Serena and Kyle’s Oakville engagement was one of those super creative sessions that were right on the edge of being either amazing or cancelled due to the rain and thunderstorm.

When we started planning their Oakville engagement, Serena and Kyle wanted a relaxed photo session just behind their apartment in Oakville. There was a trail that led into the ravine, offering an intimate setting with minimal travel and walking needed.

Light, Love, and Creativity in Oakville Engagement

Since I hadn’t visited the location before, I wasn’t sure if there would be enough variety to capture all the photos I had planned for their Oakville engagement.
Trusting my couple’s judgment, I still came prepared with a Plan B in case we didn’t find enough suitable spots for their engagement photos.

We scheduled their Oakville engagement session to begin around 5 p.m., aiming to capture most of the images during golden hour. Like with every shoot, I hoped for the best but prepared for the worst. Once we met behind their building, we started walking toward the area Serena had in mind for us to begin.

The sun kept slipping in and out from behind big, moody clouds, so instead of the golden glow we were expecting, we worked with overcast, yet beautifully bright and consistent light.

Serena brought along a cute hat that made the couple look especially sweet together. Once we got into the flow of taking their Oakville engagement photos, I completely forgot about the forecast. We moved from spot to spot, adjusting poses as needed based on the light and surroundings.

Meanwhile, the sky kept shifting quickly, bringing bursts of sunlight and dramatic, cinematic skies that I was more than happy to make use of.

How to Choose a Photography Location for Engagement Photos?

If you walked past the spot where we were working without looking through eyes that seek beauty in every corner, you might not realize just how diverse this area really is.

It featured an open field filled with vibrant yellow flowers, offering a beautiful, expansive view. I also discovered a large forest with a unique arrangement of trees—an ideal setting where we captured some intimate and memorable photos.

A pathway led us deeper into the forest, creating the perfect opportunity for some striking silhouette shots.

When the sun made an appearance, I took full advantage of it, positioning Serena and Kyle toward the light to capture beautiful backlighting and lens flares that stood in stark contrast to the other scenes we had already photographed.

Later, when dramatic clouds swept across the sky, allowing the sun to peek through a narrow opening, I used that moment to create a powerful, moody portrait of the two of them.

Working with Serena and Kyle was truly the highlight of their Oakville engagement session. Their natural chemistry and the way they looked at each other were what made the session truly special, far beyond the beauty of the location itself.

Alternative Locations for Their Oakville Engagement Photos

Once we had captured everything we wanted at the first location, I suggested to Serena and Kyle that we head to my favourite photography spot in Burlington—just a short drive from where we were.

It had initially been my Plan B in case we didn’t find enough variety for their photos, but now that we already had so many beautiful shots, I thought—why not take a few more in a completely different setting with a new vibe?

Serena and Kyle were excited about the idea, and since we were so close to their apartment, they quickly changed into their second outfit to give the next part of their Oakville engagement session a fresh look and feel.

As we pulled into the parking lot at Paletta Mansion, I knew we’d be working with very little natural light—the sun had set long ago, and I’d now have to rely almost entirely on off-camera lighting.

That didn’t bother me at all; in fact, creative lighting is one of my strengths, and I was genuinely excited to see what the three of us could create together in this beautiful Burlington location.

The Beauty of this Paletta Mansion Engagement

Since we had already built a strong connection and knew how to work together, it was easy to photograph Serena and Kyle, especially given the limited time and lighting conditions. This location was one of my favourites, and having photographed many engagement sessions here before, I already had my top five spots in mind.

We began at the front entrance of the stunning mansion. There, I was able to capture the last of the twilight light while highlighting the beauty of the couple against this elegant backdrop.

Without wasting time, we moved to the back of the mansion—where wedding ceremonies usually take place—to take advantage of the view overlooking the lake.

As the sky changed, the dramatic clouds softened into colourful and peaceful tones. I captured wide shots of Serena and Kyle with the mansion and glowing sky behind them, and also took silhouette photos of the couple framed by the mansion’s back entrance.

Our third stop was the beach. By this point, it was completely dark. I positioned them on the large boulders that act as a retaining wall for the mansion, and photographed them standing in the middle of the darkness, with deep blue clouds forming a stunning backdrop behind them.

As we climbed down from the boulders, a piece of driftwood washed ashore caught my eye. It created the perfect setting for some quieter, more intimate portraits. I chose to process those final images in black and white.

My Top Photography Spot for Photos at Paletta Mansion

As we finished the beach photos, I couldn’t resist bringing my couple to my absolute favourite spot at this location—the area underneath the large tree in the back, which offers a beautiful view of the mansion and the expansive Paletta grounds.

With the mansion lights glowing and my off-camera flash placed behind them, I captured some of my favourite photos from their Oakville engagement session. By this point, they were so into the session that everything felt natural and easy—we moved fluidly, and the photos just kept coming.

Once I was happy with what we had created there, we started walking back toward the parking lot. But I still had one last spot in mind for their final photo.

The pathway behind the mansion is lined with trees that intersect above, forming a natural frame that creates a beautiful vignette around the couple. Lighting them from behind, I used Serena’s hat for a few cute shots, and at the very end, I brought out my see-through umbrella—the one I had packed just in case it rained.

I felt okay using it then, right at the end, so that I wouldn’t jinx this Oakville engagement session.

With that final set, we concluded their creative Oakville engagement photos, and I couldn’t be happier with the result.

Rehearsal for Their Wedding Day

All the effort we put into their engagement session paid off in their wedding photos a year later. You can see those in the blog post “Glendon Campus Wedding at York University with Serena and Kyle”—a beautiful continuation of the creativity we all worked so hard on.

Thank you, Serena and Kyle, for the trust and for smiling with me.

Check Victoria and Alex’s engagement at Paletta Mansion. View our post “Five takeaways from this Paletta Mansion fall engagement” for some inspiration for your engagement photos.