The
Engagement
Session Guide
congratulations.
We are so glad
it is the two of you.
Somewhere between the proposal and the wedding day, there is this quieter chapter. A walk through a garden in your favourite light. A bottle of wine on the porch. A slow afternoon spent doing nothing but being in love with each other. The engagement session is that chapter.
This is not a rehearsal. It is the first time the two of you will be photographed as a couple who chose each other for the rest of it. We take that seriously, and we take it gently.
Inside this guide is everything we want you to know before we meet. Read it on the couch. Read it over coffee. Pass it back and forth. By the time we are together, the only thing left to think about is each other.
What to expect,
from start to finish
There is no pressure to look camera-ready from the first minute. We walk the location together and talk. The camera stays down until you are comfortable.
We give you small prompts. Walk this way. Lean in. Say something only the two of you would understand. Most couples stop noticing the camera within fifteen minutes. These are often our favourite frames.
We move between locations, the light shifts, and we change outfits if you have brought a second one. This is where the session opens up. You are relaxed, the light is good, and we are simply capturing.
Most sessions are timed around golden hour, when the light turns warm and directional. Some are built around blue hour, the moodier fifteen to thirty minutes after sunset, with its quiet, cinematic register. Others sit in soft afternoon light, especially when the concept is indoor or interior-led. We choose the window with you, based on what we are making together.
Your gallery arrives within four to six weeks. We send a private link with high-resolution downloads and printing rights.
The first
fifteen minutes
belong to you.
Most couples tell us, somewhere between booking and arriving, that they are nervous about being in front of the camera. We would rather you knew, before you ever stand on a sidewalk with us, that this is the most natural feeling in the world.
The awkward phase is real. It exists for nearly every couple, and it passes. We build extra time into every session for this reason. There is no pressure to be on from the moment we say hello.
- →You do not need to know how to pose. We guide every movement.
- →You do not need to look at the camera. Most of our best work happens when you are looking at each other.
- →Laughter, a stumble, a private joke. These are the moments we are waiting for. Not a held pose.
- →We have worked with every type of person. Introverts. Quiet ones. The "I hate photos" crowd. They all leave surprised.
When to book and
what time of day matters
How far in advance
Two to four months ahead of your wedding is the sweet spot. It gives you room to use the photographs for save-the-dates and lets us plan around the season, the light, and any venue permits. Shorter timelines happen all the time, and we genuinely love a well-planned last-minute session. If your window is tighter than this, talk to us. We will make it work.
Session length
Our sessions run sixty to ninety minutes. That comfortably holds two locations or two outfits without burning you out. For multi-location editorial sessions or out-of-town shoots, we recommend two and a half to three hours. We will advise based on what you are envisioning.
Why weekdays beat weekends
Every iconic Toronto location is significantly less crowded Monday through Thursday. Casa Loma. The Distillery District. Yorkville. Allan Gardens. The same photograph taken on a Tuesday morning versus a Saturday afternoon is a different image entirely. If you can take a weekday off, take it. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday give us the cleanest backgrounds.
The year, by the month
Every month has a concept that suits it. The light, the air, the foliage, the interiors that come into their own when the weather turns. This calendar is built around Toronto, but the principles travel. We work with couples internationally, and we are happy to plan around East Coast or West Coast conditions on request.
The location is
part of the image.
A location is not a backdrop. It is a participant. The depth of a marble lobby. The quiet of a conservatory in winter. The texture of brick on a cobblestone street at dusk. These elements are as deliberate as your outfit.
The settings that hold up over time tend to fall into two camps. The first is conceptual, chosen for the register it brings to the frame: a heritage interior, a modernist gallery, a vineyard at harvest, a cliffside at dusk. The right concept gives a session its visual language before we have taken a single image. The second is sentimental, chosen for what the place already holds between the two of you. The kitchen of your first apartment. The trail you walked the night of the proposal. The bench you keep returning to. Either approach works. The most memorable sessions usually weave both.
