The Big Day by Chai

We didn't grow by shooting more. We grew by fixing more.

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In short

Who The Big Day by Chai is: a Hyderabad wedding photography and film studio, since 2018, the team that runs it, and why we never ask you to pose.

It began in 2018 as Akki Photography: two people, one camera, a big dream. In 2022 it became The Big Day by Chai. Every year since, the team has grown because the system underneath it got better.

What we're here for

“We're not here to document your wedding. We're here to live it with you, and quietly keep every second of it.”

The Telugu wedding has a pace. Pelli Chupulu, Pellikuthuru, Kashi Yatra, Jeelakarra Bellam, Appaginthalu. Each has an emotion, a moment, and a second where it's gone. Our whole method is built around never being the reason a moment was interrupted.

What makes us different isn't taste. It's that we've seen every way a wedding delivery goes wrong: late data, missing songs, crews swapped last minute, families chasing updates. We built a system for each. The Crunch Call, the named crew, the card ledger, the app. None of these are features. They're scars turned into process.

Since 2018, a thousand-plus weddings, a team of 90. That's not a boast. It's the reason you can believe the date on your contract.

90 people on the team today

It counts people on our payroll: shooters, editors, planners, the people who answer your messages. With partner crews (traditional photo and video, live streaming, LED) it is 190.

  • 2018: 2 people
  • 2019: 2 people
  • 2020: 2 people
  • 2021: 2 people
  • 2022: 4 people
  • 2023: 10 people
  • 2024: 15 people
  • 2025: 30 people
  • 2026: 90 people

Who runs the show

Chai, Founder. Builds the team and the culture, and wrote the systems on this page. Sits in the weekly work review; doesn't run your wedding. Makes sure the people who do are the best in the state.

Swaroop, CEO. Runs the company day to day: allocation, deadlines, deliveries reviewed on time. If a date is at risk anywhere in the building, Swaroop knows before you do.

Shiva, Creative Head. Owns the plan for every shoot: the Creative Crunch Call, the story, the sign-off before your wedding, the first look at every edit.

Ram, Operations. Crew, gear, travel, the calendar. Who goes where, with what, and how they get there, for every wedding on the board that week.

Post-production manager, The edit floor. Owns the edit calendar. Cards in on day one, Few Snaps out in 24 hours, every edit on its date. Runs two shifts, 6 am to 10 pm.

Your shoot lead, Assigned 30 days out · at every event. A visual storyteller who runs your crunch call, leads every event of your wedding and briefs the editor after. The same face at the Pellikuthuru and the reception.

Where we've shot

  • N Convention, Hyderabad
  • Statue of Equality, Hyderabad
  • Momentous Weddings Convention, Hyderabad
  • Novotel, Vijayawada
  • JPL Convention, Hyderabad
  • Hotel Pai Viceroy, Tirupati
  • Sapthaa Conventions, Hyderabad
  • Siddhartha Gardens & Convention, Guntur
  • Ayana Resorts, Hyderabad
  • Kurnool Convention Centre, Kurnool
  • VAS Mansions, Hyderabad
  • C.S. Convention, Tirupati
  • King's Crown Convention, Hyderabad
  • Metro Convention, Vizianagaram
  • SNR Gardens, Hyderabad
  • One Convention, Hyderabad
  • LK Convention, Hyderabad
  • Sri Palani Convention, Hyderabad
  • Kodam Convention, Warangal
  • Vishwaksen Convention
  • Hyderabad Convention, Hyderabad
  • Nagari Convention
  • Serene Resorts & Convention
  • Beach pre-wedding, Chirala
  • Temple pre-wedding, Melkote
  • Streets & beaches, Pondicherry
  • Hill station pre-wedding, Coorg
  • Go-karting pre-wedding, Hyderabad
  • Pre-wedding, Araku
  • Pre-wedding, Vizag
  • Pre-wedding, Chennai

The studio, on paper

  • Who we are: The Big Day by Chai, a wedding photography and film studio. Legal name: TBD Weddings LLP.
  • Since: 2018, as Akki Photography. The Big Day by Chai since 2022.
  • Based in: 2nd Floor, Vamsiram Jyothi Granules, Kondapur, Hyderabad, Telangana 500084.
  • We shoot: Telugu weddings across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Christian church weddings, Nikahs, and weddings across India.
  • Who runs it: Chai, founder. Swaroop, CEO. Shiva, creative head. Ram, operations.
  • Reach us: +91 89777 54586 on WhatsApp or call · info@thebigdaybychai.com

Contact The Big Day by Chai

  • WhatsApp or call: +91 89777 54586
  • Email: info@thebigdaybychai.com
  • Studio: 2nd Floor, Vamsiram Jyothi Granules, Kondapur, Hyderabad, Telangana 500084, India
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebigdaybychai