Category: Wedding Photography

Posts about wedding photography in Calgary

Planning your wedding - wedding planning

Planning Your Wedding – Your Incredible Dream Day

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

Planning your wedding may seem like a huge task, however, our checklist will help ensure that you cover every detail and break it into small manageable steps. Be sure to look through the entire list as some items you may be able to get a start on ahead of time, saving you work and stress later on. When handled in little pieces over several months, this can be a super fun and exciting process.

12 to 18 Months Before

This is when the major decisions about your wedding get made. What the style of your wedding will be? How much do you want to spend? Who do you want as guests? While it may seem daunting at first, breaking the wedding down to smaller steps will help you keep your wedding day on budget…and will help maintain your budget.

  • Announce your engagement! Have fun and let everyone know.
  • Choose 3 dates to potentially have your wedding on. This will allow you the flexibility to ensure you get the venue and vendors that are perfect for you.
  • Talk budget. Come up with a rough idea of how much money you are willing to spend. You can refine this later as you talk to venues and vendors
  • Discover your wedding style. Do you want a high-end wedding with lots of glamour, destination on a beach or top of a mountain, rustic at a cottage or ranch, or a small intimate wedding
  • Choose your wedding party: maid of honor, bridesmaids, best man, groomsmen, flower girl, and ring bearer.
  • Create a wedding website. A website is a great way to keep people up to date about your wedding. It acts as the information hub where people can find all the details about your big day.
  • Get engagement ring insured and consider purchasing wedding insurance. Weddings can be expensive affairs and should the date have to be postponed, deposits and payments may or may not be refunded (The 2020 wedding season was a prime example of this)
  • Begin compiling a guest list. Be sure to include any plus one, or kids that may also be attending. Talk with your vendors to find out what location is best for them to sit during the reception, they will likely be on the move during the reception and have extra equipment, so an outside edge may be ideal.
  • Consider ceremony and reception venues. Also, consider how people will get between the locations, are they difficult to access, a long-distance apart, etc. If having an outdoor ceremony, is there an indoor option in case the weather doesn’t co-operate?
  • Start assembling a team of wedding pros: wedding planner, photographer, videographer, caterer, florist, and DJ / musicians. Many of these vendors will begin booking dates a year in advance, so if there is a vendor or venue that you have your heart set on, earlier is better to make contact with them.
  • Browse wedding dresses and styles. There are many amazing wedding dresses and dress vendors, Be sure to give yourself time to find the dress of your dreams.
  • Create wedding and style boards on Pinterest. Have fun with this, browse the styles and details that you love and save them to your dream board. This board will give you ideas of what goes together and will give you ideas that you can incorporate into your wedding.
  • Get engagement photos taken. Your engagement photography session provides you with a few benefits. First, it gives you a chance to work with your photographer to ensure that your personalities work together. The photographer may have a great portfolio, but if you don’t like being around them, you will see the stress in your photos. Next, this will offer you a chance to learn a few tips and tricks about posing that will make you feel more comfortable being in front of the camera. Finally, it will offer a chance for you to determine the style of photo that you love, as well as what you don’t. This will allow the photographer to concentrate on the style that you like best
  • Browse and order Save the Date cards. There are many options and designs so you will certainly find something that you love. Be sure to save one for the photographer to get a picture of on your wedding day.

10-11 Months

  • Choose bridal party attire and accessories. Talk with your bridal party and see what they are comfortable with wearing. Choose a color that compliments your wedding colors and design
  • Reserve ceremony and reception venues. Be sure to talk with the venues to find out any house rules that they may have. If getting married in a church, find out if they allow photographers (not all do). For your reception venue, find out about outside caterers and corkage changes for liquor.
  • Hire officiant, photographer, videographer, caterer, DJ/band, florist, and planner. Many of these professionals, will already be taking bookings, so be sure you do not leave this until the last minute.
  • Finalize guest address list. Ensure that you have the correct addresses for all your guests. Using a spreadsheet is a great way to keep track of all your guest information. Be sure to continually update this list as you will use it multiple times to send invitations and thank-you cards.
  • Mail your Save the Date cards. Now that you know they are going to the correct place, let’s send them out.
  • Purchase wedding dress, veil, and undergarments. You have decided on the perfect dress and accessories…let’s make them yours.
  • Establish a healthy skin and wellness routine. You want to look your best on your wedding day. Starting now gives you lots of time to make the small changes to help you reach your goals
  • Research honeymoon destinations. You will want some time alone to unwind after all the planning and chaos of your wedding. Start looking at options for your honeymoon.

8-9 Months

  • Find hotel options (at different price points) for out-of-town guests. Many hotels will offer a discount when you book a block of rooms. Having a few different room types/options also give your out-of-town guests some options to choose from to best fit their needs.
  • Browse and decide on Wedding Invitation designs and coordinating stationery (Programs, Menu Cards, Thank You Cards, and Favors). There are many wedding invitation design professionals who can help you design a perfect package if you decide you need some help with it.
  • Create your gift registries at 2-3 local, national and/or online retailers. Including national and online retailers, ensures that out-of-town guests have easy options to help with selecting options from the registry
  • Begin planning a honeymoon. The next few months will be busy with planning and sorting out details,
Planning your wedding - destination wedding
Planning your wedding – destination wedding

6-7 Months

  • Explore wedding day hair and makeup styles. Part of your Pinterest dream board is a great place to begin looking at styles that caught your eye. Be sure to do a test run to ensure that you love the hair and make-up styles. Scheduling it at the same time as your engagement photography session will allow you to see how it looks in pictures as well.
  • Meet with the officiant to discuss plans for the ceremony and to find out any special rules or quirks they may have.
  • Reserve rentals: chairs, linens, lighting, décor, etc. By now you have a good idea of how your wedding will look and all the details and accessories you will need.
  • Choose dessert style and schedule tastings. MY FAVORITE PART!!! Desert tastings…if you need someone to come along to help you choose, we are always available 😉
  • Decide on groomsmen attire. Time to get your guys looking their best.
  • Book transportation to and from venues. Whether it is your own personal vehicles, having a friend drive you, or hiring a limo company…this is the time to book the arrangements.
  • Purchase wedding bands.
  • Decide on a date for the Bachelor and Bachelorette party or weekend.
  • Order Thank You Cards (for the bridal shower and gifts that arrive early).

4-5 Months

  • Choose flowers for wedding party, attendants, venues, cake, etc. Your florist has done this many times and will be a valuable resource for you as you decide on the best look within your budget for all the various options you may want.
  • Schedule dress fittings. There will be several dress fittings, if you are planning on dropping a dress size or otherwise altering your appearance, be sure to let your seamstress know so the appropriate alterations can be made. Leave time between your final fitting and your wedding day to handle any last-minute adjustments
  • Book honeymoon flights and hotels. Now is the time to ensure that you have taken care of flights and accommodations for your honeymoon. You will want some time to unwind and relax before getting back to life as married couple.
  • Book room for the wedding night. Don’t forget that you will need a room for your wedding night. Make sure it is close, after the hectic wedding day, you won’t want to be spending an hour getting back to your room.
  • Order wedding dessert/cake. If you are doing an intricate wedding cake, you will want to find a cake baker early to ensure that there is time to get the perfect cake.
  • Plan welcome baskets for out-of-town guests. Guests coming from out of town may have never been to your locale, having a small gift basket to say thank you for coming will be appreciated. Consider including brochures about things to do in the area.
  • Prepare {play/do not play} lists for DJ/band. Have a favorite song that you want to hear…or a song you don’t…create a list for your DJ. Also, determine the songs/music you will use for the various aspects of your wedding (ie: reception entrance, first dance, etc)
  • Finalize wedding guest list. With the final guest list, you can now start finalizing details with the reception venue and your catering vendor.
  • Assemble rehearsal dinner guest list. As the name suggests, there will likely be food and drink involved. It is more than one last chance to have fun prior to your wedding. It provides an opportunity to address any last-minute details that may have come up.
  • Book rehearsal dinner venue. This venue does not have to be the same place as your reception will be. Choose somewhere that will allow you to be there for some time and that can give you space a little away from other diners.

3 Months

  • Finalize honeymoon plans and ensure all documents are in order. If you are traveling out of the country, ensure your passport, entry visas, travel insurance, etc are all in order. Best to catch an issue now while there is time to get it sorted out.
  • Plan ceremony and reception seating. Some things to consider when developing your seating plan, consider putting guests with young kids on the outside edge to allow them quick access to the washrooms or common area if needed. Be sure to consider a high chair as a seat when counting the seats around the table. Finally, don’t forget to plan for where your vendors will sit, consider also placing them on an outside edge as they will likely be up and down throughout the reception and may have gear bags they need to keep close to them. This will be your rough draft, we will finalize it closer to the actual day once there is confirmation of who is attending.
  • Finalize readers, readings, and music for the ceremony. This month, finalize the plans for your ceremony, who you would like to read, what readings, and what music will be playing.
  • Purchase: toasting flutes, serving pieces, guestbook, flower basket and ring bearer pillow. These are the little details that often get forgotten about until the last minute.
  • Finalize reception menu. Be sure to consider a couple of options to allow for various dietary concerns and tastes.
  • Order Menu Cards and Wedding Favors.
  • Mail Wedding Invitations. You want to have the RSVPs back approximately one month before your wedding. This will ensure your guests have time to know their schedules and can make an accurate determination of if they will be attending.

2 Months

  • Develop a system for organizing RSVPs. Remember the spreadsheet we made for all the guests and their addresses, add a new column to show how many people will be attending and if there will be children. Consider highlighting rows of attendees as green or move them to a separate sheet within the spreadsheet.
  • Begin writing vows. Unless you are a professional writer, this may take some time and several revisions. Don’t rush it, do out an outline then build off of that.
  • Review ceremony details with the officiant. Plan all the details now, what sections of the readings you would like, and any small details that you would like. Your officiant will be a great resource for this and will answer any questions you may have and offer suggestions based on their experience.
  • Lay out the content for Wedding Programs. If you are providing a wedding program for your guests, now is the time to plan it out. Keep it simple and offer some fun facts about you both.
  • Apply for a marriage license. Depending on your locale, this can be done through your local registry office.
  • Finalize fittings for wedding party and parents. The day is getting close, arrange for final fittings for your bridal party. This will allow time for any alterations that may still need to be done.
  • Create wedding day timeline and send to your vendors, officiant and wedding party. Talk with your hair and make-up artists, photographer, etc to create the final timeline. Your photographer will help you with your photography timeline, be sure to include the drive time between locations in your timeline.
  • Write out a honeymoon itinerary for the family at home. As with any vacation or trip, be sure that you have an itinerary and contact information for family at home in case they need to reach you.
  • Decide “Something Old, New, Borrowed, Blue.” Don’t leave this until the last minute…trust us, there will be lots of things to look after at the last minute. Determine what you would like to use for your “Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue” items.

1 Month

  • Finalize seating arrangements. You should now have your RSVPs back, or at least have a good idea of attendees. Finalize the seating plan that you began 2 months ago. Having the bulk of the work already done makes this an easier process. You may have to make some final adjustments for people who have not sent their RSVPs, but this will be the
  • Call vendors to confirm dates, times, and locations. We have actually attended weddings where various vendors, in one case it was the officiant, had the incorrect date and showed up late after many frantic phone calls.
  • Confirm honeymoon reservations. One last chance to confirm that all your documents are in order and your travel and accommodations are confirmed with the correct date of arrival and departure (take it from my experience when I accidentally booked a room for the wrong month when traveling across Europe, it is a simple mistake)
  • Pick up wedding rings. Ensure the rings fit, now is the time to get them adjusted if they are overly tight or loose. Then…keep them safe, this is not the time to misplace them.
  • Attend Bachelor/Bachelorette party. Having a party? Do it now to give you a chance to relax after all the planning and work up to this point. This also gives you time to recover and get back on track before the wedding day.
  • Final dress fitting (with shoes & undergarments). This is it!! Your wedding dress is ready and just checking now for any final adjustments that may be needed.
  • Write Thank You notes as gifts are received. Getting started on the Thank You notes will be appreciated after the wedding.
  • If you have a pet, look for pet sitter/boarding options to cover the wedding and honeymoon.

