Banff is undeniably beautiful, and I’ve always dreamed about getting my engagement photos with the Canadian Rockies as the backdrop. Alas, I have yet to become a blushing bride, but I’m not complaining because I get to scout for the best wedding vendors for every friend or sibling wedding I help plan.
Out of all the things on a wedding checklist, the most important to me are the photographers. Not everyone can beautifully capture one of the most memorable moments of your life.
But here are the ones I’ve found to do the job wonderfully for my friends and siblings.
| How much do photographers in Banff, Calgary cost? Photoshoot sessions with photographers usually cost between $1,500 and $3,500 per session, depending on your location, theme, duration, or number of photos. Additional costs like extra shooting time, props, wardrobe, hair and makeup, and travel fees contribute to fluctuating rates. |
Table of Contents
1. Film and Forest Photography
Phone: +17806863398
Business hours: Mon-Sun: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
Film and Forest Photography, run by the adventurous husband-and-wife duo Hayley and Andrew, specializes in capturing outdoor engagement and wedding moments in the stunning Canadian Rockies. If you love nature and adventure, they are the perfect photographers for you!
They offer two main services: the Adventurous + Intimate Wedding package ($5,000+), which includes up to 6 hours of wedding coverage and unlimited planning help, and the Adventure Sessions package ($1,500+), great for engagement shoots around Banff with some hiking involved.
Hayley and Andrew know the Rockies, especially Banff, inside and out. If you’re not up for extensive hiking, they’ll still find the perfect spot for you. Plus, there are no extra travel fees, but they only do outdoor sessions, so indoor shots aren’t an option.
Book them at least 12 months in advance, as they get booked quickly!
Pros
- Responsive
- Best for engagement and wedding photoshoots
- No travel fees
- Photographers are well-versed in the Banff area
Cons
- Busy photographers (hard to book)
- Only does outdoor shoots
Customer Reviews
Photographers who make you feel comfortable and confident
“The photos were beautiful and gave us happy tears. I was feeling awkward at first during the shoot but they made us feel so comfortable and in our natural elements. They helped plan and execute the perfect proposal as well which was huge for me since I am based in Toronto. They’ll make your day, no matter what the occasion is.”
-Mr. Rabib Alam, Google Review
Communicative and helpful photographers
“Hayley and Andrew were absolutely amazing! Awake in the middle of the night to hike with us at 4am for a sunrise elopement in the mountains. So communicative prior to the wedding and helped us with whatever we needed. They kept everything light and fun and the photos were stunning. So glad we chose them to celebrate our special day with us. Thanks again for everything! If you’re looking for an amazing photography duo for your wedding day, choose them- you won’t regret it!”
-Ms. Kayla Schmidt, Google Review
2. Kim Payant Photography
Address: 436 Banff Ave
Phone: +14034975111
Business hours: By appointment
Kim Payant, founder of Kim Payant Photography, pursued fashion photography in Quebec before finding her true passion in Banff, where she established her own photography firm in 2010.
Specializing in portraits, family gatherings, weddings, and more, Kim captures the essence of Banff with style and passion.
Her services are primarily outdoor-based, offering flexible hourly sessions starting at $500 for portraits. Full wedding and family shoots begin at $3,200, reflecting her reputation for promptness, professionalism, and a quick 12-week turnaround time.
I recently hired her for a family session, knowing her services weren’t budget-friendly, especially as a two-time TwoBrightLights Editors’ Choice award-winning photographer. Kim was flexible with negotiating rates, and we opted for an hourly booking that suited our needs.
Everyone in my family was impressed with her efficiency, especially since she was the sole photographer in the shoot. She managed to get everyone to listen and pose for pictures without going over time.
Pros
- Award-winning photographer
- Specializes in family photoshoots
- Offers hourly rates for select shoots
- Offers portrait shooting
Cons
- Pricey
- Small team
Customer Reviews
Photographer who is easy to work with
“Kim was absolutely amazing as my elopement photographer. We were coming from the US and got married at Lake Louise. She made us feel comfortable every step of the process and was very responsive to emails, questions, and concerns throughout the process. We had no idea what to expect at the location, but Kim helped us to think through the details like timing, order of events, etc. On the day of the event, Kim was so easy to work with. The whole family was so impressed that she knew everyone’s names and directed the pictures efficiently and professionally. The pictures turned out so amazing, we couldn’t have imagined anything better. We would definitely use Kim as our photographer again in a heartbeat and highly recommend her to anyone looking!”
-Ms. Katie Krebs, Google Review
Attentive and talented photographer
“Definitely would recommend Kim to be your wedding photographer! She took such beautiful photos for our engagement session and of our wedding! Kim was easy to communicate with, attentive, and made us feel comfortable throughout the whole process. Thank you Kim, we love our photos!”
-Ms. Ashley Anderson, Google Review
3. Bonner Photography
Address: Bear St, Bear Street Mall
Phone: +12507022217
Business hours: Tue-Sat: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Bonner Photography, founded by photojournalist John Bonner in 1999, offers a wide range of services, including corporate, landscape, sports, weddings, and family shoots, along with videography add-ons.
