Calgary Headshot Photographer

Professional Headshot Photography in Calgary

Your professional headshot is IMPORTANT!!! It is the first chance a potential employer or client gets to make their first impression about you. It may not be what gets you the job or seals the contract, but a bad headshot puts you even further behind than having none at all. Patton Photography is here to offer amazing Calgary headshot Photographer services.

What Makes a Great Headshot?

A headshot is typically a photograph, taken from the chest up, with even lighting across the face and without strong shadows. A great headshot though is much more. While it is still typically taken from the chest up, it is about how the image makes the person viewing it feel. Does it create a sense of trust and calm within them, a sense that you are a true professional that they can ensure their business or project to.

Calgary Headshot
YYC professional headshot photographer

A great headshot is about exposing your personality. It is a combination of poses, backgrounds, facial expressions, and a thousand other things that create the perfect look for the message you want to convey.

As a Calgary headshot photographer, we are able to offer a variety of options to our clients. We offer professional headshots that are customized to your business. Many of our business clients love our grey backdrop with graduated lighting, while others prefer a black and white image on white backgrounds. Others, prefer to do photos in the environment that the person works in. The options are endless and we can offer you exceptional service in any environment.

We explain to all our clients the basics of posing so that you can incorporate the techniques into all your photos. We will explain why we position body parts in certain ways, and then allow you to make the pose comfortable to you. This technique creates a sense of confidence while allowing you to be relaxed as you understand everything that is happening.

Calgary Headshot Photographer 2
Calgary Headshot Photographer 2

Can You Come to our Workplace?

If it is okay with your employer, we are happy to travel to your worksite to create a great headshot for you. In many cases, you will find that several colleagues will also want professional headshots to update what they have, or to get them done for the first time. In this case, we can create a special pricing package for you that will work for everyone. We refer to ourselves as Calgary headshot photographers, however, we are able to virtually travel anywhere to do professional headshots for you and your team.

How Long Does It Take To Get The Images Back?

We will have the images back to you within three days typically. Need them faster? Let us know and we will do our best to work within your timeframe. In some cases, we have images back to clients within a matter of hours. For larger groups, we will often shoot ‘tethered’ which immediately imports photos into our computer and applies basic adjusts to them. This allows our clients to get a basic sneak peek of the image ahead of time and saves time in post processing as some of the work is already done for us.

How Much Editing Do You Do?

Your professional headshot needs to be an accurate representation of you. For this reason, we only do enough editing to make your already great headshot look just a tad bit better. We will clean up any flyaway hairs, lint specks, or blemishes to ensure that there is nothing distracting that takes away from you. Our editing workflow is designed to maintain your look while simply cleaning up the image slightly.

How Do I Select The Images That I Want?

Good News….you don’t!!! You get all the edited images that are in your gallery!! We do not limit how many photos you get to keep, do you like 8 photos? Awesome, download all of them. You like 12 of your great headshots? Even better…download them all!!

How Do We Receive Our Headshots?

All the edited images will go into a private online gallery that you have access to. From this gallery, you can download the images anytime you want. All our galleries are active for a period of six months, giving you lots of time to download the images.

Pricing and Booking Your Headshot

Check out our webpage here to book your professional headshot. Alternatively, look for Calgary Headshot Photographer under our Photography Services tab in the top menu.

Calgary Headshot Photographer


Patton Photography is a professional photography studio based out of Calgary, Alberta. Our signature style offers a clean and modern look to your photographs while maintaining a professional headshot. Contact us anytime to sit down over coffee for a stress-free conversation.

Follow along with our social media pages here on Facebook and Instagram to see our latest projects.

Scottish Groom Partying

Spectacular Australian – Scottish Wedding

I always thought Irish and Newfoundland weddings were the big party weddings. Let me say that I have found a new contender….Australian – Scottish weddings. They are amazing!!!!!

When Kelly first called us from Australia asking about photographing their wedding, we were super excited. You may remember Kelly and David from our Troll Falls engagement shoot a few weeks previous. We had a fantastic day celebrating their wedding at St. Micheal’s Church, which included a bagpiper during the recessional.

We headed to Bowness Park to do their wedding photos, and while the smoke from the forest fires tried to darken the skies, this couple shone as brightly as ever. For the reception, we headed to Crestmont Hall. We were treated to an amazing meal prepared by Red Seal Dining and great music by our friends at Pez Productions. The party was in full swing when we called it a night and no doubt continued well into the night. Beautiful custom wooden signage by Nella’s Signs & Designs. Many thanks to Leya for your help.

We have done many weddings now for people from out of country and communications is key. In some cases, we have not even met the couple until their engagement session. Despite the distances, we have developed a workflow that allows us to create perfect wedding photography plans.

Australian Bride getting ready
Australian Bride getting ready
Australian Scottish Wedding party
Australian Scottish Wedding party
Scottish wedding groom and bride
Scottish wedding groom and bride
Australian Scottish Wedding Dance
Australian Scottish Wedding Dance
Australian Scottish Wedding Reception
Australian Scottish Wedding Reception
Bride and Groom quiet moment
Bride and Groom quiet moment
Australian Scottish Wedding
Australian Scottish Wedding
Scottish Groom Partying
Scottish Groom Partying

Australian – Scottish Wedding


Patton Photography is a professional photography studio based out of Calgary, Alberta. Our signature style offers a clean and modern look to your photographs while maintaining a look that is romantic and whimsical. Contact us anytime to sit down over coffee for a stress-free conversation.

