PHOTOGRAPHER | Chelsea Gurr

Chelsea Gurr is based in Toronto, Canada, and works throughout Canada and internationally. She is highly attuned to people, sensing when reassurance or space is needed, when to guide, and when to step back. Couples often appreciate not only the images but also the calm, un-rushed, and grounding experience. Chelsea Gurr's sensitivity is a quiet advantage, enabling her to create work that truthfully reflects a wedding's relationships, atmosphere, and subtle nuances.

Tell us about your business!

I photograph weddings for people who care more about meaning than perfection.

My work lives somewhere between documentary and editorial — grounded in real moments, but shaped by light, composition, and a deep appreciation for beauty. I’m drawn to what’s already there: the tension, the tenderness, the quiet in-between spaces that often hold the most weight.

I approach weddings the way I approach memory: imperfect, layered, emotional, and deeply human.

My business was shaped, in part, by loss. It’s taught me the value of images long before their significance is fully understood — how a photograph can matter not just when it’s made, but years later, as time gives it meaning. That awareness deeply informs my approach to not only photography and business, but life in general — paying attention before moments ask to be remembered.

What would you like couples to know about you?

I’m calm by nature, observant by instinct, and very intentional about when to step in and when to step back.

I don’t believe couples need to be “good at photos” to be photographed well — they need to feel comfortable, understood, and un-rushed. I offer gentle direction when it’s helpful, and space when it’s not. The way I work is rooted in how I make people feel, because the images are always a direct reflection of that experience.

If you’re drawn to a photographer who creates ease, guides with intention, and notices the moments in between, we’ll likely work very well together.

Where are you based?

I’m based in Toronto, Canada, and work throughout Ontario and Quebec, across Canada, and internationally.

Do you travel for weddings?

Absolutely. I’m always open to destinations that feel inspiring — particularly locations with history, texture, and a sense of place.

How would you describe your style?

Romantic, refined, and emotionally driven — without being precious.

My work is rooted in documentary storytelling, but shaped with an editorial sensibility. I’m drawn to movement, texture, real emotion, and images that feel lived-in rather than staged. Nothing overly posed, nothing overly polished — just honest moments, beautifully seen.

What is your most memorable career moment?

Photographing my first wedding in Europe — in Greece — was one of them.

It was a solo trip, my first wedding overseas, and it happened to fall on Mother’s Day and my birthday. I had been flown halfway across the world by people I had only just met, trusted to document one of the most important days of their lives — just three years into working full-time. It was one of those moments that asks you to stop and really take stock.

Around that same time, I had just begun shooting film. I brought my mom’s old camera into a repair shop and was told it would cost more to fix than it was technically worth — but sentiment won. The day I picked it up was the day this couple booked me. I brought that camera with me to Greece — the same place my parents honeymooned, and where my mom once carried it herself.

Full circle, to say the least.

What inspires you?

Travel, cinema, art, fashion, and human behavior.

I’m inspired by places with history — old buildings, changing light, and the way people move when they forget they’re being watched. I’m endlessly interested in emotion: not just joy, but tenderness, nerves, grief, humor, stillness. Weddings hold all of it, and that complexity is what keeps me invested.

A lot of this comes from my earliest understanding of memory — my grandmother’s photo albums, and the basket of loose photographs my mom kept that we would pour over as kids. That’s what memory looks like to me: imperfect, tactile, deeply human. I still return to those images often, and I’m constantly asking how that feeling — of holding a moment in your hands — can influence the way I photograph a wedding day.

How would you describe your working style?

Thoughtful, intuitive, and quietly confident.

I collaborate closely with planners and creative teams, respect the flow of the day, and adapt quickly when things shift (because they always do). I’m present without being intrusive — there to support the experience, not steer it.

Do you shoot digitally, on film or both?

Both.

I work with a hybrid approach, combining digital, 35mm and 120mm film. Film naturally slows things down and adds depth and texture that feels timeless. I’m intentional about when and why I use it — never for nostalgia alone, but for what best serves the story.

Do you have custom packages according to individual needs?

Yes — while I offer thoughtfully structured base collections, most weddings end up being tailored.

Every celebration has its own rhythm, priorities, and emotional weight, and I don’t believe in forcing that into a one-size-fits-all approach. Some days need more breathing room, some call for film woven throughout, some benefit from a slower pace or added coverage. Flexibility is part of how I work, and my clients tend to appreciate that their photography experience is shaped around their day, not the other way around.

What is a favorite product or service that you offer and why?

Unlimited-day wedding coverage with film woven throughout.

It allows the day to unfold without pressure, while documenting the subtle moments that often end up meaning the most years later. The kind of images you don’t realize you need until time has passed.

Where would you love to travel to for work?

France is at the top of my list — for the light, the history, the texture, the way stories feel embedded in the landscape. Musée Rodin in Paris, specifically, or anywhere in the Grand Est region.

More broadly, I’m drawn to places rich in color, architecture, and a sense of time passing: Scotland, Ireland, and England have a strong pull for me as well, not just visually but personally — they’re tied to my heritage, and photographing a wedding there would feel deeply meaningful. Anywhere with old walls, layered stories, and room for atmosphere feels like home creatively.

Who is your dream client?

Couples who value feeling over performance — but also care deeply about beauty.

They’re thoughtful, stylish, and have a strong sense of taste and tact. They care about the experience of the day as much as how it’s documented, trust the people they hire, and aren’t afraid to slow things down. They’re design-aware without being trend-driven, emotionally present, and open to letting moments unfold rather than forcing them.

They want photographs that feel like them — honest, layered, and timeless — and that reflect not just how their wedding looked, but how it felt.

What is your advice to couples getting married?

Make decisions that feel true to you, even if they don’t make sense to anyone else.

Trust the people you hire, give yourself permission to be present, and let go of the need to control every moment — the most meaningful memories usually live in the unplanned ones.

And one practical thing I always encourage: at some point during dinner, step away together. Just the two of you. Look back onto the dinner scene and really take it in. It’s one of the very few times in your life that everyone who has shaped your story is gathered in one place — and the only time you get to quietly witness it while it’s happening. Don’t rush past that.

Chelsea Gurr Photography

Website: chelseagurrphotography.com

Instagram Handle: @chelsea.gurr