Today we’d like to introduce you to Meet Soni.
Meet, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m Meet Soni, a third-generation photographer and filmmaker, and the son of the late photographer Paresh Soni. My story starts with my family, long before I ever picked up a camera.
My grandfather was a photographer in Borsad, Gujarat, India. My father followed in his footsteps and eventually brought that passion to New Jersey, where he established Ami Photo Video in 1999. Growing up, I watched him put so much of himself into his work. Seeing his dedication firsthand made photography feel like a natural part of my life, and eventually, a path I wanted to pursue for myself.
I started working behind the scenes at 13, editing photos and videos. By 16, I was photographing events alongside my father, gaining experience and beginning to develop my own eye. Working with him gave me a foundation that still shapes how I approach weddings today.
In 2013, I graduated with top honors from the Hallmark Institute of Photography in Massachusetts, where I refined my craft and learned from photographers including Gregory Heisler, Scott Zuehlke, and David Turner. That experience helped me build on what I had learned at home and find my own creative voice.
Today, with nearly two decades of photography and filmmaking experience, I carry that family legacy forward through Ami Video. We’re based in New Jersey and photograph and film South Asian weddings across the country and internationally. Alongside my in-house team, I bring an editorial and documentary approach to our work, with a focus on real emotions, family connections, and the traditions that make each celebration its own.
Carrying on what my father and grandfather built means a lot to me. I want to honor their work while continuing to grow, experiment, and bring a fresh perspective to the business. At the heart of it, I’m documenting something families will one day look back on to remember the people they love. That’s a responsibility I take personally.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the hardest moments was losing my dad in 2017. He was my father, my mentor, and the person I had learned alongside since I was young. Continuing without his guidance, while dealing with that loss, was difficult. There was also a personal responsibility to carry forward the business he had worked so hard to build.
Business always comes with ups and downs. Having a family legacy gave me a foundation, but I still had to find my own way, make difficult decisions, and learn as I went. I wanted to respect what my father had built while giving myself room to grow creatively and move Ami Video forward.
I’m still learning. You don’t always have everything figured out, but you keep showing up, work through the challenges, and do your best for the people trusting you. That’s what has kept me going.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a wedding photographer and filmmaker, and I run Ami Video, based in New Jersey. We specialize in South Asian weddings, from celebrations close to home to multi-day destination weddings around the world.
Our story has grown across three generations. My grandfather was a photographer in Borsad, a small town in Gujarat, India, where my father also began his photography journey and business. My father later brought that experience to the United States, establishing Ami Photo Video in New Jersey in 1999. He took the business from India to the U.S., and I’ve had the opportunity to take it from the U.S. to destinations worldwide.
My work has taken me to Italy, Portugal, Spain, Iceland, London, India, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and many other tropical islands. Each destination brings a different setting and creative opportunity, but the people and their stories are always at the center of what I capture.
My style combines editorial photography with documentary storytelling. I enjoy creating portraits with thoughtful lighting and composition, while also paying attention to the moments that unfold naturally. With our films, I want couples to hear the voices, feel the energy, and remember what being there was actually like.
What sets our approach apart is the combination of cultural understanding, personal attention, and a close in-house team. Knowing South Asian traditions helps us anticipate meaningful moments, and making our couples comfortable gives them room to be themselves. I stay closely involved in the creative direction so our photography and films feel connected.
What I’m most proud of is seeing how far this family business has come, from a small town in India to documenting weddings around the world. Continuing what my father and grandfather built, while adding my own vision, makes the work deeply personal. Wherever it takes us next, I want to keep that same care for the families who trust us with their memories.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to keep showing up and stay willing to learn, especially when things get difficult. Business will always have ups and downs, and you can’t control everything. You can control how you respond, how you treat people, and whether you take responsibility and keep improving.
Losing my father in 2017 made that lesson deeply personal. I had to trust what he had taught me while learning to make my own decisions. Carrying his legacy forward meant being willing to grow, even when I didn’t have every answer.
That also shapes how I approach photography. The people in our photographs matter, and the value of those images can grow in ways we don’t realize at the time. It’s why I care about the small family moments as much as the big portraits.
I’m proud of how far we’ve come, but I never want to feel like I’m done learning. There’s always room to become a better artist, a better business owner, and a better person to work with.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amiphotovideo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amiphotovideo?stkn=MWxwNjhrajU0aWp1Zg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@amivideo?si=nNate5EJod1zlTuv
