What does healthy assimilation actually look like?
And can we ask immigrants to respect the civic expectations of the country they move to without asking them to erase their culture?
We talk about:
• Assimilation vs. cultural erasure
• Indian-American identity across generations
• What American-born children of immigrants inherit and change
• Why shared civic rules matter
• Baraats, noise ordinances, permits and public spaces
• The 90-foot Statue of Hanuman in Texas
• Other monumental religious statues already standing in the United States
• Religious freedom and land-use rules
• America’s complicated history with religious liberty
• Legitimate criticism vs. ethnic prejudice
• Why culture does not automatically create an exemption from civic expectations
• Why individual behavior should not become a stereotype about an entire ethnic group
• Why sources matter when discussing immigration, race, religion and culture
• What happens when research changes your original opinion
Research changed the question.
If monumental Christian and other religious imagery already exists across the American landscape, what consistent principle would make Hindu religious imagery different?
That is the standard SAWL wants to bring to difficult conversations:
Ask the question.
Find the evidence.
Apply the standard consistently.
And be willing to change your mind.
SOURCES / FURTHER READING:
Pew Research Center — research on Indian Americans, identity and discrimination
U.S. Department of Justice — Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA)
U.S. Constitution — First Amendment
Library of Congress — religion and religious dissent in colonial America
World Bank — solid waste management research in South Asia
Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple — Statue of Union / Hanuman, Sugar Land, Texas
Our Lady of the Rockies — Butte, Montana
Christ of the Ozarks — Eureka Springs, Arkansas
New Jersey Buddhist Vihara — Franklin Township, New Jersey
When the Rabbi is a long time part of the family and he`s got jokes for days - Alex falls victim to one and we caught it just as it happened, under a floral canopy so full and lush it felt like its own little world. Moments like this are why we love what we do — the emotion under all that beauty is what we`re really photographing.
Have a ceremony moment like this you want captured perfectly? Send us a DM or book a consult — we`d love to hear about your day.
@alexfox_reynolds
@ritzcarltonwashingtondc @smevents
To cake or not to cake is the question — and honestly, there`s no debate here. 🍰 Five tiers, a trail of blush and ivory blooms cascading down the side, champagne flutes standing at attention... this cake table was doing its job before a single guest even sat down. We always love the quiet minutes before the reception kicks off, when every detail is still perfectly untouched.
Which tier are you starting with — top or bottom? Tell us in the comments, or DM us if you`re planning a celebration of your own.
@alexfox_reynolds
@ritzcarltonwashingtondc @smevents
Do you REALLY need a first look? Short answer: no. Nothing bad happens if you skip it. But here`s why we sometimes bring it up anyway — when your day is packed with baraat, ceremony, and back-to-back events, a first look can buy you calm, unhurried time together before the whirlwind starts. Plus, let`s be honest... the reveals are just too good not to capture (look at her face!! 😂).
At the end of the day, it`s YOUR call, and we`ll help you figure out what actually fits your timeline and your personalities. Curious if a first look makes sense for your wedding? Drop a comment or DM us — happy to talk it through.
Because the decor isn`t supposed to be the shot — it`s supposed to frame it. That gorgeous floral hupa is doing exactly what it should here: holding space around what actually matters, two families standing together for the first time as one. I could shoot this same moment against a plain wall and it would still hit just as hard, because the real shot is in the faces, not the flowers.
This is the kind of thing 20 years behind the camera teaches you — the prettiest backdrop in the world doesn`t mean anything if you miss the moment inside it. Tell me, how many photos did your photographers take of your parents at your wedding? Not there yet? Let us save your date! Drop it below, or DM us to talk about your day.
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Real talk: when`s the last time you had a proper photo with your siblings? Not a selfie, not a blurry candid from three Thanksgivings ago — an actual photo where you`re all looking your best and standing together on purpose?
