Meet the team from OOTTUM Fine Photography. They are modern, artistic and creative photographers that capture amazing moments. Their photography just says it all! Read up on our recent interview with them and don’t forget to check out their website.
OOTTUM FINE PHOTOGRAPHY
OOTTUM Fine Photography is a boutique wedding photography husband-wife team based in Toronto but also serves international clients who seek a personal experience and covet a soulful, intimate and modern collection of images that will help them remember all of the tiny and grand moments of their day. OOTTUM is run by Joti who is the primary photographer, creative lead and owner of the business and Jay is her second-shooter husband who also lends a creative eye. Together they create the perfect balance of a dreamer and a realist as your creative team.
What inspired you to get into photography?
I have been an artist for as long as I can remember. I went to a high school that specialized in the arts and this is where I picked up my dad’s Minolta for the first time and began to shoot black & white film and develop my own photos in the dark room. There was something so magical about the slowness and anticipation of an image you took a few days ago revealing itself in the developers and washes. I had indeed caught the photography bug and soon transitioned to digital which had it’s own mystique. Despite how quickly you could see an image on the back of a camera screen, I was still able to apply the same slowness I had learned to love about photography. It was more about waiting for and savouring the moment. I ended up going to OCAD University for environmental design (which is the study of architecture) after switching my major a couple times, so it was here where I had learned to appreciate balance, spacial relations and truly create rich spaces by understanding the environments we live in. I had been practicing photography throughout my entire university career and learned how the light would change and bend shadows at different times of the day and in different seasons. I also had a deep understanding of how the scale of a human being can drastically change the feel of a space by seeing it in context of how a space is to be used or interacted with. While I was in my ‘so-called’ third year of university, my cousin asked me to photograph her engagement shoot. I always like to project a little soul into my work so I asked some really personal questions and I tried to include as much of their story in the shoot. We spent a day together photographing them at a relaxed pace and it has been one of my favourite memories as a photographer. They had images on rotation at their wedding reception and soon after, I started to receive calls about doing other shoots. When I finished my education, I decided to set up my photography practice full time and haven’t looked back!
What is the meaning of OOTTUM and how did you come up with the name.
I always knew that if I were to create a practice of my own that it should center around something that was meaningful to me and would also be something that my clients could relate to. I’m in the business of love and so for me, this translates to that indescribable, heart-thumping interaction between two souls. Jay proposed to me on top of a mountain in Queenstown, New Zealand. This is where we both felt the most elevated, not only literally, but in all parts of our souls. OOTTUM means to ‘elevate and to dignify’ in sanskrit and this is how we came up with the name of our boutique photography business.
What is your style of shooting pictures?
We shoot in a very journalistic manner where our primary focus is on two things: real emotions and environments. A lot of this stems from my architectural background and so we always try to capture our couples in the context and spirit of the location they chose to get married. It really comes down to trust whenever we shoot. All of the couples who choose to work with us know that we love to spend our time with them and so the expectations are always laid out beforehand so they know how to get the best from us. We throw in a little bit of editorial-style in the mix when we do the couples portraits because we love how fashion-forward our couples are. This allows our couples to break from the formalities and have a little fun, but for the most part we shoot very journalistic and rarely get in the way of what’s truly happening throughout the day. Capturing ‘Your Day’ as it unfolds…unscripted.
What are your favourite pictures to take?
This is a tough question because there are many things that happen throughout a wedding day, however there are three very distinct moments we love to photograph. First of all, Jay and I love taking photos of the couple preparing for their day. It’s usually in the wee hours of the morning, where they’re both calm but slightly nervous and anxious. There’s a transition happening. They’re still themselves, but become more confident as they slowly start to put on each piece of clothing that makes them feel more and more like their wedding day is actually happening. Our second favourite time to shoot is during the actual ceremony. We love it when the couple catches glimpses of each other and interacts with the priest or officiant. This is also the best time to capture the reactions of the guests who are sharing the moment with them too. And finally, our most coveted photos to take is when we are alone with the couple for their mini-shoot. During this time we are privileged to spend the moments directly after they recite their vows to each other and become an official couple before they spend time with their guests at their reception. They’re now married and get to spend this time together…with us capturing it all. We try to keep the energy relaxed but in a positive manner. It’s so important for us to capture the energy that our couples are feeling at this time because this is usually when they’re both at ease, floating on cloud nine and trust our vision; this is key for the magic to happen. We always jump up and do cheesy fist bumps when we find out that a couple wants to do a ‘First-Look’ before their ceremony. This is the time when a couple sees each other for the first time in a relaxed manner and all of their emotions come spilling out…we’ve had couples cry, laugh and just hold each other so tightly. These are the best moments! As you can see it’s difficult to choose, but sometimes the best moments happen when you least expect them to.
What do you want viewers to take from your work?
Soulful, intimate and modern are the words that I would love for viewers to see in our work. These words make up the foundation and core of what we do and what we believe in when producing work for our couples. Everyone has a story and each is different, so it’s important for us to build really close relationships with the pair that hires us so we can understand what they envision for their day and truly understand their relationship with each other and those closest to them. We all come from somewhere. Our families have rich histories that sometimes can only be told in images because our loved ones are no longer present to tell it themselves. We hold on to artifacts tightly as fragments in time and space, of places we’ve never been to or could never imagine because they no longer exist. We are tellers of stories and we truly want to be the ones to capture the stories you share with your grandchildren and hope they’ll be able to hold these memories in their hands and close to their hearts. We try to keep it as real as possible and love it when people see value in what we do not only now, but for generations to come.
What do you advise people to look for when inquiring for a photographer for their next event?
