Find Photo Shoot locations for rent in Toronto, Canada

About Toronto

Beyond being the largest Canadian city, Toronto leads in global technology, finance, and culture. Global immigrants from all walks of life settled in Queen City, making it among the most multicultural cities. Movie business honchos call it "Hollywood North," thanks to its track record as a sought-after filming location up North.

The diverse filming locations across Hollywood North have provided production locations for blockbuster flicks like “Dawn of the Dead” and “American Psycho." You'll often find professional shutterbugs working on projects against backdrops that provide vantages of the Toronto skyline, with modernist building views, visible from the majestic New City Hall, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Kensington Market, and the Gooderham Building, a historic building in downtown Toronto.

A beautiful photo opportunity comes from the shadow Lake Ontario casts of the glistering Toronto skyline. The Distillery District buildings offer character for themed photoshoots, photographers should also explore backdrops in Lawrence Market, Casa Loma, and the street art along Graffiti Alley for their projects.

Photo Shoot Options in Toronto

• Photography Equipment
  Legend has it that the chaos that ensues before the camera starts rolling forced famed Golden Era filmmaker David Griffith to shout out “Lights, camera, action!” Uttered out of frustration, these words soon became the Si Unit to determine if a photography location is ready to roll the camera, and in a way, it outlines the crucial equipment any video or photography project requires. Toronto's equipment rental companies can supply everything from lenses and lights to sound gear and the services of skilled technicians.
  
  
• Photography and Videography
  Your next photo shoot is as good as who is behind the camera and needless to say, you want the best of the best taking your wedding photos. Whether a fashion shoot against the backdrop of the Allan Gardens or a finance editorial brought to life at the Gooderham Building, a professional photographer knows how to manipulate different light conditions for the best results. Videographers are motion picture maestros who masterfully document life’s events.
  

• Props
  Magazine editorials draw you into the image because they often feature people in beautiful places with plenty of props. Any physical element that highlights the photoshoot theme is a good prop. Balloons, mirrors, plates, bowls, furniture, and banners are physical elements that spring a photoshoot backdrop to life. Prop houses can deliver collections of costumes and befitting-themed items.

Photo Shoot Vendors in Toronto

• Downtown Camera
  Even with the best locations in Toronto and the best photographer, you can only get good photos with the right gear. Downtown Camera understands what a functional photography set needs and offers inventories of cameras and lenses. They advise seasoned and novice shutterbugs about the best gear for each project, with an impressive rental collection including the latest tech from Sony, Canon, Nikon, and other leading brands.

• Exposures Photography
  Exposures Photography can help, if you need a headshot for your resume or professional profile. They deliver compelling portrait shots guaranteed to make a great first impression. Besides business portraits, they handle event photography, boudoir shoots, and glamour shots.
  

• The Prop Room
  The best Toronto Photographer will agree that dressing up a photoshoot set produces beautiful results. Their forty-year track record had made them an established props source for movie designers, set dressers, and photographers. The Prop Room has over 10,000 items in the inventory, enough to spruce up the best photography locations in Toronto, from the Distillery District to Graffiti Alley.

Pros and Cons of Photo Shoots in Toronto

Hollywood North doesn’t disappoint with its selection of picturesque photography locations, from the natural landscapes the Toronto Islands provide to the awe-inspiring Graffiti Alley, Distillery District, and Casa Loma. Explore indoor photography locations like studios, art galleries, warehouses, and industrial buildings around Kensington Market, Flatiron Building, and Scarborough Bluffs for a controlled setting. Before inking a rental contract for a downtown Toronto set, these pros and cons can help you decide.

Advantages

• The city has endless photogenic settings, and numerous landmarks, like The CN Tower, the Distillery District, the Toronto Music Garden, and the bustling St. Lawrence Market, are striking photography locations. Most Toronto attractions can double as photo spots and make great subjects in their own right.
  
  
• From a photographer's lens, Toronto's outdoor spaces have massive potential as backdrops for landscape projects. Explore the photogenic settings around the Toronto Islands, the Queen's Quay, Lake Ontario, High Park, and Algonquin Provincial Park.
  
  
• Toronto's vibrant streets and neighborhoods are photogenic, thanks to striking street art that suits cityscape and lifestyle photography. Shutterbugs can snap compelling advertising or stock images of people walking along Bathurst Street or the flurry of activity in the super-busy Union Station. Kensington Market and the downtown core also provide offbeat backdrops for wedding photos.
  