Sibling portraits are one of the most overlooked spots on the wedding day timeline, and we always make sure to carve out time for them. Years from now, this is the photo that gets pulled out and framed. Tag your sibling(s) below, or DM us if you`re planning your day and want to make sure moments like this don`t get missed.
@alexfox_reynolds
#SouthAsianWeddings #IndianWeddings #WeddingPhotographersInVirginia #IndianWeddingPhotographersInVirginia #WeddingPhotography #RegetisPhotography #SiblingGoals #WeddingDayPortraits #DCWeddingPhotographer #VirginiaWeddings #WeddingTimeline
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Okay but how do you even fit a bridal party THIS big into one frame?! Obviously IG ain`t gonna allow it to happen so you`ll have to hit up The Regeti`s blog for the full story. Alex and Jamie brought an entire crew — and we mean entire — out onto a tiny sliver of sidewalk and somehow everyone brought the same wild energy at the same time. That`s the real trick with big parties: you`ve got about four seconds before someone blinks or the cars start honking, so you learn to call it fast and just go.
Twenty-plus people, one great laugh, zero reshoots needed. This is why we love the chaos.
Got a big crew of your own? Send us a DM, we`ll figure out the logistics together 😉
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevent @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Some brides pose. Alex raised her bouquet in the air like she`d just won something — because honestly, she had. This was right outside The Ritz-Carlton Washington DC, and it`s the kind of pure, unscripted joy we chase all day long. You can`t direct a moment like this, you can only be ready for it.
If this is the energy you want on your wedding day, let`s talk. Drop a comment or send us a DM to start planning your day with us.
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Important or not important shot? 💍 We say important, every single time. This is the ring that says yes, the ring that gets passed around at dinner, the ring someone`s grandmother will ask to see up close. Years from now this tiny detail shot is going to matter just as much as the big ceremony photos — trust us on this one.
What`s the story behind your ring? Tell us in the comments, or DM us to chat about capturing yours. The Regeti`s love themselves some engagement stories👇
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Not every day you get to shoot in the presidential suite! Alex and Jamie`s first look happened right on the terrace, with that gorgeous window light setting the mood before we headed down for bridal party portraits. Moments like this — quiet, just the two of them before the whirlwind of the day begins — are always my favorite to capture. There`s something about that first look that says everything words can`t.
Want portraits like this on your wedding day? Send us a DM or drop a comment — we`d love to chat!
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Okay real talk — we styled this bouquet a few different ways during their couples photos and still can`t pick a favorite. Those white garden roses, the wispy astilbe, the little touches of Queen Anne`s lace... every angle told a different story. This is the kind of detail that gets swallowed up in the chaos of a real wedding day, which is exactly why we build time for it. Not a single pixel blown out in this shot — that`s skill, not luck. So if you`re after washed-out, overexposed light-and-airy shots, feel free to keep scrolling, no hard feelings.
Tell me in the comments — soft focus or fully bloomed? Or DM us if you`re planning your big day and want photos that catch these tiny gorgeous details too.
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Alex was literally halfway out the door when we said "wait, get on that couch real quick." Two seconds in she realized lounging gracefully in a fitted gown is a lot harder than it looks in the movies 😂 But that`s the fun part of our job — catching the in-between moments, the laughs, the "wait how do I sit in this thing" moments. We got the shot, and honestly the memory behind it might be even better.
Got a big day coming up? Send us a DM or book a consult — we`d love to hear about it.
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Fun fact: I have tied more bow ties than I can count. Getting ready rooms always need one extra set of hands, and somehow it ends up being me (yes, I tied Jamie`s too).
Was walking through a hotel lobby this past weekend and overheard a groomsman tell another one "Bet you can`t even tie a bow tie right on the first try!" Srinu and I just looked at each other, smiled, and stepped into the elevator like "but I can." Too bad we weren`t shooting their wedding... Anyone else have a hidden skill from years of wedding days? Tell me in the comments.