The worst outcome of any session is a setting chosen because everyone else goes there. What follows is the edit we work from.
Every kind of location
worth considering
The Heritage Edit
Castles, châteaux, private historic estates, members' clubs, heritage libraries. Spaces that signal permanence and refinement before anyone speaks.
Examples we loveCasa Loma · Dundurn Castle (Hamilton) · The University Club of Toronto · The Toronto Hunt Club · The Albany Club · The Spoke Club · Toronto Reference Library · Fairmont Royal York Library Bar.
The Architectural Edit
Modernist museums, glass houses, contemporary galleries, design-forward studios. Spaces where the architecture itself is the styling.
Examples we loveAga Khan Museum · AGO · ROM Crystal addition · architect-designed rentals across Muskoka and PEC · private modernist homes.
The Hospitality Edit
Boutique hotel lobbies, bars, signature interiors. Vineyards after public hours. Restaurants before service. The point is not the room number. It is what the room can offer in the way of mood, finish, and light.
Examples we loveThe Ritz-Carlton Toronto · Hazelton Hotel bar and lobby · Windsor Arms heritage rooms · Writers Room rooftop at the Park Hyatt · Hotel X rooftop bar · Drake Devonshire common rooms · Konzelmann private barrel cellar.
The Outdoor Edit
Cliffs and bluffs over open water. Vineyards in full bloom. Sand dunes that read like a desert. Formal greenhouses where the light is glass-filtered all year. Quiet island settings within reach of the city.
Examples we loveScarborough Bluffs · Ward's Island · Toronto Islands · Bruce Peninsula cliffs · Sandbanks Provincial Park dunes · Two Sisters Vineyards · Blue Mountain in autumn · Allan Gardens Conservatory.
The Cinematic Edit
Yachts and sailboats. Private airstrips and helicopter hangars. Equestrian estates. Vintage cars. Spaces and objects with a cinematic register that cannot be replicated in a studio.
Examples we loveRoyal Canadian Yacht Club · private sailing charters from Harbourfront · Sunnybrook Stables · Toronto Polo Club · Burlington Executive Airport private hangars.
Toronto, familiar
but done well
Casa Loma
A genuine castle in the middle of the city. Ornate wood, formal gardens, and indoor light through arched windows that is exquisite in any season. Permits required, paid per session.
Permit requiredThe Distillery District
Victorian-era brick on cobblestone streets. Strongest at blue hour when the gas lamps come on. Free to access, but plan around tourist crowds. A quiet weekday morning gives the cleanest frame.
Permit-freeYorkville
Brownstone-lined streets, mansion-row mews, the Mink Mile shopfronts. Reads like the Chelsea neighbourhood of Manhattan with Toronto bones. Strongest as editorial street photography. Avoid weekends; the crowds dilute the frame.
Permit-freeAllan Gardens Conservatory
Victorian-era glass conservatory with tropical palms and tiled floors. Generous to handheld photography during open hours, free of charge. Schedule for early weekday mornings; the indirect light through glass is unmatched in winter.
Permit-freeAga Khan Museum & Park
Fumihiko Maki architecture in white granite. Persian-style formal garden with reflecting pools and absolute geometric stillness. Reads as Mediterranean-modern in spring and autumn.
Permit requiredToronto Music Garden
Designed in collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma. Sculptural plantings, intimate paths, water on three sides. A quieter alternative to the Harbourfront crowds. Strongest in late May and early September.
Permit-freeScarborough Bluffs
A 65-metre escarpment over Lake Ontario. Reads cinematic at golden hour, with light raking across the cliff face and the water beyond. Plan footwear; the trails are unforgiving. Bluffer's Park has the most accessible vantage.
Permit-freeHigh Park
Cherry blossom canopies in the last week of April. Formal beds in summer, oak forest trails in autumn. Time-stamped to the season but unmatched in those windows. The blossom window is roughly seven days.
