremony of the wedding. The bride, Natasha, is receiving what are obviously loving words from her now mother-in-law.
People keep asking me: “How was India?” My response is usually “India was great” or “India was amazing…a lot of fun.” Of course it was all so much more than that, so this response is trite and incomplete. What I should say is: “Do you have a hour? I’d love to tell you how India was.” But who has an hour anymore? We all move so quickly through life and are constantly distracted by our modern technological wonders and social media needs. I am no exception, of course. As I write this, lap top on my lap, TV on and iPhone alerting me to Facebook notifications, I am well aware that I am as deep in the rabbit hole as the rest of you. However, India gave me pause. I believe I checked my email three times in 17 days (thank you Amber, the best studio manager in the world, for returning work emails). I rarely logged on to Facebook and even more rarely looked at a television. What I did do was actually talk to my friends, make new friends, participate in prayer services for loved ones passed, learn a lot about different religions, cultures, ate new foods, read a book (a real live book), celebrated love, learned to practice patience and generally just paid more attention to life. Oh yeah, I also took a TON of photos. Before I actually start to wax poetically about India, I’ll stop. I just wanted to check-in, say hello and let you know that there are tons and tons of photos coming your way.
I hope you are all happy, well and enjoying the holiday season.
Smash
My sentiments exactly. We talked. We ate. We laughed. We lived, *really* lived that experience. I’m so thankful I got to share it with you.
❤
So beautifully said Ashley.
what a lovely entry Ash. I can’t wait to hear all about it.
When can we do that?
I hear you. I love India for how grounded she makes me. Unfortunately I come back home and I get back into the materialistic grind.
Attending those weddings are alone tough and stressful for me. To stay up with the bride/groom (who are usually part of my immediate family) I have to push or get pushed. I would like to know your thoughts on photographing a wedding in India.