@alexfox_reynolds
@ritzcarltonwashingtondc @smevents
That fringe movement though. 😍 We got in close on these beadwork tassels and honestly, no one could have worn them better than our girl Alex, let`s just say STUNNING — every twist and shimmer catching the light just right. Details like this are exactly why we love zooming in on wedding day looks, because the craftsmanship deserves its own spotlight.
Got a look this good coming up? Drop a comment or DM us — we`d love to hear about it!
alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Dads need a little swag too! 🖤 Jamie`s dad could not stop grinning when he found out his jacket had been custom-tagged just for him — that "proud Daddy moment" written right into the lining. Little details like this are exactly why we keep our cameras ready during getting-ready time... you never know what sweet surprise is about to happen.
What`s a detail from your wedding day that made your dad (or someone special) light up like this? Tell us in the comments, or DM us to chat about capturing your own day! 👇
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
There aren`t really words for what Alex`s face says in this moment — that`s a whole lifetime with her dad wrapped up in one look. Moments like this are exactly why we linger a beat longer than we probably need to, camera up, just waiting. We`ve been doing this a long time and it still gets us every single time.
Being trusted to be someone`s eyes and ears on a day this big? That`s not something we take lightly, ever. It`s the whole reason we show up and give everything we`ve got, every single event.
If you want photographers who actually feel your day with you, not just document it — let`s talk. Drop a comment or DM us to start planning yours.
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Alex and Jamie`s wedding day started with this gorgeous flat lay at the Ritz Carlton in DC — Jimmy Choos, the invitation suite, those rings tucked into red boxes that just pop against the marble. Planner Sara with SM Events pulled together every little piece so beautifully.
Honestly, we`ve been photographing details like this for almost two decades, and how couples want them captured has changed so much. Rings on a book, shoes in a window, invites styled with flowers — it`s become its own art form. We always wonder: are couples looking back at these images years later and still loving how their day was told? We think that`s the real test. Tell us in the comments — what detail from your wedding day means the most to you now?
#WeddingPhotography #RegetisPhotography #Regetis #SouthAsianWeddings #IndianWeddings #WeddingPhotographersInVirginia #IndianWeddingPhotographersInVirginia #FusionWedding #DCWedding #RitzCarltonWedding #WeddingDetails #WeddingInspo
Going back through years of galleries, you find things you forgot were even there. This one stopped me cold. That`s Radha, feeding me cake like I was one of her own kids at this wedding - she would not let me walk away without eating it. This is the same woman who used to send me home with fresh baked bread and chocolate chip cookies for my kids, they would refer to her as the "Chocolate Chip Auntie." We photographed both of her sons` weddings and more family celebrations than I can count. Her home always felt like ours the second we walked in.
Radha passed away, and finding this photo again just about broke my heart. Her smile, her hugs, her hot bread and warm cookies - we will never forget any of it. To her children, Shalini, Sharad and Nitin - we love you guys, and so much of her lives on in you. If you`re building a family of your own around your wedding day, come talk to us - drop a comment or send us a DM. These are the relationships and friendships we hope to build with every family that entrusts us to capture theirs.
@sjsevents @ritzcarltontysonscorner @amyregeti
We’re Amy and Srinu, a husband-and-wife team who have spent nearly two decades capturing weddings together—but beyond the camera, we’re just like you. When not photographing love stories, we’re raising five amazing kids, homesteading with Srinu’s mom, and enjoying life with our mini Bernadoodles, Arundhati and Rosie, and our 15-year-old Yorkie, Theo.
We find joy in the little things—Amy with her ever-growing flock of chickens, Srinu crafting fine woodworking pieces, and both of us diving into DIY projects together. That same passion for building a meaningful life is what we bring to every wedding we photograph.
For us, it’s never just about taking pictures—it’s about preserving the emotions, traditions, and fleeting moments that make your wedding uniquely yours. If our work resonates with you, we’d love to get to know you and be part of your story.
I have known about the Regeti's for a very long time. When it was finally time for my own wedding, we wanted important moments to be captured in a certain way focusing on family portraits/photos, but we also needed someone experienced with mixed wedding ceremonies. Despite us being awkward with posed photos, the Regetis captured everything so perfectly and kept us laughing along the way. They truly felt like they were part of the family by the end of it. Not to mention they were great at navigating family through photos without taking time away from us. Absolutely adore them.
Your wedding photography is more than just pictures-it's the art of preserving moments you'll cherish forever. Let's connect!
Schedule a FREE NO OBLIGATION consultation to meet us, learn about our unique approach to capturing weddings, and explore what we have to offer [TR] couples. This is your opportunity to ask questions, share your vision, and allow us to understand your needs so we can craft a custom proposal tailored to your wedding day.
No pressure, just conversation -because the perfect wedding photography starts with the perfect fit.
What does healthy assimilation actually look like?
And can we ask immigrants to respect the civic expectations of the country they move to without asking them to erase their culture?
We talk about:
• Assimilation vs. cultural erasure
• Indian-American identity across generations
• What American-born children of immigrants inherit and change
• Why shared civic rules matter
• Baraats, noise ordinances, permits and public spaces
• The 90-foot Statue of Hanuman in Texas
• Other monumental religious statues already standing in the United States
• Religious freedom and land-use rules
• America’s complicated history with religious liberty
• Legitimate criticism vs. ethnic prejudice
• Why culture does not automatically create an exemption from civic expectations
• Why individual behavior should not become a stereotype about an entire ethnic group
• Why sources matter when discussing immigration, race, religion and culture
• What happens when research changes your original opinion
Research changed the question.
If monumental Christian and other religious imagery already exists across the American landscape, what consistent principle would make Hindu religious imagery different?
That is the standard SAWL wants to bring to difficult conversations:
Ask the question.
Find the evidence.
Apply the standard consistently.
And be willing to change your mind.
SOURCES / FURTHER READING:
Pew Research Center — research on Indian Americans, identity and discrimination
U.S. Department of Justice — Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA)
U.S. Constitution — First Amendment
Library of Congress — religion and religious dissent in colonial America
World Bank — solid waste management research in South Asia
Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple — Statue of Union / Hanuman, Sugar Land, Texas
Our Lady of the Rockies — Butte, Montana
Christ of the Ozarks — Eureka Springs, Arkansas
New Jersey Buddhist Vihara — Franklin Township, New Jersey
When the Rabbi is a long time part of the family and he`s got jokes for days - Alex falls victim to one and we caught it just as it happened, under a floral canopy so full and lush it felt like its own little world. Moments like this are why we love what we do — the emotion under all that beauty is what we`re really photographing.
Have a ceremony moment like this you want captured perfectly? Send us a DM or book a consult — we`d love to hear about your day.
@alexfox_reynolds
@ritzcarltonwashingtondc @smevents
To cake or not to cake is the question — and honestly, there`s no debate here. 🍰 Five tiers, a trail of blush and ivory blooms cascading down the side, champagne flutes standing at attention... this cake table was doing its job before a single guest even sat down. We always love the quiet minutes before the reception kicks off, when every detail is still perfectly untouched.
Which tier are you starting with — top or bottom? Tell us in the comments, or DM us if you`re planning a celebration of your own.
@alexfox_reynolds
@ritzcarltonwashingtondc @smevents
Do you REALLY need a first look? Short answer: no. Nothing bad happens if you skip it. But here`s why we sometimes bring it up anyway — when your day is packed with baraat, ceremony, and back-to-back events, a first look can buy you calm, unhurried time together before the whirlwind starts. Plus, let`s be honest... the reveals are just too good not to capture (look at her face!! 😂).
At the end of the day, it`s YOUR call, and we`ll help you figure out what actually fits your timeline and your personalities. Curious if a first look makes sense for your wedding? Drop a comment or DM us — happy to talk it through.
