FAVORITES FROM THE PAST YEAR...

CONTINUED FROM THE LAST POST....

Back to Lindsay & Dave, I also have some fave's from their wedding day. While I unfortunately

can't say the same weather wise for

the big day, we were able to get some

beautiful shots. It was so humid, so

cloudy...but we got creative with the reflector and flash. This first one is of Lindsay being walked down the aisle

with her dad. She passed by me and I saw her train and the contrast of the black and white and snapped away.

The next picture...I dont know what to say about it other than I love its old world charm. Its not the best lighting wise, in my opinion, but thats okay. I think it works well for this picture. It looks like an old vintage picture with the heady flash and the white washout and the champagne bottle.

This picture was "interesting". It was right after the ceremony and we had to hurry up because

they had to make their entrance into the hall. It was such a gloomy and humid day, the sky was about to tear into a thunderstorm, but I had my cousin Tanvi (who is also a photographer) hold the flash to set up a "fake" sunlight glow on them. Post editing - we have this beautiful blue sky!
Finally they got to make their entrance after we rushed through their portrait shots, and the reception began at the Landsdowne Resort in Ashburn. I like this Father/Daughter dance picture because it is just so serene. Its a special moment captured and made simple by the lack of color, I think.

SANDRA & SANTIAGO I-SHOOT

I met Sandra through my cousin Harjeet and she referred me to her best friend for some engagement type photos. They were looking to get some done pre-wedding (which is in Mexico) and I said "Hey why not!" We were supposed to do them in DC during the Cherry Blossom festival, but with the huge crowds of people we chose Old Town Alexandria instead. This first picture was taken in the park and the sun light was falling on them softly. Such a beautiful spring picture!

This "Door" picture was FUN! We found this door in this old church park and the resulting picture occured. Sandra had these HOTT red shoes on and I couldn't resist. The brick...the

blue...and the two of them framed by the doorway = FAVORITE!

The following has become a signature where I have clients that ask me to take this type of picture for them. We tried this at Tej and Kivneets, but the outcome wasn't at edgy as this. Again, this is in an alley way, the outside wall of a garage right across from the Torpedo gallery...the sun was setting behind them and was filtered through this grimey alley creating a

cool image.

SUZY AND ASHWIN I-SHOOT

I have known Suzy for years and years and she asked me to take her engagement pictures.

She drove all the way down from NJ for these pictures and we got this beautiful image as the sun set. Ashwin and her were just messing around and she grabbed his jacket...i wanted her silhouetted against the beautiful sky...and here you have it.

HARLEEN & HARSHDEEP LUNCHEON

I dont know where to begin as to why this image is a favorite, but I can tell you its not just the lighting or the contrast of this image that wins me...its actually their story. She unfortunately lost her mother to cancer right when she was supposed to having a big wedding and reception.

She couldn't have one but because of her mothers last wish, she did get married in a very small

ceremony. A little while later she called me asking me to take pictures at a very small luncheon with just family - no dancing - no drinking, just each of the guests celebrating the couple and her mom. I was able to take them around a few spots in DC and this is one of my favorites.

SAMRAT & ANJU WEDDING & RECEPTION

Unfortunately for them, the day of the wedding it was pourrrring rain!! But as the dedicated photographers that we are, we braved the downpour and shot some great images...mind you, hiding under the building overhangs and covering the camera with my jacket. I was able to get really up close and personal with the horse and this picture of the horse peering out from under the traditional indian get-up speaks volumes.

Finally from this wedding is this Reception portrait. Anju has this brilliant smile that brightens her face. She was laughing at something we said, can't remember what, and here is the result.

BABY ADRIAN I-SHOOT

THIS little bundle of joy and cuteness was so much fun to shoot! He has the most beautiful blue eyes...the most expressive face...and so adorable! I LOVE baby shoots because of this little guy.

SILVIA & ORLANDO I-SHOOT

Silvia happens to be Baby Adrian's aunt. While I was taking Adrians photo shoot, his dad asked me if I would be available to do his sisters I-shoot as well. I was only happy to oblige. I got some fantastic shots at the National Harbor in MD. This is the sexiest picture by far of all the shoots I've done. They were all to happy to pose!

