2025 : A Year of Recognition, Stories and Stillness

Some years stretch you.
Some years surprise you.
And then there are years that quietly remind you why you started in the first place.

For 1Plus1 Studio, this was one of those years.

When I look back at this year, I don’t immediately think of numbers or milestones. I think of moments where I had to pause, take a breath, and let the gratitude catch up.
This year at 1Plus1 Studio has been one of those rare years where the work kept finding its way into places I deeply respect, publications I grew up reading, classrooms filled with curious minds, and conversations that felt bigger than weddings alone.

Seeing Our Work Travel Through Publications

One of the most tangible markers of this year was seeing our wedding photography and films featured across a wide range of Indian and international publications.

Our work appeared across Vogue India, Brides Today, Lifestyle Asia, Love Inc, The Los Angeles Times, Elle India, Hindustan Times, Femina, News18, and Manifest among others.

This is not something I ever set out to chase, and yet it became one of those quiet reminders that staying committed to your voice eventually finds its audience. All our features and links live in our press archive, and I often return to it, not to count milestones, but to pause and remind myself just how far the work travelled, and how many hands, hearts, and stories it passed through along the way.

Recognition That Made Us Want to Give Even More

This year, 1Plus1 Studio was honoured at the GIWA (Great Indian Wedding Awards) with Gold and Silver for Best Wedding Filmmaker of the Year. Moments like these don’t feel like an end point, they feel like an invitation to deepen the work, to care a little more, and to keep raising the bar.

On World Photography Day, 1Plus1 Studio was recognised by News18 India among the best wedding photography studios in India, a moment that also reinforced our place among the best wedding photographers and wedding filmmakers in the country.. It felt like a reminder that years of quiet consistency matter, and that there is still so much more to give.

Speaking, Teaching and Sharing the Process

Another important shift this year was stepping into spaces beyond client work.

I spoke at multiple forums, conducted a masterclass for photographers and filmmakers, and had the opportunity to talk openly about documentary storytelling, authorship, and building longevity in a creative field.

One moment that stayed with me was spending time with the students at St. Xavier’s College Mumbai, especially the Department of Mass Media. Engaging with young, thoughtful students, answering their questions, and seeing their curiosity reminded me why sharing process matters just as much as sharing outcomes.

This year also brought conversations around AI and its growing presence in photography and filmmaking. I was invited to share my perspective across a couple of platforms, speaking about where technology can support the creative process, and where human intuition, emotion, and authorship remain irreplaceable. These conversations felt important, especially at a time when the industry is learning how to balance speed with sensitivity.

I was also honoured to be part of a conversation with WeddingWire India around a topic close to my heart, the growing shift toward documentary-led wedding filmmaking in India.

A Personal Highlight I’ll Always Remember

One of the most personal moments of the year came when Travel + Leisure India reached out and asked me to curate my favourite photographs from weddings across different locations and cultures. Going through years of work, not as projects but as memories, was unexpectedly emotional. It reminded me that what we create often outlives the moment it was made in.

A Milestone That Felt Full Circle

This year, I was selected for the Indian School of Business | Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women – Accelerate Your Growth Program.

Years ago, back when I was still in my corporate role, I had applied to ISB — and didn’t make it.
Life, as it often does, had other plans. I went on to build 1plus1 Studio from the ground up. So when I was selected this year for the Indian School of Business | Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Accelerate Your Growth Program — it wasn’t just another program. It was a milestone. A quiet reminder that every step in the journey matters and sometimes, the paths we least expect take us exactly where we need to be.

Looking Back, With Gratitude

When I reflect on this year, I don’t feel the need to label it with superlatives. What I feel instead is gratitude.
For trust, offered generously.
For belief, extended without hesitation.
For questions that kept me learning.
And for a team that stands steady, no matter the season.

Being counted today among the best wedding photographers and wedding filmmakers in India feels less like a claim and more like a responsibility, to keep doing the work with honesty, sensitivity, and intent. If this year taught me anything, it’s that staying true to your voice may take time, but it never goes unnoticed.
As 2026 comes into view, we carry forward what has always guided the work, intention, depth, and an unwavering respect for the story.

-Manvi Gandotra