Emille and Kleber’s Humber Bay Park engagement photos started with sunset by Lake Ontario and ended with sparklers drawing a circle of light around them. Somewhere in between, they roasted marshmallows for the first time. Their reaction to the taste was considerably less enthusiastic than their reaction to the photos, which still makes me laugh.

They wanted an outdoor location with a little nature, a beautiful sunset and a connection to Toronto. Humber Bay Park gave us the waterfront, tall grasses and glimpses of the skyline, while Emille and Kleber brought plenty of affection and a willingness to try our ideas. That gave us a lot to work with.

Sunset Engagement Photos at Humber Bay Park

We started while there was still light to play with, moving around the waterfront and making the most of the evening. Emille and Kleber were laughing, running around and pulling each other close, which made it easy to keep the session moving naturally.

That is one of the reasons I enjoy photographing engagement sessions at Humber Bay Park. You can include Lake Ontario and the Toronto skyline in a wider photograph, then move closer and let the couple fill the frame. The location gives us variety while leaving plenty of room for the little interactions that make the photographs personal.

With these two, there was always something happening between the planned portraits. A laugh, another kiss, the way they settled into each other. I want those moments in the gallery too. They tell you just as much about the evening as the big sunset photographs.

A Bonfire and Their First Roasted Marshmallows

We had suggested the bonfire idea, and Emille and Kleber were completely up for it. After the sunset portraits, we gathered around a small fire by the water and brought out the marshmallows.

It turned out neither of them had roasted marshmallows before. Suddenly, we had a whole new activity happening in the middle of the engagement session, complete with sticks, smoke, sticky fingers and plenty of laughing. They were not especially impressed with the taste, but watching them try it was such a fun part of the evening.

I love when a session includes something for a couple to actually do together. You become occupied with the experience, and the photographs happen around it. Sometimes that means walking somewhere you love or stopping for coffee. For Emille and Kleber, it meant figuring out what all the fuss was about with roasted marshmallows.

The firelight also gave the photographs a different feeling from the earlier waterfront portraits. We had gone from open skies and evening light to a smaller, warmer scene, with the two of them close together beside the fire.

Creative Night Engagement Photos with Sparklers

Once the sun was down, we stayed for one more idea: sparkler light painting.

These photographs take a little coordination. The camera records the moving light during a longer exposure, while the couple holds their position. There is always some experimenting involved, and I love working with couples who are happy to see where an idea takes us.

Emille and Kleber were brilliant. Our first attempt ended up being our favourite, with a glowing circle of sparkler trails around them as they held hands. After all the movement and laughter earlier in the evening, it gave us a completely different kind of portrait to finish with.

Showing them the back of the camera was part of the fun. They could finally see what we had been trying to create, and their reaction made the whole experiment even better. That trust and curiosity are a big part of making creative engagement photos together.

Planning Your Own Humber Bay Park Engagement Session

If you like the mix of sunset portraits and photographs after dark, leave enough time for both when planning your session. I like working backwards from sunset for your date, allowing time to walk between locations and settle into being photographed before the light starts changing quickly.

Comfortable shoes are useful around the waterfront, and an extra layer can make the evening more comfortable when the breeze picks up. For a summer session, water and insect repellent are worth bringing too. We can talk through outfits, the route and a weather alternative ahead of time.

Access to parts of Humber Bay Park can be affected by restoration work, so check the City’s current park updates before choosing a meeting point. Any plans involving a fire or sparklers also need the required authorization under Toronto’s park rules. We can explore portable lights for creative night portraits as well.

The best starting point is an idea you are excited about. Tell me what you enjoy doing together, what kind of setting feels comfortable and whether there is something a little unusual you would love to try. We can build the session from there.

More Waterfront Engagement Photos

For another take on this location, have a look at Dominic and Michael’s Humber Bay Park engagement session, with matching tracksuits, giant balloons and plenty of playful moments.

You can also explore Hubert and Vince’s Port Credit engagement photos for another waterfront session built around sunset and places that mattered to the couple.

Looking for a Toronto Engagement Photographer?

Emille and Kleber’s session had the combination I love: candid moments, creative portraits and enough time to follow an idea a little further. The photographs bring back the whole evening, including the laughter around those marshmallows.

You can see more of my Toronto engagement photography to get a feel for how different each session can look. If you are planning your own engagement photos, tell me what you have in mind. I would love to hear your ideas and help you turn them into something personal.

Check availability