How do the super-rich manage to look so effortlessly glamorous in their wedding photos? It’s not so much that every sari pleat is in place (we know they are sewn into position). It’s not even that the bride, groom and the extended family follows the same colour palette (soft pink, peach, cream. Yawn). But celebrations have taken it up a glittering notch. Close-ups of heirloom jewellery, candid shots that surely took careful planning, customised lighting and above all, top-tier privacy, and instant edits.

Himanshu Patel of The Epic Stories photographed the Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant wedding and pre-wedding festivities. Shrey Bhagat is founder and creative director of Raabta Studios, which specialises in high-end wedding photography. Both say that luxury events aren’t just about obvious lavishness. Here’s what billionaires want, and what us mere mortals can learn about capturing core memories.

Forget package deals. Those who can afford it, get everything customised, even wedding photos. “Elite clients usually have very particular and high expectations,” says Patel. “They want the photography to reflect their unique preferences.” So, instead of stock poses, consider booking fewer, but personalised images that reflect the bride and groom’s interests and relationship milestones.

Wear the invisibility cloak. At regular weddings, photographers have control over their subject – they can direct the couple or families to get that perfect shot. “For elite weddings, you need to be a bit of a stealth ninja, capturing those perfect shots without being intrusive,” says Patel. “It’s a bit like being a fly on the wall, but with a really good camera!” The invisibility extends to the service too – high-profile weddings and events demand discretion. Those involved are required to sign non-disclosure agreements and cannot use the pictures(even the outtakes) to promote their business.

Plan ahead, discuss now. For the Ambani-Merchant wedding, prep started almost a year in advance. Those hired knew every detail, down to the lighting at different times of the day at each location. There were meetings and mock-ups of what the visuals might look like. “We do multiple site visits with different planners, stylists, and other professionals, ensuring each of us understands and aligns with the client’s brief,” says Patel. Another billionaire hack: Most wedding portraits aren’t even taken on the day of the ceremony. Rich families simply put on the right makeup for soft-light photos, get styled specifically for the planned shots and spend a previous morning, unrushed, to get the images just right. The approved images, carefully touched up, are released on the wedding day, and have nothing to do with the harsh lights and perspiration at the reception hall.

Assign a shadow. A big Indian wedding, will have, at best, a team of four or five photographers – to shoot the formal portraits, the candid shots, the BTS and pictures of guests having a good time. For the wealthy, who interact with dozens of VIP guests, Bhagat assigns dedicated “shadow” photographers and cinematographers to discreetly follow key family members, ensuring that no moment is missed. And each photographer has a guest list and a checklist – so even the kids running around, fellow board members, the childhood friend, the visiting dignitary, are accounted for.

Get tech to help. Drones are commonplace. The rich get 3D mapped venues, facial-recognition software, AI-trained spotlights, and smart sensors to get every shot perfect. At one recent high-profile wedding, Bhagat’s team used telephoto lenses to capture a 100-foot stage from a distance. “We even attended sangeet rehearsals to better understand the setup.” In another case, his team of 43 members had each of their locations mapped at a venue for obstruction-free coverage.

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