Chinese wedding banquet

Chinese Wedding Timeline and Festive Traditions

He has proposed and you are getting married!!! Are of Chinese descent or simply looking to incorporate Chinese wedding traditions into your wedding day? Then this article is for you. We have compiled a small sample of Chinese wedding traditions as well as an example timeline and menu…all ten courses!!

Chinese wedding days are incredible, with a host of traditions, dress changes, games, and banquet. One of the most common traditions is the Chinese Tea Ceremony.

Chinese Tea Ceremony

Often, both families will perform the hairdressing and capping rituals for the bride and groom. The groom will then travel to the bride’s house, where he will be blocked from entering by the bridesmaids. After a series of tasks, he is allowed to enter the home

Both families are formally introduced through the Tea Ceremony, and often the couple will receive ornate red envelopes (lai see) which may contain money or sometimes jewelry.

Chinese Wedding Dress

It is Chinese tradition for the bride to wear a red dress, known as a qipao. In Chinese culture, red symbolizes happiness, prosperity, and good luck. In modern weddings, the bride will often change into a white wedding dress for the ceremony. As the banquet progresses, there will often be another dress change, and on some occasions, a fourth dress at the end of ceremonies to send off their guests.

Chinese Wedding Banquet

This is a very lavish and usually expensive affair. Once the dinner begins, the bride will change into a traditional red Chinese wedding dress. Many foods are considered symbolic in Chinese culture, such as the whole fish which symbolizes abundance.

Chinese wedding cake
Chinese wedding cake

Chinese Wedding Timeline

5:00 amMakeup and Hairstylist Arrive
Bridesmaids arrive to Bride’s house
8:40 amFamily Members arrive
9:00 amGroom Arrives at Tea Ceremony
Ceremony venue opens for set up
Reception venue open for set up
Tea Ceremony (until 11 am)
Ceremony decor delivery/set-up
Photography coverage begins (13-hour duration)
11:00 amTea Ceremony Ends
Lunch delivery arrives
12:00 pmBridal party departure for the ceremony
12:45 pmBridal party arrival to Ceremony location
1:00 pmAll ceremony details set for guest arrival
Bride gets dressed
1:30 pmEarliest guest arrival
Start instrumental background music
Officiant arrives
1:55 pmLine up the bridal party
2:00 pmCeremony begins
2:30 pmCeremony ends
Group Photo & Family Photos
3:00 pmCouple Photos
5:00 pmBridal party arrival at Reception
All details set for cocktail hour/early guest arrival
5:30 pmCake Delivery
Cocktail hour
Cocktail hour music begins and then moves into dinner music
6:55 pmEmcee asks guests to be seated
7:00 pmReception begins
Welcome Speech and introduction of emcee
Bridal Party Entrance
7:05 pmNewlywed Entrance & First Dance
7:15 pmFirst Course Served; BBQ Platter
7:25 pmToast by the Maid of Honor
7:30 pmSecond Course: Deep-fried stuffed Crab claws
7:35 pmToast by Bridesmaid
7:45 pmThird Course: Bird’s Nest with Scallops
7:50 pmToast by the Best Man
8:00 pmFourth Course: Fish Maw Soup
8:15 pmFifth Course: Lobster with Cream sauce
8:20 pmGames: 1
8:30 pmSixth Course: Crispy Chicken
8:35 pmGames: 2
8:45 pmSeventh Course: Braised Abalone Chinese Mushroom
8:50 pmGames: 3
9:00 pmEighth Course: Steamed Tilapia
Bride to go change to Chinese dress
9:10 pmThank you by the Newlyweds (Bride changed to Chinese dress)
9:15 pmBridal party will make their rounds
Ninth Course: Yee Min
9:30 pmTenth Course: Fried Rice
Bride to change to an evening gown
9:35 pmCake cutting (Bride in evening gown)
9:45 pmOpen dance floor
9:50 pmBouquet Toss/ Garter toss
10:00 pmPhotography Coverage Finishes
10:15 pmDinner service ends
12:55 amLast Dance
1:00 amNewlywed send-off
Breakdown Begins

Patton Photography is a professional photography studio based out of Calgary, Alberta. Our signature style offers a clean and modern look to your photographs while maintaining a look that is romantic and whimsical. Contact us anytime to sit down over coffee for a stress-free conversation.

Groom Boutonniere

Useful Tips on How to Pin a Boutonniere

The second most common question we get asked by guys on the wedding day, second only to how to fold a pocket square, is “How do we put on a boutonniere?” These small floral arrangements have been confusing to men the world over. Most men only wear these a few times in their lifetimes, so all it takes is one person to be an expert, and after this article, you’ll be that guy!! With these 3 easy steps, you’ll have the knowledge to successfully pin one on in less than 60 seconds.

Step 1: Location, Location, Location

The key to wearing a boutonniere is proper placement. They are always placed on the left lapel of your jacket. Almost all suit lapels will have a buttonhole which makes finding the right spot easy. Don’t have a buttonole? Check below for placement. Simply place the largest part of the flower, just over the hole with the base of the flower, the ribbon covered stem, laying on the lapel just below the hole. The stem of the boutonniere should be aligned with the sides of the lapel so it angles in the same direction.

The boutonniere should be lower than the knot in the tie, and above the top of the pocket square.

History Fact: Boutonniere is French for ‘buttonhole’ which was originally designed to let men stick single flowers through their lapel.

