Toronto Wedding Photos at Union Station
I first fell in love with photography admiring the work of Dorothea Lange and Henri Cartier-Bresson. Their portfolios are filled with palpable emotion combined with beautiful lighting and composition. Their photography was also Black and white which has always spoken the loudest to me. I first learned photography shooting on black and white film and developing in my high school’s dark room. Colour photography can be used brilliantly but I believe if you want to focus on a person’s emotion black and white achieves that best.
On top of that, creating an amazing street photograph is like the universe conjuring magic before your eyes. The lighting, the subject and the location fall so beautifully into place as you point your camera just in time to capture it. Just the thought makes my heart flutter. Of course, I create more wedding photography than street photos but why not bring the two closer together? I was inspired to make Emaleigh and Michael’s Toronto wedding photos feel like Parisian street photos of a deeply in love couple galivanting the streets. When discussing what they were looking for in their wedding photography they said elegant, modern, and authentic.
I felt this idea that had been brewing in my mind aligned with what they described. So I told them about my inspiration and they were thrilled with the concept. Union Station’s historical architecture and the surrounding financial district fit the vibe perfectly. Union Station offers that classic French look yet the rest of the district gave us modern touches. However, their confident and carefree attitude about shooting on the Toronto streets on a busy Friday evening took their photos to the next level. It didn’t matter that the streets were abuzz with life, they were basking in the warmth of the other’s presence.
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At the beginning of my career, I thought lighting, pose, and background made a great photo. However, the more experience I gained I realized the top priority of a photographer is to create comfort between you and your subject. This is because when they are comfortable with you they are free to open up their emotions. They are relaxed enough to laugh and smile with you. Additionally, after you get them laughing they feel safe enough to lean into their deeper, quieter emotions. So while all the previously mentioned things to add to a great photo the emotion you feel through the image is paramount.
Another idea I used at their shoot was playing with direct flash. It’s been the new photography trend all over social media. When used outdoors and perfectly balanced with natural light it can be lovely. However, as we all know trends come and go. At the end of the day, all the photos would come out just as great without the technique. Trends mustn’t influence your style permanently. I want my clients to reminisce with their images and see moments not outdated fads. That’s why my editing is quite subdued. My goal is to capture authentic emotions of love, joy and intimacy that these couples will feel again in 30 years.
Creating these Toronto wedding photos at Union Station with these lovebirds was a dream. I love this style and I hope I’ll be lucky enough to find more couples who feel the same way in the future. On the other end of the spectrum, if I’m not shooting in Toronto I would love to capture a wedding that is in the wilderness. Pure city or pure nature it is! I guess that’s the nice thing about living in Durham Region. Go an hour west and you’re in the city. Drive an hour north to surround yourself with the sprawling beauty of nature. After all, what inspires me above all is the incredible natural world we live in.
