I grew up in Ottawa and I remember from a very young age being obsessed with Toronto. My family would drive to Southern Ontario and I catch a glimpse of the CN Tower far off in the distance and dream of one day going there. Fast-forward to high school and I made my first real trip to the city to explore it with a friend and from that moment on I knew that Toronto was where I would live. I fell in love with the city’s fast-paced vibe, culture, lights, and entertainment – and there’s really no shortage of unique spots and things to do in this city. I ended up moving to Toronto for university and have made it my home for over 15 years now.
I’m a full-time wedding and lifestyle photographer and part of the joy in my job is that I get to document people in, what I feel, is one of the best cities in the world, so I’m constantly finding new ways to look at it and new areas to explore. Toronto offers everything from lush gardens to beaches to modern buildings so trying to narrow this list down to the top five spots proved very difficult. I decided to base my choices on locations that offer unique images and a variety of options so here’s my picks for best photographic spots around Toronto:
Osgoode Hall has got to be one of the most overlooked locations in Toronto for photos, which is a shame. It’s located right in the centre of the city off the most-popular Queen Street, it’s steps from the Eaton Centre and it’s right next to City Hall. The building dates back to 1832 and still maintains it’s historic charm which is a nice break in the city. It’s surrounded by lush trees, cobblestone paths and an ornate cast-iron fence all lending to great photo-opts. Although the fence can make it look like it’s private, it isn’t and you can enjoy your lunch by the trees or take a stroll with your coffee and admire the unique exterior. And the bonus of this location is that it’s right next to Nathan Philips Square which provides such unique photos in itself. The contrast of old meets new is one of my favourite things about this location.
There are so many parks and gardens around the city to take photos but I love Edward Gardens for it’s variety and size. There’s perfectly manicured hedges and lawns that make you feel like you’re in a European garden. There’s a variety of flowers and if you time it right there’s an entire section of peony bushes that are in full bloom. There’s trails, bridges that cross over the stream, beautiful willow trees and there’s even a bee hive area. It has it all and offers beautiful photos any time of year.
One of the more iconic (and popular) areas in Toronto is Graffiti Alley so it can be a bit busy, but I love how it’s ever-changing. The art is always new and it feels like it’s like a secret gem tucked away off the main streets. This is a great choice for photos with an urban vibe, tons of colour, and it’s not something you would see in every city. It’s also very closely located to Kensington Market which is an amazing spot to take photos as well.
Toronto has so many beautiful beaches and waterfront areas to chose from so this one was hard to narrow down. I chose Cherry Beach because it’s not the most common so it’s never as busy as the more popular Woodbine Beach. I also love the off-leash dog park section as it has the most beautiful trees in the summer making you feel like you’re not even in the city – and a bonus is that you’ll get to see lots of cute dogs.
I couldn’t finish off this list without including my own neighbourhood! The Distillery District is like entering a different world. The iconic red brick and cobblestone roads make you feel like you’re in an old European town and the historic buildings contrasted with the city skyline in the distance is such a beautiful sight. There’s art installations all over the district and depending on what time of year, there’s the Light Festival and my personal favourite, the Christmas Market.
I could go on and on with more photogenic locations but thought I’d include a great spot to photograph the Toronto skyline. Yes, you can take a ferry to the island but for a quicker option just head to Polson Pier for an amazing, unobstructed view of the city skyline.
Laura Clarke is a wedding and lifestyle photographer in Toronto. Her photograph style is natural, bright and fun. Laura is a self-proclaimed wino, burrito-connoisseur and interior design wannabe.
Follow and get to know Laura at http://www.lauraclarkephotos.com or follow her on Instagram @lauraclarkephotos