Step 2: Fold The Lapel Over the Boutonniere

After you’ve correctly positioned the boutonniere, form a taco shape by folding the material over the flower and that should allow you to see the back of the lapel. Be sure to have a good grip on the boutonniere as you prepare to stick the pin into it

Step 3: Slide The Needle Down Through the Lapel

Insert the needle at a downward angle making sure it runs through the lapel. Be sure to stick the needle through the thickest part of the boutonniere, the flower stem, typically at the top of the ribbon covered section. It’s important to insert the needle at a downward angle to ensure that the boutonniere stays in place throughout the event.

After you’ve pinned the boutonniere, check and see that the needle is not visible from the front and the boutonniere is secure. You could also use two pins for more stability.

Wedding boutonniere on groom

Common Questions

What if you don’t have a button hole?

Because tuxedos have a satin lapel, they don’t have this helpful landmark. For notch lapel tuxedos, you can use the bottom edge of the notch as a guide. Simply place the widest part of the boutonniere flower just below this and approximately 1.5″ in from the edge

For shawl lapel tuxedos, use the shirt buttons as a guide. These are a bit more difficult because they are one continuous piece of satin. Look to the buttons on the shirt to help placement, specifically the second button from the top of the shirt. This will be the highest fully exposed button. On a shawl lapel, the boutonniere should be placed with the base of the flower even to this button. Next, align the stem aligned with the lapel edges.

Does it matter if you don’t pin it toward the top of the stem? 

Yes, it does matter. Pinning it in the middle of the stem is not a secure placement. This type of placement will cause the flower to flop around. Putting the pin through the top of the stem where the ribbon begins. This is where the stems are thickest and is the most secure position.

What is the right size? 

The flowers used in the boutonnieres should complement the bridal bouquets. Also, be sure to compliment the size of the gentleman wearing them. For example, a small rose on its own may not look fitting on a larger groomsman. This however may be perfect for the ring bearer.

How do we incorporate the colors of wedding? 

There are so many ways to incorporate wedding colors into your florals. Flowers vary by season and you have probably chosen your wedding colors based on the time of year and formality of your event. For example, burgundy bridesmaids’ dresses are stunning next to a groomsman in a black suit with a burgundy calla lily boutonniere. Color can also be added to the ribbon choice.

How do I care for my boutonniere before the wedding? 

Ideally, your florist will deliver your boutonnieres and other flowers the day of, right before they are ready to be attached to your jacket. If they are in your possession the night before, store them gently in the refrigerator close to the door. If you need to freshen them up the day of, use a spray bottle to spray cool water on the stem and gently dry on a tissue before placing it on your suit or tuxedo.

Can a boutonniere be worn along with a pocket square?

Yes. Although many couples choose one or the other, there is no reason a boutonniere and a pocket square can’t complement one another.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4pvo1GhmK_/

Patton Photography is a professional photography studio based out of Calgary, Alberta. Our signature style offers a clean and modern look to your photographs while maintaining a look that is romantic and whimsical. Contact us anytime to sit down over coffee for a stress-free conversation.

Photography toolbox and hiking equipment

Our Fantastic Photography Toolbox

Photo via Good Free Photos

Ever wondered what equipment a photographer carries with them? Our photography toolbox list hopefully offers some insight into what it takes to be a professional photographer. As with anything, it takes a lot more than expensive equipment to produce beautiful wedding photographs.  However, having that professional equipment offers a level of performance and capabilities that lower-level gear does not.  Here is our list of professional equipment.  Besides the equipment listed, we have a full set of backdrop stands, backdrops, and miscellaneous equipment.

OUR CAMERA SYSTEMS

Our list starts with camera bodies. We only use high-performing camera bodies that are ideally suited for top of the line photographs.  The Canon R5 Mirrorless is the workhorse of photographers across the world.  Recording to two separate cards, the R5 ensures that no matter what happens on one card, all your images are safe as they also exist on the backup card. The new system features intelligent eye tracking so that as you walk, the camera maintains perfect focus on you. At an incredible 45 Megapixel, the R5 offers some of the highest resolution in any camera. Our backup camera, the Canon 5D Mark III is still used by many of the best photographers in the world. It is an incredible camera that was our primary body for several years. With this camera line-up, you can be sure that your images are of the highest quality.

  • Primary camera body:  Canon R5
  • Backup camera body: Canon 5D Mark III
  • Photobooth camera body: Canon Rebel XSi

OUR LENSES

Our lens collection consists of high-end lens all designed for working in low light conditions, perfect for a wedding ceremony or corporate speaking session.  The use of telephoto lenses also means that we can stay stationary and zoom in or out for the ideal shot.  This is one of the ways we ensure that we are not disruptive during your event. 

  • Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Telephoto Lens
  • Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Telephoto Lens
  • Canon 50mm f/1.8 ‘Prime’ Portrait Lens

OUR LIGHTING

We are equipped with a full array of lighting equipment and remote triggering systems.  The majority of our systems are battery powered to eliminate power cords running across your floor. They are also remote-controlled…to keep us from running across your floor. 

  • Godox AD200 Pro
  • Godox TT685C Speedlight
  • Godox XPRO-C Multi-Channel Radio Trigger
  • Yongnuo YN600EX-RT II Speedlight
  • Yongnuo YN-E3-RT Multi-Channel Radio Trigger
  • An assortment of studio lights as well as handheld lights

OUR PHOTOGRAPHY ACCESSORIES

We have a wide variety of gear designed to help bring out the best of our camera and lighting systems.  From light meters, which help ensure lights are calibrated perfectly for your space, to specially designed filters that control how much light enters the camera.