2 Weeks

  • Follow up with guests who have not RSVP’d. If there are any guests who have not sent their RSVP, check-in with them. Adjust your seating plan as needed.
  • Give final count to the caterer. The caterer will use this number, and selections, to order and prep the food required for your reception.
  • Update registries.
  • Begin breaking in wedding shoes. You will be in these shoes a lot on your wedding day. Be sure to wear them around to break them in and ensure they are comfortable. The last thing you want is to have blisters on your wedding day.
  • For the guys, get the final haircut and color before your wedding. The two weeks early allow the hair to grow out slightly and fall naturally when you style it on your wedding day.
  • Delegate wedding day duties: gift table, guestbook, etc. Ensure everyone knows what they are doing, ushers, who will look after your gifts, etc.
  • Delegate someone to return tuxes, rentals and tend to the wedding dress. You will be enjoying the time to yourself after your wedding and potentially heading off for your honeymoon, ensure you have someone you trust to return the tuxedos and to keep the wedding dress safe until you return.
  • Send directions to wedding day limo/transportation driver. It has happened more than once where a limo driver got lost or did not know where to go. Print off maps and locations so there is no confusion as to where to go.

1 Week

  • Prepare final payments to vendors and cash tips for service personnel. Ensure all necessary payments have been taken care of for all your vendors and venues.
  • Give copies of the readings to the person doing the reading. This will give them a chance to get comfortable with the flow of the piece and any difficult to pronounce words.
  • Give photographer and videographer your image and video requests. Ensure your photographer has a list of any photo requests you have, also prepare a list of persons and combinations you would like for your family photos. This will save time when doing photos and maximize the time the photographer has to work with you as a newlywed couple.
  • Layout wedding clothes. Be sure that you have all the small details that you will need for the day. Now is when you want to realize that something is missing….not on your wedding day.
  • Prepare wedding day emergency kit. No matter how much you plan, there are always little things that pop up. Having a needle and thread, small scissors, spot remover, etc with you will help you quickly handle anything that pops up
  • Pack for honeymoon. Start getting your honeymoon attire ready and packed, again, this is doing a little bit of work beforehand to help ease the stress and chaos later.

The Day Before

  • Deliver welcome baskets. The welcome baskets that you previously made for your out-of-town guests should now get delivered to them.
  • Treat yourself to a mani/pedi/massage. Treat yourself to a little spa day. You have put in a ton of work and now it is time to unwind for a little bit.
  • Attend wedding rehearsal. A short wedding rehearsal will help ensure everything goes smoothly, everyone knows their duties, and in what order things
  • Get to bed at a decent hour! You are in for a big day tomorrow, be sure to get a good night’s sleep. Waking up fresh and rested will make the day that much better. Secondly, you will have a lot of photos taken of you, you don’t want to look exhausted in all your photos

The Wedding Day

  • Eat a good breakfast! This is going to be a hectic day, start it off with a great breakfast to keep you going
  • Allow yourself plenty of time to get ready. Don’t start your day rushing and stressed. Leave lots of time for everyone to get dressed and ready.
  • Give wedding rings to the best man. The best man will now keep the rings safe until he gives them to you during the ceremony.
  • Relax, smile, and soak in every incredible moment. It is amazing how quickly the day will fly by. Be sure to stop, take a deep breath, and enjoy the moments
Planning your wedding - wedding reception
Planning your wedding – wedding reception

After the Wedding

  • Ensure tuxes and rentals have been returned. Be sure to return all the small details and accessories that came with the tuxes.
  • Get wedding dress to preservationists or cleaners. To keep the wedding dress looking its best for years to come, be sure to invest in a quality preserving service.
  • Order and send Photo Thank You Cards (include a wedding photo). It will take several weeks for your photographer to get the photos back to you
  • Be sure to change your identification, bank information, and other documents, as well as any possible pensions, medical plans, etc that you may be a part of, to your new name and marital status.

Planning Your 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 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.

Cost of a wedding photographer in Calgary

An informative look at what a wedding photographer charges per hour?

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

We often hear people talking about how much their wedding photographer charges per hour. “They only work for ten hours and yet charge thousands of dollars” we regularly hear. The reality is much further from the truth. Let’s look at how our wedding fee is split up. First, we will look at the hours actually spent on each wedding.

When we receive the wedding inquiry, we put together a custom information package detailing all the pricing for the particular wedding. If the wedding is outside the city of Calgary, we research the costs associated with permits and travel fees. We then meet the clients for a wedding consult to explain our photography style and process, as well as to answer questions they may have, This session usually lasts for one to one and a half hours, on top of the initial exchange of emails.

We then conduct an engagement session with our couple. While the session itself lasts for two hours, we spend several hours researching new locations so that each client gets something unique to them. Once the session is complete, we edit the photos and upload them to our website. For every hour of photography, we typically spend a minimum of two hours culling, editing, exporting, and uploading photos. This engagement session, therefore, adds an additional eight hours of time.

Between the engagement session and wedding, we have multiple emails regarding scheduling and timelines, transportation, photo locations, and transportation. These emails and conversations add another 4 hours of time as all the details are sorted out.

Just days prior to the wedding, we begin the task of prepping all our equipment. Batteries all need charging, memory cards sorted and formatted, and a thorough check to ensure all our equipment, and backup equipment is all accounted for. These checks add several more hours to the timeline.

On the wedding day itself, gear is loaded and we make an early start to the wedding site where the bride and groom are getting ready. Photography on the wedding day typically lasts for ten hours. After the day, equipment has to be reloaded and cleaned up from the wedding reception venue, we head home again and equipment must once again be put away. With the large value of equipment, we have to be sure it is not left sitting unsecured, After a long day, we still have things that need to be done. The 4000 plus images are downloaded to our computer and the back-up process is started.

