South Indian Wedding Photographer in New York City
Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayali weddings across New York City and Long Island, planned around early Muhurtham times, temple customs and city logistics.
South Indian weddings in New York bring together ritual, family and an early start. The Muhurtham, the auspicious time your priest sets for the ceremony, often falls in the morning, and every part of the day is built around it. As a South Indian wedding photographer in NYC, we plan the light, the travel and the timing so that each ritual is covered properly, whether you marry in Queens, Manhattan or on Long Island.
Community landmarks in New York
For many Tamil and Telugu families in the region, the Hindu Temple Society of North America, the Ganesh Temple on Bowne Street in Flushing, is a familiar landmark and a center of community life. Along Hillside Avenue in Bellerose and Floral Park, and in nearby Long Island towns such as New Hyde Park, there is a large Malayali community with both Hindu and Christian families. Telugu, Tamil and Kannada families live across Queens and Nassau County too. Ceremonies may take place in temple halls, banquet halls or hotel ballrooms, and wherever they happen we follow the priest’s and the venue’s guidance on where we stand and when flash is appropriate.
Early Muhurtham in the city
An early Muhurtham in New York means the bride’s getting-ready coverage can start before dawn, with the silk saree, jewelry and flowers in the hair all taking time. In Manhattan, that also means confirming early access to the hotel ballroom and the freight elevator with the hotel, and traveling before the morning rush. From our studio in New York, Queens and Nassau venues are close, which helps with very early starts, and for Manhattan we plan the route the night before.
Tamil weddings
A Tamil wedding may include the Vratham and Nichayathartham before the day, then the Kashi Yatra, where the groom sets off for a life of study until the bride’s father persuades him to marry, the Maalai Maatral garland exchange, and the Oonjal, with the couple on a swing while relatives sing and circle them with colored rice balls. The Kanyadaanam leads to the Thaali tying at the Muhurtham, with the nadaswaram and drums playing, then the Saptapadi. The Nalangu games afterwards are some of the most relaxed photos of the day.
Telugu weddings
Telugu weddings often include the Pellikuthuru and Pellikoduku ceremonies in the days before. On the wedding day there is the Kashi Yatra, the bride brought to the mandap by her maternal uncles in a decorated basket, and a cloth screen between the couple that is lowered at the Muhurtham as they place Jeelakarra Bellam on each other’s heads. The Mangalsutra, the joyful Talambralu and the Saptapadi follow.
Kannada and Malayali weddings
Kannada weddings share the Kashi Yatre and Mangalsutra with their own customs. Malayali Hindu ceremonies are short and focused around the Thaali tying, so we position ourselves well before it begins. Kerala Christian weddings center on the Minnu tying in church, often followed by a lively reception.
Fusion weekends
Many New York couples pair a South Indian ceremony with a North Indian Sangeet, an American ceremony or a skyline reception for friends. We cover multi-day weddings that blend Indian and American events, and adjust our coverage for each. See Indian wedding photography in New York City and Indian wedding videography.
Where we work
We cover South Indian weddings in Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island and across Long Island. Read the full South Indian wedding photography page, and contact us with your Muhurtham date.
Photos South Indian families often ask for
With the priest
A portrait of the couple with the priest who married them, taken once the rituals are complete.
The Thaali close up
A clear frame of the Thaali or Mangalsutra just after it is tied, before the crowd closes in.
The Oonjal from above
The swing, the circling rice balls and the singing relatives, shot from a raised angle so the whole pattern shows.
Siblings at the Kashi Yatra
The bride’s brother or father persuading the groom to stay is a moment families love to see again.
Grandparents’ blessing
Elders placing their hands on the couple’s heads, framed so their faces are in view.
Temples and places near South Indian families in New York City
Queens is home to many South Indian families and long-established temples. Some of these places ask for a permit or a fee for professional sessions; we check the current rules before we book a time.
Hindu Temple Society of North America, Flushing
Google MapsThe Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devasthanam, one of the oldest Hindu temples in the country, with a traditional South Indian design. Temples set their own rules for photography, which we confirm before the day.
Queens Botanical Garden
Google MapsGardens a short walk from the temple, good for portraits after the ceremony.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Google MapsThe Unisphere and open lawns for family groups and couple portraits.
Gantry Plaza State Park
Google MapsSkyline views in Long Island City for an evening session.
Morning silk and an evening reception
Two looks in one day often means two different kinds of photograph.
The ceremony look
Kanjeevaram or kasavu silk, temple jewelry and flowers, photographed in the mixed light of a hall.
- Rich color and gold zari to bring out
- Close-ups of jewelry and flowers
- Portraits kept near the mandap
The reception look
Often a lighter saree, a lehenga or a gown, with a suit or sherwani for the groom.
- Time for portraits outdoors or with the city at night
- More movement and dancing
- Stage and DJ lighting to work with
From ceremony morning to city evening
What Couples Say About Working With Jay’s Team
In their own words on Google: four-day weddings, Diwali parties, anniversaries and more.
A Virk
From start to finish, Jay and his entire team made our wedding experience effortless, joyful, and incredibly special. We had a four-day wedding celebration with a mix of Indian and American events, and somehow they captured everything, every emotion, every ritual, every candid moment, without ever feeling intrusive or stressful. Jay is not only an insanely talented photographer, but also a calm, organized, and reassuring presence. His team kept everything running smoothly, helped guide us when needed, and truly understood the flow and importance of both cultures. From Punjabi ceremonies to the American wedding events, they knew exactly what moments mattered and how to document them beautifully. What stood out most was how easy they made the entire process. During a long, multi-day wedding, that peace of mind is priceless. If you are looking for a photography team that is professional, culturally fluent, incredibly hardworking, and genuinely invested in your experience, I cannot recommend Verma Photography enough. We would choose them again in a heartbeat and recommend them to anyone and everyone.
Naresh Kumar
We recently had the pleasure of booking Verma Photography for our anniversary, and we couldn't be happier with the results! From start to finish, the team was professional, friendly, and attentive to every detail. They captured every moment beautifully, from the candid smiles to the emotional vows, with a perfect mix of traditional and creative angles. We highly recommend Verma Photography & Videography for anyone looking to capture their wedding day in a truly stunning way and look forward to working with them again soon!
Rahual Kumar
I recently booked Verma photography for my brother's wedding. Jay and his team were beyond amazing and so easy to work with. They were very professional and the photos/videos were delivered on time with such great attention to detail. Would recommend Jay and his team to anyone for top quality service
Saajan Shah
When you work with Verma Photography, you don't just get amazing photos and videos to remember your events by. You also have a lot of fun and feel valued as a client. We hired Verma Photography for our destination wedding and we had a wonderful time working with them. They all were kind and professional, they kept us smiling and laughing throughout the whole weekend, they were respectful of our time and our schedule, and they interacted very well with our guests and vendors. They understand that it isn't just about the photos and videos, but also being able to read the clients' needs, energy, comfort level, and vision. Leading up to our wedding, they took the time to understand what our vision was. They showed great enthusiasm and professionalism from start to finish. They were always prepared and on time, and they handled challenges very well. The entire Verma Photography team works really hard while striving to give the best results. We enjoyed working with them, we loved the photos and videos they delivered, and we know we'll be looking to hire them again in the future. The entire experience that we had working with Verma Photography exceeded our expectations and we highly recommend them for any of your photo and video needs!
Check your date with us
Tell us your dates, events and venues, and we will come back with availability and coverage built around your celebration.