From being primarily a responsibility to being celebrated as a gala fun-filled festive affair – marriages have come a long way. And just as the fun quotient and glamour associated with a wedding has gained predominance, so has the importance of covering every aspect in an equally splendorous manner. Gone are the days when the single neighbourhood photographer covered the entire wedding, stuffed the snaps into an album and charged a few thousand… thanks to the likes of Ramana, wedding photography and videography is today a form of art, a masterpiece that the couple can cherish for eternity. Hyderabad, Washington DC, and now Vizag, V V Ramana brings Villart – a designer photography studio to the denizens of Vizag. Yo! Vizag interacts with the camera-artist.
A big fat Indian wedding: that’s actually a programme of NDTV and an acknowledgment of the fact that when it comes to a wedding, people are ready to spend. Like for instance how much would one generally set aside for the photographer and videographer – the individuals who will capture and help you preserve all those moments of joy and togetherness for a lifetime? Ten thousand, one lakh, ten lakh or even more…. Well, if you are planning a ‘big FAT wedding’ in these parts then it’s invariably Villart that would get the call; but, what makes him special and a cut above the rest? According to his many satisfied customers… his penchant for getting that out-of-this-world snaps, his willingness to experiment and create not just an album but a memento that truly captures the wonder and beauty of the wedding, his ‘burning need to showcase the subjects in the most beautiful manner’ and his fastidious dedication to quality.
And how can one ignore the fact that he has even used a ‘Strada’ – a 90-feet crane that was used to shoot films like ‘Magadheera’ and ‘Dhoom 3’, the tallest crane in entire Asia, to capture a real-life saga in the making – a strada to cover a wedding! “The magnificence of the wedding captured through this (the strada) is an out of the world experience and the couples marvel at the resulting birds’ eye views and breathtaking cinematography,” explained V V Ramana of Villart Photography. Which just goes to prove that he takes on a no-holds-barred approach when it comes to doing justice to the magnificent wedding. In the midst of his busy schedule, he shares a bit with Yo! Vizag.
Q. Your first experience with the camera/how did you zero upon wedding photography?
Actually, I enjoy shooting pictures of kids and taking fashion shoots, but there is a limited market and it is a low budget enterprise. On the other hand, though people are ready and willing to spend a lot of money for a wedding, the available choice of photographers back then was of low standard and mediocre quality. I took a headlong approach: plunged into this field and raised the bar – I took wedding photography to the next level. Initially, I was just filling the gap – between the lack of quality and the want of customers who were willing to pay for better quality and an out-of-the-box approach to a once-in-a-lifetime event. Consequently, we became one of the leading photographers in India now.
Q. What has been the most challenging part in your line of work?
These days, owning a DSLR camera is as common as owning a smartphone While the camera can give you good pictures, generally out of about a 1000 only a few photos will be good. On the other hand, when a professional from Villart clicks with the same camera, then out of approximately 1000 more than 900 photos will be very good. Ignorant about such differences, clients unsuspectingly hire mediocre photographers and face disappointment when they are not satisfied with the end result. After all, once an event is over, it cannot be recaptured. Convincing such clients and making them realise the importance of hiring a skilled professional is a big challenge. Secondly, matching the high expectations that the clients set with us becomes our next challenge.
Q. Why Vizag?
The main reason for selecting this city was to connect my team with clients in the city. When I decided to set up a studio in Andhra Pradesh, I preferred Vizag because for one I am acquainted with the city, having been born in East Godavari. It has its own unique charisma and after three years of research, I am happy to set up my studio here. Plus I always have clients from this city. Unlike before, when I got my team and equipment here, I now have everything set in place now in Vizag.
Q. Your preferred camera!
Currently, we are using a Sony and a Hasselblad, the world’s finest camera worth Rs.40 lakh. The Sony is used for covering the wedding itself, and the Hasselblad is used mainly for portraits, and some pre and post wedding events.
Q. Can you elaborate on the changing trends in Indian weddings?
About a decade ago, charging Rs. 1 lakh for a wedding shoot was frowned upon. But today it is a different ball game altogether where capturing a wedding is equal to telling the story of the couple, their journey together in a creative manner. Even as this is done, we ensure that the true essence of the wedding tradition is not lost. Today people are willing to pay a lot more for a lifetime of memories captured in videos and photographs. Even the wedding albums are extravagant and specialised. Now we have the concept of Italian wedding albums that are studded with Swarovski diamonds.
Q. Any tips and suggestions for photo enthusiasts in the city!
You need to have excellent skills when it comes to wedding photography. You get just one opportunity to capture that perfect shot and you need to be able to capture it right, there are no retakes.
Q. Your opinion regarding the current wild trend of selfies and snaps of everything happening around?
Today’s social networking world is influencing the photography industry, no doubt. And we definitely accept the change as we are a part of this changing scenario too. But a photographer’s essence should not be judged based on that. It is the man behind the camera that matters, not the camera itself.
“It is the man behind the camera that matters, not the camera itself.”
The studio
Located on the fifth floor, Villart studios has a beautiful view of both the cityside and the seaside. Tastefully decorated interiors reflect the eclectic taste of the man to whom it belongs and are at once inviting and imposing. The memorabilia and his collection of vintage cameras are inspiring and contains legends of present and past years. There is the camera that has captured the movies of Sir Charlie Chaplin. Beat that!! Then there is the Hasselblade, which is a camera-marvel whose images can be blown up to 100 ft without compromising clarity. Get past this and you shall see a comfortable office and a well-appointed equipment room. The studio where the work happens is flooded with natural light and impresses us with genius of lighting and equipment. The studio is state-of-art and modern and a pride to the city.
The works
V V Ramana has all the goods to deliver masterpieces in wedding photoshoots, themed shoots, portfolios as well as captivating candids. Sony 7R is V V Ramana’s choice but they are soon upgrading to Sony 9R. Villart has won international awards for three of their albums and one of them is a wedding album. Apart from this, they hold photo expos every year, broadcasts and stalls for photography lovers. The works are professionally through and through.
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