Last Sunday, I was lucky enough to spend the evening with Shelly & Leo in Ancaster for their engagement shoot – and what a shoot it was! We started out at one of my favourite places, the Heritage Trail, right across from the lovely Ancaster Mill! The way the light passes through the tall trees and spills onto the winding dirt paths and trails is always magical! After shooting along the trail we zipped down the road to Sherman Falls for some *epic* photos at (and on) the waterfall (hiking was involved!)

Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele

Can they be any cuter? Their smiles are contagious!

...and I'm so excited to get to the pics at Sherman Falls! But first...some more from the Heritage Trail.

Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele

Who doesn't love an adorable piggy-back ride?

Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele

And...Sherman Falls.

I can't begin to tell you how busy it was at Sherman Falls – both parking lots were jammed, with 10+ car lineups...we drove around until finally caving in and just parking on the roadside and risking parking tickets (which we both got LOL). It was worth it though! Between COVID and it being a weekend, it looked and felt like a festival was going on – but we managed to capture such magical pics at the falls, it feels and looks like no one was there but us (also thanks to a LOT of Photoshop removing the hoards of people from every photo!)

Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele

So about that hike...

There are no stairs or magical escalators that take you to the top of the falls...it's a steep hike up loose and rocky soil at roughly 45º vertical...and these two did it without batting an eye, all dressed up and barefoot! I should be sharing some of the behind-the-scenes pics here, to prove just how committed Shelly & Leo were to their engagement shoot!

But OMG...this shot right here is pure joy.

Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele

The contrast between the cool tones of the Sherman Falls session, and the bright, warm sunshine of the Heritage Trail photos make me so happy!

Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele

...and, swoon.

Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele

So many smiles!

Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele
Sherman Falls Heritage Trail Ancaster Ontario Engagement Photos Shawn Van Daele

Ugh! I can barely deal.

And those are just SOME of the teaser pics I sent them within a few days of their shoot. I can't thank Shelly & Leo enough for being so amazing to work with – up for anything, eager to do whatever it takes to get the shot (ie: scaling a cliff barefoot), and fully committed to making some beautiful and timeless art together for their engagement shoot! Looking forward to doing it all again (maybe with less hiking though) at their wedding next year at The Doctor's House! xo Shawn