Punam Bean Photography (observations)

Mayura + Ananda

punambean — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:21:39 +0000

In the sixth grade, I was pretty dorky. I would wear the pant portion of a salwar kameez (probably would go over much better these days), and a Washington D.C. panda tshirt with my black nike high tops. I was new in the neighborhood, my parents had just divorced and we finally moved out to Upland, where my family has lived ever since. I never brushed my hair, always wore a dirty pink headband, and never really changed my shirt. My mother was very excited to learn that two doors down on our culdesac was another Indian family, and they had a daughter a year or two older than me. That was Mayura. I remember her gangly arms, her frizzy hair, and her friendly smile. I don’t remember much else other than that her smile always made you feel like you were her friend. Her warmth and her kindness are genuine. Her laugh is hearty and loud. She was, and is, magnetic.

I only just met Ananda on their wedding day, and not only did he completely change the way I see my Bengali family after one conversation (he’s Bengali, too!), but his quick smile and kind spirit compliments Mayura in a way that is beautifully harmonic. Their love is sweet, their passion clear.

It also was a reunion of sorts – I got to catch up with some old friends! Grateful to have been a part of this beautiful day.

Below with Mayura is my friend Meghana from high school. This is pretty typical of them both.

Oddly, as an Upland High School Alumni, my formative years were filled with a lot of scottish stuff. Our symbol was the Highlander, and there was a mural of a man who looked like he was on steroids with a kilt waving about his muscular legs, painted on the gym floor. Our mascot was the Scottie Dog, and we had a bagpipe band. And about half (or more) of that bagpipe band was made of up Asian people. Including Mayura, and some of her bridesmaids. So as a surprise they had THE current Upland High School Bagpipe Band make an appearance! They took this gig verrrrrry seriously. And it was amazing.

And so was her reaction.

Betty + Bump

punambean — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:38:27 +0000

I have had the distinct pleasure of spending 5 days of my life with Betty (and Kent!). 3 for her wedding in Kona where was lucky to spend my summers growing up, and two in Honolulu, where I had the honor if photographing the resulting baby bump. I am so grateful to have the honor of documenting their most life altering moments on film. Really on film, not just metaphorically speaking. Thank you for brining me to my favorite place on earth, feeding me my dream food, making me laugh, and hiking to Lost land with me! I hope to find an excuse to spend another day with you!!

The Hufton Family

punambean — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 06:32:42 +0000

The Huftons! Jeremy and my dear Huz where high school pals, and here we all are met in the sunny(ish) patches of February in the Southwest from the cold winters of the northeast. Maren grew up not far from me, and I wonder – when you grow up, bathing in all this sunshine, what more could you want then to raise your children in the embrace of a mild, coastal yummy winter sun! And so! Upon our arrival in the home state of my roots, the Beans and the Huftons were fast friends. And I am honored to show them to you, and Bennet and now Ellie.

Sarah + Howard

punambean — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:25:17 +0000

This wedding was really special to me. It was the first time in, well, maybe a year, that I could come home and sleep in my own bed afterward. And Sarah and Howard are exactly the kind of people that make me love what I do so much! And that is why there are so many images here. So you can see what I saw on that beautiful January day.

Oliver.

punambean — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 23:59:50 +0000

Let me introduce you to this handsome young man. Oliver.

Cristea Family

punambean — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 02:10:44 +0000

It’s funny how time flies. Here I am. I’ve been living in California now for 15 months, in my childhood bedroom. Today, we learned that we’ll be signing a lease for a new apartment tomorrow. And since I’ve come here, I’ve become a mother. of an 11 month old. Who acts like she’s two. How is it that we moved from NYC 2.5 years ago when I still feel like a New Yorker in my veins?? How is it that in 11 months, my baby went from being a helpless, fragile, needy little shrivelly package to a robust little girl, walking tentatively around the house as if by accident, fake laughing at all my bad jokes, pining over doggies, with a sense of humor revealing itself to be so similar to my own? Now take that, multiply it by years, and add more babies, life changes, loves of lives, and here we are. I hadn’t seen Jennifer since maybe high school graduation 13 YEARS AGO. What??? How did we get here? And still, how did we manage to do all this stuff before we met again?? She’s got two beautiful boys and a strapping husband. And they are an awesome family. I’m so grateful I got to take a peek into their lives, seeing that really tall girl with braces from junior high that I was such good friends with is now a mother (with great teeth!) of two handsome boys.