  • Sekonic L-358 Flash Light Meter
  • Evecase extra-large gear backpack
  • Macro-tubes of varying lengths
  • Tiffen Neutral Density 0.9 Filters
  • Tiffen Ultra-Violet Filters
  • Geekoto Professional 77” ball-head Tripod
  • Multiple light-stands ranging from 7 feet to 10 feet
  • 5 in 1 portable reflector
  • Rapid Pro Parabolic Softbox
  • Rapid Speedlight Softbox
  • MagMod Light Modifier System

OUR WORKSTATIONS

Once your images have been captured, we ensure that they are treated with the utmost respect and protection.  Our dual-drive laptop ensures that we can work quickly as we edit each photo.  Likewise, our 18 button mouse ensures that the common keyboard shortcuts are accessed even quicker with the press of a button.  Finally, our NAS storage system ensures that there is always a backup of your images. 

  • ASUS Vivobook Pro 17 Dual Drive Laptop
  • Red Dragon M908 – 18 Button Mouse
  • DataColor Spyder Screen Calibration System
  • Synology 2 Bay Network Attached Storage System

OUR PHOTOGRAPHY SOFTWARE

We utilize business subscriptions to the world’s leading photo management and editing software programs.  Having the subscription ensures that we always have the latest versions of the software.

  • Adobe Lightroom (Business Subscription)
  • Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud (Business Subscription)
  • ShootProof Gallery Hosting and Protection

As you can see, it takes more than just having a nice camera to offer a professional level of service. Our photography toolbox section is a rough list of the equipment each of our photographers has. While the list will differ as to the brands and quantities, our photographers all utilize professional equipment to ensure the best of service.

So, which vendors do we use when we are in need of equipment? If you are in need of camera gear, we highly recommend these great vendors


Patton Photography is a professional photography studio based out of Calgary, Alberta. Our signature style offers a clean and modern look to your photographs while maintaining a look that is romantic and whimsical. Contact us anytime to sit down over coffee for a stress-free conversation.

Banff springs bride and groom speech

Fairmont Banff Springs – an amazing castle wedding

Check out this beautiful wedding at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel!  This really was a perfect Banff location for a perfect couple.  The weather was beautiful and you could feel the love in the air.

It all started with Chelsie and Mike getting ready at the always amazing Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.  One thing you quickly realize about our amazing wedding couple is they always have a smile on their face, and during the preparation for their big day, the smiles never stopped.  The room in which we met the girls seemed like it was specifically made for photographers.  With perfect light, the furniture and decor were excellent and everything lined up beautifully for our getting ready photos.

First Look and Ceremony

Prior to the ceremony, there was a first look session which we did in one of the many beautiful corridors of the Banff Springs.  The winding marble staircase provided the perfect location for Chelsie to make her way down to where Mike was anxiously waiting. After our couple spent a few minutes together, we made our way to Mount Stephen Hall for the ceremony.

For those that are not familiar with this stunning venue, Mount Stephen Hall is the ultimate in wedding venues. A large marble room with huge vaulted ceiling, a wall of windows and multiple balconies, this is a dream location. The beautiful wedding ceremony was officiated by Carl Shields, one of our favorite officiants.  We love seeing Carl Shields at our weddings as he always has a smile and is absolutely amazing to work with. A relaxed and confident demeanor ensures that all our couples have nothing but the best of ceremonies.

Wedding Photographs

The hotel itself offered many incredible locations for the wedding photographs. The many marble hallways and balconies provided beautiful backdrops. Large windows with provided lots of natural light as we incorporated some of the green foliage throughout the hotel into the photos. We finished our photos with a quick ride to the nearby Bow Falls. Having photos inside the hotel as well as at an outdoor location ensured that couple received the widest assortment of photos that we couple provide.

Reception and Party

We arrived back at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel with time to give our wedding couple a chance to relax before starting the reception.  We always encourage our couples to build a few moments to relax into their timelines. Wedding days are hectic at best and without a chance to catch your breath they can quickly become a whirlwind. We once again headed to Mount Stephen Hall where it had been decorated with incredible style. Having your reception in a castle is a sure way to create that ‘Wow’ factor.

Our couple surprised everyone as they made their entrance into the reception with a full traditional ballroom dance which they had been rehearsing over the weeks leading up to the wedding. There were many laughs with the wonderful stories and speeches from an assortment of people. As with any wedding at the Banff Springs, the meal was spectacular.

With the formalities concluded, the party extended into the wee hours of the night. Cocktails were served chilled as they were poured through a custom made ice sculpture while the dance floor was kept packed.

An Amazing Wedding Day

Chelsie and Mike are one of those couples who you feel like you have known for years, even if you have just met them.  It was such an amazing day as we got to spend their special day with them and their families as they celebrated their wedding at the beautiful Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.  It was a great day seeing several of our favorite vendors once again and a very big thank-you to the amazingly talented Erin who second shot for us.

Banff bride getting ready for wedding
Bride in Banff getting ready for wedding
Bride in Banff next to window
Bride in Banff sitting at window before wedding
Wedding rings
Wedding rings
Wedding at Banff Springs
Wedding at Banff Springs
Bride and Father at Banff Springs Wedding
Banff Springs wedding with bride and father
Bride and groom first kiss
First kiss for Banff Springs wedding
Banff Springs bride and groom
Banff Springs bride and groom walking
Banff wedding bride and groom reflection
Above Mount Stephen Hall
Banff Springs wedding speech
Banff Springs wedding speech
Banff springs bride and groom speech
Banff Springs wedding bride and groom speech
Bride and groom wedding speech
Bride and groom wedding speech
Custom ice sculpture at wedding bar
Custom ice sculpture for chilling drinks at wedding

We would love to talk with you over coffee about your upcoming wedding or engagement. Contact us anytime to arrange a coffee

Dress at a Destination Wedding in Mexico

Destination Wedding Photographers

Destination wedding photographers are becoming a much more common, and affordable, option for many engaged couples. With the snow falling and the colder temperatures arriving, our mind travels back to some of our destination weddings. Worrying about sand getting into your shoes is a wonderful problem….  With the sun setting over the ocean, our awesome wedding couple relaxed on some swings. Listening to the waves at the ocean side bar having a quiet moment to themselves.

