Engagement Session at Casa Loma

Of course every couple wants a different vibe for their photos. You want the location you have your session in to reflect you, your relationship, and even highlight a place that holds meaning for you both.

The greatest thing about being in Toronto is how easy it is to find cool and unique spots to shoot. I’ve lived in the city for almost 10 years (which is crazy to say) and I’ve spent a lot of time exploring. I’m always trying new restaurants, looking to support local shops, and sometimes just walking around with my pup to take in the beauty of the busy (and not so busy) streets and hidden parks. What’s especially great about my exploration over the years is that it’s allowed me to create a whole resource of locations that are unique, have different vibes, and would make for crazy awesome engagement sessions photo locations. You let me know what you’re looking for and I’ll provide you with some specific spots that I think are a great fit for you from the laundry list of locations I have in my notebooks.

Mariyam and Aaron wanted to explore a quintessential Toronto neighbourhood to really capture that old Toronto feeling and aesthetic. Why? They were in the process of moving out of the city and they wanted to document memories of the place where their relationship had grown. I loved that idea and was completely on board. We walked around the Casa Loma steps and explored all the way along Dupont, detouring down some cool alleyways and following the light. We finished off our session at the Spadina subway station (which I actually think is the coolest subway platform in the city) and was so stoked to have a couple as excited as I was to take some photos there. The vintage and throwback vibe was perfect for the understated and calming mood that Mariyam and Aaron brought to the engagement session.

If you are in need of some guidance on how to choose an engagement location, maybe try thinking of a place that holds meaning for you. If you’re still stumped, think of what activities you love to do together or where you are hanging out on Saturday nights. The possibilities are endless and creating something that revolves around your true personalities will always create memorable and timeless images that you can hold dear and near to your hearts.

Location: Casa Loma Area

A Sunrise Engagement Session that Started at Underpass Park

I very briefly met Jackie and Skylar at the Gladstone Love Market back in February and it was not until a few months later where we were able to connect and get to know each other. Little did I know, these two people are both remarkable individuals (though I could have guessed) and incredibly talented dancers for the National Ballet of Canada. As you would expect, they are both very elegant and graceful (which made my job easy) but their relationship is also so soft and deliberate. Their appreciation for being present and embracing their environment really created the atmosphere of these images.

In an homage to Skylar's skater days back in LA (where he grew up) we started at Underpass Park and then headed west to where they now call home, The Candy Factory. They told me they are continually inspired by the industrial charm of the building and that they have spent a lot of time making it into their home. So maybe the photo of their couch with their stuffed animal dogs may seem hilarious or trivial, to them it's a documentation of their space in this moment in time. Where, in one year of living there, their philodendron has spread across the wall and taken over.

When I think about the photography that I do for others, being able to capture things just the way they were becomes really important. Photos will always trigger memories but they should also trigger emotion and I feel like that is my job. 

I can easily say that I am looking forward to their wedding next year in Los Angeles, but I'm even more excited to spend more time with these two and sharing what will definitely be a once in a life time experience.