The next was taken while they were sitting on a bench overlooking the Harbor on a dock...again, another silhouette that I love!

Another ring picture! We are just getting more and more creative....I found this ball that lights when you bounce it and we placed the rings on top...took a little work to make sure the rings didn't fall off and get lost, but we got this pretty kaleidescope effect picture!

ALYSSA & ARJUN I-SHOOT

THIS was special for me because this is my dear friends children. We had been trying to get together to take some pictures of her kids for about a year and one thing after another happened. Once we DID get a chance to shoot, we got this sweet and innocent pictures. The first is of Alyssa, this beautiful girl with a beautiful smile and hair. She was giggling so much in this picture and you can't help but smile when you see this!

Number two is of Alyssa & Arjun goofing off. The most perfect brother/sister picture!

AAMINA & BASIT - XMAS WEEKEND, 2010

This was a culmination of the past two years. A favorite for sure! She is absolutely stunning...so my pictures with her ended up being so beautiful. First is the ring picture on her lengha...

Next is the ring picture as she is grabbing on to Basit's jacket. I love the sharpness and contrast of this B&W photo.

Here is a candid photo of Aamina. She was talking with her sister-in-law and was smiling. I bounced the light off the wall that she was facing - not up ahead...and i got this beautiful warm glow across her face. The next few are like that...i bounced the flash against the wall to get the magazine affect.

New Year...New Look...Looking into the past...

Hi all...Isha here! am proud to present our AISM Photography's new blog design. We had

launched our blog back in 2009 and never used it past June 2009 because the site was just so time-consuming. But luckily, this design seems to be in tune with the website. SO - I'm hoping

you guys like it.

In celebration of the new blog design, I thought why not post a few favorites of AISM's that

we've taken over the years with some fun tidbits about each wedding. Enjoy!

JIGAR & RACHNA - VALENTINE'S DAY, 2009

They choseValentine's Day as their wedding day, they truely seemed like a very romantic couple.I

realize this is back from 2009 - but this was one of the first that Sunny and I did after we formally became AISM Photography.

This one image of Rachna is a favorite of mine at least. The pure joy and exhiliration on her face shines through this picture. AND...the lighting is

GORGEOUS! We used our own umbrella lights as well, and this is the softness...natural...lighting of this picture. The composition of the lighting was something Sunny and I were so proud of....a great way to start our AISM Photography business.

TEJINDER & KIVNEET SUJLANA - JULY 2009

I have known Tej my whole life...since I was 7, I think.

We went to the same Gurdwara...we had classes in highschool together...our

birthdays are a week apart...he is one of my close friends. So it was a special honor to be able to shoot his wedding. I was so excited just to be able to attend his wedding, but the fact we were going to be able to shoot it also, made it

all the more fun.

We got the opportunity to do our first I-Shoot with them prior to the wedding. They were awesome! I think its because of Kivneet and Tej that I now LOVE LOVE LOVE doing I-shoots. We captured this image in Old Town Alexandria in some side street and had to keep jumping out of the way of cars. BUT they were so gung-ho about it!

I actually have a few favorites from this wedding...so here are the next few with some notes....

This picture was taken as she was getting ready in the morning. I've gottento know Kivneet

since the wedding and she has become a dear friend, since...but I had NO idea what she was like apart from the I-shoot we did. She was staring into the mirror as the makeup artist was doing her makeup...and someone made her laugh (not sure who) and out comes this beautiful

smile...and here is my FIRST favorite picture from the event.

Next is this beauty that we love to use for our advertisements. This is post wedding during the photo session we had. I dont even have to describe why I like it....you can just tell!This is what I call "The Bad-Assest Pic of all Bad-Ass Pics"....While it looks so easy going andawesome...it was one of the hardest pictures to put together. I know all these guys (I'm dating one of the groomsmen, my brother and my brother-in-law are also groomsmen)...and you would think they would listen right away. Not. At. All. The only ones who listened - Kivneet and Tej - but the end result was fantastic.