Because the decor isn`t supposed to be the shot — it`s supposed to frame it. That gorgeous floral hupa is doing exactly what it should here: holding space around what actually matters, two families standing together for the first time as one. I could shoot this same moment against a plain wall and it would still hit just as hard, because the real shot is in the faces, not the flowers.
This is the kind of thing 20 years behind the camera teaches you — the prettiest backdrop in the world doesn`t mean anything if you miss the moment inside it. Tell me, how many photos did your photographers take of your parents at your wedding? Not there yet? Let us save your date! Drop it below, or DM us to talk about your day.
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Real talk: when`s the last time you had a proper photo with your siblings? Not a selfie, not a blurry candid from three Thanksgivings ago — an actual photo where you`re all looking your best and standing together on purpose?
Sibling portraits are one of the most overlooked spots on the wedding day timeline, and we always make sure to carve out time for them. Years from now, this is the photo that gets pulled out and framed. Tag your sibling(s) below, or DM us if you`re planning your day and want to make sure moments like this don`t get missed.
@alexfox_reynolds
#SouthAsianWeddings #IndianWeddings #WeddingPhotographersInVirginia #IndianWeddingPhotographersInVirginia #WeddingPhotography #RegetisPhotography #SiblingGoals #WeddingDayPortraits #DCWeddingPhotographer #VirginiaWeddings #WeddingTimeline
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Okay but how do you even fit a bridal party THIS big into one frame?! Obviously IG ain`t gonna allow it to happen so you`ll have to hit up The Regeti`s blog for the full story. Alex and Jamie brought an entire crew — and we mean entire — out onto a tiny sliver of sidewalk and somehow everyone brought the same wild energy at the same time. That`s the real trick with big parties: you`ve got about four seconds before someone blinks or the cars start honking, so you learn to call it fast and just go.
Twenty-plus people, one great laugh, zero reshoots needed. This is why we love the chaos.
Got a big crew of your own? Send us a DM, we`ll figure out the logistics together 😉
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevent @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Some brides pose. Alex raised her bouquet in the air like she`d just won something — because honestly, she had. This was right outside The Ritz-Carlton Washington DC, and it`s the kind of pure, unscripted joy we chase all day long. You can`t direct a moment like this, you can only be ready for it.
If this is the energy you want on your wedding day, let`s talk. Drop a comment or send us a DM to start planning your day with us.
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Important or not important shot? 💍 We say important, every single time. This is the ring that says yes, the ring that gets passed around at dinner, the ring someone`s grandmother will ask to see up close. Years from now this tiny detail shot is going to matter just as much as the big ceremony photos — trust us on this one.
What`s the story behind your ring? Tell us in the comments, or DM us to chat about capturing yours. The Regeti`s love themselves some engagement stories👇
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Not every day you get to shoot in the presidential suite! Alex and Jamie`s first look happened right on the terrace, with that gorgeous window light setting the mood before we headed down for bridal party portraits. Moments like this — quiet, just the two of them before the whirlwind of the day begins — are always my favorite to capture. There`s something about that first look that says everything words can`t.
Want portraits like this on your wedding day? Send us a DM or drop a comment — we`d love to chat!
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Okay real talk — we styled this bouquet a few different ways during their couples photos and still can`t pick a favorite. Those white garden roses, the wispy astilbe, the little touches of Queen Anne`s lace... every angle told a different story. This is the kind of detail that gets swallowed up in the chaos of a real wedding day, which is exactly why we build time for it. Not a single pixel blown out in this shot — that`s skill, not luck. So if you`re after washed-out, overexposed light-and-airy shots, feel free to keep scrolling, no hard feelings.
Tell me in the comments — soft focus or fully bloomed? Or DM us if you`re planning your big day and want photos that catch these tiny gorgeous details too.
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Alex was literally halfway out the door when we said "wait, get on that couch real quick." Two seconds in she realized lounging gracefully in a fitted gown is a lot harder than it looks in the movies 😂 But that`s the fun part of our job — catching the in-between moments, the laughs, the "wait how do I sit in this thing" moments. We got the shot, and honestly the memory behind it might be even better.
