When Pat and Veronica showed up in the parking lot of the Long Sault Parkway for their engagement photos, I could tell how nervous they were about being photographed. From the nervous laughter to the set of their shoulders, I knew that this session wasn’t something that they’d spent the day feeling excited about.
So I set out to play.
Here’s the thing about engagement sessions: there isn’t a single couple shown anywhere on this website who showed up feeling confident that they knew what they were doing when we met for their engagement session. That’s largely the reason why engagement sessions exist in my offerings: it’s a chance to get the jitters out and get used to being in front of the camera, so it’s one less thing to worry about on your wedding day. (Well, that, and I also really don’t want to discover, in the middle of your family photos, that you have a Chandler smile. ;) )
Engagement sessions always involve some playtime, usually in the form of some creative work on my end that often results in me getting stuck in the bushes or slipping around in the river (or both), but also some lighthearted instructions that let people relax their shoulders and remember that they’re spending an hour or so with someone they love.
I chose the Long Sault Parkway for this session because these two live locally and also because it’s a great spot to go exploring together. I don’t have a particular plan for engagement sessions; we just show up and chase the sun through interesting pockets and corners until it leaves us for the day.
Getting Pat and Veronica comfortable in front of the camera didn’t take long. Pat’s a relatively quiet guy with a relaxed laugh and a smile that could win over the hardest of hearts. He also looks at Veronica like she’s the best thing to ever walk this earth, so I bet all my money that getting him comfortable cuddling up to her was the secret to some great photos – and I was right. As soon as Pat wrapped her up in his arms and let out an uncertain chuckle in her ear, Veronica relaxed and the rest was, quite literally, a walk in the park.
Exploring the shoreline of the St Lawrence River is always one of my favourite parts of any family or engagement session in the Long Sault Parkway. There’s something unpredictable about putting other people – and my camera gear – near water and hoping that a) no one falls in (but kind of secretly hoping they might) and b) they have some fun with it.
During this session, I knew that Pat and Veronica were going to be such a blast to spend the day with for their wedding. They’re this perfect combination of sarcasm, curiosity about the world around them and genuine care for one another, and it made for a delightful personality combination to photograph.
At one point right near the end of their session, they were standing in a close cuddle near the water and Pat raised a hand to point out something on the river. Just as Veronica turned to look, I pressed the shutter without really knowing why I wanted the frame. That particular image made it through the cull, into their final gallery and then into print. I remember being surprised by the selection and Veronica’s excitement about receiving the print because, even a month later, I didn’t really know what had compelled me to make that particular photo. I got all of the confirmation I needed when Veronica messaged me to say, “That shot is us…Pat gets excited about nature and is constantly pointing things out to me, so it holds a special meaning to me.”
Here are a few favourites from a beautifully peaceful evening along our waterfront.
I’m Ang – a Cornwall, Ontario-based photographer with a passion for capturing light and photographing the natural chemistry between couples. I love working in a natural environment and challenging myself to capture the scene in creative ways. Engagement sessions are a chance to go adventuring and they often include a starting point or idea and then we see where the evening takes us. Whether you’re looking for Long Sault Parkway engagement photos like these two or a wintry engagement session, start here to see more examples of what can come from our time together.
