At Christina and Zack’s Belfountain Conservation Area engagement, I had the chance to photograph in a slightly different way. Instead of focusing only on the two of them, I also had the joy of including their little bundle of happiness — their baby boy.

Whenever children are part of an engagement session, I always plan around their schedule, even if it means adjusting what might be best for the couple or the lighting. I can work in any lighting condition, but what matters most is making sure my couples feel comfortable, and for Christina and Zack, that meant ensuring their little one was cared for while we captured their photos.

That’s why scheduling their Belfountain Conservation Area engagement session right after their son’s afternoon nap worked out perfectly.

Belfountain Conservation Area Engagement with a Toddler

Based on the age of their toddler, I knew this session would move quickly, so I wanted to start with their baby before focusing on just the two of them. Having photographed at Belfountain Conservation Area before, I began working with all three of them as soon as we arrived at the parking lot near the river.

The park was quite busy that day. With it being one of the last sunny fall weekends of the year, everyone was eager to soak up the light before winter set in. Rather than heading straight to the signature spots, I started photographing them by the retaining wall, where the light was beautiful and the space offered some privacy for this young family.

Since I hadn’t met Christina and Zack before, this was my very first interaction with them, and the session felt more like a family shoot than a traditional engagement. I focused on their natural interactions, capturing candid moments of them enjoying each other while carefully planning the next steps. With a toddler involved, I wasn’t sure how long the session would last.

Fall Photos at The Forks of Credit in Caledon

The fall colours at Belfountain Conservation Area were stunning. The afternoon sun lit the leaves from behind, making them appear even more vibrant in photos than they were in reality. After each set of photos with all three of them, I mixed in a few of just the couple before we continued moving along. I had a few locations in mind that I wanted to use, but I wasn’t sure if they would work well with their baby boy in tow.

Rather than guessing where the best location might be, I placed them by the picturesque fountain with the sun as a backlight. This gave the images a candid feel while still being perfectly exposed.

Working with three people also made it easy to capture different combinations. I photographed each parent individually with their little one, along with the family together. Once it became clear that the toddler was ready for a stroller break, we settled him in to relax, giving me the chance to focus solely on Christina and Zack for their Belfountain Conservation Area engagement photos.

Belfountain Conservation Area Engagement Photos

I really wanted to photograph Christina and Zack on the large cable bridge that stretches over the waterfall. We left the stroller at the entrance while they stood in the middle of the bridge. In the final images, it may look like no one else was there, but in reality, there was a long line of people waiting for photos. I didn’t remove anyone in post-production, but I was able to pause the crowd for just a minute so I could capture my couple on the bridge.

When I noticed they were starting to get restless because their toddler wasn’t settling in the stroller, we decided to focus on just three more spots within Belfountain Conservation Area before wrapping up.

The first was the second steel bridge, which sits slightly higher than the cable bridge. The rusted metal had taken on a deep red tone that blended beautifully with the surrounding fall colours, making it the perfect backdrop. I captured plenty of photos there before moving on.

Sticking to stroller-friendly paths, we found a spot I hadn’t photographed before—a small observatory overlooking the cable bridge and waterfall from above. Here, I wanted to experiment a little, using the shadows from the wooden enclosure to fall across the bench where I positioned them. It turned out to be a beautiful location, and it also provided a comfortable break for their little boy.

We spent no more than five minutes at each location, and after taking a few close-up shots of their engagement ring, we made our way toward the entrance area of Belfountain Conservation Area. This spot is surrounded by some of the most colourful trees, making it a perfect backdrop for their photos.

The Essential Ingredients for Engagement Photos

As we climbed to a higher point along the entrance pathway, the last rays of sunshine lit up the leaves in the background, creating a vibrant scene. From here, they could see their car, which immediately put them at ease, so I made the most of that moment by capturing as many photos as I could.

When we reached the parking area, I noticed a patch of tall grass right beside their car. Perfectly backlit by the setting sun, it created the ideal spot for their final engagement photos. Even though I could tell they felt finished about 30 minutes earlier, I wanted to keep going a little longer to help us connect more and give them a chance to rehearse for their wedding day.

A few days later, when I delivered their gallery, Christina was thrilled with the variety and quality of the photos. Her kind words made my day and gave me even more excitement for their upcoming wedding.

The following fall, I photographed their wedding at The Manor, where their little boy—now grown—was once again part of their photos. All the effort we put into their Belfountain Conservation Area engagement session paid off, leading to even more incredible wedding images.

Check Corrine and Phil’s engagement at Balls Falls. View our post Webster’s Falls Engagement Photos: A Rainy Adventure, for some inspiration for your engagement photos.