When Claire mentioned that she wanted their Niagara-on-the-Lake sunset engagement incorporated into the planned city photo session, I immediately thought we would spend a lot of time travelling and driving between locations. Little did I know, their home was right in the heart of the Niagara-on-the-Lake area, and all the spots she had in mind were only three to five minutes apart by car. Claire also told me their final destination would be the beach, where they often experience breathtaking sunsets during their regular visits. I was fully on board with all of her plans, though I did feel a bit of pressure organizing a Niagara-on-the-Lake sunset engagement — especially knowing that if the sun didn’t show up, it might be tough to keep my couple happy.

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Sunset Engagement Photos

While planning with Claire for their engagement session, I suggested taking some photos earlier in the day to add variety to their Niagara-on-the-Lake sunset engagement photos. Claire was completely on board with the idea, so we divided the session into three parts.

We began at a local park near the Lake Ontario shoreline, just a five-minute drive from their house where we had met. The afternoon golden hour was beautiful — a little humid but warm enough for spring photos, and the sun was shining brightly.

Since Claire had booked me online and we hadn’t met in person before, I wanted to spend a bit of time getting to know them before we officially started. Claire and Andrew were a little nervous, as this was their first professional photo session. It was also my first session with them, but having photographed many sunset engagements before, I knew how to ease into it.

At first, I photographed them from a distance, giving them time to adjust to both the moment and my style, capturing their candid walks and sweet interactions. The park was almost empty, which made it a perfect, relaxed spot to start their Niagara-on-the-Lake sunset engagement.

Claire wore a stunning red dress that complemented the vibrant spring colours and contrasted beautifully with the lush green grass. During this part of the session, we focused mainly on less posed, more natural images, using it as an opportunity to find the best approach for the next stages of their photo shoot.

Downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake Photo Session

The second location we chose to continue our Niagara-on-the-Lake sunset engagement session was the downtown area of this charming city. After finding parking in the crowded streets, we started taking photos in the garden across from the Prince of Wales Hotel. I made sure to incorporate the bright tulips in full bloom, matching them beautifully with Claire’s dress.

Niagara-on-the-Lake was bustling with people, and I knew that if we spent too much time there, we might miss the sunset — the highlight of their entire engagement session. We had planned to visit a few other locations I knew would be perfect for spring engagement photos, and after about 45 minutes downtown, we were on our way to the beach.

Last summer, I had photographed Joseph and Suzanne’s engagement in the area and discovered some amazing spots that I was excited to share with Claire and Andrew.

Instead of posing them directly in front of the Prince of Wales Hotel, I captured them walking casually by, highlighting the vibrancy of Claire’s dress against the hotel’s facade and the stunning blue sky with its beautiful cloud formations.

While in the downtown area, I also had them stand in the middle of the road, perfectly aligned with the rows of tulips and backlit by the golden rays of the setting sun.

As we headed back toward the parked cars, I noticed a large lilac tree perfectly positioned against the clear blue sky. That became the setting for my first posed photo of the session. I loved how vibrant that image turned out — and by then, Claire and Andrew had started to relax, making it easy for me to capture not just that shot but many more beautiful moments afterward.

The Beach experience at this Niagara-on-the-Lake Sunset Engagement

Once we arrived at the beach — which was even closer to their house than the park — I couldn’t believe my eyes. The sun was huge and perfectly aligned to dip into the waters of Lake Ontario, creating a stunning reflection across the surface.

I was thrilled to have such an incredible view, but at the same time, I started quietly panicking, wondering if we would have enough time to capture everything I had in mind. There were so many shots I wanted to take, and I wasn’t sure where to start.

Just then, Andrew brought out the champagne and two glasses they had planned for the session, and I realized that this wasn’t just about the photos — it was about capturing a beautiful experience as well.

Using my experience, I quickly gauged how much time we had left before the sun dipped below the horizon. We started with some casual, unposed photos, capturing their genuine joy as they popped the champagne and shared a few sips, perfectly setting the tone for their Niagara-on-the-Lake sunset engagement.

After a couple of sips, both Claire and Andrew relaxed even more, their cheeks taking on a lovely rosy glow that complemented the warmth of the sunset behind them.

We captured the key shots I had envisioned in those precious five minutes before we made our way down to the sand, getting closer to the water to continue the session.

The Beach Engagement Photo Session

Some people were still on the beach, but mostly adults, as it was late in the evening, and most of the children had already gone home or left for dinner with their families. This gave us the perfect opportunity to find empty spots for our photos without too much distraction.

I started the beach portion of the session by walking backward, photographing Claire and Andrew as they walked toward me. If you’ve never photographed a sunset before, it’s surprising how quickly the sun seems to set in certain places — or at least, it feels that way to the eye.

As I walked backward, the sun dropped to the perfect height, and when I finally turned toward it, I witnessed one of the most breathtaking sunsets of my life. I’m not sure why it was so extraordinary, but the way the sun dipped into the water, and its size and angle created a picture-perfect setting for their Niagara-on-the-Lake sunset engagement.
>Without wasting any time, I had them walk toward the sun while I quickly swapped my lens, choosing a narrower one, and moved behind them to capture the full beauty of the moment with the compression of the lens.

We had a good 3–5 minutes of perfect light and a large stretch of beach almost to ourselves, making it ideal for capturing a variety of shots. I managed to photograph several beautiful silhouette images of Claire and Andrew, illuminated by the glowing sunlight behind them. In a few of the photos, I intentionally left a couple of beach visitors in the background to add a bit more character and life to the scene.

The Twilight Photos on The Beach

In my blog post, Why We Prefer Scheduling Engagement Sessions Around Sunset, I talk about the beauty of sunsets and emphasize the importance of photographing during twilight — one of my favourite times for capturing stunning images.

This timing works perfectly with my off-camera lighting techniques, allowing me to preserve the vibrant colours of the sunset and the incredible views while also ensuring my couple is beautifully lit with the warm, natural-looking light I create on demand.

At this session, I was able to blend the ambient sunset light with artificial lighting seamlessly, making sure Claire and Andrew’s Niagara-on-the-Lake sunset engagement photos turned out exactly as they had envisioned.

I’m so happy we were able to create not just a wonderful set of photos but an unforgettable experience, setting the stage for their wedding photos just a few months later. Their wedding took place that same year, in the fall at Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, and I was honoured to capture those memories as well — you can find their story on my blog post, Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery Wedding with a Traditional Serbian Twist.

Thank you, Claire and Andrew, for trusting me with your special moments and sharing such a beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake sunset engagement with me.

Check This winter Queen’s Landing wedding will give you goosebumps and it’s not from the cold, for some weddings in Niagara-on-the-Lake. View our post Konzelmann Estate Winery Engagement in Niagara on the Lake for some inspiration for your winery engagements.