My favourite Toronto shoot locations
Outdoor
High Park
{No Permit Required}
I love shooting in High Park! The best location is near the lake just off of Ellis Park Road & Valleymede Road. The cherry blossoms in the spring are gorgeous here, 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.
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.
Gardener Museum
{No Permit Required}
I love this gorgeous building! It’s a perfect pit stop for a nice wide portrait.
Polson Pier
{No Permit Required}
A great scenic location to hit just before sunset for a cityscape portrait and for some closeups with a nice background.
Financial District
{No Permit Required}
Downtown Toronto, especially about two hours before sunset manipulates the light in really interesting ways. The buildings create these really rad pockets of intense dramatic light.
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.
Sunnybrooke Park
A great location near the north east end of Toronto! It’s located at Leslie & Eglington. There’s so much variety here with the ravine, lots of weeping willows, cool fields and you can walk under a huge old train bridge.
Scarborough Bluffs
{Permit Required, but they’re not strict}
Personally, I don’t think it’s worth the trek in the summer 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!
Humber Bay Park East
{No Permit Required}
It’s similar to High Park but with a better waterfront!
Brickworks
{Permit Required - Very Strict}
Great location, but I don’t think it’s worth the hassle of getting a permit. High Park or Cherry Beach is much better!
Bathurst Bridge
{No Permit Required}
Add a quick stop off at the Bathurst bridge near King & Bathurst to end your shoot! It’s great in combination with a nature centric location like Humber Bay Park or High Park.
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.
Ontario Legislative Library
{No Permit Required}
This might be my favourite building in Toronto, I love it’s bright red façade. It’s especially beautiful near the end of the day with the west sun hitting it. It’s a great secondary location for University of Toronto as it’s just a block away.
CNE
{No Permit Required - AUGUST to SEPT ONLY}
I love the CNE! There’s so much fun potential here! I prefer shooting during the week here as the crowds get pretty intense and cumbersome to work around.
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.
Cedarvale Park
{No Permit Required}
An easy location with lots of greenery! It’s especially gorgeous in the spring with the crab apple trees & cherry blossoms in bloom.
Your Cottage
{Travel fee may apply}
For a shoot that’s a bit more personalized! Travel fees apply for locations 30mins outside of downtown Toronto (50$ per hour of travelling).
Walk Around TO
I looove planning, but sometimes the best shots happen when we pick an area and explore it together! I generally recommend starting about 3 hours before sunset.
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.
OBJX Studio
Link - {150$ to 175$ / per hour depending on space chosen}
I love OBJX although it’s a bit out of the way. It’s a perfect location however if your wedding is at The Symes as it’s right next door! They offer two different main spaces, I prefer the large Main Room (“Open Set”) as it’s clean & simple, with lots of gorgeous light.
Cafes / Restaurants / Bars
{No Permit Required} - NOT POSSIBLE DURING COVID
Don’t bank your entire shoot on being able to access a cafe or restaurant as they can be quite picky about allowing photographers to shoot within their spaces. But if we’re not too intrusive, they usually don’t mind a couple of shots! It’s a great addition to some other main locations. I love shooting at Oretta, or Bar Raval. But we can always pick a space that’s unique for you!
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).
Your Home
I recommend all newborn shoots happen within your home! But family portraits & maternity shoots work really well within your space as well. Your space will need to have a decent amount of window light however.
District 28
{Rental rates vary depending on times}
This location is amazing and offers a huge classic white studio with beautiful natural light (“Studio Three”). Last I checked, their rates were around 400$+ per half day. There’s some really cool industrial looking spaces around the studio as well.