Got a big day coming up? Send us a DM or book a consult — we`d love to hear about it.
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Fun fact: I have tied more bow ties than I can count. Getting ready rooms always need one extra set of hands, and somehow it ends up being me (yes, I tied Jamie`s too).
Was walking through a hotel lobby this past weekend and overheard a groomsman tell another one "Bet you can`t even tie a bow tie right on the first try!" Srinu and I just looked at each other, smiled, and stepped into the elevator like "but I can." Too bad we weren`t shooting their wedding... Anyone else have a hidden skill from years of wedding days? Tell me in the comments.
@alexfox_reynolds
@ritzcarltonwashingtondc @smevents
That fringe movement though. 😍 We got in close on these beadwork tassels and honestly, no one could have worn them better than our girl Alex, let`s just say STUNNING — every twist and shimmer catching the light just right. Details like this are exactly why we love zooming in on wedding day looks, because the craftsmanship deserves its own spotlight.
Got a look this good coming up? Drop a comment or DM us — we`d love to hear about it!
alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Dads need a little swag too! 🖤 Jamie`s dad could not stop grinning when he found out his jacket had been custom-tagged just for him — that "proud Daddy moment" written right into the lining. Little details like this are exactly why we keep our cameras ready during getting-ready time... you never know what sweet surprise is about to happen.
What`s a detail from your wedding day that made your dad (or someone special) light up like this? Tell us in the comments, or DM us to chat about capturing your own day! 👇
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
There aren`t really words for what Alex`s face says in this moment — that`s a whole lifetime with her dad wrapped up in one look. Moments like this are exactly why we linger a beat longer than we probably need to, camera up, just waiting. We`ve been doing this a long time and it still gets us every single time.
Being trusted to be someone`s eyes and ears on a day this big? That`s not something we take lightly, ever. It`s the whole reason we show up and give everything we`ve got, every single event.
If you want photographers who actually feel your day with you, not just document it — let`s talk. Drop a comment or DM us to start planning yours.
@alexfox_reynolds
@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc
Alex and Jamie`s wedding day started with this gorgeous flat lay at the Ritz Carlton in DC — Jimmy Choos, the invitation suite, those rings tucked into red boxes that just pop against the marble. Planner Sara with SM Events pulled together every little piece so beautifully.
Honestly, we`ve been photographing details like this for almost two decades, and how couples want them captured has changed so much. Rings on a book, shoes in a window, invites styled with flowers — it`s become its own art form. We always wonder: are couples looking back at these images years later and still loving how their day was told? We think that`s the real test. Tell us in the comments — what detail from your wedding day means the most to you now?
#WeddingPhotography #RegetisPhotography #Regetis #SouthAsianWeddings #IndianWeddings #WeddingPhotographersInVirginia #IndianWeddingPhotographersInVirginia #FusionWedding #DCWedding #RitzCarltonWedding #WeddingDetails #WeddingInspo
Going back through years of galleries, you find things you forgot were even there. This one stopped me cold. That`s Radha, feeding me cake like I was one of her own kids at this wedding - she would not let me walk away without eating it. This is the same woman who used to send me home with fresh baked bread and chocolate chip cookies for my kids, they would refer to her as the "Chocolate Chip Auntie." We photographed both of her sons` weddings and more family celebrations than I can count. Her home always felt like ours the second we walked in.
Radha passed away, and finding this photo again just about broke my heart. Her smile, her hugs, her hot bread and warm cookies - we will never forget any of it. To her children, Shalini, Sharad and Nitin - we love you guys, and so much of her lives on in you. If you`re building a family of your own around your wedding day, come talk to us - drop a comment or send us a DM. These are the relationships and friendships we hope to build with every family that entrusts us to capture theirs.
@sjsevents @ritzcarltontysonscorner @amyregeti
