How to Capture Rainy or Monsoon Weddings in Bhubaneswar Beautifully?
- Somlim Photography
- Mar 29
- 6 min read
When the Rain Becomes Your Best Backdrop?
Bhubaneswar receives an average of 1,660 mm of rainfall annually, with the monsoon running from June all the way through October. July and August are the peak months, with rainfall touching 397 mm and humidity rising as high as 85% — making the entire city draped in lush greenery, mist, and an unmistakable romance.
Many couples assume monsoon is the wrong season to get married or to photograph a wedding. At Somlim Photography, Odisha's best photography and videography company, we believe the exact opposite. Rain doesn't ruin weddings — it transforms them. Here's how our Best Photographer, and you, can make monsoon wedding photography in Bhubaneswar absolutely breathtaking.
Why Monsoon Weddings in Bhubaneswar Are Truly Special?
Before we talk technique, understand the why.
The overcast sky during monsoon acts like a giant natural softbox — providing soft, diffused, even lighting that eliminates harsh shadows, making skin tones look gorgeous in photographs.
Scheduling outdoor shoots on cloudy days is recommended because picturesque locations appear more captivating under diffuse lighting and a darker skyline.
Monsoon season typically offers the best deals, with some photographers offering up to 25% off their standard rates due to lower demand. More photography budget for the couple — and more creative freedom for the team.
Post-monsoon greenery around iconic Bhubaneswar locations — from Nandankanan to Ekamra Haat — creates lush, cinematic backgrounds no studio can replicate.
People get less tired on a rainy day as opposed to a sunny day while shooting — meaning your couple looks fresher and more natural in every frame.
7 Expert Tips to Capture Monsoon Weddings Beautifully
1. Use Puddles and Wet Surfaces as Natural Mirrors
Wet surfaces are very helpful in bringing interesting perspectives. Look for puddles that reflect people, architecture, and details from the surroundings. By capturing the subject as well as its reflection, you can create a beautiful composition.
Imagine the bride in her traditional red Odia Boula Patta saree reflected in a rain-washed courtyard — that single frame tells an entire story.
2. Master the Shutter Speed for Rain
Use a fast shutter speed to freeze raindrops in your picture. Slow down the shutter to capture raindrop movement. If shooting in dim light, increase your ISO settings.
For monsoon weddings, we recommend:
Fast shutter (1/1000s+): Freeze individual raindrops mid-air for drama
Slow shutter (1/30s–1/60s): Render rain as romantic streaks of light behind the couple
Manual mode: Always, so the photographer maintains full control
3. Use Backlighting to Make Rain Visible and Magical
To add creativity and drama to your photos, be selective with lights. Use interesting light to add charm to your photos, and to capture the movement of rain, you can use backlighting.
Placing a strobe or artificial light behind the couple while it rains creates a glowing, cinematic halo effect around them — one of the most requested shots at Somlim Photography.
4. Embrace Umbrellas as Creative Props
Colourful Odia wedding umbrellas are not just functional — they are powerful visual elements. A shot of the bride under a traditional umbrella, the groom leaning in, with rain softly blurring the background, is an image that wins awards. Use fairy lights, misty reflections, umbrellas, and water puddles as creative elements.
5. Protect Your Gear Without Compromising the Shot
Invest in a good quality rain cover or waterproof housing for your camera to protect it from moisture. Keep a lens cloth handy to wipe off any water droplets.
At Somlim Photography, our team comes fully equipped with weatherproof camera bodies, lens rain sleeves, and multiple backup units — so not a single sacred moment of your Barajaatri, Kanyadaan, or Saptapadi is ever missed.
6. Capture the Emotional Moments of an Odia Wedding in the Rain
An Odia wedding — or Bahaghara — is a deeply emotional, multi-day ceremony. The wedding ritual begins with the Kanyādāna ceremony, held on the vivaha vedi decorated with many flowers and leaves. The couple takes seven rounds around the fire symbolizing the Saptapadi rite.
Now imagine those sacred moments — Sindoor Daan, the mother singing Bahuna songs, the groom being carried to the mandap — all lit softly by monsoon-diffused light, with the gentle sound of rain in the background. Rain brings out a lot of emotions. Emotions can add beauty to your picture. A skilled wedding photographer in Bhubaneswar knows exactly when to hold the frame and when to let the emotion breathe.
7. Use the Lush Green Landscapes of Bhubaneswar
September in Bhubaneswar sees a gradual retreat of the monsoon but the vegetation is still strikingly green. Effused greenery from the rains lends an aesthetic appeal to the city. Pre-wedding or post-wedding couple shoots during this window offer some of the most vivid backdrops available anywhere in Odisha.
Creative Ideas for Your Monsoon Wedding Album
Here are some unique shot ideas your wedding photographers in Bhubaneswar should plan with you:
The Mandap Rain Shot — Wide-angle frame of the wedding mandap with rain visible in the background through venue windows or an open veranda
Umbrella Silhouette — Couple under one umbrella, backlit against a rain-grey sky
Puddle Reflection Portrait — Both of you reflected in a rain puddle, shot from low angle
Barefoot in the Rain — A candid shot of the bride's Alata-painted feet stepping on wet ground
Drone Aerial — Bhubaneswar's monsoon-green canopy captured from above during a garden reception
Invest in drone videography for monsoon weddings — the contrast of rain clouds above and lush venue below creates cinematic footage available nowhere else
What to Tell Your Venue & Makeup Artist?
A monsoon wedding requires coordination. Share these backed tips with your team:
Venue: Choose spaces with covered courtyards, large glass windows, or semi-open mandaps. Glass conservatories or royal heritage spaces with covered courtyards work exceptionally well.
Makeup: Hire a makeup artist experienced in monsoon weddings. Waterproof products, oil-free primers, and matte finish foundations will go a long way in keeping your bridal glow intact.
Flowers: Use fresh flowers that withstand humidity, such as orchids, marigolds, and hydrangeas.
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