My cousin hired them for his corporate profile portraits and was impressed with the results. He noted that the communication, planning, and organization of the session were smooth, thanks to John’s large, cooperative, and patient team.
They were hands-on throughout the shoot, ensuring no time was wasted and every detail, from makeup to lighting, was meticulously attended to.
However, my cousin mentioned they didn’t get to shoot outdoors, despite the good weather, as the team preferred sticking to their plan for a corporate shoot. He would have appreciated some flexibility for creative outdoor shots, given the cost involved.
Despite this, Bonner Photography delivered high-quality final photos, which I also found to be excellent.
Pros
- Been in the photography business since 1999
- Wide range of photography services
- Large network of photographers and videographers
Cons
- Pricey
- Not suitable for creative shoots
Customer Reviews
Fantastic photographer
“Fantastic photographer and wonderful experience! John has been our family photographer since 2003. His work is beautiful and captured our mountain adventures and growing family perfectly! Highly recommend Bonner Photography!”
-Ms. Jo Sheldrick, Google Review
Professional and on point!
“John was so professional and on point for our wedding day. The images he delivered were totally in-line with those in his portfolio and he made us feel comfortable and relaxed the entire time. Two thumbs up!”
-Ms. Megan Curran, Google Review
4. Burnett Photography
Phone: +14036784127
Business hours: Mon-Sun: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
If you’re looking for an experienced wedding photographer, Shirleen Burnett of Burnett Photography is perfect.
Her wedding portraits around Banff have been praised by Lux Wedding Awards, Global Wedding Awards, Wedding and Portrait Photographers International, and Master Photographers International.
Shirleen works with iconic Banff venues like Fairmont Banff Springs, Silvertip Resort, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and the Emerald Hotel. My sister hired her for her wedding, and as her Maid of Honor, I was thrilled.
Thanks to Shirleen’s venue connections, she captured stunning engagement and wedding photos.
Though she’s in high demand and usually booked for nearly a year, we luckily secured a last-minute slot. My sister spent nearly $10,000 on Shirleen’s services, including a full-day shoot, wall art, and an album.
The photos turned out amazing, and Shirleen made sure my sister and her groom were comfortable and happy. I can’t recommend her enough!
Pros
- Best for hotel weddings
- Offers printable services
- Award-winning photographer
Cons
- Hard to book (few slots each year)
Customer Reviews
Photographers that go above and beyond
“Shirleen and Troy are the absolute best. Not only are they the best wedding photographers but they are also wonderful people. To say they go above and beyond is an understatement. They truly have a passion for their art and it shows. Beautiful art featuring you is what you will get for years to come. Everyone said we had the most beautiful wedding photography they had ever seen. Book Shirleen and Troy. They are worth every penny and then some. It will be one of the best decisions you have ever made.”
-Ms. Faye Harrell, Google Review
Outstanding quality
“Working with Shirleen and Troy (and Caitlyn) was a riot. The quality of the photos, prints, our book, all outstanding. They were so fun, and made us feel totally comfortable posting for pictures, something neither of us is a huge fan of. They even made me look okay in some of them! Mostly by standing very far away or shooting the back of my head. Natasha and I have already decided we will both be using Burnett Photography for our next weddings.”
-Mr. Adam Runka, Google Review
5. Kelly Szott Photography
Phone: +14038627292
Business hours: Mon-Sun: 9:00 am to 11:00 pm
Kelly Szott is a wedding and elopement photographer I worked with for a friend’s wedding this year. I contacted her via her website and got a response the next day.
I convinced my friend to hire Kelly because she offers helicopter rides for her shoots. The “Heli Portrait Adventure” package includes a full-day session with a helicopter ride and photoshoot around the Canadian Rockies.
My friend had one of the most unique and coolest elopement shoots I’ve ever seen. I didn’t go on the heli ride (the package only included 3 tickets), but from my friend’s reactions and the final photos, it was worth the $5,000.
Kelly offers regular couple photoshoots for $1,000, including a Banff location of your choice, wardrobe guidance, hair and makeup recommendations, and up to 75 images. It’s the most affordable I’ve heard of in the area.
Note that she works solo and travel costs aren’t included, which can increase the price if the location is far.
Pros
- Offer helicopter rides
- Responsive
- Affordable packages
Cons
- Small team
- Affordable packers don’t include travel fees
Customer Reviews
Effortless and helpful photographer
“Kelly effortlessly put us at ease and helped us feel excited for our incredible day. No other person who had taken my photo has ever made me feel so confident and comfortable. This allowed us to have some incredible moments that felt like it was just the two of us which made for some amazing photos. I’m also not sure how many photographers out there would be willing to brave waist-deep snow to get some incredible shots, but she sure did!”
-Mr. Jeremy Root, Google Review
Wonderful to work with
“Kelly is so wonderful to work with. We couldn’t have been happier with our engagement and wedding photos!! She makes everyone feel comfortable and captures every moment beautifully. We really enjoyed working with her and would 100% recommend her to anyone! She is such an amazing photographer and we are so happy we ended up choosing her to shoot our special day! Thanks Kelly!”
-Ms. Katie Grbac, Google Review