  
• Under darkness, Toronto lights up and creates an unmatched backdrop. Add the neon signs and the city becomes a lovely backdrop for nighttime shoots.

Disadvantages

• Photographers should budget for permit fees when planning shoots at various photo shoot locations, Toronto, ON, requires that shutterbugs get authorizations for popular tourist spots like Nathan Phillips Square, Spadina Avenue, and Kensington Market.
  
  
• Weather conditions are unpredictable everywhere, and Toronto isn't an exception. Unexpected showers or other inclement conditions can ruin outdoor photoshoots.
  
  
• Toronto has quite a bit of traffic congestion downtown at peak hours due to its ever-growing population, which can pose obstacles for outdoor shoots on busy roads or during rush hour.
  
  
• You have to be mindful of noise levels when working near residential areas. Such photography locations also have cleanup requirements, and ferrying bulky cameras and lighting equipment could affect entrances/exits. Most Toronto neighborhoods will require special parking permits for production vehicles as well.

Tips on How to Organize Photo Shoots in Toronto

Toronto has distinct neighborhoods which are also ideal photography locations. Locations in Toronto provide everything a shutterbug needs to bring their projects to life, from a sprawling outdoor space offering plenty of natural light and Toronto landmark providing city skyline views, to the Scarborough Bluffs with stretches of beach. Get your cover photo, or other money shot, using these tips on organizing shoot locations in Toronto.

• Scout locations: Finding the best photography locations in Toronto gets you closer to your creative vision. Location scouting describes physically dropping by different properties, and you must visit potential sites several times. Choose the best photo spots after conducting test shoots at these settings.
  
  
• Secure permits: Most indoor photography locations and city-owned properties require licenses. This is especially the case for commercial photography, meaning you must get photography permits for the project, whether for family or wedding photos. The property owner or manager can provide permitting details requirements. Look into local laws and regulations on photography work to strictly stay compliant.
  
  
• Prioritize image quality: Having the best photography locations can enhance your project but you need the best cameras, lenses, and lighting kits to capture sharp, professional-looking pictures. Even for your family photos, image quality matters, and you can rent the required gear alongside props and backdrops from Toronto’s rental companies.
  
  
• Consider timing and weather: Photography locations and timing can affect the quality of your pictures and overall photoshoot experience. Sugar Beach can provide the best sunrise or sunset photos, given the “Golden Hour” and off-peak benefits. The same applies to hiking trails and hidden gems on Toronto Island, providing a few more reasons to consider scheduling critically. Weather conditions vary seasonally and can also affect a shoot time-wise, therefore, give it some thought before booking your favorite spot.
  
  
• Find models and assistants: Contact Toronto's talent agencies for connections to skilled models and crew for your project. Factor their hourly rate into your budget to avoid any last-minute surprises.
  
  
• Set up a backup plan: You'll be thankful for taking the time to have solid backup plans in place. In a photoshoot set, delays can come from a model failing to turn up or you could need extra props on short notice. It could be a bad weather condition making outdoor photography impossible.

Famous Locations in Toronto

• CN Tower
  Rising 553 meters (1,815.4 feet), this Toronto landmark is the tallest free-standing western hemisphere structure. It's naturally a crowd-puller, with many braving the CN Tower EdgeWalk, which happens to be the world's highest, hands-free, full-circle walk. Fret not, because a trained guide leads EdgeWalk tours, which last approximately 90 minutes.
  

• Royal Ontario Museum
  Its doors welcome over a million visitors annually, making the Royal Ontario Museum a must-visit city attraction. It's Canada's most massive Museum, housing over 13 million objects. The collection of minerals and gems inspired the striking facade, dubbed crystal owing to its shape. Visitors can get lost inside, with ancient Egyptian relics, contemporary art, and dinosaurs to discover!
  
  

• Toronto Zoo
  Over 5000 animals inhabit The Toronto Zoo, making it one of the world’s largest. Visitors can embrace their WILDside aboard their vehicles, through a Scenic Safari Drive-Thru that provides an up-and-close encounter with the 460 species living. You can explore the zoo on foot, via six miles of walking trails passing through its different sanctuaries.
  
  

Ontario’s capital city doesn’t disappoint when looking for a beautiful location for a photo shoot. From the lavish castle-like Casa Loma to the colorful flowers and plants at Allan Gardens, Toronto has scenic backdrops for your next photo shoot.