Bride and groom at a destination wedding holding hands on swing
Bride and groom relax on swing at a destination wedding
Dress at a Destination Wedding in Mexico
Wedding dress at a destination beach wedding in Mexico

Many couples now bring destination wedding photographers with them to their destination wedding. This allows the couple to select the photographers whose style they most like and ensures a level of quality. This can not always be assured by simply using the random photographer working at the resort.

Ensuring Everything Is Perfect

While destination wedding photography sounds like an amazing opportunity, it involves a tremendous amount of work. Updating business insurance policies need to include the destination. Detailed equipment lists need to be generated to get all our equipment across international borders. Equipment needs to be checked and packed carefully to ensure a safe arrival. Arrival on site, a minimum 24 hours prior to the wedding so the best places to take photos can be found.

On-site Planning

We consider such things as: where will the tide be at the time of the photos, are there large shadows created by the sun at certain times, where are some locations we can go if a sudden rain shower happens. Considerable time is also spent calibrating cameras and lights. We always ensure everything is working properly after the flight. Needless to say, the first day is a busy one. An early night is generally in order to prepare for the wedding day.

The wedding day is always busy and destination weddings are no different. To respect the couple’s privacy we generally leave the following day or the day after that and return to Calgary. This allows our couple to relax by themselves and enjoy the remainder of their trip.

Prior to leaving, we back up all our photos to a remote system so no data is ever lost. All equipment is carefully cleaned, wrapped and repacked. Finally, we ensure all our paperwork is in order to bring our equipment across the border again. As you see, there is not much time left for relaxation.

Bride and Groom standing on rocks at a destination wedding
Bride and Groom standing on rocks at a destination wedding

Be sure to find out the quality and style of the included vendors if considering a destination wedding. In the end, you may find that bringing some vendors with you may be a better overall option.

Mountain Top Destination Wedding Photographers

We also have experience with helicopter wedding photos…yes that is a real thing!!  In fact, chartering a helicopter to fly into a romantic location has become much more common.  A remote mountain summit, or backcountry mountain lake are only a few of the many options available. Typically, the helicopter will take four guests (bride, groom, photographer, and one other guest) to the location. 

There are different packages available with the various helicopter companies. Typically the packages allow you time on site between 15 minutes and one hour.  We always get beautiful photos on these trips and may be something to consider for the adventurous couple.  Remember, being destination wedding photographers means more than just travelling to beach destinations. We will hike, fly and travel virtually anywhere you want to go.

helicopter trip to Mountain destination wedding
Bride and groom at a mountain top destination wedding

Likewise, there are many options for the couple that wants to add some adventure to their photos.  A hike into the mountains is a great option for couples who want to add extra drama to their photos.  From standing on a mountain ridge to along side a waterfall. Perhaps next to a 1000ft cliff. We can help bring the destination to you. 

Let us know what you are thinking, give us some time to come up with some ideas. Remember, as photographers, we are often hiking with an extra 40 – 50 lbs of gear.  In saying that, if you want it…we will make it happen.

Considering a destination wedding, whether it is an international location or a remote mountain peak? Contact us anytime to discuss how we can assist you.

Adventure Destination Photographers

Kananaskis engagement session with mountains and lake

Incredible Mountain Engagement

It feels like it has been a long time since we have photographed an engagement session. Erika and Mark’s mountain engagement session was an amazing one to get back into the swing of things with. With perfect weather, a perfect location, and an absolutely amazing couple, these photos are turning out amazing.

Erika and Mark told us wanted an outdoor session that was a combination of mountain adventure with the beauty of the colorful larch trees. The Canadian Rockies offer some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Timing the session to achieve the perfect colors involved moving the session a couple of times. Our couple had a great vision of what they wanted which helped make our Kananaskis engagement session such a success.

While we primarily market ourselves as Calgary engagement and wedding photographers, we love to get out in the surrounding regions to capture all new looks. A mountain engagement in the heart of Kananaskis is a favorite session of ours and we always have such a great experience.

Mountains, Larch trees, and….grizzlies??

We started with some all-new locations we have never photographed before. We started along the edge of a lake under the view of Mt. Wintour. We spent time exploring the lakeshore and the nearby forested area before moving to our next location. This region was bordering a closure area due to high grizzly activity so bear spray was a necessity. Keeping one eye on our camera and one looking out for large furry animals was a new experience.

Mark mentioned that he loved the idea of dramatic photos but wasn’t into mountain climbing or anything. With that in mind, I found an area where the highway was cut through a large rock wall. Standing on the edge of the rock face, as well as on the top of my truck parked along the road, we captured some great images of our couple alongside a dramatic mountain rock face. A panoramic version of this image also quickly become one of my all-time favorite images.

We will usually include a few photographs where the landscape or background is the main subject of the photo. In some cases, the couple themselves may only be a silhouette or quite small in comparison to the size of the image. We do these to allow the couple to have a piece of artwork that they can display in their home, that isn’t a close-up photo of themselves. While the couple themselves are still in the photo, it is a little less ‘Look at us!!’ and a little more ‘Look at the cool artwork’.

