I'm a pure documentary Toronto wedding photographer. I thrive on capturing spontaneous wedding moments, from smiles to tears and everything in between. Wedding photojournalism is honest and full of life, featuring people in their element. As a result, it ages better than editorial wedding photography.
While I encourage group and family portraits, the vast majority of my work is unposed, unprompted, and undirected. Many photographers who bill themselves as documentary-style photojournalists are contradicted by their portfolios; their best work mostly features posed images that don't elicit a true representation of the day.
While I encourage group and family portraits, the vast majority of my work is unposed, unprompted, and undirected. Many photographers who bill themselves as documentary-style photojournalists are contradicted by their portfolios; their best work mostly features posed images that don't elicit a true representation of the day.
Services
I get it: every time I go to work, it's one of the most important days in the lives of two people who are embarking on a new journey in life as one. Photographing weddings is an immense responsibility, and you want to ensure that the individual you're hiring is experienced, professional, and delivers results that surpass your expectations.
An introduction to everything you need to know about wedding photo albums. It will help you understand the differences between wedding books and albums, the categories of wedding photo albums that I offer for sale, and the key terminology used in discussing albums and their design. A wedding photography contract is the first step in creating a solid foundation for your wedding photography business.
An introduction to everything you need to know about wedding photo albums. It will help you understand the differences between wedding books and albums, the categories of wedding photo albums that I offer for sale, and the key terminology used in discussing albums and their design. The concept of unplugged weddings has been spreading around the wedding web for several years.
Timeless wedding photography is one of those terms casually thrown around by couples and photographers alike. Wedding photographers use it to elicit a sense of confidence in their work and to add a superficial touch of class.
Couples seek it because they want what it promises to deliver (timelessness) but often fail to understand what it actually entails and make hiring decisions that contradict their initial intuition by opting for the opposite quality (trendiness).
Couples seek it because they want what it promises to deliver (timelessness) but often fail to understand what it actually entails and make hiring decisions that contradict their initial intuition by opting for the opposite quality (trendiness).
Photojournalistic wedding photography is frequently misrepresented. Please allow me to set the record straight with an example. Imagine for a moment that you are planning a wedding in a world where photography and motion pictures had not yet been invented. Everything else is the same but there is no way of recording it.
Reviews (13)
Sara El-Behery
Nov 30, 2018
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Paul is very skilled at his craft and he takes it seriously. We are so glad we went with his photojournalistic style as we were looking for very natural but impactful photos. We are thrilled with our photos. We also requested some staged family portraits which he made time for and took care to make each shot count. Very responsive with emails and makes good on his promises. Highly recommended if you want good quality meaningful shots!
Murray ElHam
Jan 08, 2018
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Jordan Fainstat
Dec 14, 2017
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We hired Paul to shoot our wedding and couldn't be more pleased with the results. After being largely unimpressed with most of the photographers we were considering, Paul's portfolio was really on another level. We met with him ahead of time and were very impressed with his professionalism. Paul is very clear about his style of photography but also worked around what we were looking for. He was a pleasure to have at our wedding and did a great job of instructing people for our staged photographs. However, his candid shots are what really stand out. Paul has a true talent for being in the right
Ashleigh Zellermeyer
Sep 09, 2017
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We knew after reading Paul's FAQ that he was the perfect fit for us and our wedding. He is reliable, punctual and a true professional - every photo we received perfectly captured the emotions of our wedding. I'm usually quite uncomfortable having my photo taken but Paul was so quick and nimble I kept forgetting photos were even being taken! I've probably gone through our album a million times already - it never gets old.
Instructor Jade
Sep 07, 2017
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We wanted a professional photograph that is easy to work with, and an expert in their field. Paul is this. Paul is very organized, punctual, and incredibly talented. Paul captured the briefest of moments between my Husband and Me, and our so many of our guests. Like all wedding days, our day was full of rush, and whirlwind. Seeing Paul’s photos brought us back to each moment, and allowed us to reminisce and truly enjoy the day that we had planned. We will treasure our wedding album for all the years to come. Thank you so much, Paul, for capturing these memories for us.
