A Day That Was Meant to Be
For Marianne and Adam, this date was supposed to be their wedding day. But like so many 2020 couples, Covid had other plans. So instead of postponing everything, they chose to make the day count anyway — with their engagement session. And honestly? It couldn’t have been more perfect.
A Gloomy Day, But a Colour Explosion
By late October, I was nervous. Fall leaves were dropping fast, and it felt like one windy day would turn the whole place grey. But Kelso delivered — big time.
The trees were still bursting with reds, oranges, and golds, and the ground was blanketed in crunchy colour. Even on an overcast day, the tones popped in every direction — and in every frame.
We heard them before we saw them — Adam and Marianne pulled up in a vintage green convertible that Adam and his dad rebuilt together (how cool is that?!). That car was such a vibe. And once we got walking through the trails, the energy between these two made it feel like we were in a rom-com montage. Laughing, running, dancing, doing “the drunk walk” — you name it.
Playing With Light, Leaves & Puddles
One of my favourite parts about Kelso is how it keeps surprising me. On this shoot, I was drawn to the reflections in puddles, the quiet trails, and the bold pops of colour that turned this grey day into gold. Marianne and Adam were all in — even when I asked them to run back and forth for the perfect motion shot. They brought the laughs and the patience.
The Best Compliment at the End
Here’s the part that stuck with me the most: as we wrapped up and headed back to the cars, Adam casually told us he had been dreading the shoot. Yup, dreading it.
He thought it would feel awkward or forced — but instead, he had a blast. And honestly? That’s everything. That’s what I want for every couple: to come into a session thinking “I don’t know what to expect” and leave saying “That was way more fun than I thought.”
Want More Kelso Vibes?
Check out a few other stories that show how magical this place really is:
Jordana & Jeremy’s golden fall shoot – puddles, leaves, and one epic sky
Kyla & Riley’s summer adventure session – yep, they went in the water 🌊
[Marianne & Adam’s fall photos] ← you’re here!
Planning a Fall Engagement Session?
If you’re thinking about a fall engagement in Ontario, Kelso Conservation Area checks all the boxes: trails, water, colours, calm vibes, and space to be yourself. Whether you bring a classic car or just your goofiest selves, this spot always delivers.
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Diego and I could not wait to shoot at Rouge National Urban Park again after Christina and Travis’s engagement session earlier this fall, but we definitely did not expect to be back there so soon after. While brainstorming engagement session location ideas for Adam and Geoff’s shoot, we figured we’d throw Rouge National Urban Park in for consideration again as it was just so much fun exploring with Christina and Travis.
Shooting at an abandoned location of some sorts has been on the bucket list for Diego and I for quite some time. There is just something so eery and fun at the same time about abandoned locations - maybe it’s all the colourful graffiti that often covers the walls of abandoned places, or the bursts of light that come through the broken windows and cracks in the ceilings, but whatever it is, we saw the potential of creating some epic shots in an abandoned place and we couldn’t wait for an adventurous couple to take us up on the idea of shooting their engagement photos at such a spot. Jenn and Arvin were just that couple!
Tips on how to choose your location and date, what to wear and not wear, what to bring, things to consider, and what to expect from your engagement session.