Here’s 7 pieces of advice that are quite important to both the couple and the photographer who is being hired:
1. Choosing The Style Of Photography You Love
Do your research and figure out what type of photography style you love! This is extremely important because there are a lot of photographers out there who have differing styles and so it would be tough for a photographer to be approached by a couple who makes a lot of requests that do not necessarily fit into their style. Some shoot differently than others and some do light post-processing (editing) and only adjust for colour and lighting while others do a lot more tweaking and use various filters. It’s important to understand what kind of images you would like to see in your own wedding album while still reminding yourself that your wedding will be different, because no two weddings are ever alike.
2. This Photographer Has An Amazing Portfolio. I Should Book Them, Right?!
While, this is a good indication of their style and the photographer’s favourite images, it’s always a good idea to take a look at their journal or blog to see if you can see a full collection or at least a lot of photos from some of the weddings they’ve captured. This is important so you can see a full body of work and see if you like how they’ve captured various parts of the day. If the photographer hosts slideshows of their work on their website or on a site like vimeo, then that will give you a greater sense of how they shoot and capture the story of that day. This is one thing we at OOTTUM Fine Photography do for each of our clients because it’s much easier to share your day as a story than simply flipping through a gallery online. You can check them out here if you like: http://www.oottum.com/slideshows/
3. Know Your Exact Dates & Book Your Venue First
This is key as it’s very important to find out if the photography team you desire to work with is available for your date(s). Each couple chooses to plan their wedding with different timelines, however we usually recommend that you book your photographer at least 7 months to 1 year before your actual event(s). A lot of photographers get booked up quite early during the busy summer months, but you’ll be surprised to hear that a lot of photographers are now being booked as early as February and as late as November as couples are taking advantage of the off-season venue rates. Too many times we’ve had inquiries by couples who haven’t set a date and when they’re ready to book us, they find out that we’re already booked. To avoid disappoint, always have at least your date booked. It’s only fair to a photographer to hold a date with a deposit and a signed contract since most photographers work on a first-come, first-served basis.
4. Book A Decent Photographer
I know this may sound blunt, but it’s important to book a photographer who has an understanding about the flow and demands of a wedding day. Too many times I’ve come across old friends and other people who wish they had invested a little more on a photographer and less, say for example, on their dress. If the fee sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. If we stick with the dress example, an experienced and passionate photographer can make a less expensive dress look amazing, while someone who simply has a nice camera may not have the skills to make even the most expensive dress look as great as it costs. I did a styled shoot a little while back and made this dress for a mere $60 and look how this shoot turned out: http://www.oottum.com/the-woodsy-winter-styled-shoot-toronto-wedding-photographer/ This is not to say that a new photographer may not be super-talented, because everyone starts somewhere, but chances are, you’ll find that working with someone who is experienced will know how to pose you perfectly, find the best light and is able to communicate with you throughout the wedding process.
5. Chemistry With Your Photographer
Most photographers are in this industry because we love what we do. Once you’ve narrowed down your photographer choices, find out which one you’ll get along with the most. Always meet in person or at least do a Skype meeting if you are a significant distance apart. Ask how many weddings they shoot per year and if the photographer(s) you’re consulting with will actually be the ones to shoot your wedding. Some larger studios shoot a lot of weddings per year (often at times 2 or 3 weddings a weekend) and so you may be photographed by someone different who may also have a different shooting style. Our boutique studio only takes on a small number of commissions a year and we do this intentionally. We prefer to offer a personal experience and give necessary attention throughout the entire wedding planning process instead of just meeting at the initial meeting and showing up on your wedding day. We usually meet with our couples a number of times and even get to know their family members.
6. Do An Engagement Shoot
Make sure you do an engagement shoot with your photographer. This will allow you to get a little taste of what your chemistry will be like working with your photographer on the day of the wedding. You’ll get a little practice being in front of the camera and have an understanding of what’s expected of you on the wedding day and as a bonus, you’ll get some great photographs of you as a couple. Jay and I spend a day with our couples during this type of shoot so we can really get to know our couples and include personal details and complimentary styling to help unify their shoot! These are best type of sessions because it gives the couple a time-out from wedding planning and includes a lot of hand-holding, embracing and kissing (what groom would say no to spending time with his woman)! What’s not to love about an engagement shoot?!
7. Timing and Trust
Be realistic of the time you plan on your wedding day. Often times, couples cram a lot into one day and change their attire at least once and will want a portrait session with each costume change and expect a lot in very little time. It’s important to be mindful about how long each change will take, including any hair/make-up changes because this can impede your time with your photographer quite heavily. It’s important to set aside as much time as possible for your portrait sessions with your photographer because the best results always happen when you put in the time. Trusting your photographer, especially when they take you somewhere a little off-the-cusp or a little different may result in some of the best photos. 99% of the time when a couple trusts our vision and truly cares about their time with us, is when we can be our most creative and produce the most amazing images.
There are so many more tips and pieces of advice I could share, but these are by far the most important to us at OOTTUM Fine Photography. We try not to rush things because in a world that is moving too quickly, we try to slow things down a little and hold on to the idea that quality can’t be rushed. We know your story will be there; all of the details, characters, emotions and beauty wrapped into your day. We don’t have to tell people what to do or where to look. We won’t ask your family to hug you before you leave the house, because chances are, they’ll do it anyways, and if they do, we’ll be there to try and capture it – unscripted. We understand that weddings have structure, but we also know that great things happen when they are unplanned; spontaneous, wonderful things. We simply try to capture what happens as they happen before our lenses.
As we take photographs, Jay and I savour the little things. We savour the smiles you give each other. We savour your fleeting moments. We savour each breath at a time. This is how I feel OOTTUM Fine Photography tell stories.
Thank you Anchal and the rest of The Ultimate Affair team for allowing us to share our passion with you and your readers!
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