High Park

{No Permit Required}

I love shooting in High Park at any time in the year! The best location is near the lake just off of Ellis Park Road & Valleymede Road. The best time to shoot here would be early morning around 8am or 1.5hr before sunset.

The cherry blossoms in the spring are gorgeous here too, but require a very early start as they attract a large crowd. It’s an excellent location if you’re looking for a strong nature focus with water and big luscious trees.

Osgoode Hall

{No Permit Required}

A great location for classic architecture! It’s a good backup plan for University of Toronto as they don’t require a permit at all.

Kensington Market

{No Permit Required}

A fantastic secondary location for those looking for an artsy photojournalistic vibe.

Financial District / City Streets

{No Permit Required}

Downtown Toronto, especially about two hours before sunset, the buildings manipulates light in really interesting ways especially on bright and sunny days at golden hour. This looks especially good on black and white film!

Cherry Beach

{No Permit Required}

I’ve shot at Cherry Beach more than any location in Toronto because it’s so versatile! It offers a fantastic variety of options with gorgeous light especially around sunset (a great combo with Polson Pier!).

Distillery District

{No Permit Required for Engagement Shoots, Permit Required for Weddings}

Rain or shine the Distillery District is always an interesting place to shoot if you’re looking for classic architecture. You don’t need a permit for engagement shoots but you definitely need one for wedding photography. A permit here is 225$+HST and that’s valid for 4 hours.

Scarborough Bluffs

{Permit Required, but they’re not strict}

In the summer, parking can be really tricky and it gets really busy (so definitely no weekends here!) but it’s a whole different story in the winter. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful places to shoot in the winter, but brace yourself as it gets very cold & windy!

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Alexander Muir Gardens

{No Permit Required}

Easy parking and great for family sessions, I especially love the massive trees here! This park offers a lot of variety.

University of Toronto

{No Permit Required for Engagement Shoots, Permit Required for Weddings}

Specifically Hart House & the surrounding areas on Harbord! It offers a bit of nature but mainly classic European architecture. You don’t need a permit for engagement photos but they’re strict about wedding photography. Obtain a permit here.

Toronto Center Island

{No Permit Required}

If you like cityscapes, beaches, and trees, Center Island has a great variety of locations if you’re open to venturing out there and taking a stroll. It’s not a good location for weekends in the summer, as ferry lines can be very long.

Your Cottage

For a shoot that’s a bit more personalized! Travel fees apply for locations 30mins outside of downtown Toronto (50$ per hour of travelling).

Indoor

Mint Studios & Preto Loft

Link - {100$ to 140$ per hour}

For a safe option for winter weddings. I recommend booking a studio. Mint Studio is near Dupont & Dufferin and books by the hour. They offer 5 different studios, I personally prefer the Library or Lounge as they offer more character than the white spaces. Preto Loft is their newest studio and it’s a bit more modern and spacious than Mint Studio.

Cafes / Restaurants / Bars

{Prior approval from the venue is necessary}

Don’t bank your entire shoot on being able to access a cafe or restaurant without a permit as they can be quite picky about allowing photographers to shoot within their spaces. But if you get prior approval, they’re such a great personalized choice!

I especially love shooting indoors on film, it captures color + the vibe so much better than digital!

The Art Gallery Of Ontario

{No Permit Required}

I adore shooting here. It’s especially great for days with less than ideal weather. They do require you to pay the entry fee and we’ll need to be discrete, as even though you don’t need a permit, professional photography is a bit of grey zone (although strictly forbidden near any art).