When it comes to wedding memories, many brides are opting for photography that will have them reliving their day through their photos for many years to come. At least that's a belief that has Irina and Mihkel Fortey, Owners of IrinaPhotography, focusing on a candid approach to wedding photography, along with 'fresh, creative, beautiful' designs and photographs. At IrinaPhotography, the focus is on the challenge of capturing those real, natural memories that are unique to your wedding. They do this in a photojournalistic style that's about life and love as much as it is about the wedding day itself.

Based out of Toronto (but always happy to travel in the name of a great wedding!), Irina and Mihkel each bring their own creative style to the photos they take. They make it their job to capture your day as it happens, show it off to you in an online slideshow, and add polish to your collection of final memories by publishing them in a modern-style album. These are just some of the reasons a bride could love IrinaPhotography, and why it was such a treat for staff at The Ring to get our chance to sit down with this husband-wife team in their home-based gallery in Lawrence Park to find out more...

Personally speaking...

Irina considers herself a 'photojournalistic lifestyle photographer', saying that it's her love for people - and the interactions between them - that is the true driving force behind her passion for photography. Irina is the main photographer at IrinaPhotography, coming to the table with a certificate in Photo Studies from Ryerson University, a background of two years of Business Management studies at Ottawa University and finally an Economics Honours Degree from York University.

Her husband, Mihkel, is self-taught, having originally learned through practice and on-the-job shooting as a photography assistant. Mihkel and Irina consider their husband-wife approach to be a big asset when it comes to wedding photography. Working together, they find it easier to cover more ground and more personalities, helping ensure that no moment goes unnoticed. "We both have a passion for photography... We each have a style that we are able to combine to tell the story of your day from dual viewpoints... We are both perfectionists," explained Irina, "Anything less than perfect is unacceptable. For either of us."

Mihkel and Irina have both been photographing individually for eight years, and together for six. The company is a member of Wedding & Portrait Photographers International so they keep up to date on the latest trends and equipment in the photography industry.

The philosophy behind the photographs

Irina and Mihkel believe that what sets them apart from the competition is their ability to capture "natural and real moments." They add that the challenge of capturing those moments is what continues to inspire them after photographing so many weddings.

In order to play out this philosophy, Irina and Mihkel want to blend in with the crowd when they shoot a wedding. They say they strive to "be unobtrusive, and have others feel like we are wedding guests, just hanging out, but with a camera in hand. We want the couple to forget that we are there," says Irina. This seems to hold true as one comment they hear all the time is, "How did you capture those things, we didn't even see you?!"

Connections count

Irina and Mihkel know that the best way to get true candid-style memories on film is to make a connection with each of their couples before the wedding day. By creating a comfort zone and a friendship, they say they're able to ensure they get all the best shots and make the bride and groom "the stars of the day."

"Your wedding day is your vision," says Irina, so when meeting with IrinaPhotography, she says you'll never get a sales pitch. Irina and Mihkel want prospective clients to feel comfortable, be able to view their work in beautiful albums, and ask all the questions that they have.

One of Irina's recent couples, Jessi and Cameron McAlpine told The Ring that this connection worked well between the couple and photographer for their day, "Irina and Mihkel are able to get the shots they need very quickly and are very in tune with their subjects. On our wedding day it was about 6000 degrees outside. Irina knew right when to move the shoot to our air conditioned suite, giving us the break we needed to join the reception in high spirits. Irina is magnificent at capturing personalities in candid moments. They are also great at detail shots and organization."

"We believe that choosing a photographer is a very personal decision and not one to be taken lightly," Irina told us, "So we encourage couples to view other photographers' work, too, so they will get someone who can capture them naturally, someone to showcase their day and who they are as people."

Irina and Mihkel say they love to use the ideas from couples as inspiration for their shoot, which is why they sit down to discuss their ideas and discover their personalities so both can be portrayed through their photos. "We want everyone to feel that they got what they deserve from us as their photographers."

Before every wedding, to ensure that their clients receive quality work, Irina and Mihkel ask themselves, "What are we looking for as a result of this wedding? What are some cool ideas that we have to capture? How can we outdo the last event?" They say they don't want to overlook any detail, so they go in with a plan.

Their perfectionist attitudes also shine through as they make sure they are prepared for every wedding shoot, going over the venue prior to the day and checking out every angle they could shoot from. "It's all about the images in the end," says Irina.

Services & packages

If you book Irina and Mihkel for an eight hour wedding shoot (their most popular package), you receive around 1200 to 1500 pictures to choose your prints from. All packages include a best-of-the-best slideshow of the top photos posted online, a set of proofs printed in a modern album, a set of printed proofs, full resolution ready to print files, and an online password-protected gallery. The team colour-corrects all proofs and removes the blinks and bad photos only - otherwise, you get to see all of the pictures shot.

