This Oakland Mehndi Party is a special one. Katya is one of my most wonderful people and friends from Cal and I adore her to all ends of the world. She’s vibrant, exceedingly kind, lots of fun, a total bad ass (awesome climber, etc etc), and also working to save the world (literally: her research is/was on solving water issues in exceptionally poor parts of India). Her being with Sanjay and now being married to Sanjay is the best: he’s becoming a doctor AND a lawyer so he too can save the world (I don’t use that phrase lightly) and yet for somebody so accomplished he’s honestly one of the sweetest, kindest, and most relaxed people, always thinking of others. Soft spoken, but also v funny. They are an absolutely excellent pair. <3

Anyways, in 2009, her older sister’s wedding was the first wedding I ever photographed under my own name. It was an honor then and it’s still so much fun to see them, with a baby now, too! It felt like such a full circle moment to photograph Katya’s wedding and hang out with her family again. I was here as the photographer, but also as a friend, so these images are a little more personal in nature than some (there’s a snap at the end of my own hand, with the henna that I meticulously protected for the following two weeks, haha).

Anyways, I’m rambling because I love them and I am so excited for you to see these snaps! xx
Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com
Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com Katya and Sanjay's Oakland Mehendi Party, Indian Wedding Photographer // SimoneAnne.com