Calgary wedding photographer charges per hour 2
Calgary wedding photographer charges per hour

At this point, the post-processing work begins. We go through every single photo looking for images that are out of focus, duplicate, or have other technical errors with them. We then go through the photos a second time looking for groups of photos, picking out the best one or two photos that will tell the story. and show the best emotion. Once we have culled down to the selection of photos we are going to give to the client, the editing begins. We now go through every photo once again, this time doing the basic adjustments to bring out the best of each photo.

Adjustments to exposure, contrast, shadows, hue, detail enhancement, and a wide assortment of other variables are all individually adjusted. As we go through, we identify photos that have random strangers in the background, odd shadows, or other items that distract from the photo.

Once we have individually adjusted every photo, we go back and do the big repairs on the photos we identified in the previous step. Each photo is brought into PhotoShop and the process of cloning, dodging and burning, and spot repairs are all done. All told the ten hours of wedding photography results in approximately 25 to 30 hours of post-production and gallery development.

Once all the photos are adjusted and looking their best, time stamps are synced from each of the cameras and each photo is placed into the best spot in the timeline to tell the story.

The photos are then exported into a format that can be viewed by the client. Once this is done, an online gallery is created and all the photos are uploaded into it. A mobile app is created and the email to the client is finally sent out.

Calgary wedding photography cost
Calgary wedding photography cost Photo Courtesy of Good Free Photos

The wedding fee doesn’t all go to the photographer. The second shooter is paid from this fee, as well as the part of the cost of our annual business licenses, for Calgary, Kananaskis, National Park, and Kneehill County must be deducted. As well, part of the cost of our business insurance is deducted from the remaining amount. Equipment costs, repairs, and replacements, accountant fees, website, and gallery hosting costs are only a small percentage of the fees that get paid out by the business.

After paying all the fees, the remaining funds are split between the 62.5 hours it took to complete the wedding. Needless to say, what the photographer charges per hour is not what you would think. We hope this provided you with an informative look at what a Calgary wedding photographer charges per hour and how those rates are determined.

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

How Much Does A Wedding Photographer Charges Per Hour?

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.

Average cost of a wedding photographer in Calgary

Average Cost of a Wedding Photographer in Calgary – The True Investment

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

Regardless of your opinions on late-night dessert buffets, fireworks, or custom ice sculptures, virtually all wedding couples will agree that beautiful wedding photography is a must!! With the many wedding photographers and photography packages, the amount of information and options are unbelievable. Let’s talk about the average cost of a wedding photographer in Calgary.

Much the same as any business, every photographer prices themselves and their packages differently. In Calgary, the average price varies between $2,500 and $6,000 for professional wedding photography services. While there are some that cost less, and a few that are more, this is the typical range for a full-day package. A major wedding publication in the United States, The Knot, did a study of 27,000 couples who married in 2019 and found that the average couple spent US$2,400 – CAD$3,025 – on their photography.

Keep in mind that this was the average across the country and fluctuated by region. Typically, in major centers, the prices will be higher due to the higher operating costs and the increased competition, while smaller towns will have more affordable options.

There are many aspects that contribute to the cost of a wedding photographer, so let’s talk about some of them.

Reasonable price of a wedding photographer in Calgary
Reasonable price of a wedding photographer in Calgary

What are the various package options that your wedding photographer is offering?

The packages that are offered will all vary, so it is important to understand what each photographer includes. The two main items will be the duration of the photography and the number of wedding photographers or assistants. Typical full-day wedding packages will usually be between 8 and 10 hours. Be sure that you find out from your photographer how many consecutive hours are included in your package and what the price will be if extra hours are required. What may seem like a reasonable price at the start can quickly spiral out of control once everything is factored in. When getting a deal on the cost of a wedding photographer, be sure to find out all the details of what is included.

There is also a major debate about how many photographers are included. Some photographers will argue that only one photographer is all you would ever need. Many photographers, myself included, believe that two photographers provide the best coverage. Watch for our upcoming blog post about all the benefits of having a second shooter on your wedding day. No matter which option you prefer, find out from the photographer, how many staff will be in attendance and if they will be in attendance for the entire duration.

Outside of those two options, there will be a variety of other possible included upgrades. Engagement sessions are a wonderful option as it allows you to get used to being in front of the camera, learn posing techniques, and ensure that you ‘click’ with your photographer. We recommend engagement sessions to all our clients and include them automatically in our main photography package.

Other options such as Wedding Albums and Print Credits are also quite often included in the prices. The quality of wedding albums varies greatly, with everything from hand-crafted Italian leather albums to smaller book-style albums. Be sure to find out the specifications of the included album, including who designs the layout, and ask to see a sample if it is possible. Print credits are a great option as they allow the client to choose what is best for them rather than being confined to a specific product. This allows you to print a variety of prints, albums, metal prints, or combinations of.

Are Your Digital Images Included?

Many photographers actually do not include high-resolution images with their packages, instead offering only low resolution or watermarked images to their clients. Ensure that you find out from the photographer what final product is included with your package. If you only receive low-resolution or watermarked images, be sure to find out the additional costs to obtain the high-resolution digital images. If your digital images are not included, what appears to be an affordable Calgary wedding photographer can actually become quite expensive if you must now also purchase the digital images. The total cost of a wedding photographer should include all your images in high resolution.

Your Photographer’s Talent and Experience

Experience counts a long way with choosing your wedding photographer in Calgary. On your wedding day, there are many ever-changing variables that can make or break a photograph. Clouds suddenly block the sun creating shadows, the bridal party stands at slightly different angles, or there is a malfunction with a piece of equipment. Having the experience allows the photographer to quickly adapt to the new situation.

Rapid adjustments to aperture, shutter speed, white balance, focus points, and a long list of other factors all go into creating that perfect image. Quite often, the photographer only has 2 or 3 seconds to adapt to the changing light conditions. The first kiss typically only lasts 1 or 2 seconds, so if you have to stop and figure out settings, the moment is lost forever.