They shoot 100% digital photos and they use only top of the line professional Nikon equipment (with back-ups just in case). The company is based in Toronto in the heart of Lawrence Park in an accessible, convenient location in the downtown core, but both Irina and Mihkel love to travel and welcome all destinations - even International ones. "We're happy to travel for a great wedding day."

Irina says, "Vintage-inspired sepia images, and a 70s look and feel with blues, yellows and other bright colours are trends in the photography industry right now." She adds that while she does love to use the sepia, she believes that photographs should be clean, simple, vibrant and colourful. "Trends become outdated," says Irina, advising that couples should look for photos that are timeless and real.

Walking you through the process

First, contact IrinaPhotography via their online form (found on their website), or by phone to book an appointment. Irina and Mihkel are available to meet anytime - weekends, days or nights. In your initial meeting, Irina and Mihkel will show you their work (of which there are tons of samples to browse through in their studio), discuss your dreams and visions, and go over the packages they offer. They recommend booking eight months before your wedding, but accept last minute bookings up to a week before, if they are available.

Once you shop around (which Irina suggests) and decide on IrinaPhotography, 25% of your package total is due to ensure they're all yours for your wedding day. They try to stay in constant contact with the bride and groom and even friends and family who will be involved in the wedding shoot so they can make sure all of the ideas and needs are met. One week before your wedding, 50% of the payment is due.

After the wedding, the online slideshow is up within seven days so the couple can share the best photos with friends and family right away. Online proofs are available four weeks after the event, and the proofs are ready within four to six weeks. When you receive your proofs, and before thirty days after your wedding, the remaining 25% of your payment is due.

Pricing it out...

Irina and Mihkel say they love working with "Outgoing, outside-the-box thinkers who are creative and comfortable." They also say they can work with any budget and can cover any clients' needs, as well as price points. "We are good with big or small budgets, we will cover it all," says Irina. She adds, "One thing couples are always surprised by is the pricing."

Their prices range from $2295 to $3995, plus taxes and gratuities, depending on the package you book and the amount of hours you book them for. Their range is flexible with à la carte items, so you can pick what you want. Irina says the average bride spends $2500, "We find this is where most couples start with their photography investment."

Details, details, details

• Irina and Mihkel recommend booking IrinaPhotography 8 months to a year before your wedding date.
• 25% of your total package price is due at booking as a non-refundable deposit.
• Another 50% is due 1 week before the wedding.
• Soon after the wedding, your online slideshow will be ready, and when your proofs come to you 4 to 6 weeks after the wedding, the remaining 25% is due.

In other words...

"[The photos] are breathtaking... truly amazing... and to have them all to our first dance song brought the goose bumps back all over again! Eric and I have both watched the slideshow three times already with many more times to come… Thanks SO much!" - Danielle & Eric

"My week has started off on a high note thanks to the slideshow - I'm sure you won't be surprised that Vince and I love it. It's so hard to choose favourites - I really adore all of the images. I especially enjoy seeing the ones of our guests - it's so hard to soak in the details during the day because there's so much going on and you and Mihkel did such a fantastic job of documenting everything… Everyone who's looked at the photos/slideshow has such positive comments. One of my co-workers even told me they're the best wedding photos she's ever seen. You and Mihkel rock!" - Lesley & Vince

"… your work truly means so much to people and you managed to catch us all in our glory on one of the best days of my life. I feel so lucky to have had you and Mikhel there to capture it… Words alone cannot capture the incredible talent of these two amazing photographers! I knew almost immediately that I'd made the right choice. I was walking down the hall in my dress for the first time. Irina took a few pics of me and then she turned on her heel and captured the reactions of my father, mother and brother-in-law. That's why I hired them. They catch those amazing but small moments that I'll cherish forever. We couldn't be more pleased with how the day and the pictures turned out. I'll forever remember in great detail everything about our wedding day!" - Holly & Scott

"Both Irina and Mihkel are highly professional and personable. They are very talented and true at what they do. We love our photos, every moment has been captured with true beauty." - Jessica & Michael

"Irina and Mihkel did such an amazing job on both our wedding photos as well as our engagement photo shoot. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone for both their excellent photojournalism photography style as well as their excellent professionalism. It was a real pleasure to work with them. We've already had several requests for referrals to them." - Joanna & Peter

"IrinaPhotography is the best of the best! Mihkel and Irina do such wonderful, beautiful work and are always open to suggestions. They're flexible, friendly and most of all they take wonderful pictures that capture the moment perfectly!" - Memie & Ryan