We made our way to a well known lake in Kananaskis which is known for its’ stunning views. The yellow Larch trees were in full display and even the lake was mirror calm allowing a great reflection of the South peak of Mt. Kidd. There were lots of laughs and smiles and it was a great morning. We are looking forward to this amazing couple’s wedding next summer.

Adventure Sessions

Adventure sessions are something we love. If you have an idea, or even if you don’t, and like the idea of an adventure session, give us a call. From hiking to a ridgeline in the mountains, or finding locations that make it look like you did, we will create amazing images for you. After this session, we are looking forward to many more mountain engagement sessions in the near future.

Kananaskis engagement session with mountains and lake
Kananaskis wedding photography with mountains and lake
Engagement session in Kananaskis in the mountains
Engagement photography in Kananaskis in the mountains
Dramatic engagement photo in the mountains
Dramatic engagement photo in the mountains
Calgary photography session in Kananaskis in the mountains
Calgary wedding photographer in Kananaskis in the mountains
Calgary engagement couple standing in the mountains
Calgary photographers in Kananaskis mountain engagement
Calgary couple in the Kananaskis mountains
Calgary photographers at a Kananaskis mountain engagement

Mountain Engagement – Calgary Engagement Photography

Kananaskis, Alberta


Patton Photography is a professional photography studio based out of Calgary, Alberta. Our signature style offers a clean and modern look to your photographs while maintaining a look that is romantic and whimsical. Contact us anytime to sit down over coffee for a stress-free conversation.

Calgary bride and groom together

Amazing Saskatoon Farm wedding

We love photographing a Saskatoon Farm wedding. While always beautiful, this one was absolutely breathtaking. This summer has been so crazy busy that we are running behind getting our ‘sneak peek’ images out. I think they have been worth the wait as we get them onto our social media for people to see.

A little coffee shop in Kensington was the perfect place to meet Sarah and Tanner. When you meet a couple for the first time, sometimes you just know that they are meant for each other. These two people are definitely one of those special couples.

Sarah and Tanner seem to always have a smile on their faces and are always up for an adventure. You may remember them from our winter waterfall engagement session earlier this year.


The Wedding


The bride got ready at Lakeview Inns & Suites – Okotoks earlier in the day. For a beautiful room, this is a location we definitely recommend. Obviously, we hope to return there soon. Located in the center of Okotoks, it is an amazing facility in a perfect location. We can say enough about the great people here and highly recommend them.

A beautiful ceremony in the upper covered location, in addition to the fresh flowers and greenery made the area absolutely magical. Sarah’s relative officiated our Saskatoon Farm wedding making it extra special. With rows of stunning flowers and a , this particular location is one of our favorites.

Michelle at Li’l Mam Flowers crafted all the flowers and bouquets. This was our first time working with her and she is INCREDIBLE. Certainly give her a call if you are looking for flowers and bouquets.

The Wedding Reception

After spending some time taking photos at Saskatoon Farm, we left for Riverbend Campground Okotoks. The rustic log reception was the perfect venue for this couple. We also had another first with a food truck being used to cater the reception….and it was awesome. Individual orders were submitted in the days leading up to the wedding. As table numbers were called, the catering already knew who was coming and had the custom made pizzas hot and ready.

Daniel from Savino Pizzeria did “made-to-order” wood fired pizzas right on site and it was delicious. As always, the great ladies at Envious Events, Breanna and Meagan, kept everything running on schedule.

This wedding was the perfect rustic wedding while still being just outside Calgary city limits. It is a great example of combining an amazing vision in addition to locations. From Sarah’s stunning wedding dress, to the outdoor wedding, to the wood fired pizzas. This was a beautiful wedding that was perfectly customized to our couple.

Finally, thank you again to Nathalie for your amazing photography skills as you work with us over this crazy busy summer. This has been one of our busiest summers on record and we have pulled it off without a hitch. It is a testament to the amazing work that our second shooters do. I can not express our true appreciation to them.


Calgary Wedding Photography


Processed using Sleeklens for Lightroom

If you are interested in having us photograph your engagement or wedding, check out our wedding photography page.

Farm Wedding

Calgary farm wedding

Beautiful Saskatoon Farm Wedding

Amanda and Taylor’s wedding day was unbelievable.  Incredible blue skies looked over an amazing wedding at the always beautiful Saskatoon Farm. Following a wonderful meal, a night of music and dance ensued. Obviously, this wedding was one to be remembered.

Hair and Make-up were provided by Miranda at MSlay Studios. We have worked with her many times and she is phenomenal. If you want an amazing hair and make-up artist, this should be one of your first calls.

Following a wonderful ceremony at the garden wedding site, it was time for photos. We were able to capture a few photos at the Saskatoon Farm before moving to a new location. In addition to the incredible ceremony site, we also had access to an incredible acreage nearby. Finishing our photos we moved to our reception site in nearby Okotoks. A delicious meal catered by Soul Sugar Catering followed by a night of music and dancing.

For those that don’t know of it, Saskatoon Farm offers a beautiful location for a wedding, in addition to offering beautiful photo locations.  If you are looking for a venue for your wedding, be sure to check this location out.  It was our first time working with Okotoks Best Western as well as Soul Sugar Catering, and I truly hope it won’t be our last, the venue and staff were amazing to work with and the meal was AMAZING.

It was great to see one of our favorite hair and make-up artists, Miranda from MSlay Studios.  As always, her work was beautiful and should be top of your list when looking for a hair and make-up artist.  