In saying that, talent also plays a major factor. Just because someone has photographed 500 weddings, does not necessarily make them talented. Likewise, having only photographed ten weddings does not mean someone isn’t talented. A photographer should always be learning new techniques, and creating new images. Ask your photographer about their progression into their current style and ensure that they are trying new techniques and locations.

Many photographers will brag about the awards they have won or what affiliations they are part of. In the end, these mean very little. Find a photographer whose style you love, 60% of couples said that style was the biggest factor when hiring a photographer. The best photographer isn’t the one who won the most awards or joined the most affiliations…they are the ones whose image you fall in love with. The one who consistently performs regardless of the situation. There are many extremely talented photographers, be sure to choose the one you ‘click’ with when selecting your wedding photographer in Calgary

Many Large Expenses

Cost of a wedding photographer in Calgary
Cost of a wedding photographer in Calgary

There are many expenses that your photographer also has to take into account. Business Licenses, Insurance, and equipment all play a part in determining their costs. If your photographer has their own studio, they must cover the costs of rent, utilities, and any staff that they employ. Business insurance also takes a toll on the finances of a business. Insurance policies typically cover several million dollars of liability as well as upwards of $50,000 of equipment the photographer will likely have. If your photographer says they don’t have a business license or business insurance, this is a huge red flag.

Without the necessary permits or licenses, your photographer could be fined and actually prohibited from continuing to photograph your wedding. Without Insurance, should someone be injured when they accidentally knock over a light stand there could be legal ramifications. Likewise, what happens if your photographer has their equipment stolen three days before your wedding, without insurance, rapidly replacing the necessary equipment would be virtually impossible.

Obviously, the biggest expense is the equipment. Professional series camera bodies cost several thousand dollars apiece…and that does not include the cost of the lenses. By the time you add on several professional-grade lenses, lights, memory cards, light stands, and an assortment of other items, the investment becomes significant. Professional photographers will also carry multiple cameras and lenses to ensure that in the rare event of a malfunction, they can quickly switch to the other camera. Have a look at our blog post describing all the equipment that we carry for a typical wedding.

Even after the wedding day itself, there is a significant financial cost associated with being a wedding photographer in Calgary. A high end computer to edit the thousands of photos that will have been taken, business subscriptions to professional photo editing software, and back-up systems to ensure that your photographs are never lost. We utilize a network attached back-up system so that as soon as your photos are placed on our laptop, they are immediately backed up for safety.

Once the editing is complete, the photos are uploaded to a website and photo host for the client to view and download them from, both of which have monthly fees the photographer must pay for.

But my Uncle Bob has an amazing camera and said he will photograph our wedding!!

We have all heard people say, I don’t need to hire someone, my Uncle Bob knows how to do that. While Uncle Bob may have an amazing camera, even a professional-grade camera and lens, having it and truly understanding how to work it are two different things. Watch for our upcoming blog post about all the things your wedding photographer considers and does during your wedding to ensure you receive beautiful images. At the end of the day, saving the cost of a wedding photographer will be for not if ‘Uncle Bob’ does not deliver beautiful wedding photographs.

What is a reasonable price for a wedding photographer?

There is no good answer to this question. What is a reasonable price for one person may be totally unrealistic for someone else. In the end, it comes down to how much importance you place on the quality of your wedding photographs. If you don’t really care about the photographs, then you may opt for a higher-quality DJ or caterer. If you are like most couples and want quality photographs that will withstand the test of time, then having a quality photographer is a must.

Many wedding photographers will assist on the wedding day to ensure that your wedding stays on the timeline, or will have a quick fix for a wedding dress that has developed a slight tear. We have been to hundreds of weddings and there is not much we haven’t seen. What is a reasonable price for a wedding photographer in Calgary? Only you can truly answer that.

Affordable Calgary wedding photographers

We believe that we are an affordable Calgary wedding photographer that offers high-quality service to all our clients. As we do not have a large studio that we must pay for and we limit the number of weddings we photograph each year, we are able to keep our costs relatively low. We believe that all our clients deserve high-quality service so we continue to improve our skills, learn new techniques, utilize professional series equipment, and maintain friendships with all our clients. We believe that our fee is a reasonable price for the high quality of service that we provide our clients. Always feel free to contact us to discuss how we came to arrive at our fee structure.

How much does a wedding photographer charge per hour

We often hear people talking about how much a photographer makes per hour. “They only work for ten hours and yet charge thousands of dollars” we regularly hear. The reality is much further from the truth. Check out our blog article on how much a wedding photographer charges per hour in reality. When you understand all the factors that go into the fee, you get a better understanding of the true cost of a wedding photographer. The cost of a wedding photographer goes well beyond the ten or so hours they spend with you on your wedding day, it also covers all the behind-the-scenes hours that people do not see.

As you can see, determining the reasonable price of a wedding photographer in Calgary takes some work to look at all the factors. We hope this short article provides you some help in finding the photographer that is perfect for you.

Follow along with our social media pages to see all our latest projects. Click here for our Facebook page and here for Instagram.

Average Cost of a Wedding Photographer in Calgary

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 Wedding Photography

2020 Calgary Photographer – An Interesting Year in Review

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

For Calgary photographers and photographers worldwide, 2020 proved to be a challenging year as much of the world shut down. Like many other wedding photographers, we were suddenly facing cancellations and postponements on a scale we never could have imagined.

With the exception of only one full wedding and one small intimate ceremony, all of our wedding photography bookings were postponed or canceled!! These two weddings also were different in ways we never would have imagined. Guests all sitting a minimum of six feet apart, faces covered in masks, hand sanitizer where signing books used to be…it was surreal.

Amazing Calgary Weddings

What did remain the same though, was the love that our couples had for each other. Large gatherings became small intimate weddings, mothers of the bride still shed a tear, and the look of pride in the eye of the fathers was still obvious. In some ways, the weddings became more special as they became more about the love of the couple than it was about the pizazz of the wedding day. As a wedding photographer and a Calgary photographer in general, it was beautiful to see.

We were still able to do some engagement sessions, and these were made extra special by the new locations we found.

As with any business, adapting to change is critical in keeping a business alive. We certainly were not going to be able to maintain a business photographing one wedding a year. So, we took this opportunity to branch out in some directions we had been thinking about for some time.

