There are certain moments during a wedding day that transcend mere documentation and become something profoundly artistic. This particular image from a Sassafraz wedding represents exactly that kind of moment—a suspended fragment of time where technical precision meets genuine human emotion. As the wedding photographer behind this frame, I can tell you that creating images like this requires far more than simply pointing a camera at a couple cutting their cake.
The reception was in full swing at one of Toronto's most distinguished venues, and I had been observing this couple throughout the evening. Their chemistry was undeniable, the kind that makes a photographer's job simultaneously easier and more challenging—easier because the authentic connection is already there, more challenging because you feel the weight of responsibility to capture it perfectly. When the cake cutting moment approached, I positioned myself strategically, anticipating not just the action but the emotion that would accompany it.
I was shooting with the Canon EOS R5 paired with the RF 85mm f/1.2L USM lens, a combination that has become my go-to for intimate reception moments. The RF 85mm is an absolute masterpiece of optical engineering—its razor-thin depth of field at f/1.2 creates that impossibly smooth bokeh that makes subjects float off the background, whilst maintaining critical sharpness exactly where you need it. For this particular moment at the Sassafraz wedding, I stopped down slightly to f/2.0, giving me just enough depth to keep both the bride and groom in sharp focus whilst still maintaining that beautiful subject separation.
The lighting in this frame is what elevates it from a simple snapshot to a professional wedding photograph. The Sassafraz provides gorgeous ambient lighting, but I supplemented it with my own off-camera flash positioned at approximately 45 degrees to camera left, modified through a medium-sized softbox. The flash power was dialled down to maintain the ambient atmosphere whilst providing just enough fill to lift the shadows and add that crucial catch light in both their eyes. The resulting illumination is soft, directional, and completely natural-looking—exactly what you want for intimate moments like this.
The colour temperature hovers around 3800K, giving the image that warm, romantic glow that feels inherently wedding-appropriate. There's a delicate balance here—too warm and it looks artificially orange, too cool and you lose that intimate feeling. The Canon EOS R5's exceptional colour science makes hitting this balance significantly easier, but it still requires a trained eye and years of experience to nail it consistently.
Composition is where technical skill transforms into visual storytelling. I've positioned the couple slightly off-centre, following the classical rule of thirds whilst allowing the two-tiered semi-naked cake to occupy its own important space in the frame. The cake itself is a work of art—decorated with roses and lush green foliage that echoes the organic, natural aesthetic that defines contemporary wedding design. The detail work on this cake is exquisite, and I made sure to position myself at an angle that showcases both the texture of the exposed cake layers and the delicate floral arrangements.
Behind the couple, you can see elegant wall panelling and a mirror that adds depth to the composition. This wasn't accidental—I specifically chose this angle because that mirror creates visual interest in what would otherwise be empty negative space. The reflection provides context and dimension, subtly reminding viewers that this intimate moment is happening within a larger celebration. You can see similar attention to compositional detail throughout the complete gallery of this Sassafraz cake cutting ceremony.
When I critique my own work, I try to be brutally honest about what succeeds and what could be improved. This particular frame succeeds on multiple levels. First, the emotional authenticity is undeniable—you can see the genuine joy and connection between this couple. The bride's delicate grip on the knife, the groom's protective hand placement, the slight lean of their bodies towards each other—these are unposed, genuine gestures that reveal their relationship dynamic.
The shallow depth of field creates beautiful subject separation without sacrificing the environmental context. The groom's tailored blue suit and crisp white shirt remain in perfect focus, as does the bride's stunning lace-detailed gown and veil. The boutonniere—carefully coordinated to match the cake's floral decorations—adds a cohesive visual element that ties the composition together. These details matter immensely in wedding photography because they're part of the couple's carefully curated aesthetic vision.
The bokeh quality from the RF 85mm f/1.2L is simply phenomenal. Look at how the background elements dissolve into creamy, smooth circles of light—this is what £2,800 worth of Canon glass gets you. That buttery smooth out-of-focus rendering cannot be replicated in post-processing; it's purely optical magic created by the lens's sophisticated element design and wide aperture.
Capturing the image is only half the battle; post-processing is where you refine the vision and bring out the photograph's full potential. My approach to editing Sassafraz wedding photography is rooted in enhancement rather than transformation. I begin in Adobe Lightroom Classic, where I make my global adjustments—white balance refinement, exposure optimization, and initial contrast work.
For this image, I employed a split-toning technique, adding subtle warmth to the highlights whilst keeping the shadows slightly cooler. This creates dimensionality and prevents the image from feeling flat. I used graduated filters to gently darken the upper portion of the frame, drawing the viewer's eye towards the couple and the cake. The luminance adjustments in the HSL panel were crucial—I reduced the luminance of the greens slightly to prevent the foliage from competing with the subjects, whilst boosting the luminance in the skin tones to create that luminous, glowing quality.
In Photoshop, I performed targeted skin retouching using frequency separation—a technique that allows you to address texture issues without sacrificing skin detail. The goal is never to make people look plastic or overly processed; rather, it's to present them as the best version of themselves. I also dodged and burned strategically, adding micro-contrast to the bride's dress details and the cake's texture whilst ensuring the couple's faces remain the brightest elements in the frame.
Colour grading was the final step—I used Photoshop's Colour Lookup Tables combined with custom adjustment layers to achieve that signature warm-yet-sophisticated look. The blue of the groom's suit was enhanced slightly to provide colour contrast against the predominantly warm tones, creating visual interest and preventing colour monotony.
This single frame represents countless hours of practice, equipment investment, and artistic development. The Canon RF system has revolutionised wedding photography—the RF mount's wider diameter and shorter flange distance allow for optical designs that simply weren't possible with EF mount lenses. The RF 85mm f/1.2L USM exemplifies this advancement, delivering corner-to-corner sharpness and bokeh quality that rivals medium format systems.
But technology alone doesn't create compelling images. What makes this photograph work is the convergence of technical expertise, artistic vision, and genuine human connection. I positioned myself to capture this moment because I understood its significance in the wedding day narrative. I used specific equipment because I knew it would render the scene exactly as I envisioned. I processed the image with intention, enhancing rather than altering reality.
The Sassafraz wedding venue provided the perfect backdrop—its elegant architecture and sophisticated atmosphere complement rather than overwhelm the human story unfolding within its walls. Great venue selection matters enormously in wedding photography, and couples who choose locations like Sassafraz demonstrate an understanding of how environment shapes imagery.
Looking at this image months after the wedding day, I'm reminded why I love this profession. Wedding photography isn't about creating perfect pictures; it's about preserving genuine moments of human connection. This couple's first task as married partners—cutting their beautiful cake together—represents unity, cooperation, and the sweet beginning of their shared journey. My job as their photographer was to ensure this moment would be remembered not just in their memories but in a tangible, beautiful form they can revisit for decades to come.
The technical excellence—the impeccable focus, the beautiful light, the thoughtful composition—serves the emotional truth at the image's core. That's what separates professional wedding photography from casual snapshots. Every decision, from lens selection to post-processing technique, was made in service of telling this couple's unique story in the most compelling, authentic way possible.
