A Gothic Romance at Penryn Park | Danielle & Andrew’s Engagement Session

Engagement Shoot

Apr 13

There are some sessions that feel less like a photoshoot… and more like stepping into a story.

Danielle and Andrew’s engagement session was exactly that.

From the very beginning, Danielle came to me with a vision… one that was deeply intentional and beautifully distinct. Her moodboard was filled with gothic romance, Victorian influence, and a touch of alternative edge. Think: soft darkness, cool tones, ornate details, and a kind of love that feels both timeless and a little bit mysterious.

And I immediately knew—this wasn’t going to be your typical engagement session (and I couldn’t have been more excited).

A Vision Rooted in Mood & Meaning

Danielle didn’t just want photos.
She wanted a feeling.

She asked for cooler tones, a bit more grit, something less polished and more emotive. A style that felt like it belonged in another era—but still grounded in the present.

So I leaned into it fully.

For this session, I used a combination of my 35mm lens and my pocket dispo lens—a lens taken from a disposable camera and adapted to fit my mirrorless system. It’s one of my favourite creative tools because it gives that imperfect, nostalgic, film-like quality… while still allowing me the flexibility and control of a full-frame camera.

The result is something in between worlds—
soft, raw, cinematic, and deeply atmospheric.

The Perfect Location: Penryn Park, Port Hope

Once I saw Danielle’s moodboard, I knew exactly where we needed to go: Penryn Park in Port Hope.

This location holds a special place in my heart—I had photographed Victoria and Mark’s wedding here before, and I had been waiting for the right moment (and the right couple) to return.

Penryn Park is a 19th-century Gothic Revival estate, originally built in the late 1850s, known for its dramatic architectural details, ornate interiors, and romantic, historic character .

Everything about it feels like a painting:

the carved woodwork
the grand staircase
the antique textures
the way the light moves through the space

And outside, the grounds stretch into a landscape that was intentionally designed to feel natural and slightly untamed—perfectly aligned with the picturesque, romantic aesthetic of the era .

Why Early Spring Was Perfect

We shot this session in early April—and honestly, it couldn’t have been more perfect.

No leaves.
No lush greenery.

Just soft light, bare trees, and a quiet stillness that leaned beautifully into the gothic mood Danielle envisioned.

The absence of foliage created space for the architecture to shine.
The tones felt cooler.
The energy felt calmer, more introspective.

It allowed everything…the love, the textures, the emotion to come forward without competing with the season.

A Love That Feels Like a Story

Danielle and Andrew moved through this session so naturally together. There was no need to force anything.

It felt like:

quiet glances in dimly lit rooms
hands finding each other without thinking
moments that felt cinematic, but never staged

This is always what I’m chasing as a photographer—
not perfection, but presence.

The in-between moments.
The feeling of being inside your own world together.

Creating Something Different

What I loved most about this session was how unapologetically them it was.

It didn’t follow trends.
It didn’t try to be light and airy or overly posed.

Instead, it leaned into:

depth
contrast
mood
emotion

And that’s where the magic lives.

Because your engagement photos shouldn’t feel like anyone else’s—they should feel like you.

Planning Your Own Engagement Session

If you’re dreaming of something a little different… something more intentional, more story-driven, more you! I’m always here to help bring that vision to life.

Whether that’s: