During my Toronto wedding photography career, I was blessed with numerous couples who trusted me to document their wedding day. However, very few of the special events I documented were as fast-paced, energetic and emotional is this One King West Persian wedding.
Let me preface this article by stating that I love wedding engagement photo shoots. Why?
First, the engagement session allows me to learn a lot about the bride and groom in a relaxed environment.
I know plenty of wedding photographers in Toronto with engagement photo shoots last for maximum one or two hours. Honestly, I don't believe any professional photographer can create meaningful photographs of the couple in one hour. It takes about 30 minutes for the couple to feel comfortable in front of the camera. If you add the time it takes to find a good photography location, set up artificial lighting or find good lighting, you see that 1 to 2 hours is never enough.
Sadly, wedding photography in Toronto is more about money than about the clients. Just think about the traffic in the GTA. It often takes one hour to drive from one spot to the other. What ends up happening is that the professional photographer goes through a candid list of poses that never capture the love of the couple. The focus is more on the bottom line then on the bride and groom.
Still I don't go on a tangent forever. As I mentioned, the engagement photos and is an excellent opportunity for the photographer to connect with his clients.
Also, the professional photographer can teach the couple the basic of posing, lighting and photography in general.
Next, as a result of the gorgeous images created, the couple will trust the photographer and feel comfortable in front of his camera on the wedding day.
Finally, the couple will know what to expect on their special day and avoid the awkward moments when the bride and groom don't know what to do in front of the camera.
As a result of the time spent both on the engagement session, which lasted for two days, and on the wedding day, I remained good friends with the bride and groom.
As such, they shared with me their beautiful love story. Originally the parents wanted to hook up the couple and set them on a blind date. However, when they heard that, none of them wants to see the other. It looks like and love prevailed this time because they met by chance and party. After a few dates the fell in love with each other and only afterwards found out they were supposed to meet on a blind date.
As Toronto wedding photographer, and part of the people special day. Even more, if I do destination wedding outside the Greater Toronto Area, I get to spend more time with the friends, family and guests. I almost become a member of their family. It naturally follows that may are many love stories in my travels but few of them are so beautiful like this one.
This album spread depicts perfectly the energy of the wedding day. The bottom left photo shows a shower of rose petals covering the bride and groom. During the dances, the groom's brother started gathering lots of petals and asked me to pay attention as he distributed the petals to the guests. During a bride and groom dance, everybody threw the petals in the air in unison.
The beautiful pink of the roses petals perfectly complements the blue accent lights in the background. The expression of the bride and groom dancing with their hands in the air is absolutely priceless. Surrounding the couple one can see the guests dancing and enjoying the rose petals shower.
The top left photo shows the groom dancing on the groomsmen shoulders.
Finally, the right page of the wedding spread is a closeup photo of the bride and groom laughing while dancing. Without false modesty, I have to admit that I haven't seen another Toronto wedding photographer able to capture such precious moments on the big day. The images speak for themselves! If photograph is worth 1,000 words, a wedding album spread is worth 1,000 photographs because it immortalizes more moments that complete the story.
Sure enough, this One King West marriage is one to remember.
Location: 1 King St W, Toronto, ON M5H 1A1.
