Kathryn and Orlando’s Dundurn Castle engagement photos were captured during the fall season in Hamilton, highlighting vibrant autumn colours, historic architecture, and relaxed, candid moments. Photographed on an overcast afternoon, the session took advantage of soft natural light and quieter grounds, allowing for uninterrupted storytelling. Moving organically around the castle—from the front facade to the side gardens, forested paths, terrace, coach house, and outdoor ceremony area—the session offered a wide variety of perspectives. Including their dog added a personal touch, while outfit changes and thoughtful use of the castle’s textures and scenery resulted in a diverse, authentic engagement gallery that reflects both the couple’s connection and the seasonal beauty of Dundurn Castle.

I’ve photographed family sessions, weddings, and engagements at this location, and every time I visit, it offers a new perspective, depending on the season and time of day.
For Kathryn and Orlando, we chose to photograph their Dundurn Castle engagement photos in the Fall, capturing the vibrant colours of the season and including their dog in some of the images.

Dundurn Castle Engagement in Fall

When we started planning Kathryn and Orlando’s Dundurn Castle engagement, knowing we would be working during one of the most unpredictable weather seasons in Canada, I suggested beginning in the afternoon, around 2 p.m. This way, we could take advantage of the potential golden-hour light and avoid the rain forecast for the morning.

The morning rain came and went, but there was still no sun on the horizon. I was just happy it wasn’t raining anymore, so when I saw my couple walking toward me in the Dundurn Castle parking area, I began documenting their engagement photos right away.

It was an overcast day with relatively warm temperatures, which worked well once we removed some of the extra layers they had been wearing.

Kathryn’s sister came along to take care of their dog once we no longer needed him in the photos, allowing my couple and me to move through the rest of their Dundurn Castle engagement session a bit faster.

When working at Dundurn Castle, I like to move in circles—starting from the parking area, then photographing in front of the castle, followed by the sides and the back, in a natural flow. This approach helps me create unique images and offer my couple a wide variety of photos they can cherish later.

Hamilton’s Most Pictured Photography Location

It wasn’t a great day for photos for many photographers: it was slightly windy, there was no sun on the horizon, and there was a chance of showers. The forest around the castle was completely empty, with no one else beside us. That gave us so many opportunities to take photos without waiting for people to move out of the background or having to switch locations with other photographers.

My couple wanted to showcase the structure of the castle from the front, so we started there with their dog and focused on those photos before moving deeper into the property.

I noticed one extremely colourful tree and worked around it, incorporating it into their photos from different angles. I didn’t want to give the tree too much attention, but it was important to subtly highlight the fall season in Canada.

The side area of the castle offers some of the nicest lighting conditions, no matter the time of day, so I took most of the candid photos there. I gave my couple space to be themselves while I captured their sweet interactions naturally.

As their dog waited for them, I photographed him from time to time, and one of those images ended up being printed on the wine bottle labels used as wedding favours. I previously shared a blog post about Kathryn and Orlando’s wedding as well.

The Beauty of Dundurn Castle Engagement Photos in Fall

From the side of the castle, I noticed the small house structure located on the right side of Dundurn Castle. The pathway leading down toward that house slopes downhill, creating a beautiful scene, especially in the Fall, with a blue sky backdrop and a mix of fall colours that resemble the vegetation along the creek behind it.

I asked my couple to walk toward the house, and I captured their walk down the path, in front of the house, and then back up the hill as we moved around to the back of the castle.

When we arrived at the back of the castle—where wedding ceremonies usually take place for Dundurn Castle weddings—I wanted to capture some silhouettes of my couple. I used the open grey area at the back, treating it visually as the lakefront of Lake Ontario, pointing toward the Toronto skyline.

In this area, we were able to enjoy some quiet, candid moments without anyone interrupting us or stepping into our frames.

Out of the corner of my eye, I kept monitoring the weather, which was very unpredictable. From time to time, I could feel a few raindrops, but since we were working in the forested area behind the castle, my couple wasn’t affected at all.

Using the Couple’s Energy to Anticipate the Next Step

As we finished the set of photos in the forest area, Kathryn and Orlando changed into their second outfits, which matched perfectly with each other and with their dog’s scarf.
To avoid clashing with the fall colours around the castle, I worked with the three of them on the terrace area at the back, using the minimalist wall as a backdrop to highlight their coordinated looks.
Here, we shared some cute interactions with their dog and enjoyed a few fun moments, which I was able to capture naturally.

Approaching from the other side of the castle, I wanted to photograph this matching outfit in the carriage area of the coach house.
Using the colourful, distressed wooden boards as a background, I created images that stood out from the rest of their Dundurn Castle engagement photos.
At this location, I also photographed their engagement ring before we moved on to the last two locations we had planned.

Photography Location Worth Revisiting Every Season

After finishing that set of images, my couple changed back into their first outfits, as the next location would be a bit busier and the matching outfits might have stood out too much.
The first set of photos there was taken outside the coach house, in front of the large wooden door. I wanted to showcase more of the castle’s architecture, so I photographed this final set a bit wider to highlight the contrast between the couple and the scale of the castle.

As we wrapped up those images, my couple was completely relaxed and genuinely enjoying the moment. The last rays of available light were illuminating the front of the castle, where I continued working with just the two of them.
We finished their photos by the gate in front of the castle, and I was so happy that we were able to incorporate so many different views, styles, lighting scenarios, and backgrounds into their Dundurn Castle engagement photos.

Their images truly reflected their relationship, and being able to offer them such a wide variety of photographs was a meaningful addition to their story.
Do you have a favourite photography location? I would love to help you capture it the way you envision it and add my expertise to make it a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

Check this fall engagement at Mill Race Park and Cambridge Mill. View our post ” Webster’s Falls Engagement Photos: A Rainy Adventure” for some inspiration if your planing engagement photos while expecting rain.