Finally, the reception. There is something about this picture that Sunny took - there is this beautiful movement..energy..and sweetness to this picture. While it focused primarily on her lengha (the skirt)...you can just see the thrill in Kivneet's face here.

I-SHOOTS....

So 2009 & 2010 was a year of I-shoots...we got to really hone our skills when it came to couple or individual pictures. Here are a just a snapshot of some favorites throughout the years....

Below is a shoot Sunny did with his friends Jasmine and Lovepreet...they were kind enough to model for us. When I saw this specific picture...I was immediately jealous of her hair! Lol! No

but seriously...the way her hair catches the light and you get this simple and soft image.

The next image is of the both of them...and its just such a candid moment caught at sunset. The composition of the picture...the backlight...the shadowy figures in front...perfect!

I used to work with Gina and she a good friend of mine so when I approached her about her letting me use her boyfriend, Dre, and her as my model...she was down. I g

ot to shoot them in Bethesda (my FAVORITE DC area city!) and had such a blast! This first of the three images, we were on a parking garage deck all the way at the top. I dont know what drove me to try, but I love that I took the risk in this picture.

In this second picture, the sun was setting and we were in this little park area. While I was fixing the pictures on my light, I noticed the amazing greens and blues in this image and just had to snap....

A little later in the year, Sonu got in touch with me about doing some headshots. I had NEVER

done that before, but I thought why not. There was a lot of construction going on in Ballston, VA so we shot there. Here are a few images I ended up falling in love with. This first one I used a reflector, all alone...which I can guarantee you is the hardest positioning of a leg you'll ever have to do! But this "flash" effect I got was phenomenal.

I gotta say, the best thing about having friends, is that I can always bribe them into being my

guinea pigs - and they all happen to be beautiful, which is also true of my best friend Sahiba.

A little background on that day - weather wise - it was

FREEZING! I can't even tell you how cold it was...I just know that my teeth were chattering the whole time - and I was wearing a thick jacket and gloves. It had snowed

not long ago, so we had to find somewhere that didnt still have snow everywhere since she lives in Richmond and we only had THAT night to shoot. We found this little

building in Fairfax City that had a bottom floor that was below ground level. The main floor was at ground level so there was this walkway that covered the door below ground. Luckily, they had

shovelled out all the snow and we were able to shoot a few pictures.

I used a remote flash this night, set up directly above her and pointing nearly straight up so that it would bounce off against the ceiling of that "tunnel" and full that whole area with light. The resulting affect was this spot-light like glow...nothing too harsh because of the red of the brick. I file these amongst my favorites just because of the craziness that was that shoot! :)

AISHA & TARIQ

This image of this Moroccan/Pakistani wedding we did, embodies the simplest perfection to me. I love silhouette pictures, mainly because of this picture. Sunny had to go alone one night and shoot the Mehndi for this event, and he was able to capture this stunning photo. Outside the couples hotel room was a balcony that overlooked the front of the hotel - and here you have these city lights framing them as they speak to each other.

POONAM & DEV AROLE

I think this was the absolute first time we had done this ring picture - but the final result was phenomenal. We have variations of it, which also become a part of our favorites, but this was the starter.

LINDSAY & DAVE I-SHOOT...WEDDING...MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2010

I should have led off with this because I have to tell you - my all time favorite pictures are amongst Lindsay & Dave's I-Shoot. I dont

know what it was, but we got some excellent light for the I-Shoot in Reston Town Center. And they are awesome people which helps. :)

The way the sun was setting behind

them created some of the most fantastic pictures I personally have ever taken. LOVE these!

CONTINUED ON TO NEXT POSTING....

Geema & Bikram's First Anniversary

On April 24, 2009, AISM Photography was lucky enough to capture some portrait shots for Geema and Bikram on their first year wedding anniversary. They held the event at their house in Lorton, with food being catered by Bombay Cafe (http://www.aaoji.com/) in Fairfax, VA. One year later, and you could still see how much they cared for each other.

When Geema first called me, she expressed that she would love to be able to have some nice Portrait shots for their anniversary. I was excited to be able to do that since I have known Geema for quite some time. It was a fun event - especially since the boys were avidly watching the NFL Draft picks. Here are some highlights from their special event!