One of my favorite parts of being a photographer is knowing you are part of important family memories.  I recently had the privilege to photograph the Chebolu family.  Shamla and I met before the photos to discuss her vision and brainstorm ideas for the photos shoot.  She is such a hospitable lady!  We had tea and snacks as she showed me her prized family portraits. 

Her great grandparents were an integral part in India’s freedom fight from the British.  He was a rich successful lawyer, who was inspired by the likes of Andrew Carnegie and the Rockefeller Family.  After meeting Mahatma Gandhi, Shamla’s great grandfather decided to give all his wealth away to charitable causes and participate in the freedom movement.  Shamla’s has a book which features his story and includes a very stoic photo of him and his wife.  How exciting! 

Therefore we decided to re-enact the photo with Shamla and her husband Venkat as a tribute to her ancestors.  We also re-enacted the pose and style of her parents wedding photo.  I particularly enjoyed the personal attention I was able to integrate into the Chebolu Famliy photos and I know they will cherish their images for many years to come.  They may even become the photos that daughters Vela and Esha show to their children and grandchildren someday.  That thought continues to inspire me as a photographer.