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IrinaPhotography aims for real, natural memories that are fresh, creative and beautiful

Interviewing Irina & Mihkel Fortey, Owners of IrinaPhotography

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, magazine-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 cozy Queen Street East studio to find out more...

Inotherwords... "Irina and Mihkel are delightful, courteous and incredibly talented. We were very impressed with Irina's style, professionalism and willingness to work with us..." - Jessi & Cameron McAlpine "We saw a slideshow they did for a co-worker of Rainer's and were really impressed with both the quality and style of their work. We prefer the documentary style of photos that they are so good at, and we wanted someone who would capture the details we wanted to remember. We actually didn't meet with any other photographers, as we were just satisfied with what they offered us... They have a great eye for what will make a good shot. Irina managed to catch the look on my face as my bridesmaids lowered my dress over my head and it's amazing..." - Faith & Rainer Pinto, married June 29, 2008

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 six years, and together for three. In the last year alone, Irina Photography has captured the memories of over fifteen weddings, the images from these events showing their obvious talent (see right). 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 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 photographer."

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 magazine, an online password-protected gallery, and a disc of your high resolution photos. 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 90% digital photos and 10% film and they use only top of the line professional Nikon equipment (with back-ups just in case). The company is based in Toronto off of the Don Valley Parkway 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 colors 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 two weeks after the event, and the proof magazines 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 $1300 to $3495, plus taxes and gratuities, depending on the package you book and the amount of hours you book them for. Their range is flexible with a 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." And, if you book your wedding between November 1st and May 1st, you get an off-season discount of 15%.

detailsdetailsdetails

• 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 proof album comes to you 4 to 6 weeks after the wedding, the remaining 25% is due.

Making contact...

Contact IrinaPhotography anytime via email at info@irinaphotography.ca, or by phone at 647-477-3995. Feel free to check out their vivid online photo gallery at www.irinaphotography.ca, or go browse their photos in person at their studio at 550 Queen Street East in Toronto.

- The Staff at TheWeddingRing.ca

- Review is based on research and personal opinion and may be subject to errors or omissions. Details may change without notice. Please contact this vendor personally for more information and confirmation of details.

- Photos used with permission of IrinaPhotography.

- Prices are all approximate and are subject to change and verification by authorized staff and management of IrinaPhotography.