We captured these Distillery District engagement photos with Sabrina and Andy on a sunny August day. Although photographing in the middle of the day in August is not my preference, I was able to achieve exactly what Sabrina and Andy wanted from their Distillery District engagement photos. Knowing the Distillery District offers many shaded areas, I was comfortable scheduling the session at 3 p.m. in the heat of the summer.

Photographing Summer Distillery District Engagement Photos

Most of my photo sessions at the Distillery District have taken place during the winter season, usually when the Christmas market is in place or when other parts of Toronto are less visually appealing. The Distillery District engagement photos have a unique feel that each couple brings with them, and depending on what they prefer me to photograph, the images can look very different from every other couple’s.

Sabrina and Andy chose to wear white tops with jeans, which paired perfectly with the red bricks of the Distillery District. They were both very excited for the session, though just a bit nervous at the beginning, unsure of how their professional Distillery District engagement photos would look.

Using the natural energy of their relationship, I began shaping my approach to their photos. We started at the front stores of the Distillery District, aiming to include the busy pedestrians in the background, but not so much that the frame became distracting. I communicated with Sabrina and Andy before taking each photo. Once I had posed them as I wanted, they spent some time alone while I stayed farther away, carefully crafting the frames and capturing their sweet interactions.

Unique Places for Photos in Toronto

Having photographed here many times, I pointed out several spots where I typically work with couples. To avoid moving back and forth between these locations, I’ve created a path that naturally reveals them as we make our way through. The couple accepts each location naturally, and I continue to use them as before, though I adjust my approach based on the space, the light, the couple, and the overall environment at the time of the session.

As we visited different locations, I could see how Sabrina and Andy were enjoying their Distillery District engagement photos and becoming more comfortable in their role as real-time models. Their smiles grew more natural, and their interactions became sweeter and more intimate within this urban setting. By then, I already had the title for their blog post in mind—Urban Charm Meets Intimate Moments—which I felt perfectly described their engagement photos.

While we continued shooting, I noticed the crowd size starting to grow, but Sabrina and Andy didn’t seem to mind at all. At that point, I had two choices: include the crowd in the photos, or find quieter, more secluded spots where they could be less interrupted and I could photograph them with fewer distractions.

The Intimate Sports for this Distillery District Engagement Photos

To give Sabrina and Andy a taste of both scenarios, I photographed them standing still in the middle of a busy street at the Distillery District, with the crowd moving around them as they exchanged sweet looks.

After capturing shots by the Love sign and padlocks in the busiest part of the Distillery District, I decided to move on to two more intimate locations. I had three spots in mind for this. The first was the entrance of the Elcatrin Destileria restaurant, which has an incredible entryway that always photographs beautifully. No matter when I visit, it looks different, and I knew it would be perfect for Sabrina and Andy.

Once we finished there, I used the other entrance of the restaurant, where ivy was climbing the brick wall, creating an interesting and textured backdrop for the couple.

The third intimate location for their Distillery District engagement photos was the entrance of Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie. Here, I captured some creative shots of the two of them, along with detailed macro images of the engagement ring. The large reflective windows of the glass store across the way provided stunning reflections that added an extra artistic element to the photos.

The Variety of Locations at Distillery District

Being on one side of the Distillery District, we finished most of the photos I wanted. Still, there was another set of images that I knew would give my couple a fantastic signature for their Distillery District engagement photos.

As we walked toward the Heart of the District, on the other side of Parliament Street, I wanted to capture some shots with the Gooderham & Worts Limited sign and the street clock in the background. By avoiding the busy street, I was able to work easily with my now very experienced couple, and their images turned out amazing.

In the Distillery District, there was a metal peace sign (I’m not sure if it’s still there) engraved with peace symbols from many cultures and languages. I’ve always been drawn to photographing it because of the warm, reflective nature of the metal. On sunny summer days, I had plenty of options to position my couple out of direct sunlight while still creating interesting photos.

After finishing Sabrina and Andy’s pictures here, we headed to our last location—the signature Heart structure at the end of the Distillery District. For these photos, I used direct sunlight to capture the vibrant background, with their outfits matching the blue sky behind them.

Engagement Photos in Busy Urban Areas

As we wrapped up the last picture for Sabrina and Andy’s Distillery District engagement session, we took a moment to rest after all our hard work. It was sweet to see Sabrina slip off her high heels and carry them in her hands while Andy went to get their car. The cobblestone streets of the Distillery District aren’t the most forgiving for heels, so she looked instantly relieved once they were off.

As we said our goodbyes, I knew we had made fantastic progress in rehearsing our communication and practicing for their upcoming wedding photos. That same winter, I photographed their wedding, and it was wonderful. In my blog post, Islington Golf Club Wedding in Winter with Sabrina and Andy, I shared how perfect the timing and weather were for their day. We even had a light snowfall at the end of our nighttime photo session, which made it all the more magical.

Walking back to my car, I was reminded that photographing in urban areas is a skill that requires constant practice. The two most important things are keeping the couple relaxed and looking at the surroundings from multiple angles to discover something unique, something that not everyone, even under pressure, would notice.

The reward is always worth it: a beautiful couple in a captivating urban setting, where city charm meets intimate moments.

Check this engagement proposal at Distillery District. View our post “City Engagement Photos with Kelly and Phil In Toronto” for some inspiration for your city engagement photos.