Permit-freeThe interiors
worth booking
Windsor Arms Hotel
The most consistently editorial-looking interior in the city. Velvet lounges, hand-cut chandeliers, intimate dining rooms restored to 1920s detail. Photography by arrangement with the hotel; signature suites available for booking.
By arrangementThe Hazelton Hotel
Marble, leather, a hushed and discreet luxury register that runs through the entire ground floor. The lobby and bar are the heart of it. Both photograph beautifully in the early evening, when the lighting warms up and the rooms quiet down. Access by arrangement with the hotel.
By arrangementFairmont Royal York
Hand-painted lobby ceilings and a grand staircase that reads like a European hotel. The Library Bar is a separate jewel. Photography permitted by appointment; the lobby is most beautifully lit in the early evening.
By appointmentSoho House Toronto
Set inside a Georgian manor on Adelaide. Members and guests of members only. If you have access, the entire building is editorial: rooftop, library, drawing rooms, screening room. We can advise on guest-of-member arrangements.
Members onlyElgin & Winter Garden Theatre
The last operating double-decker theatre in the world. Velvet, gilt, leaf-painted ceilings. The entire theatre can be booked exclusively for your session, which is when it truly comes alive. The single most cinematic interior in Toronto. Requires advance planning of two to four weeks.
Private bookingThe Drake Hotel & Sky Yard
Speakeasy-style interior on the ground floor and a panoramic rooftop bar at the top. Flexible for off-peak weekday access. The Sky Yard offers a relaxed west-end skyline with strong character of its own.
By arrangementThe Broadview Hotel
Restored Victorian exterior with a contemporary 360-degree glass rooftop. East-facing skyline at dusk. Lobby and rooftop both photograph well. The Lincoln owner's lounge has been used for editorial sessions by appointment.
By arrangementToronto Reference Library
Raymond Moriyama's atrium of cantilevered tiers, warm wood, indirect light. Permit required for tripod work; handheld is generally permitted. Strongest on a quiet weekday morning, with the upper tiers as the backdrop.
Permit for tripodWhere Ontario
opens up
Drake Devonshire
A contemporary art-hotel directly on Lake Ontario. Vintage interior, modernist additions, a private pebble beach, the glass Pavilion. 2.5-hour drive from Toronto. The full property reads as a styled editorial set.
By arrangementThe Royal Hotel Picton
A meticulously restored heritage hotel in the heart of Picton. Original brick and millwork paired with a contemporary refurbishment that reads quietly luxurious throughout. Lobby, library bar, dining room, and signature suites all photograph beautifully. By arrangement.
By arrangementKonzelmann Estate Winery
The only winery in Niagara directly on Lake Ontario. Vineyard rows leading to open water, a lakefront gazebo, a barrel cellar. Sunrise over the rows is unmatched. Photo passes are issued by the winery.
Photo passTwo Sisters Vineyards
European-inspired estate architecture, formal courtyards, a Tuscan register that reads timeless. Strongest in late May through early October. By arrangement; the winery accommodates private engagement sessions outside service hours.
By arrangementWindermere House
Built on the shore of Lake Rosseau in 1870. White-painted wraparound verandas, lake docks, manicured grounds. The "Lady of the Lake," and Muskoka's most photographed estate. Worth the three-hour drive in late June through September.
Hotel guest accessBigwin Island Club
A storied 1920s island estate, sensitively restored and elevated with a modern sensibility. Pavilioned architecture, lakeside terraces, lawns that drop into open water. Reached by a private ferry from the mainland. Among the most architecturally striking settings in the region. By arrangement.
By arrangementSunnybrook Stables & Toronto Polo Club
Engagement sessions with horses by arrangement. White fences, paddocks, the stillness horses bring to a frame. Spring through early autumn. The polo club requires more advance notice; the stables are more flexible week to week.