Lastly, it was a great day and we wish you both all the best


Calgary Wedding Vendors


Venue: Saskatoon Farm Wedding

Make-up Artist: MSlay Studios

Catering: Soul Sugar Catering

Reception: Okotoks Best Western

Beautiful Saskatoon Farm Wedding


Patton Photography is a professional photography studio based out of Calgary, Alberta. Our signature style offers a clean and modern look to your photographs while maintaining a look that is romantic and whimsical. Contact us anytime to sit down over coffee for a stress-free conversation.

Wedding Photography magic After image

Wedding Photography Magic

On occasion, we have locations that may not photograph how we prefer, this is where our wedding photography magic comes in.

It’s been a little while since we last posted, unfortunately the downside of having a business is trying to get ready for tax season…as much work as wedding season but without the awesome caterers and DJs ). However we are starting a new social media push so be sure to watch here and our Instagram feed. Myself and Erin will be starting a regular viewing party for all of you showing the details and magic.

How we deal with ‘small rooms’ or ‘ugly rooms’, etc. when doing wedding photography is a common question. We have some great techniques, one of which we are going to show you here. Roni was getting ready in an awesome room downtown however the bathroom didn’t have quite the pop I wanted. The mirror was great with a super cool backlight, however it was BRIGHT white. The bright white light just didn’t fit my idea for the photo.


The Wedding Photography Magic


To get around this, I adjusted settings in the camera to really darken the room down. I then placed a flash pointed at our groom, with a tight focus to only light him up. To tone down the bright white light I actually placed a blue gel over the flash pointed at our groom. I took the picture of our white mirror light and now blue groom and brought it into our software. By simply adjusting the color temperature, our blue flash became white. The color shift brought our groom back to the proper color.

This shift also pushed our mirror light to a much nicer yellow / orange. The tightly focused beam also kept the room dark to keep our groom the center of attention. You can see the final photo followed by the ‘blue’ original with the white mirror light in the photo following.

Having an understanding of color shifting as well as off camera flash allows us to take an otherwise ordinary photo and give it a great edge.


Patton Photography is a professional photography studio based out of Calgary, Alberta. Our signature style offers a clean and modern look to your photographs while maintaining a look that is romantic and whimsical. Contact us anytime to sit down over coffee for a stress-free conversation.

Bride and groom under a blue sky

Beautiful Wedding in the Rockies

Meet Jen and Sean, two fun-loving amazing people who have been living their lives to the fullest.  Their beautiful wedding in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains was nothing short of stunning.  The bride and groom got ready at the fantastic Silver Creek Lodge. Miranda with MSlay Studios was amazing with the bride’s hair. Similarly, the incredible Julia Joy Makeup Artistry did the bride’s make-up. We were thrilled to work with several vendors that we recognized and always provide incredible service.

The amazing Canmore Golf and Country Club provided an amazing location for our wedding. We encourage all our Canmore couples to look at this fantastic facility.   The Flower House provided incredibly beautiful flower bouquets. EPH Apparel made our groom and groomsmen look their absolute best. Similarly, The Bridal Boutique provided gorgeous dresses for our stunning bride and bridesmaids.  The amazing music was provided by the great people at Outright Entertainment.  One of the best DJ services in the city, we love seeing Outright Entertainment. You can be sure a great time is sure to follow when they are on site.

This is a couple that loves being in the outdoors. With this in mind, we visited several beautiful locations. The scenery of the Bow River and mountains is one of a kind. Similarly, the Canmore Reservoir backdrop can not be beat. Incredible scenery, blue sky, and a wonderful couple made this a photographers dream.

Meanwhile, the party was in full swing as we packed up and left for the night. Ultimately, it was a magical night under the shadow of the Rocky Mountains.


Calgary Wedding Photographers


Mountain Wedding


Patton Photography is a professional photography studio based out of Calgary, Alberta. Our signature style offers a clean and modern look to your photographs while maintaining a look that is romantic and whimsical. Contact us anytime to sit down over coffee for a stress-free conversation.

Calgary bride standing on fallen tree

Valley Ridge Incredible Wedding

What can I say about Lyndsey and Jordan’s Valley Ridge wedding other than……AMAZING!!!! From the moment we met these two for their engagement session in the mountains, I knew they were going to be so much fun to work with. There energy continued through their wedding day. Scrambling across a river on their engagement session to literally climbing across a fallen log in her wedding dress. Lyndsey and Jordan are the definition of adventure session.

The day started with the girls getting ready at the INCREDIBLE Honeymoon Suite at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel & Suites Calgary West in Bowness. If you are looking for an incredible room to get ready in….this is it!! The ceremony and reception were at the stunning Valley Ridge Golf Club. The outside venue is beautiful and their incredible dinner service makes this one of my favorite venues in the city.

Alberta Marriage Commissioner – Pam Davidson officiated the service, her amazing demeanor provided the perfect touch to the incredible ceremony. Pam has quickly become one of our favorite officiants and highly recommend her anytime we can. Bowness park provided the perfect background for their photos with AMPM Limousines providing limo service. As we wandered through this spectacular park in West Calgary, the love between Lyndsey and Jordan was obvious. Whether it was walking along a paved path, to strolling through the trees, they had a smile on their faces the entire time. Lyndsey didn’t bat an eye as she climbed up onto a fallen tree in her wedding dress for some incredible photos.

After leaving Bowness Park, we headed back to Valley Ridge Golf Course for a delicious meal. Provided by the great kitchen and staff at Valley Ridge, everyone raved about the meal selections. As the speeches drew to a close, Split Circuit Sound Dj Service provided a great party that lasted well into the wee hours. The perfect selection of music kept the dance floor full and had something for everyone.

