Some of Sri Lanka's leading photographers talk about their approaches to wedding photography, with candid photography taking centre stage.
Written By Zainab Faizal
You walk down the aisle in your stunning dress, and exchange vows with your incredibly dashing husband to be, and after all the fun and glamour you want to ensure that you document your special day.
Even ten years from the wedding day, your children, and generations to come can stare in awe at the priceless moments captured. This is where photographers come in.
“(2016) is all about candid photography.
Long gone are the days where you make
the clients pose in the most un-naturalistic ways,
which doesn’t only bring out a negative vibe
but also end up making the clients
very uncomfortable on the day
they are supposed to enjoy the most.
It’s all about more natural moments.
What a client needs to keep in mind
before picking out their photographer
is if their style of work match the clients,
and how they relate to their work
– if they would cater to every need of the client's
and finally the price.”
- Hemant Dadlani,
owner, The Banquet Company
We had the privilege of conversing with Sri Lanka’s award winning photographers, who devote their time and energy to make sure that you end up with your very own, personalised "Picture Perfect Memories".
1. Weddings by Fluke
Meet Malaka & Ruvin, two of the finest photographers you’d find in Sri Lanka. They offer some incredibly attractive packages and their very own unique way of getting things done.
“To start with, we offer a very flexible service keeping in mind how clients would have different needs and thus catering to all the client needs. It’s very candid styled photography, which is pretty much the most popular and highly anticipated. What makes us stand out is that we cover everything, and instead of being all over the place we're pretty non intrusive. We like to practise how to ghost a wedding, therefore at the end of the day we’ve got all your precious moments captured without being a hindrance on your wedding day, and yes we do not ‘create’ moments”
– Ruvin
Weddings by Fluke focuses on different packages to suit your needs - from the full wedding package, inclusive of a pre wedding shoot, to simply the main event, and even mini gatherings.
Price range: LKR 50,000 upwards
Contact number: Malaka – 0772 660 045 Ruvin – 0777 218 757
2. Dylan Seedin Photography
Say hello to Dylan himself, an international award winning and an exceedingly enthusiastic photographer who doesn’t only cover weddings within Sri Lanka, but also elsewhere. So if you’re planning a destination wedding, you’d know exactly who to call up. P.S – He’s also done a couple of celebrity, super model wedding shoots! (How cool is that?)
“Basically what I like to bring into my photography is the artistic look of it, we shoot differently where we focus on even the tiny details of what made them fall in love, what are their passions and if they are an outgoing couple, we try to associate with that look. We don’t have a standard format; we focus on studying the client and depict their lives through the means of a photograph. I’m also specialised in different genres, jewellery, fashion and I like to bring that element in, with being more detail oriented. I also travel around the world to shoot weddings, Italy, Munich, London and even Hawaii, our main goal is to not be a burden to the couple but work around them”
– Dylan
Dylan Seeding Photography offers a straightforward package, which is an all in one deal.
Price range: LKR 240,000 upwards
Contact number: 077 714 5493
3. Dimitri Crusz
Meet Dimitri, who’d even make the most uncomfortable feel confident enough to face the camera and strike a pose!
“Most of my clients are through referrals and recommendations of previous successful weddings I’ve done. We don’t tend to advertise much and the reason I focus on a niche client base is to ensure that I focus on a single wedding per day with a maximum of 2, to ensure high quality and to be there throughout. People enjoy my creativity, and the way I customise and create unique albums with no repetition or set templates. Before the shoot, I usually talk to the clients and have a quiet chat about important details. Therefore I have a look and feel of it.”
– Dimitri
Price range: LKR 150,000 upwards
Contact number: 0777 395 799
4. Dhanush De Costa Studios
Dhanush is a renowned wedding and commercial wedding photographer, who’d make your dreams come true! He operates under his company titled 'Foto Cube'.
“The team at The Foto Cube prides themselves on being a bunch of young minds creating the classic, innovative, fun, real and artistic. There is a lot going on. Running a client-friendly, service oriented business; The Foto Cube believes that great creativity often is the result of team effort and values working closely with their clients.
The team brings expertise in many types of photography which includes (but in no way limited to); Fashion, Landscape, Wildlife, Aerial, Action, Architectural, Concert, Macro, Medical, Events, Food, Travel, Street, Nude, Underwater, Advertising, Stock and Wedding.”
– Dhanush
Price range: LKR 50,000 upwards
Contact number: 0777 880224
5. Vinu Perera Photography (Pop up Studio)
A fantastic photographer behind the coolest Pop up Studio in town!
“We are extremely client friendly, and we do our very own planning and want to accommodate everything. I make sure, on the day of the wedding, we have a highly skilled technician on board in case of any mishaps and to ensure everything is running smoothly. We use professional DSLR whereas others might not use the same cameras and this may compromise the quality. The prints are laminated and we print instantly on high resolution, which is far more durable and lasts longer. We strive for high customer satisfaction, with friendly service.”
– Vinu
Vinu Perera Photography has a range of different packages to choose from, depending on the number of prints.
Price range: LKR 15, 000 upwards
Contact number: 077 415 6402
6. Cloud Attic
Cloud Attic, another favourite, are also called “the Ninjas” according to the reviews due to their flexible way of working and being non intrusive during the event.
“I think in terms of how we shoot, we focus on different styles and we're definitely into candid photography, we like to stay out of the couple's way, making them feel less stressful and yet give them our best."
– Cloud Attic
Although Cloud Attic doesn’t do wedding videography, they most certainly cater to every other need and if you wish to have a video, they help you out in picking the right person.
Price range: LKR 100, 000 upwards
Contact number: 0715 353 282
7. Geeshan Bandara Photography
Geeshan is another “fearless” international award winning photographer, who is into documentary styled weddings and wedding journalism.
“We primarily focus on documentary style and wedding journalism, especially since I’m equipped with a degree in photography journalism. We let them be themselves, and we combine that with creativity, dramatic pictures and tailor it to the needs of the client. I also focus on destination weddings, specialising on wedding pre shoots and also shoots for “trash the dress” which isn’t yet popular in the Sri Lankan context.”
– Geeshan
Geeshan Bandara Photography has a range of packages, from the digital files to destination weddings to extreme and large magazine/ coffee tabled styled albums as well as customised rates.
Price range: LKR 110, 000 upwards
Contact number: 011 4 342385
8. Dhammika De Alwis
Dhammika is commended for his brilliant photography and also has a lot more to offer!
“We capture mostly natural shots, mainly focusing on candid styled photography, I like to take my picture in an amber coloured light and focus on night shots.”
– Dhammika
Price range: LKR 155, 000
Contact number: 0777 388857