By arrangementSailing on Lake Ontario
A short charter on Lake Ontario or Toronto Harbour. The light on water is unrepeatable. Coordination through the RCYC for members, or through a private charter. Plan for two-hour blocks. The skyline at golden hour is the frame.
Charter required
The location
nobody else has.
The locations we suggest most often are the ones that already mean something to you.
The grandest interior in Toronto cannot compete with the kitchen of the apartment you used to share, photographed at the right hour. The most elegant winery is no match for the boat that has been in your family for thirty summers. We have shot in palaces and we have shot in studio apartments. The studio apartments are sometimes the more arresting frame.
If a place has weight in your story, bring it to us. We will work out the rest.
The family cottage
The dock. The screened porch. The lake at dusk. A Tuesday in shoulder season, before anyone arrives.
Your own home
The kitchen window. The bedroom in morning light. Where you actually live, photographed seriously.
The restaurant of your first date
Empty, before service. The maître d' is often more accommodating than you would think.
The corner where you got engaged
Wherever it was. The bench in the park. The lookout over the city. The driveway you came home to. The frame holds because the place does.
A boat
Family vessel, friend's sailboat, a chartered cruiser. The light over open water is the rarest light there is.
A curated rental
An architect-designed Airbnb, a heritage farmhouse, a glass cabin in cottage country. The internet has made these accessible.
The outfit philosophy:
quiet luxury, always
We are not going to tell you to wear what makes you feel comfortable and leave it at that. Certain choices photograph significantly better than others. Certain choices date quickly. What follows is the honest guide.
The approach
Old money aesthetic. Understated, timeless, and specific. The focus is on impeccable fit, natural fabrics, and a palette that reads refined on camera. Nothing trendy. Nothing logo-heavy. Nothing that requires an explanation.
Linen that moves. A blazer that was clearly tailored. Silk that catches light. These are the details that elevate a portrait into an image.
Colour principle
Complement rather than match. Choose colours from the same family: warm neutrals, deep jewel tones, muted earth shades. Avoid exact matching. It reads as costume.
The goal is cohesion with variation. If she wears cream, he wears camel. If she wears deep forest, he wears charcoal or olive. Reference each other. Do not duplicate each other.
What to avoid
The women's edit
Outfit one · Elevated daywear
- Think tailored separates with refined drape. Trousers, a soft blouse, a knit. The specifics are yours to choose.
- Lean into texture and fit rather than trend. Quiet, considered, properly fitted.
- Do not underestimate excellent denim. A beautifully cut pair of jeans with the right top photographs as well as anything else on this page.
- Understated jewellery. A piece you would already wear. Your ring.
- Hair worn naturally to you. Pinterest is a great starting point for inspiration.
Outfit two · Evening & golden hour
- This is the chance to lean into something more cinematic. A dress with movement. Something that catches light.
- Silhouette and fabric over specifics. Choose pieces you will still love in five years.
- Footwear you can actually move in. A flat backup for between locations is always smart.
- Bring a small touch-up kit: powder, lip colour, hairspray, blotting papers.
Fabrics that photograph beautifully
- Silk and satin. Catch light in a way that adds dimension.
- Linen. Organic texture, moves naturally with the body.
- Cashmere and fine knits. Soft and depth-giving on camera.
- Velvet (autumn and winter). Rich, moody, editorial.
- Premium denim. The right cut and wash reads timeless.
- Avoid stiff polyester, rayon blends with shine, anything that wrinkles instantly.
Always bring a layer
- A trench, a tailored coat, an oversized blazer, a beautifully draped jacket. Even in summer.
- Weather aside, nothing reads more editorial than a properly layered look.
- A layer also gives us a second silhouette without a full outfit change.
- Fit matters more than anything else. A poorly fitted garment in expensive fabric reads worse than the reverse.
- Wear your shoes in advance. Do not debut uncomfortable heels on session day.
The men's edit
and couple
coordination
The elevated look
- A well-fitted shirt and properly tailored trousers. Specifics are yours to choose.
