Motion & Emotion: A Six Day Punjabi Wedding by Joel & Justyna

‘A Favorite Image’
We love this photo because it symbolizes the crescendo of the Jago event, complete with fireworks and our couple’s embrace. A peak-energy event closing on a bang!

The Gear and Details

Gear
Fuji XT3/4 & 5, Contax 645, Canon elan 7e

Coverage:
2 main photographers over 6 days (44 hours)
2 additional photographers over 2 days

Photographer: Joel & Justyna

Setting the Scene

Because we had photographed our couple in Winnipeg for a separate western ceremony a month before, we understood that they were very involved and interested in collaborating with us to make photos and wanted to prioritize capturing each and every moment in detail to the fullest. This helped us design a gameplan that truly emphasized photography. Knowing our locations from having previously shot in some of these venues, helped us design a timeline where we knew where we would be and what we’d be doing.

Other times, we relied on our instincts, seeing light, compositions, and ideas in real-time which allowed us to be loose and flexible. Kaira and Tanvir were very encouraging and respectful about how we work and were always willing to participate in the ideas we planned, and those we discovered in real-time.

Ceremonies

“There were many events throughout the week that Justyna and I shot without assistance, but the main ceremony on day 5 took place in the outside courtyard of a venue we had previously shot. We knew that there would be a lot happening that morning with hundreds of guests, our groom arriving by horse (baraat) and the union of families, followed by the ceremony. This required us to employ the help of two additional shooters. We didn’t want to be too rigid in directing them. We did, however, ask for one of them to focus on wide shots, and the other to get in the mix to produce more intimately-distanced photos and details. The ceremony location had many elevated shooting opportunities and as such, we didn’t need a drone.”

‘Behind the Image’
The main event, the wedding ceremony, took place at the Liberty Grand courtyard in downtown Toronto. What could have been mistaken as a location in India served as a perfect location for the deeply spiritual and meaningful union. Here, the guests, donned in their colourful outfits took shelter from the intense heat, watching the union unfold, and listening to the peaceful live music that played throughout.

This profile portrait of our groom after the haldi came to us before he had a moment to wash the yellow turmeric paste from his face as we liked the juxtaposition of his nicely groomed outfit and hair and the chaotic splash of colour.

Portraits

Even with careful consideration and previsualized ideas-formed, when it comes to the actual moment, light can be difficult, weather can be oppressive, and the timeline may only now afford for limited amounts of time before having to move to another location. All of these variables came into play at some point throughout the week. We needed to stay loose and fluid with our shooting, watching for interesting light and locations as ideas formed. This style of shooting might be stressful for some, but it’s where we live!

The Roses
For this portrait, we simply saw how the light was falling on a table adjacent to him, sat him in a chair and began shooting. Justyna felt that the shot lacked a little something, so asked the florist for some roses we noticed her installing earlier that day. We had Tanvir hold a bunch, and the photo just came together. You can’t always plan for these things as the very nature of a wedding timeline doesn’t always allow for pre-conceived ideas to come to fruition. You’ve got to adapt!

Behind the Portrait
A noble portrait of our groom, Tavir…One of many sessions we had with him during the week. We’ve never had a groom so eager to have as many portrait sessions as possible and his (and our bride Kaira’s) energy and enthusiasm in helping make fun, varied photos was contagious and collaborative in a way we hadn’t before experienced.

‘A Favorite Portrait’
We’ve never had a couple so eager to spend time taking as many photos as possible, participating in many planned and impromptu portrait sessions throughout the week. Here, on day 5 of festivities, we had a little time to relax on Lake Ontario to take some photos on a yacht the couple commissioned, Toronto’s skyline visible in the background. Their beautiful red, hand embroidered outfits popped especially well against the blue sky, lake, and buildings.

Reception

“The reception was a large family style dinner at the Fairmont Royal York with over 500 guests, but the intention was still to make it feel intimate and personal. Kaira and Tanvir wanted to recreate the feeling of the big dinner parties and gatherings they grew up with, so there was this constant sense of hospitality with food, drinks, chai and lassi flowing directly to guests throughout the evening.”

“From a photography perspective, it was important for us to capture both the scale of the room and the smaller moments happening inside it. With that many people, there is always something unfolding, so we tried to stay fluid, moving between wide frames that showed the full atmosphere and closer images that felt more personal and connected.”

The High Energy Pick
This image was chosen because it encapsulates the energy, joy, and chaos of the couple’s Jago evening. The whole neighborhood served as the backdrop for this event which included a mobile dj, 8-foot-tall robot holding lasers and dual smoke guns, drummers, and hundreds of guests in tow.

“The energy was full but not chaotic in a way that felt overwhelming. It was more about watching how people moved through the space, how conversations formed, how music shifted the room, and how the couple’s intention for connection carried through the night.”