Intimate Elopement Photography at Jasper Park Lodge

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Jasper National Park is no doubt one of the most peaceful and elegant choices for an intimate elopement or micro-wedding in the Rockies. The Fairmont JPL also offers their own signature elopement packages for couples who want to keep things simple but luxurious, and there are countless ways to dress up your elopement or small wedding to make it all your own.

Some of the unique elopement experiences we have photographed at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge include private sundeck dinners on the turquoise water of Lac Beauvert, a personal chef in the Stanley Thompson cabin or a family feast in the Royal Retreat, the Outlook Cabin. From leisurely strolls and horseback rides along the scenic property, to hopping in a canoe or a sleigh ride in winter, or a quiet drink in Emerald Lounge, there is something for everyone’s tastes at the Fairmont.

But it isn’t just the unique beauty of the sprawling mountain property, the unique and delicious food, the Jasper Park experience of clear lakes and dark skies, that make JPL one of our favourite venues for photographing weddings and elopements. What could be better than that one of a kind Rocky Mountain luxury experience you might ask? The proverbial cherry on the cake is really the service at Jasper Park Lodge. The wedding coordinators are the best in the business, and the staff all care about providing a special experience for the hotel guests and newlywed couples.

For those who want planning their elopement to be as simple as can be, and yet still want the comfort, amenities, and individualized treatment of a luxury resort year-round, there is no better place for a magical Rocky Mountain love story than the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. It’s also nice to know that the townsite of Jasper is only a five minute drive away.

As local photographers who have documented weddings and elopements at the Fairmont for over a decade, we love working with the staff and collaborating to make our client’s elopement dreams come true. Whether a couple wants to stay on the property and walk the lakefront trail along Beauvert, or to go climb a mountain and come back in time for a romantic sundeck dinner, we love to help our clients make their rocky mountain elopement the best it can be.

If you are thinking of eloping or having your wedding in Jasper National Park, we here at Kinfolk would love to be a part. We love providing our wedding and elopement photography clients with quality photographs and memories, and our longtime local expertise and experience allow us to make the most of whatever the mountains decide to give us. If you’d like to know more, or to ask any questions, send us a note at the link below!

Jasper Weddings at Maligne Lake Chalet

Maligne Lake is known as a jewel in the Rockies, and the heritage Chalet is a unique venue for Jasper weddings. The iconic Spirit Island has become synonymous with the Canadian Rockies in the minds eye of people across the world. There are few places quite like it, and when it comes to having your wedding overlooking a crystalline, glacier fed lake in the Rocky Mountains, the experience at the Maligne Lake Chalet is truly unlike any other.

Getting Married at Maligne Lake in Jasper

Maligne Lake is about 45km from the Jasper townsite, and it takes close to an hour to drive there from town. The drive follows the Maligne River up past Maligne Lookout, the canyon and Medicine Lake, and there are plenty of amazing views the whole way. In the past Maligne Lake has seen less weddings than other areas in Jasper National Park; this is in part because of the distance from town and in part because there is no overnight accommodation or camping at Maligne Lake, or anywhere in the Maligne Valley. That being said, you can still have your wedding and wedding reception at the Maligne Lake Chalet!

Pursuit, the owner and operator of the Maligne Lake Chalet, does a great job of coordinating and catering weddings at Maligne Lake. Clients can have the venue until late at night, and shuttles for guests to get to and from Jasper townsite can be organized through Sundog Tours. Normally some vendors - such as marriage commisioners, djs, etc - might charge a small travel fee for the distance.

Pursuit also offers up the heritage cabin, right next to the Chalet, which can be used throughout the day for getting ready with the bridal party, family, or friends. Keep in mind, these amenities are only available in the late spring, summer, and fall.

Scenic Wedding Photo Spots at Maligne Lake

You can’t beat the view from the courtyard of the Maligne Lake Chalet, which is the perfect spot for a wedding ceremony. For photos of the bridal party and the lucky couple, there are plenty of great spots within walking distance of the Chalet. Some of these include the famous Curly Phillips boathouse, the lakeshore, and the boat launch. Some people even hop in a canoe, although experience is necessary for that one!

Another popular option is to drive a little ways to get photos along the Maligne River or Medicine Lake. If you are eloping and don’t have any guests waiting on you, you could always do something even more adventurous like hiking up Bald Hills or Opal Hills, or canoeing down to Hidden Cove. And of course, there is Spirit Island.

Getting Photos at Spirit Island

For those whose schedule allows it, or whose guests want an adventure during their day at Maligne Lake, boat cruises to Spirit Island can be scheduled for the couple or for the whole group. Just be sure to factor in the trip time with your other wedding timeline plans.