Calgary wedding photographer 100
Calgary wedding photographer bride
Calgary Wedding Photographer 101
Calgary Wedding Photographer bride and groom

Calgary Sports Photography

First, we opened our composite sports photography division. This was a niche we had been considering for some time. We begin by photographing the client on a green screen in several poses and from various angles. Utilizing special software we extract the photo of the client from the green background.

This is where the post-processing magic begins. We utilize several different pieces of software to begin layering in all the various elements to create our photo. Stadium seating, smoke, lightning, and smoke are only some of the elements we can add in. From there we begin adjusting the lighting, colors, and shadows on every element so that they fit together seamlessly.

These composite photographs however are not just for student athletes. Imagine being transported into your favorite book or video game. If you have an idea, let us know and we can see what we can do to make it happen for you. While we refer to it as Calgary Sports Photography, we will take any interest you may have and turn it into an eye-catching photograph specially created just for you

Calgary sports photographer soccer
Calgary sports photographer soccer
Calgary sports photographer baseball
Calgary sports photographer baseball

Calgary Product Photographer

Another field we had been thinking about is Product Photography. This specialized photography field is extremely broad, to say the least. From photographing small intricate pieces of jewelry to large industrial equipment. As a Calgary photographer, it is an interesting field as you get to deal with a wide variety of products and industries.

We have started offering photography services that include photographing products specifically for Amazon products. These are photographed in a specialized light box to provide a pure white background. They are then touched up to remove any dust spots and to ensure that every detail is perfect. Infographics and text can also be overlaid onto the photograph to highlight any special features that the product may have.

We also began offering composite advertising product photography where several images are layered together to create a specific image. We will photography the product itself and then layer in various elements to create a specific look. Layering in paint splashes, light smoke, or other other elements help create the look that our clients are after. We then adjust colors, lighting, and shadows on all the elements so that they all come together into one seamless image.

Calgary Product Photographer
Calgary product photography

Kindergarten Graduation Photographer

Finally, we began doing preschool and kindergarten graduation photography. These short sessions were an absolute hit as we gifted each ‘graduate’ with a proper graduation cap and customized diploma. The 15-minute outdoor sessions included poses standing, sitting, with signage, and even throwing the graduation hat into the air.

We have expanded our sessions this year to include online bookings through our website, full cap, and gown purchase, and indoor and outdoor options. These sessions were a ton of fun and we got to meet so many amazing families as they celebrated their child’s graduation.

All New Website and Hosting Service

We moved to an all new hosting service which resulted in us creating an all new website. While the initial reason to move was a drastic escalation in costs, our new service is full of great new features we are sure you will love.

Whether it is working as a wedding photographer, doing product photography, or delivering one-of-a-kind sports photography, we have to be able to get our photos to our clients. Our new website allows us to fully customize any page or section that we like. We are now able to create a customized online booking, online quote requests and provide tons of information about us and our photography services.

Our client galleries have also been moved to a new vendor which allow us to create far more beautiful galleries as well as provide all our clients with complimentary mobile apps. These mobile apps install on your mobile device, such as phone or tablet, and allowing viewing of your gallery. The benefit of these is that you can send the app to your friends and family to allow them to view your photos with the the protection of them not being able to download the photos from the app.

Best of all, these new galleries and apps are available to all our family photography, wedding photography, product photography, and sports photography clients at no extra cost.

New Lighting Equipment

As we use a significant number of lights and lighting modifiers to achieve our style, we are constantly upgrading equipment. This past year was no exception as said good-bye to some old equipment and replaced it with newer and more modern lighting equipment. Although many Calgary wedding photographers pride themselves on being natural light photographers, meaning they don’t use any flash, we are the opposite.

The using of flash equipment opens up many doors on opportunities you can not achieve otherwise. You have ability to adjust your lighting to simply fill in shadows, or to literally turn daytime into nighttime.

With our sports photography and product photography divisions, quality professional lighting is an absolute must. Without it, we could not even begin to offer quality services in these specialized niches.

New Wedding Vendors

We were also introduced to three new wedding vendors this past year. All three are truly amazing and we feel so fortunate to have gotten the opportunity to work with them.

Ethereal Events – Calgary wedding and event planning

In This Moment – Calgary wedding and event planning

Willow Flower Co. – Canmore Florist

As you can see, even though 2020 brought some new challenges with it, we also made some incredible advancements. The long awaited opening of our sports photography and product photography divisions, new equipment, new vendors, and new clients helped bring joy to this year.

We wish everyone love and happiness as spring starts here in Calgary. We hope that we get to meet many more new people on one of our many adventures. As a Calgary photographer, we want to be able to provide professional service to all our clients regardless of their photographic requirements. Call us anytime to discuss any project you may need photographic assistance with.

Calgary Photographer

Calgary Wedding Photographer

Calgary Product Photographer

Calgary Sports 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 look that is romantic and whimsical. Contact us anytime to sit down over coffee for a stress-free conversation.

Scottish Groom Partying

Spectacular Australian – Scottish Wedding

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

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.

Priddis Green wedding venue

Helpful Wedding Timeline Photography Tips

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

The wedding timeline is something we get asked about a lot. With the wide variety of weddings that we photograph, it is difficult to have an exact timeline template. However, here are some time frames you should consider when planning your day. Some of these times may seem long on paper but keep in mind that 1) the day will fly by, 2) most weddings run slightly behind schedule, and 3) we’ll make these photo sessions fun, so it won’t seem like a long time.

Depending on your wedding and preferences, some of these sections may be longer or shorter than our suggestion. In some cases, some sections may be skipped altogether (ie: bride and groom first look)

DETAILS – RINGS, DRESS, AND SHOES

Ideal Time Allotment – 30 minutes
Ideal Location – Bridal Suite or Hotel Suite

Advice – Having at least 30 minutes for details ensures that we have plenty of time to get that perfect photo of the dress, rings, shoes, bouquets, and the other details of the day.

