Pyry Kantonen

Having studied as an architect, Pyry Kantonen says he thinks a lot about the space he is in as he’s photographing weddings—“how to position myself and my subjects in that space to capture not just the moment at hand, but the space and ambiance in which the moment happens.”

Architecture has also taught him to study and read light. “Light is the essence that photos are crafted with, so understanding it is really important to me,” he says. “As a documentarist, I like to use natural light. I don’t think there’s good or bad light; every weather and interior space has their advantages, and that’s what keeps the profession interesting. I’m there to document the wedding day in whatever conditions it takes place.”

Kantonen mainly shoots with two Sony bodies and likes to use prime lenses to “move in the space rather than zoom in and out. I like to shoot close.” He also likes his photos, while documentary in nature, to capture something more—“a sense of everyday magic and dreaminess, a hint of something that cannot be seen.”

Check out the official announcement of this year’s 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography, along with the editors’ observations on the list of 2021.