If you want to have wedding photos taken at Spirit Island there are a few very important things to know!

• The fastest round trip is 1.5 hours. This gives you only about 15 minutes at the island with the rest of the boat passengers.

• The 2 Hour Premium Cruise is probably a better option if you want to have time to get creative with your photos at the Island.

• You need to book ahead of time for everyone who will be going (including your photographer!) to avoid disappointment. There are only a limited number of cruises per day, and they usually fill up.

• You cannot go on the island itself, only on the shoreline and the short trail that loops to and from the boat dock.

• Always follow Parks rules and regulations, as well as leave no trace principles.

• Local photographers and vendors are your best bet to getting the best results. We also choose to put Nature First.

An iconic Jasper experience

Of all the incredible places to get married in Jasper National Park, Maligne Lake will always hold it’s own as one of the most beautiful and unique. From the historic boathouse to the heritage Chalet, peaceful cruises and breathtaking alpine meadows, there is no place quite like the Maligne Valley. Working with Jasper local vendors and coordinators will ensure that you can make the most of your wedding day, and relax and enjoy while letting the professionals take care of the rest. We at Kinfolk are happy to answer any questions you might have about getting married at Maligne Lake, or just about any other Jasper photography question you might have. Feel free to get in touch with us at the link below!

Getting great family photos in Jasper

For some people, preparing for a family session can feel intimidating. There are family dynamics to consider, the age of your kids, the weather, the outfits! We’ve been there ourselves, so we totally get that it can be a lot to consider. We also know that at the end of the day the #1 most important thing to remember is that you are experts at being the family that you are and we are experts in using that dynamic to feel inspired to create images that capture the spirit of your family. So with that fundamental idea in mind, we’ve created what we consider to be a pretty all-encompassing list of things to prepare for and consider before we get together and create those beautiful images we are looking forward to shooting with you.

LET IT GO and LET IT FLOW!!!

Kids will be kids. I have an extremely spirited child so not only am I speaking from professional experience but my own experience as a mother to a strong-willed kid has shown me that sometimes you just have to let it go. Because of this, I consider myself really skilled when it comes to working with kids who are both the type to smile nicely at the camera and the ones who are more inclined to want to explore their surroundings or push their sibling to the ground. I have lived it and I have worked it so nothing will surprise me in terms of how your child actively participates in a family shoot or protests it! Because of this experience, I am able to adapt and have some tools to redirect a pose or engage a wayward child which enables me to capture both a more traditional portrait and candid shots with lots of movement. Every kid and family is different which means that the final galleries are always different as well but one thing is certain, you will end up with a collection that reflects exactly who you are as a family.

BE YOU!

Don’t expect perfection in the traditional sense. But do expect images that reflect all of your personalities. Focusing too much on getting the perfect portrait often ends up putting too much pressure on kids and can end up backfiring. Instead, let us lead the session in a way that brings out your kid’s natural playfulness and gets them engaged to the point where setting up for a classic portrait can occur naturally and easily. I am not above rolling around on the ground and making a fool of myself if that’s what your kids need to open up.

Tell your kids about me!

Talking to the kids a bit about me and the session beforehand can help break the ice a bit so that I’m not a total stranger from the start. You can tell the younger ones that a funny and nice friend is coming to take your pictures but she’s not going to make you sit around for an hour and say cheese and she’s probably going to make you laugh and will let you tickle her and laugh at her! For older kids who might be dreading the session, you can tell them the photographer gets it - I was a teen once too and I’ll do my best to not torture them and they might even have a little bit of fun;) I have worked with teenagers before who have been extremely into the session and have shown up engaged and not at all embarrassed to pose for all sorts of photos and I have also experienced teens who are either a bit shy or just completely not into it and I have always enjoyed both of these types of experiences because teens are awesome.

LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF TO THE KIDS.

Allow me to have a huddle with the kids before we start. I like to spend the first moments just talking and joking with the kids. I like to learn a bit about them and show them my camera so we can break the ice and so I can ensure them we’re going to have fun. Whenever I approach a session this way, I have found that even the shyest of kids warm up to me quite quickly and are way more eager to engage. If they know I am not going to be serious or make them stand stiffly for the whole session, the rest usually flows. Of course, every kid is different and if you have kids that are just too shy or hesitant to new people I will make sure to introduce and connect with those kids when I know they feel safe and respected.

PLAY!

