Top 15 Engagement Photoshoot Locations in Toronto & Ontario
I figure January is probably THE best time of year to release my top engagement session locations, right? I’m pretty sure that Christmas and New Year are the most popular times for guys to pop the question and ladies everywhere to be getting a pretty diamond on their left hand.
Undeniably Toronto, Ontario and beyond offer up some insanely beautiful, dreamy backdrops for capturing your love story. This list does not do the province justice so keep in mind that truly the options are limitless. Hopefully this list of my top 10 (to date) might give you some inspo or a shove in the right direction.
Anyhoo let’s go…
The Kortright Centre
Location: Woodbridge
Permit Required: Yes
Gorgeous woodland area full of crazy high pines. Well worth the adventure, just beware the mosquitos during dusk on those summer nights.
Bluffers Park
Location: Scarborough
Permit: No
For sure my most popular spot for all outdoor sessions from engagement to maternity and family. It offers so much diversity in one spot from the sandy beach and epic cliff-line to the tall grass, rocky water ways and lake view. The only downside is that this is a hot spot for everyone so it’s often full of photogs on Fri, Sat and Sun nights. So you’re best to head their Mon-Thurs if you’re aiming for Golden Hour.
Scotsdale Farm
Location: Halton Hills
Permit: No
This is THE spot for getting those open fields filled with long grass shots. I am so in love with this place. It also has some old barns and buildings. Just be sure to take precautions for ticks as this would be a popular spot for them I imagine.
Polson Pier
Location: East Toronto Waterfront
Permit: No
If you are looking for that killer Toronto Skyline then Polson Pier is one of the best spots to get it. Getting a parking spot during Golden Hour on the weekends is a bit nuts and the boardwalk is short and FULL of photos all set up with tripods trying to capture beautiful city sunset shots. You’ll also liekly have competition for empty background spots with other photogs their with wedding couples. So my tip is to once again avoid the weekends where possible. Definitely worth the patience if you can spend a little time there working around the other peeps.
Andrews Scenic Acres
Location: Milton
Permit: Yes
This cute farm is so unique. It boasts it’s own flower field! It’s nuts pretty and 100% worth the permit fee. Dependant on the time of year there is also a sunflower field, hay bales, tall grass, apple orchard and a beautiful barn. So many freakin awesome photo spots of pure gold.
Knox College
Location: Toronto
Permit: Yes (and it’s hefty)
If you are looking for some pretty epic architecture you can’t go wrong with Knox College. Yes the permit packs a punch but it truly is a gorgeous facility to explore and capture your love story in. From the cool light that floods the Harry Potteresque corridors to the manicured gardens between the school building you’re in architecture heaven. Just know that if there’s already a wedding happening you cannot obtain a permit in that 2hr window.
Chedoke Falls
Location: Hamilton
Permit: No
Okay so this ones a little risky because there isn’t actually a route there anymore. When I first shot there a couple of years a go you could walk right up through the rocks no issue to the base of the waterfall but now they’ve fenced it up so you have to be a little more adventurous if you want to reach them. On the way up there’s gorgeous red sand/mud (not sure what it actually is) hill side and cute rock pools. If you head for here be prepared to climb rocks and get wet, it’s definitely for the more adventurous couples.
Dundas Peak
Location: Hamilton
Permit: No
I LOVE Dundas Peak. I know this is such an obvious choice and already a go-to spot for so many couples/photogs but there’s no way I could ever not include it. If you want killer views, a trail to get there and an epic sunset then you have to consider Dundas Peak. On the weekends expect to bump into a LOT of people checking out this cool view but with patience and some clever positioning you can get great, empty background shots.
Tip: I always park by Fisher’s Mill Park and head in the back way. You have to climb an embankment, then cross the railway tracks but then it’s only maybe a 10 minute walk to the peak. Enough of a trail to shoot cool shots but doesn’t leave you exhausted by the top or great if you are short on time.
Toronto Island + Ferry
Location: Toronto
Permit: No
The first time I made the day trip over to Toronto Island I was blown away, what a hidden gem no matter the season. It’s a super fun engagement session location. I often get my couples to bring bikes over or pack a picnic. You can get really creative with this adventure session. Don’t forget to use the Ferry. The skyline off the back AND the Ferry itself. It’s pretty cool as a backdrop and a little different to diversify your gallery.
Tip: Catch the first ferry of the morning to get it secluded and almost all to yourself.
St Lawrence Market
Location: Toronto
Permit: No
If you love the idea of an urban setting then picking St Lawrence Market for your engagement photos is a win. There are great options from cute coffee shops to the famous Gooderham Building. Park up, stroll around and you’ll find so many amazing photo spots both in and around the market.
Elora
Location: Elora
Permit: No
The town of Elora is so quaint and just picture perfect. Then of course you get Elora Gorge as an added bonus. Easy walk down and around the gorge any time of year makes this a great choice year round.
Distillery District
Location: Toronto
Permit: Yes
Massively popular and we all know why, because it’s gorgeous. The distillery district is a gerat spot for a rustic, urban engagement session. The buildings, the lights, the brick road, its all just awesome. BUT the permit is a stinger.
Tip: If you’re not fussed about going inside you actually don’t need a permit to shoot around the outside. You can use the exterior walls and surrounding buildings permit free. I’ve done this many times.
King Eldred Woodlands
Location: Whitchurch-Stouffville
Permit: No
This might be a favourite of mine for a few reasons, one of which being that it’s only 20 minutes from my home. Second would be that I love all provincial parks for engagement sessions and this one happens to have a super cool little pond/lake of water at the end. I’m just a lover of shooting love in the woods, especially in the Canadian Fall.
Now onto a few bucketlist locations for me because I’m yet to shoot at these (photos are not mine)…
Photo: Preeteesh Peetabh Singh/The Dialog
Bruce Peninsula
Location: Tobermory
Permit: I don’t think so
I have been dying to road trip up here for literally years so if any couples are up for a timmy’s road trip with me this summer let’s do it! Exploring the caves, shoreline, trails and cute town sounds incredible hey? Any takers?
John A. Brebner
Sandbanks Provincial Park
Location: Prince Edward
Permit: No
Another dreamy engagement shoot location I’ve had on my list for a while is this gem. I’ve never visited but have fallen in love with it just from online and word of mouth. I want to take a carefree, loved up couple there to run around the dunes, play fight in the water and light a night time bonfire to toast marshmallows in.
And thats that, I list of go to engagement locations. I am sure there are countless others but these are my favourites for sure. Hoping that this year I’ll get to tick off my two bucketlist items.
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