The time has come: you and your partner are about to embark on a whole new journey! When it comes to planning out your wedding, there are an endless amount of things to consider and plan for. A wedding photographer should be at the top of your priority list because, during that single day, your photographer will capture every joyous moment. Â
Not sure where to start? On the Focal Marketplace, you can browse and compare dozens of photography bundles from a wide variety of talented wedding photographers. Each package offers an insight into the photographer: who they are, what they offer, and how they capture your amazing day. To help ease your stress, we have compiled a list of the top 9 wedding packages in Calgary, AB -- with an option for every wedding size and budget. (Note: Packages listed in order of shortest to longest.
Calgary’s Chelsea Dawn is a passionate photographer who also has a background in art and modelling. She has years of experience capturing events, engagements, weddings, portraits, families and couples. So, for those couples who may struggle with being in front of the camera, Chelsea takes pride in her ability to guide clients and bring out their best:
“It's important to always have fun! Whether it be a candid surprise or carefully thought out arrangement, I'm here to make sure your very best is brought out!”
Mini Session for 2 Hours
30 High-Resolution Edited Images of Choice
*Please contact for extended wedding hours, prices and number of photos.
This package is perfect for couples that are planning a smaller and shorter wedding or an elopement.Â
Sarah Murdoch is a seasoned photographer and the face behind Modern Photography. She strives constantly for authenticity! Murdoch’s sessions will capture your authentic and natural selves, and through these images, she hopes they will depict connection, love and happiness:
“My goal, first and foremost, is to always make my couples feel comfortable and from there, we make stunning portraits together. I feel really lucky to have carved out a beautiful life for myself, doing what I love.”Â
Read more: Scottish ceilidhs and safe spaces with Sarah Murdoch
“Let's chat on the phone, via email or on a video call,” says Murdoch. “From there, we can both ask questions, determine timelines and get a better sense of the day. To book your date, an online contract and 50% retainer is required. After the wedding, you will see a social media sneak peek and your final gallery will be available online. The link and images within can be shared with whomever you choose.”
Conquer your Journey is run by a husband and wife duo: Jennifer Galang and Carl O. Married since 2013, the two still look back on their wedding photographs and appreciate the luxury of being able to look back and relive their wedding day. With this appreciation in mind, Conquer your Journey is about investing in your memories:
“With the presence of these visual mediums, we can share with our children the golden memories of our wedding day. Crafted personally to us and thus true to us. A one of a kind celebration of love and life. We encourage all couples to consider investing in memories where couples can re-experience the exact feelings of their timeless romance in years to come.”
This package is created for couples who want to celebrate their special day by a micro wedding, mini wedding, or short story elopements:Â
“The pre-ceremony, ceremony, portraits, and family photos will be covered with the traditional wedding. The right fit for your wedding with around 20 guests.”
One Wedding Photographer
200+ Photos (All Photos of your Wedding Day Will Be Delivered. Extra Photos at No Cost!)
All Images are Professionally Color-Graded with Standard Retouching Included
Sneak Peek Within 7 Days
Online Private Gallery (Digital Delivery & Download)
One Year Access with your Private Gallery
*Wedding videography also available at additional cost
Linh Ly is a Calgary-based lifestyle and event photographer. With over 20+ years of experience in photography, Ly has also studied drawing and photography at the University of Calgary, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Her photography captures amazing and surreal moments that are intended to last a lifetime:
“​If you are in need of a photographer for family portraits, special events, or grad photos you've come to the right place! I have been in the photography business for 20+ years, during which time my artworks have been exhibited in artist-run-centres, public galleries, and museums.”Â
30 Minute Bride/Groom Shoot
30 Minute Groom/Bride Shoot
30 Minute Couples Shoot
30 Minute Family Shoot
1 Hour Ceremony Photography
1 Hour Reception Photography
400 - 800 Enhanced and Edited Digital High-Resolution Images
Delivery of Final Images Within 7 Days
Personal Use License
Before your wedding day, says Ly, “let's set up a quick chat to discuss what you are hoping to get out of the shoot and my photography style.”
“My goal is to make you look the best you can!” she adds. “Don't worry if you've never been in front of the camera; I'll help you look great with prompts and poses, and take a few candid photos along the way.” Â
After the shoot, your photos will be delivered to you within 7 days via an online gallery. You will receive all of your digital images from the day edited in both black and white.