Jordan Wan
Jan 17, 2016
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When we set out to plan our wedding finding the right photographer was on the top of my priorities. We knew that of all the things we would pay for, our photos would be the most lasting. I can genuinely say that we were very happy with the entire experience with Pavel from the initial meeting, to his technique when shooting and to his final photo edits.
Pavel is a natural when finding things to capture. Just at the right moments, when something special was happening I would look over my shoulder and he was right there shooting, capturing the memory for us.
Pavel’s photo editing work is also
Pavel is a natural when finding things to capture. Just at the right moments, when something special was happening I would look over my shoulder and he was right there shooting, capturing the memory for us.
Pavel’s photo editing work is also
Kat K.
Sep 30, 2015
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After finding Paul looking for "candid style wedding photographer", we couldn't be happier with his work at our wedding. He was so fast, efficient, calm and invisible, i barely saw him during the wedding and am astounded at all the shots he got. The expressions of pure, unposed smiling friends and family are treasures to me, the best way to remember the moments of the day! Thank you so much for your fantastic work!
Xiaowen Xu
Sep 06, 2015
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My husband and I enlisted Pavel's services for our wedding and it was a great decision! We really liked Pavel's style of wedding photography: He took lots of natural, unposed shots that truly captured the atmosphere of our wedding. We had photos that documented every important memory of the wedding. The finished photos looked beautiful! As a photographer, Pavel is very professional, friendly, and has great expertise. He blends in well with our guests and is able to get great shots without being intrusive. He is also very responsive and well prepared. We would definitely recommend Pavel to other
Lisha
Oct 24, 2014
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I had some professional work portraits done through Pavel Kounine Photography. Paul came to my apartment and set up all his studio gear, took pictures with multiple backdrops, and disassembled everything in the span of 2-3 hours. Everything was really convenient, clean and professional. I'm very happy with the photos and plan to use them on LinkedIn, for professional associations, work website, etc. I also wouldn't hesitate to have Paul back for more casual family portraits.
Craig S.
Jun 22, 2014
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I have been using Paul's services for photos on my website. His attention to detail and unique style of photography has been exactly what I am looking for. I have referred him to many people and he was also the photographer at my friend's wedding. The photos were beautiful and everyone loved his "fly on the wall" approach. He has been a joy to work with and always aims to please. Thanks Paul!
Meghyn C.
Nov 11, 2013
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My husband and I were married this summer in Toronto. We currently live in South Korea and Pavel was recommended to us by my sister in law. We checked out his blog and fell in love with his work. We really liked how hands off he was and that his photos conveyed so much feeling. At our wedding he went out of his way to get the best possible shots for every moment without directing us. It actually felt like a wedding rather than a photo shoot. Everyone at the wedding felt comfortable with him and loved his style and presence. He felt like one of the group.
We highly recommend Pavel if you want
We highly recommend Pavel if you want
H. B. J.
Nov 18, 2012
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My husband and I had Pavel do our wedding photos and it was one of the best decisions we made. After a long search for photographers, Pavel's style spoke and appealed the most to us. Pavel is very professional, which makes working with him a breeze. He imposed no judgements and he is very flexible and aims to please the client.
When it came time to see the photos of the day, we were awestruck. It was amazing how he was able to capture the whole day's event (~12hrs) whilst being unnoticed throughout. It was if Pavel was a fly on the wall. The way he took the pictures, it was as if they were still
When it came time to see the photos of the day, we were awestruck. It was amazing how he was able to capture the whole day's event (~12hrs) whilst being unnoticed throughout. It was if Pavel was a fly on the wall. The way he took the pictures, it was as if they were still
Sarvenaz Kermanshahi
Sep 09, 2012
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We used Pavel for our engagement and wedding photos. We were really happy with our experience with Pavel, and would definitely recommend him. He is really passionate about photography, and this comes through in his work. The photos were really well done - beautiful shots that captured the day exactly as we want to remember it, with no cliche poses or shots. Pavel was really easy to work with, and he got us our photos very shortly after the shoot. Professionalism and quality.
