It’s not every day that I dive into a pre-wedding shoot or couple session. I used to do them all the time and absolutely loved the freedom: no rules, no pressure for back-to-back sunrise and sunset shots. But somewhere along the way, everywhere I saw the shoots started looking the same—everyone chasing the same sunset, the same beach, the same poses. No one was letting their personalities, stories, or emotions shine through.
So I made a pact with myself: I’d only shoot with couples who wanted a session that was truly theirs.
We picked an off-beat location outside Pune a friend’s sprawling property called The Rustic Raanmala and the day couldn’t have been more perfect. A few clouds flirted with the sun, but that only made the light more magical. Vedali is actually Aditya’s cousin, having photographed at least 10 functions including weddings in their family , I knew this would feel like a big reunion and absolute fun!
Of course, nothing is ever too smooth: I accidentally blurted out to Vedali that Aditya’s younger brother Amog, was expecting a baby and later we missed our exit on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway. Picture us blocking traffic, making a U-turn, and turning red-faced into fits of laughter. From “oops” to “absolutely hilarious” in 60 seconds.
Once we finally reached the property, we roamed everywhere—by a quiet lake, up winding country roads, and even through a sunlit banana plantation that felt straight out of a movie. Their friend Dhruva popped in for cameos, making the day feel like a joyful hike with good pals rather than a photo session. We laughed as Vedali very comfortably picked up Deven and Deven did give her a piggy back ride somehow managing now to fall. Let’s not forget the tickle bombs that happened around in between.
The best surprise? We met a beautiful horse, a gift from Keshav to a friend—welcome to one of the “wow” moment of the shoot! (Psst… check out Nishigandha & Keshav’s wedding gallery here.)
Huge shoutout to Vedali and Deven for putting your story first, bringing endless fun, and refusing to blend into the sea of generic pre-wedding photos. Your shoot was as unique as you are. I’ll share their wedding and sangeet photos soon—until then, enjoy this ride.
Location – The Rustic Raanmala
Here’s a selection of images from their carefree, laughter-filled pre-wedding shoot.