Cass Sarazin loves capturing people in love! She strives for adventurous and candid shots to capture your joyous occasion. Sarazin strongly believes that the beauty in your uniqueness, aka your love -- the tender glances, the quirks of you and your partner -- are what really tell your story! And telling your story through photographs is what Sarazin hopes to encapsulate:
“Weddings are my bread and butter, baby! I absolutely love being a third wheel to document your day, as authentically as possible. Capturing the raw emotions of your day, the tears, the joy, the laughter and love is SO important. Telling YOUR story truly is a passion of mine.”
6 hours of Photography Coverage
240 - 300 Enhanced and Edited Digital High-Resolution Images
Delivery of Final Images Within 60 Days
Personal Use License
50 Guests or Less
“This is one of the most important days of your lives!” says Sarazin. “Let me be the one to tell your love story for years to come. This is enough time to capture your ceremony, portraits, and a celebration together to wrap up your day. Included is a FREE engagement session, online gallery, print release, and I guarantee a ton of amazing memories.”
Sarazin knows choosing a wedding photographer can be daunting -- especially when it comes to what makes each photographer unique from the rest.
“First of all, and most importantly, I CARE. I care a lot,” she says. “Photographs will be one of the few everlasting memories from your milestone day for years and years to come. I want nothing but happy tears and ear-to-ear smiles for you every time you relive those warm fuzzy memories.”Â
She also understands the nerves that can come along with planning a wedding day and aims to ease her clients’ concerns:
“Aiding with the planning process is a perk you will receive when you book me. I have amazing vendor recommendations, tons of locations and activities up my sleeves and know all about the best lighting to ensure your special day is monumental.”Â
“The joys of having an experience-driven wedding day is something that allows for laid-back couples to do just that -- enjoy the experience,” she adds. “Adventuring with my couples is an absolute dream come true, and believe me when I say it is my pleasure!! Plus, I'll make you look real good, can't argue with that.”Â
Speaking of which: if you’re the camera-shy type, Sarazin assures you’ll be fine.
“Luckily, I will awkwardly charm the pants off of you (not literally!) so you feel comfortable,” she jokes. “I will guide you into flattering positions and then prompt you to evoke genuine emotions. There will be cuddling, kissing, running, laughing, connection, reflection and a high chance of me saying strange things. The whole idea is for you two to be YOURSELVES; the best photos come from moments where you're truly enjoying yourselves.”
Kali Birks is a storyteller at heart. Her goal is to not only use her experience, education and equipment to give you amazing photographs, but she wants your photographs to depict a story and catch the candid moments of love being passed between you and your partner. Birks has been on the other side of the camera and understands how nerve-wracking and emotional the day can be. With this in mind, she strongly believes that your photographer will be walking beside you the entire time and their goal should be to make your photographic and film experience unforgettable.
“Your wedding day is an experience from beginning to end and your photography is a huge part of that experience....shouldn't it be fun? And enjoyable? And natural? I think so! My goal is to not only capture memories for my clients, it is to create an experience that you will never forget,” she says. “You deserve more than just beautiful images; you also deserve an amazing photographic experience. When my couples feel comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera, that results in genuine, joyful images!”
8 Hours of Wedding Day Photography Coverage
Complimentary Engagement Session ($450 Value)
Consultations, Advice and Resources
Digital Negatives of All Edited Images (Approx. 350-400)
Sneak Peeks Within 24 Hours
Shareable Online Viewing Gallery
100 Kilometres of Wedding Day Travel
100 Kilometres of Engagement Session Travel
Personal Use License
Additional Hours of Coverage: $350/hr
Second Photographer: $500
Additional Portrait Session: $450
Before the wedding, says Birks, she likes to built a rapport with her brides and grooms to bring out the “best photographic experience possible”
“I try my best to make sure that all of my couples are the PERFECT fit for me before officially booking,” she says. “I spend more time with you that day than your loved ones. So let's make sure we get along! A bride and groom should connect with their photographer, trust their photographer and be EXCITED about the whole process with them!”Â
After booking, Birks loves to get to know her clients by providing a complimentary engagement session -- something “that helps them warm up to the camera so that they are ready to rock and roll on the wedding day,” she says.Â
“I am here as a resource to my clients, to lend support and advice on timelines etc. Sometimes I feel like a professional bridesmaid on scene,” she jokes. “I've helped button dresses, pinned loose hair and fluffed veils and most importantly -- got us to the chapel on time. Hopefully when the big day arrives, we feel like friends. Then you can experience a safe and relaxed environment for your photography!”