There are times when a hotel room is too crowded or simply unappealing; we have to take the dress all the way down to the lobby or even outside. This can take some time, but it’s well worth the additional work.

Close up of wedding rings
Close up of wedding rings
Dress at a Destination Wedding in Mexico
Wedding dress at a destination beach wedding in Mexico

BRIDE AND GROOM GETTING READY

Ideal Time Allotment – 60 minutes
Ideal Location – Bridal Suite or Hotel Suite

Advice – Having an hour of preparation is ideal for our style. During this time, we are getting close ups of the makeup and hair being applied as well as the candid moments and the bridesmaids and groomsmen get ready for the day. Keep in mind that these are some of the most emotional and fun times of the day, so you don’t want to cut it short.

Our female shooter will be with the bride while the male shooter will be with the groom. While it doesn’t take guys an hour to get dressed, there are still tons of great moments during this time between the groom and his family and friends.

Calgary bride and bridesmaids getting ready
Calgary bride and bridesmaids getting ready
Calgary groomsmen joking around
Calgary groomsmen joking around
Wedding Photography magic After image
Wedding Photography magic After image

INDIVIDUAL PORTRAITS

Ideal Time Allotment – 30 minutes
Ideal Location – Bridal Suite or Hotel Suite

Advice – Right after prep is the best time for individual portraits of the bride and groom (separately). Besides makeup and hair being completely fresh, the day hasn’t gotten hectic yet so we can take our time and get those perfect portraits.

Also, keep in mind that the window lighting in most hotel rooms creates a unique look that can’t be duplicated in any environment throughout the rest of the day.

Calgary bride wedding portrait
Calgary bride portrait

FIRST LOOK

Ideal Time Allotment – 20 minutes
Ideal Location – Outdoor garden, hallway or ballroom

Advice – The first look should be around 20 – 30 minutes. During this time, the bride and groom enjoy seeing each other for the first time on the wedding day. While the actual first look might only be 5-10 minutes, the rest of the time is spent on a few basic portraits of the bride and groom.

Ideally, we are saving the bulk of the couples session for later (see the “couples session” section below).

Saskatoon Farm wedding first look
Saskatoon Farm wedding first look
Calgary stampede wedding first look
Calgary stampede wedding first look

WEDDING PARTY PHOTOS

Ideal Time Allotment – 30-45 minutes
Ideal Location -Venue Lobby, Outside Garden, Park, Off-site Location

Advice – Wedding Party Photos should be around 30 – 45 minutes. During this time, we get a variety of shots in a variety of poses.

We will be sure to get a set of fun and creative shots. Finally, we know how much your wedding party means to you, so we are sure to get pictures with you and each one of your bridesmaids or groomsmen individually.

Calgary bridal party standing in park
Calgary bridal party standing in park
Calgary groomsmen at wedding in front of barn
Calgary groomsmen at wedding in front of barn

IMMEDIATE FAMILY, EXTENDED FAMILY, FRIENDS

Ideal Time Allotment – 30-45 minutes (1.5 min per combination)
Ideal Location -Venue Lobby, Garden, Park, Off-site Location

Advice – Immediate Family Photos should take another 30 – 45 minutes. It’s important to have additional images with your parents, grandparents, and siblings beyond the basic formal. We always try to take the large family photos immediately after the ceremony to ensure that everyone is still onsite.

Plan on 1.5 – 2 minutes per group on average.  For example, if you have 10 groups, schedule in a 15 – 20 minute time slot.

We all know how much weddings mean to the immediate family, and we want to make sure we’re capturing enough pictures with them. We will ask our couples for a list of all family photo combinations prior to the wedding. This list ensures that no one is missed and allows us to move quickly through the photo session.

CEREMONY DETAIL AND VENUE

Ideal Time Allotment – 15 minutes
Ideal Location – Venue

Advice – Please allow 15 minutes to take pictures of the ceremony site, completely set up with no guests or vendors in the area.

Before you have the guests seated,  it’s important that we are there to capture the complete set up of your ceremony site so we can capture the scene at its best.

Wedding at Banff Springs
Wedding at Banff Springs

COUPLES SESSION

Ideal Time Allotment – 1.5 to 2 hours
Ideal Location – Park, downtown, mountains

Advice – Couple sessions should be around 1.5 to 2 hours. Due to how we photograph images, using a combination of lighting and natural light, timing is not quite as important for us as other photographers. We always try to visit several locations to give our couples a variety of backgrounds and overall emotion. The more locations, then the longer a timeline is required. We also keep a close eye on weather so that we can have indoor options if the weather does not co-operate.

Bride and Groom photography in park
Bride and Groom photography in park
Calgary bride and groom at beautiful Fish Creek Park
Bride and groom at Fish Creek Park
Priddis bride and groom
Priddis bride and groom

RECEPTION DETAIL AND VENUE

Ideal Time Allotment – 15 minutes
Ideal Location – Reception Site

Advice – Please allow 15 minutes for us to take pictures of the reception room completely set up with no guests or vendors in the area. These 15 minutes also give the bride and groom a chance to relax for a couple of minutes as it will have been a whirlwind of a day.

Similar to the ceremony details, this is the only opportunity we have to capture the beauty of the reception room prior to guest arrival.

COUPLES SESSION – RECEPTION SNEAK OUT

Ideal Time Allotment – 20-30 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Dusk to Night Time
Ideal Location – Areas with interesting lights, fountains, city scapes and mirrors

Advice – During the reception, you may plan on sneaking out for a couple of night shots. We only need 20-30 minutes, as we understand the importance of being a good host. However, this time is important if you appreciate the night photography that we deliver. The ideal time for this is right after you grab a bite to eat or during the open floor dancing after you’ve danced a few songs and would like a break.

PARTY

Ideal Time Allotment – 30 minutes
Ideal Location – Reception Site

We always love to get some great shots of our bride and groom with the friends and family as they celebrate their wedding. We typically find that 20 – 30 minutes of the party is enough for the typical wedding. Often, the same people will be dancing, will be sat talking and….we like to be have the cameras put away before too much alcohol begins to flow.