This was a wedding that we can honestly say, came together perfectly. Definitely check out the amazing vendors from this wedding, every single one provided a level of service that was incredible!!!

Wedding Vendors

Beautiful hair and make-up were provided by Bellamore Beauty. The stunning dresses Novia Mia Bridal Boutique for the bride’s dress and Cameo & Cufflinks for the beautiful bridesmaids dress. The Bridal Centre provided suits for the groom and groomsmen. Pretty Petals Floral Designs created incredible flowers and bouquets for our wedding. Every person we worked with truly set a new standard for incredible service.

We hope you love your photos as much as we loved taking them!! If looking for a beautiful wedding venue, we highly recommend Valley Ridge Golf and Country Club. This wedding venue offers incredible indoor and outdoor options. The outside patio overlooking the golf course and water feature, with an indoor ballroom lined with large windows ensure your views are never interrupted.

A big shout out to the amazingly talented Erin for her second shooting on this Calgary wedding.

Valley Ridge Wedding Photography


Patton Photography is a professional photography studio based out of Calgary, Alberta. Our signature style offers a clean and modern look to your photographs while maintaining a look that is romantic and whimsical. Contact us anytime to sit down over coffee for a stress-free conversation.

Bride and groom on bridge with dramatic sky

Beautiful Wedding in Downtown Calgary

Ashleigh and Steve’s wedding in downtown Calgary was an incredible experience.  A beautiful venue in downtown followed by photos at St. Patrick’s Island and the new downtown library. This offered a set of photos with both the natural beauty of downtown along with some of the incredible new architecture.

Wedding in Downtown Calgary

The couple’s beautiful wedding ceremony and reception took place at the incredible Modern Steak restaurant. Situated in the center of downtown Calgary, right on Stephen Avenue, it is a dream venue. This amazing venue allowed us easy access to some of the great photo locations. Downtown Calgary and East Village are next door and have lots of beauty to offer. Next, we travelled to the nearby St. Patrick’s Island ensured we captured some amazing images as storm clouds slowly worked their way over. Lastly, a quick stop at the nearby National Music Center and even the downtown library rounded out photo locations.

Afterward, the reception was held at one of Calgary’s newer steak houses. Modern Steak offers a wide variety of foods, with their Modern Ocean and Modern Burger menus. Undoubtedly, no matter what your taste may be, this location has it.

Looking forward to 2020

ith our 2020 wedding photography season starting, we are excited to be introducing some new techniques we have been busy learning and perfecting.  We will be covering weddings from Invermere, BC to the always incredible Canmore in the Rocky Mountains.  Watch for some amazing new images in the coming days as we start shooting this week with a winter engagement session. If you are engaged, or thinking of getting engaged, give us a call to find out how you can have us photograph your engagement session and wedding. Check out our wedding information on our wedding photography page

Calgary bride quiet moment alone on treed path
Calgary bride quiet moment alone on treed path
Soft image of bride and groom under veil
Soft image of bride and groom under veil
White and purple wedding bouquet
White and purple wedding bouquet
Bride and groom on bridge with dramatic sky
Wedding in downtown Calgary
Wedding bride and groom cuddling on bridge
Calgary Wedding bride and groom cuddling on bridge
Calgary bride and groom in front of textured metal wall
Calgary wedding bride and groom in front of textured metal wall
Calgary bride in front of metal textured wall
Calgary bride in front of metal textured wall
Calgary bride and groom in front of curved wooden wall
Bride and groom in front of curved wooden wall
Calgary first dance at downtown restaurant2
Calgary wedding first dance at downtown restaurant2
Calgary wedding at beautiful Fish Creek Park

Perfect Fish Creek and Brewery Wedding

We love the opportunity of seeing exciting new wedding venues around Calgary.  Shawnee and Matt’s wedding ceremony was at the always beautiful Fish Creek Park, and this wedding was no exception.  With bright blue sky and perfect weather, it was an amazing day for a wedding. 

A special treat was getting to use a fully restored WildCat convertible in our photos.  With a few stops around Fish Creek then various locations in the city for photos, we made our way to a new reception venue for us….Railyard Brewery on the North side of Calgary.  It was an awesome venue, with a beautiful bar area and lots of open areas to accommodate a large wedding reception.

If you need a unique location to hold your event, be sure to check out Railyard Brewery in the Airport Industrial Park. It is fantastic and will provide a unique background like your guests will not have seen before.

We also got to work with one of our favorite catering companies ‘An Affair to Remember’, when we see their vans pulling up, we know it will be an amazing meal.  As the sun set for the evening, we wanted to do a nighttime photo with our bride and groom, unfortunately, the Airport Industrial Park doesn’t offer a lot of beautiful views, instead, we used some special lighting techniques and created what I think was a great photo for our awesome couple.

The party went well into the night with our saxophone playing DJ:  Bass Panda


Hair:  Hair by Danielle Wesche

Make-up: Joanne Black

Bride’s Dress:  Novia Mia Bridal Boutique

Groom’s Suit:  IndoChina

Florist:  Incredible Florist YYC

Officiant:  Abby Charchun

Catering:  An Affair to Remember

DJ:  Bass Panda

Reception:  Railyard Brewing

Fish Creek Wedding


Patton Photography is a professional photography studio based out of Calgary, Alberta. Our signature style offers a clean and modern look to your photographs while maintaining a look that is romantic and whimsical. Contact us anytime to sit down over coffee for a stress-free conversation.