As a documentary wedding photographer I was filled with joy during this splendid marriage at King Edward Hotel in the Corps of downtown Toronto. The beautiful bride's family originates from Cyprus and the groom's family from Bolivia. The two nations are known for the thirst for life.
After the ceremony that took place at the Crystal Ballroom in the beautiful hotel we invited the couple, accompanied by the bridal party and a few guests for a short walk around the beautiful venue. The core of the downtown Toronto is this splendid location for street photography and documentary wedding photography. However, it comes with this challenges is the professional photographer has to find the decisive moment to take the photograph when there are few people around. Often, the passersby linger around in the background and ruin the shot but in a few distinct occasions they actually add to the photo.
I love photographing multiple stories or layers in the same frame. That gives my images depth and increases their value. For example, in this photograph we can seek two stories. In the foreground we have the happy couple giggling while holding hands. In the background, we see a dove flying and that adds an element of interest to this photograph. On the big day, the artist has to pay attention to every detail and think on his feet. One technique I learned from one of the master wedding photographer is to shoot with both eyes open. While my left eye looks through the viewfinder to frame the image properly, my right eye searches for elements that can be included in the picture to make it even more interesting. The Fuji cameras, namely the X Pro 2 are similar to rangefinders and one can see elements that are about to enter in the frame. In that split second, the photographer can decide if you want to take the shot or wait for the next opportunity when the image will be even more appealing.
Immediately after the ceremony, especially in Europe, the newlyweds release doves and that is a perfect opportunity to capture dynamic images. In this case though it was pure luck and preparation so we were able to catch this moment.
Location: 37 King St E, Toronto, ON M5C 1E9.