This 20 – 30 minutes also gives us some flexibility if the wedding falls behind schedule a little…and weddings ALWAYS fall behind schedule a little.

Destination wedding Mexico wedding reception
Destination Mexico reception
DJ playing at incredible Valley Ridge Golf Club wedding
DJ playing at a Valley Ridge Golf Club wedding
Priddis wedding reception party
Priddis wedding reception party

ADDITIONAL WEDDING TIMELINE SUGGESTIONS

Table Shots – Table shots are when you go around visiting tables. There are two options for photography during this time. We typically focus on candid style, capturing the smiles and hugs as you mingle with each table. If you’re planning on doing formal table shots, please keep in mind that these will take about 3 minutes per table.  For example, 20 tables would require 60 minutes of time.

Bride and groom visiting the tables at reception
Visiting the tables

Our wedding timeline tips are meant to give you an idea of how long some aspects may take. Use these tips when planning your wedding timeline and adjust them as needed to fit your ideal schedule.

We hope that these wedding timeline suggestions are helpful to you in your planning. Have a wedding tip that you would like to share? Let us know, we would love to hear it.

Wedding timeline photography tips

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

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

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

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

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

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

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

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

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

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

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

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

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

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

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

  • Calgary bride getting ready at Lakeview Inn
    Calgary bride getting ready at Lakeview Inn
  • Bride walking down the aisle at a Saskatoon Farm wedding
    Bride walking down the aisle at a Saskatoon Farm wedding
  • Calgary bride and father walking down aisle
    Calgary bride and father walking down aisle
  • Wedding ceremony at the Saskatoon Farm
    Wedding ceremony at the Saskatoon Farm
  • Placing the rings at a Saskatoon Farm wedding
    Placing the rings at a Saskatoon Farm wedding
  • Overlooking a Saskatoon Farm wedding
    Overlooking a Saskatoon Farm wedding
  • Calgary bride and groom at a Saskatoon Farm wedding
    Calgary bride and groom at a Saskatoon Farm wedding
  • Walkign down the aisle as a married couple
    Walkign down the aisle as a married couple
  • Calgary bride and groom kissing at Saskatoon Farm wedding
  • Calgary bride and groom together
    Calgary bride and groom together
  • Stunning Calgary bride
    Stunning Calgary bride
  • Bride and groom after a Saskatoon Farm wedding
    Bride and groom after a Saskatoon Farm wedding
  • Calgary bride getting the party started
    Calgary bride getting the party started
  • Wedding reception at Riverbend campground
    Wedding reception at Riverbend campground
  • Looking over the river valley at a Saskatoon Farm
    Looking over the river valley at a Saskatoon Farm

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

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

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

  • Wedding dance at Okotoks Best Western
    Wedding dance at Okotoks Best Western
  • Bride and groom first dance
    Bride and Groom first dance
  • Summer farm wedding
    Summer Saskatoon farm wedding
  • Fun at a wedding reception after a Saskatoon Farm wedding
    Fun at a wedding reception
  • Bride and groom at the water edge
    Bride and groom at the water edge
  • A quick kiss between a bride and groom
    A quick kiss between a bride and groom
  • Calgary farm wedding
    Calgary farm wedding
  • A quiet moment between a Calgary bride and groom after a Saskatoon Farm wedding
    A quiet moment between a Calgary bride and groom

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

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

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.

  • Wedding photography magic before
    Wedding Photography Magic Before Image
  • Wedding Photography magic After image
    Wedding Photography magic After image

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

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

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

  • Quiet moment for a bride and groom
    Quiet moment for a bride and groom
  • Bride and groom near a mountain
    Bride and groom in the mountains
  • Bride and groom under a blue sky
    Bride and groom under a blue sky
  • Wedding party in the mountains
    Wedding party in the mountains
  • Bride and groom walking down the aisle at a beautiful wedding
    Bride and groom walking down the aisle
  • First kiss following a beautiful wedding
    Bride and groom first kiss

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

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

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.

  • Calgary wedding rings detail shot on textured surface
    Wedding rings on textured surface
  • Calgary groom getting ready for incredible Valley Ridge wedding
    Calgary groom getting ready for Valley Ridge wedding
  • Calgary bride looking out of limo window at incredible Valley Ridge Golf Club
    Calgary bride looking out of limo window
  • Calgary bride and father walking down aisle at incredible Valley Ridge Golf Club
    Bride and father walking down aisle at Valley Ridge Golf Club
  • Calgary bridal party standing in park
    Calgary wedding party
  • Calgary bride and groom standing on fallen tree
    Calgary wedding bride and groom
  • Calgary bride standing on fallen tree
    Calgary photographer with a wedding bride
  • Calgary bride and groom sitting on fallen tree in park
    Calgary photographer at a Calgary wedding
  • Calgary bride and groom in the trees of a park
    Calgary wedding bride and groom
  • Bride and groom dancing at Valley Ridge Golf Club wedding2
    Bride and groom dancing at Valley Ridge Golf Club wedding2
  • DJ playing at incredible Valley Ridge Golf Club wedding
    DJ playing at a Valley Ridge Golf Club 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

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

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

Posted on by info@patton-photography.ca

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

  • Calgary bride and groom in beautiful Fish Creek with dog
    Calgary bride and groom in Fish Creek with dog
  • Calgary wedding at beautiful Fish Creek Park
    Wedding at Fish Creek Park
  • Calgary wedding bouquet on bridge - Beautiful Fish Creek wedding
    Calgary wedding bouquet on bridge
  • Calgary bride and groom in East Village next to wall - Fish Creek wedding
    Calgary bride and groom in East Village next to wall
  • Calgary bride and groom in East Village after wedding
    Calgary bride and groom in East Village after wedding
  • Bride and groom on Calgary road at dusk
    Calgary wedding photography at dusk
  • Wedding first dance at a Railyard Brewing wedding
    Calgary wedding first dance
  • Bride and groom first dance at Calgary Railyard Brewery wedding2
    Calgary wedding reception
  • Saxophone player at a Calgary Railyard Brewery wedding2
    Calgary Wedding DJ

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.