Toronto Engagement Session at Home

It goes without saying that 2020 has been a tough year on couples. Whether you’re newly engaged or you were supposed to get married this year, you’ve had to shift your mindset. There may be no large celebrations allowed, but that certainly hasn’t meant celebrating the love between two people is off limits.

Mara and Johnny were supposed to get married this year but postponed to 2021 because they have family all across the country that they know they want to have as a part of their wedding day. So on the day we were supposed to celebrate their love with all their friends and family in Toronto, we documented an “almost married” session for Mara and Johnny. I loved this term that Mara chose for the shoot- they didn’t think they were the type to want engagement photos but after they postponed their wedding, they knew the day would still be special to them and that they should have photos to capture them in that moment in time - as they were, almost married.

So on the warmest weekend in September the four of us hung out, drank wine, and took photos in their very hip apartment on Dundas West. With Mara’s background in interior design and Johnny having previously worked in a high end furniture store, their apartment was super stylish and very functional. We took photos in every nook (even their little hammock sunroom) and as the sun was setting we took advantage of the beautiful golden light that flooded through their windows.

 Brjánn also let the couple get a little creative with his film cameras, taking photos from their own perspective of each other. This gave them the opportunity to be creative and open up a little bit more, because it really is a different experience when your partner is the one photographing you (I should know, Brjánn and I take a lot of photos of each other!). As you look through the blog post, see if you notice a difference in their expressions in the photos that they took of each other. This dynamic was really experimental and fun, leading to spontaneous images that will feel extremely intimate and personal… exactly what a photograph SHOULD feel like. I guess it also helped that he brought along his film cameras for the couple to use, creating an even more immersive and tangible experience for everyone involved. The analog film photos are some of my favourite in the series and the results we got with that medium reinforced the importance of shooting film for me as a photographer and creative.

After we explored every room in their place (and took a wine and cheese break), we headed out into the streets where Mara and Johnny showed off their neighbourhood. Living in the coolest part of Dundas West, their love for their area was evident as they pointed out their favourites spots while we walked down the road. The two of them also have a love for biking, so we took their bikes out for a quick spin and made sure to get some photos of that too. Mara has the most beautiful bike I’ve ever seen, I may need to upgrade my own next summer!

As dusk turned to dark, we made our way back to their apartment to have more wine and just enjoy the rest of the evening. It felt like a night spent with old friends, chatting about anything and everything, just enjoying the company of having others around (something I think we’ve all learned to not take for granted this year). 

Seeing couples take the pandemic in stride, is both impressive and heartwarming. I know that no decisions have been easy, but staying true to how you as a couple want to celebrate your love is certainly a north star. Mara and Johnny are two incredible people who made the most of a day that was always meant to be special to them. Can’t wait to do it all over again with them in 2021.

An In-Home Couples Session on Film

A couples session can truly be whatever you want it to be. It’s an opportunity to slow down, connect with your partner, and be reminded of all the little things you love about each other. I never want you to feel like you have to perform or pose in ways that make you feel uncomfortable, because that’s just not what it’s all about. Engagement photos should be a reflection of who you are as a couple, photos that you’ll be able to look back on and remember what your relationship and life was like in that moment in time. Maybe you’ll want to incorporate your latest activity that you love doing together (Brian and I are currently into putting a record on and playing dominoes) or maybe you just want to have beautiful documentation of your current home (especially if you know you won’t be there forever). There are so many meaningful aspects of our lives that deserve to be preserved, and capturing them during your engagement session creates the perfect time capsule of your memories.

So what is this blog post all about? Well, Alexis and Lilian are two badass, creative women and we knew we wanted to channel their vibes into this session. Unlike most people, they were both very comfortable in front of the camera and they wanted to have an editorial edge to their session. So we actually blocked off a whole day for the shoot, starting in the late morning at a grungy outdoor location that could only be described as having brutalist architecture, and then we finished off in a vintage inspired loft of an old Toronto home.

I collaborated on this shoot with Brian (3B Photography) where we shot film (35mm and medium format) to get that dreamy look and aesthetic we were going for. We both shoot film for many reasons, one being the undeniable nostalgic quality that it possesses and the whole process is slower, it gives you more time to connect with your subjects and you don’t want to waste a frame. Although every photo I take is intentional, when I shoot film I find myself even being more deliberate to ensure I get the shot and more often than not, I walk away with more diverse images and more photos I truly love.

So if you’re looking for some inspiration on how to have a cool, editorial engagement photoshoot, look no further.