Dana + Ryan

punambean — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:51:34 +0000

What you are about to see, is my most favorite thing about photographing people. It’s called an engagement session – but it’s really only called that so when my potential clients read my packages, it’s an unpretentious description of something they know about – and can understand. But it’s really so much more than that. This moment, of being (sometimes somewhat) newly engaged, is an incredible one. And as I see it, a time in your life that you will never again experience, full of excitement, anticipation, dreaming, and sometimes hardship too. You take each other, hand in hand, and you promise to make a promise. You plan, you taste test, you take the dog for a walk, and it’s all leading up to a pinnacle moment.

I spend the day with Dana and Ryan. I knew we were meant for each other when I asked them to plan a perfect day and I would just follow them around, when they said it would most likely be food based. Ahhhh how I love to eat – and how I love clients that love to eat! So they planned to cook a superb meal – I mean, REALLY AMAZING. It was, in fact SO GOOD that I ran right out the NEXT DAY and bought a fancy le Creuset dutch oven and immediately approximated the dinner they made for us because I couldn’t stop thinking about how good my mouth felt when I was chewing on that slow cooked short rib goodness. But on top of our culinary exploits, this day was full of adventure and discovery – their life on this day a picture of this moment. In this house. With this dog. Telling these jokes, making dinner and enjoying each other like old friends who sparkle at each other in every side long glance and story told.

This is a day in the life of Dana and Ryan.

Sarah and Dave

punambean — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 03:44:48 +0000

In the early months of Sarah and Dave’s relationship, something extraordinary happened. Jack. Their son. How lucky it is to find the person you are meant for, and be so strong in that notion to bring a child into the world and still hold strong to each other. I can say after this, my first year of motherhood – it’s ridiculously hard to hold the child that needs you to be strong, to keep it together, on minimal sleep, owning your body and your thoughts in your heart and have room for the one who helped you bring that beautiful child in the world. Nothing is more rewarding, nothing is more difficult. And Sarah and Dave do it beautifully and with enough ease to show each other – despite the chaos and unchartered territory of early parenthood – how much they mean to each other. They live in a world of love, and it was pretty wonderful to take part in that one special day to celebrate it!

Courtney + Brandon

punambean — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:44:42 +0000

How I love Calistoga! When you drive through winding country roads thick with trees and a brush, windows open here and there to reveal spectacular views of valleys, canyons and vineyards. There seems to not be a bad meal to be had in the Wine lover’s paradise – and what better place for a sommelier to marry the postal worker of her dreams! Courtney and Brandon brought all their friends from Vegas where they live, and around the country and treated them to a gorgeous wedding on a sunny October day, with dinner in a wine cave and a great party to boot. I am grateful to have been there to celebrate their love and fabulousness!

Cailen + Sean + 1!

punambean — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 20:18:04 +0000

Ah yes! A rare Sunday post before taking a break for the first of my favorite holidays!

It is such a joyous serendipity that three years after (ack! Has it been that long?!?!) shooting Cailen and Seans fairy tale wedding in the Loire Valley of France, we all find ourselves here in sunny southern California, where the weather is easy, and the sunshine is nice. I seriously FLIPPED when Cailen sent me an email redently letting me know that she and Sean are expecting in the coming months. Not only can I obviously relate, but another chance to make the journey out to see these two (I always seem to be meeting up with these crazy kids somewhere in paradise) and spend some time catching up. Even Uma came to assist me (obviously), and the Bean family was happy to offer a glimpse of the amazing future that lie ahead of them. And what’s better is when this (fatefully) perfect and gorgeous baby makes it’s arrival, we’ll all get together again and lament about days where we slept through the night, and rejoice in the small price that is to pay to bring a child into the world as your own.

Also, did I mention that Cailen and Sean are pretty much the easiest people to photograph I could ever hope for? Yes. There’s that.