Featured Photographer - Charmi Peña

As obsessed with advocacy and activism as she is with photography and education, Nikon ambassador Charmi Peña specializes in South Asian weddings. Her love of South Asian weddings stems from her passion for preserving the intimacy of weddings, especially those of her own culture, and her desire to honor wedding traditions by capturing them with respect. Charmi's documentary approach has lead to top industry awards, but more importantly, 13+ years of happy clients. Her work has been published in numerous publications, including Vogue India, People Magazine, Bored Panda, Huffington Post, The New York Times, Maharani Weddings, South Asian Bride and Moment Junkie.

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HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY?

On the day I got married, my husband gifted me with a starter DSLR. I immediately stored it in the back of my closet with no idea how to use it. Eventually, my husband also gifted me with a book on how to use the camera. I fell in love. I decided I would only ever photograph kids. And then one client led to another, and I photographed my first wedding - the bride submitted it to The Knot and it was published, and THAT was that. I was a wedding photographer.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?

I try not to get caught up in this. I know many workshops will tell you to define yourself. But, I’m always evolving. I know truth matters to me, so I tend to lean towards preserving ambiance and staying somewhat hands off. But I was also a bride once, and I know couples want to remember their wedding with fondness so I also find myself attracted to telling the happiest and more beautiful parts of the story (ok, minus the Vidai at most Indian weddings).

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN AN IMAGE?

Connection. Emotion. And lately - maybe weirdly - a peaceful uncluttered vibe.

WHAT INSPIRES OR MOTIVATES YOU?

My family. Books. Women breaking every glass ceiling that exists.

WHAT CHALLENGES YOU?

My FOMO. I am easily distracted because I want to do everything. I sometimes say that if I wasn’t a photographer, I’d be a midwife, a senator, an architect. But some part of my brain doesn’t accept that I can’t have ALL of them. And the need to do everything, help everyone, be everywhere, it can be paralyzing. It’s a pretty solid life challenge I think.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT OF A WEDDING?

Moments between the couple and their parents. Weddings are big days, and we think of it mostly in terms of this couple and their new endeavor together. But I’m raising two little boys and I can’t help but see the moments between the couple and their respective parents. That love that existed long before this couple met, the love that made this person, taught them what love even is … I love those

OF ALL YOUR IMAGES, DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ONE?

Changes too often to really get married to one.

ANYTHING ELSE WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CHARMI?

I love, love photography but since my creative endeavor is also my career, I’ve started taking on new creative endeavors. I’ve learned to make chocolate filled with different flavors, ice cream, cakes - I’m searching for other ways to fulfill the part of me that needs to experiment and stretch without compromising client work and without holding myself to existing expectations.

TELL US ABOUT DVLOP

The key thing for me is matching images across brands and through mirrorless and DSLR. I tend to have a very specific color palette and style I stick to overall, but DVLOP has made it easy for me to get where I want to get on those occasions where the image I picture isn’t just my typical look. I can easily and quickly go a step beyond.