- A blazer or unstructured coat is a powerful addition. It does not have to be worn. Carry it or drape it.
- Leather shoes that read considered. Loafers, dress shoes, or simple Chelsea boots.
- A watch. The single detail that photographs more than anything else.
The casual register
- A quality crewneck, merino, or henley in a refined tone.
- Excellent denim is one of the most photogenic things a man can wear. The right cut and wash reads timeless.
- Clean leather sneakers or loafers. Avoid logo-heavy or overly trendy footwear.
- Avoid graphic tees, hoodies with logos, athletic trainers.
Always bring a layer
- A trench, an overcoat, a tailored jacket, a beautifully cut sport coat.
- Weather aside, nothing reads more editorial than a properly layered fit.
- A layer also gives us a second silhouette without a full outfit change.
Coordinating as a couple
Pull from the same tonal family. If she is in champagne and ivory, he is in camel and cream. If she is in forest, he is in navy or charcoal. The goal is cohesion without matching. Reference each other's outfits before the session. Photograph yourselves on a phone first. You will know immediately if something is off.
What to bring,
what to leave behind
Wardrobe
- Both outfits, steamed and ready
- An extra pair of comfortable shoes for between shots
- A garment bag or hanger for transport
- A neutral cover-up or jacket for outfit changes
- Undergarments that will not show or cause lines
Hair & beauty
- Touch-up bag: lip colour, powder, concealer
- Hairspray, pins, or brush for fixes between locations
- Blotting papers if you run warm
- Perfume or cologne (for you, not the camera)
- Skip the spray tan within five days of session
Essentials
- Water bottle (you will need it)
- A light, non-messy snack
- Mints, not gum (gum shows on camera)
- A small umbrella or wrap if weather is uncertain
- Phone on silent
Optional, but worth it
- Your dog (always welcome, always worth it)
- A meaningful object: a vintage locket, a book, a watch
- Champagne or a picnic, where the location allows
- A short playlist for the walk between shots
- The bottle of wine from your first date
Slim down what you carry. A small bag is fine, but try to tuck keys, wallet, and phone somewhere out of the line of the trousers so they do not bulge in the frame. Check for tags still on clothing. Take a short video of each other on your phone so you can see how you photograph in the outfit before we start. Adjust anything that does not sit right.
Dos & don'ts
Do
- Eat a proper meal beforehand.Low blood sugar on session day produces a short fuse and a forced smile. Aim to finish eating at least two hours before we begin so you feel settled and at your best.
- Arrive ten minutes early.This is for you, not us. Time to settle, take a breath, and not begin flustered.
- Steam your outfit, do not iron.Ironing leaves sharp creases that read stiff on camera. Steam holds the natural drape you actually want.
- Bring a change of shoes.Walk between shots in real shoes. Switch to the beautiful ones for the actual frames. Your feet will thank you.
- Whisper something real to each other.We will sometimes step back and let the two of you be. Use it. Those become the favourite frames.
- Trust the directions.Our work is to compose the frame from the outside in. There will be small moments where a prompt feels unusual. Lean into it. The result will reveal itself in the gallery.
Don't
- Get a major haircut the day before.New cuts need a few days to settle. Aim for at least a week ahead of your session, or hold off until afterwards.
- Eat anything bloating the day before.High-sodium food, alcohol, fast food. You will feel it in how your clothes sit. Keep the day prior clean.
- Bring an audience.Well-meaning friends or family watching creates performance anxiety for most people. Come as a couple.
- Over-coordinate your outfits.Identical colours read as a theme party. Complementary is the word. Reference each other. Do not match.
- Overthink the poses.The best images come from motion and presence, not held poses. Move when we ask you to move. Hold the gaze when we ask you to. The work flows when you stop trying to manage it.
- Scroll the gallery mid-session.Nothing kills momentum like reviewing photographs while we are still shooting. Trust the process. See it all at delivery.
Frequently asked
