Surya Garigipati Photography & Films photographs and films sweet sixteens and milestone birthdays with the same lighting and planning as a wedding reception: soft constant light placed before guests arrive, the entrance, performances and speeches planned with the host and the DJ, and portraits of the guest of honour and the family. The studio is rated 4.9 on Google.
At a glance
| Events | Sweet sixteens, quinceañera-style celebrations, milestone birthdays, debut parties |
| Coverage | The entrance, the performances, the candle ceremony or cake, the speeches, the dance floor, and planned portraits of the guest of honour, friends and family |
| Film | Available from the in-house film team, with the speeches recorded through the DJ’s board |
| Light | No on-camera flash; soft constant lights placed high and to the sides before guests arrive |
| Studio | Surya Garigipati Photography & Films LLC, Flemington, New Jersey; travel within 90 miles included |
| Reviews | 4.9 on Google from 38 public reviews, including a children’s event: read them |
How a sweet sixteen is different from a wedding
The guest of honour is sixteen, her friends are the most important people in the room, and the evening is built around an entrance, a few performances and a dance floor rather than a ceremony. The photographs that matter are the ones she will post that night and the ones her parents will frame: the reveal of the dress, the entrance, the father-daughter dance, the candle or cake moment, the friends in one frame, and the grandparents who flew in. We talk to her beforehand about what she wants and does not want, and we plan the portraits for a window before the party when the hair and the dress are fresh.
How we photograph an evening party in a hall
The same way we photograph a sangeet or a reception: no on-camera flash, and soft constant lights placed high and to the sides of the room before guests arrive, so faces are lit and the colours of the décor survive. Entrances, performances and speeches are planned with the host and the DJ so we are in position before each, and the film team records the audio through the DJ’s board. Our guide to sangeet and reception lighting explains why this matters more than the camera does.
Portraits before the party
Thirty to forty minutes before the guests arrive, in the venue’s best light or a garden nearby: the guest of honour on her own, with her parents and siblings, with her grandparents, and then the friends as they turn up. We write the groups down beforehand, as we would a wedding family list, so the formal part takes minutes and she gets to her party. For a session on another day, see our portrait photographer page.
Where sweet sixteens happen
In the same banquet halls, hotel ballrooms and restaurants that host the region’s receptions, from Central Jersey to the Hudson waterfront, and at home for smaller celebrations. We walk any venue we have not worked in before the day to see where the light goes. Our guides to Indian banquet halls in New Jersey and the venue guides cover the rooms we know best.
How do we book?
Tell us the date, the venue and what the evening looks like; Surya replies personally within 24 hours with a written proposal, priced by the event rather than by the hour. The Indian event photographer page covers the other family celebrations, and you can check your date now.
What families wrote on Google
"Loved working with Surya and team and appreciate the awesome professionalism and service they offered for our kids event. It was an absolute privilege to work with them." — tulasi dondapati
"Thank you so much, Surya Garu, for the phenomenal work in capturing Jithya’s pictures and videography! Your entire team is truly outstanding so patient, professional, and dedicated." — Purnima Anisha
Questions about sweet sixteens
Do you photograph sweet sixteens?
Yes. Sweet sixteens and milestone celebrations are a regular part of the studio’s work, photographed and filmed with the same lighting and planning as a reception.
Do you film the party as well?
Yes. The in-house film team covers the entrance, performances and speeches, with the audio recorded through the DJ’s board.
When should the portraits happen?
Thirty to forty minutes before guests arrive, when the hair and the dress are fresh, with the groups written down beforehand so they take minutes.
How do you light a dark hall?
Without on-camera flash: soft constant lights placed high and to the sides of the room before guests arrive, so faces are lit and the DJ’s colours survive.
How is a session priced?
By the event or the session, not by the hour, in a written proposal after a short conversation, itemised so you can see what each part changes. Single celebrations are where the studio’s investment begins; the investment page explains how it works.
Her night, photographed properly
Tell us the date, the venue and what the evening looks like. Surya replies personally within 24 hours.
Check Your Date