As for the big day, Birks takes an approach that is both “interactive and discreet”:
“There will be parts of the day when I will need to be in control in order to accomplish everything that needs to be done while staying on schedule. There will also be moments when you shouldn't even know I'm there. (The ceremony, during dances and toasts, etc.) I teach my couples how to pose, model and interact during their engagement session so they feel natural on the wedding day and can just enjoy the feel of the moment!”
Dave and Natalie Fay are the faces behind Worn Leather Media. They strongly believe that every couple has an “epic story” and you deserve to tell yours. They want you to be able to look back at the photographs and remember your wedding day EXACTLY how you lived it; the glances filled with love, the ringing of laughter and the overwhelming amount of joy you must have felt. To them, the candid photographs often become the ones you treasure the most:
“Every minute of your wedding is important and we’ll be with you through it all. Tell your whole story for decades to come. We’re your best friends for the day, documenting every moment of your adventure. The best moments are unscripted.”
Engagement Session
9 Hours of Coverage From Dave
Getting Ready Until Reception
Pre-Wedding Questionnaire
Travel Costs Within 100km of CalgaryÂ
“We want to get to know you before your wedding day,” says Dave. “The easiest photos come when you’re relaxed. We want you to feel like we’re your friends with cameras. And the easiest way to do that is to BE your friends (with cameras).”Â
“This is why we try to get together at least twice before your big day,” the Fays add. “Don’t live nearby? We also do virtual hangouts! Engagement sessions are part of all our wedding packages. It’s an important part of the storytelling process, and a great chance for us to get to know each other. Anything from a hike in Kananaskis, a stroll through a park, or a visit to your favorite brewpub.”Â
Whatever your adventures usually look like, they say, “we’re going to tag along.”Â
“You get comfortable in front of our cameras, so when we show up on your wedding day, you already know what to expect. Plus the photos will look great on your save-the-dates.”
Calgary photographer Nadine McKenney has been included in marketing for Mikaella Bridal and Fairmont Hotels Weddings; she has also had her work featured in Confetti Bridal Magazine as well as The Wedding Ring Magazine. McKenney uses her years of experience and obvious passion to deliver photographs that are memorable and true to how you envisioned your wedding.Â
“Your wedding day is one of the biggest days of your lives; it should also be one of the most memorable!” she says. “During your wedding, I capture candid, natural moments. Through casual posing, my passion is to document the raw emotion radiating from your special day!“
1-Hour Complimentary Engagement Session with Unlimited Digital Photos
10 Hours of Wedding Day Coverage with Unlimited Digital Photos
Two Photographers for Wedding Day
One Custom-Made Memory Album (30 Pages)
One Canvas Print (40"X30")
USB
Choosing the perfect wedding photographer can be a “daunting task,” says McKenney, “but it doesn't have to be!”Â
“Combining years of education and experience with top-of-the-line equipment and expertise, I provide beautiful imagery that speaks to the soul. I believe in capturing the image perfectly in camera and editing it to enhance the natural beauty and keep them bright, clean, and timeless. All images are hand edited and kept true to colour as your wedding day. I do not believe in just adding a generic filter to the images and calling it a day.”Â
“By choosing to work with me,” she adds, “you will receive more than just stunning images. You will also receive guidance and input. If you need other vendors to work with whether it be hair and make up, attire, or florals; these are all things I'm here to help you with if needed. I have a great list of talented vendors that I work with on a regular basis that provide discounts to my clients.”
All of McKenney’s photos are kept true to the colour of your wedding day to preserve your memories in the truest form. All packages include all edited images in colour and black & white.Â
“I deliver a sneak peek within 24 hours of your wedding and the full gallery is expected within 3 months,” she adds. “This package also includes one complimentary engagement session with unlimited digital photos.”
Marvelous Photographs specialize in candid photos. If you and your partner are camera shy and want to stay away from the forced and awkward poses, yet don’t want to miss a single moment in the wedding, then this full-day package is perfect for you:  Â
“We will capture the feelings, the mood, the emotions, the calm/crazy moments and all the details that will make your wedding album unique!”
Full-Day Coverage
2 Photographers
A Complimentary Wedding Album
An Online Gallery to Share, Download, and Order Prints of your Wedding Day
A Slideshow with your Favorite Song of the Highlights
A Black & White Album of the Highlights
“It’s so easy to get caught up in planning your wedding day and forget about the things that really matter,” says Ismael. “Your wedding day is a special day where family and close friends all come together to celebrate. These special moments will be cherished for generations. That is why all the wedding packages we provide are customized specifically for your day with no limit on the delivered images. This means you will have all the small details covered to help you relive your wedding day for years to come!”