Playfully interact with your kids! Tickle, snuggle, run, laugh. The more engaged and connected you can actively be with your kids during our session, the more authenticity will shine through the images. It is so common to feel awkward and unsure of what to do or how to hold yourself in front of a camera. One of the best ways to counteract this is to almost always be looking at eachother instead of straight at the camera. It also helps to be touching as much as possible, so grab your partner’s hand or throw your arms around your kids in a way that feels natural to you and your family dynamic.

WHAT TO WEAR.

Bring a change of clothes, just in case! Remember, kids will be kids and I’ve never met a kid who doesn’t come out of the session a little dirty - we are in the mountains after all!

Always bring sensible shoes. Shooting in the Canadian Rockies means we’re almost certainly going to encounter uneven terrain so walking in heels or very stiff shoes won’t always work. Having your nicer shoes ready to change into once it’s practical to do so will make all the difference to you and your kid’s comfort.

Wear something you feel comfortable and flattered in. If you are uncomfortable in something you are wearing, it will show in the photos so we always encourage our clients to dress for confidence and comfort. The same thing goes for kids. If your kiddos are used to wearing loose-fitting, soft clothing it may be a bit of a challenge to put them in something too stiff and formal so I suggest either opting for a well put together but casual look or letting the kids get used to their fancy outfit before the shoot!

After comfort, an important thing to consider is to coordinate your outfits but do not match. A rule of thumb is that you should all look as though you’re dressed to go to the same place. This is where I would have to tell my son NO to wearing his swim shorts to a family shoot when the rest of the family is not dressed for a swim in the least even though we wished we were!

Dress for the weather. Layers are your friend. In Jasper, it has snowed in August and my son has hiked shirtless in February so be prepared for it all!

If you’re still struggling with how to dress for your shoot, Pinterest is your friend. There is so much inspiration on there that can help you create a cohesive look.

REST AND SNACKS!

For little kids, consider nap and meal times when choosing a session time with me. Well-rested and fed kids have a lot more fun. The same can be said for the grownups!

Bring water and no-mess snacks. If your kids are anything like me a good snack can turn most meltdowns around in a flash. Avoid chocolate, melty snacks, and anything else that might leave a stain on clothes or faces! The one thing I have never been able to contend with as a family photographer is a massive sugar crash so try to bring snacks that won’t cause that classic crash and burn;)

LASTLY - GET EXCITED!

Having family photos done can really be a lot of fun and presents a great opportunity to play around, bond, and make memories. You’re in the beautiful mountains of Jasper National Park with your favourite people in the world; what a great setting to connect with the ones you love as I capture it for you. I get excited for every family shoot that I do and it’s the absolute best when families can show up with that same energy so we can get to work creating the most authentic images. I can’t wait to meet you all!

Wedding & Engagement Photos at Medicine Lake

Many people who come to the Rockies to get married envision their wedding photos taking place in a dramatic mountain vista, and for those people; having wedding photos taken with the stunning backdrop of Medicine Lake in Jasper National Park is a dream come true. As you will see from these wedding and engagement photos in this post, it can be an incredibly beautiful photo location; especially in the morning and evening.

Medicine Lake is about a 20 minute drive from either the Jasper townsite or the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, up the Maligne Lake Road. The road can be slow going at times in the summer, especially when there are lots of bear-jams! But Parks Canada does regularly maintain the road all the way up, and the Wildlife Guardians do their best to clear up traffic. For weddings and wedding parties who don’t want to drive themselves, Sundog tours and Open Top tours have escorted more than a few wedding parties up to Medicine Lake in Jasper.

Medicine Lake is a great wedding and portrait photography location for a few reasons. One, the mountain vista is stunning, as the impressive cliffs come right down to the lakeshore. Two, the lake is always changing throughout the year, making the engagement or wedding photos taken there always unique and different. Three, it is only a short, scenic drive from town that offers you and your wedding party wildlife viewing opportunities, and a dramatic high mountain scene for your photos.

We’ve compiled a few Medicine Lake wedding and engagement photos in this blog for you to enjoy and - hopefully - be inspired by! These were taken over the last couple of years here in Jasper, and you will notice the lake looks so different in the spring, summer, and autumn. If you want to see it in winter, check out this blog post!

Brittany & Chris

Brittany & Chris not only had their engagement photos at Medicine Lake, but they actually got engaged there! Chris proposed along the eastern shore at the start of the session.

Geoffrey & Antonietta

Geoffrey also proposed at Medicine Lake to Antonietta, who of course said yes!

Medicine Lake Wedding and Portrait Photo Tips

• Bring an extra layer and good shoes! It is a short walk down to the photo area from the parking lot, but weather can change quickly and it can be cool at these elevations at any time of year. Have a warm layer for in between photos so you don’t catch a chill.

• Be sure to pack everything you might need for a few hours our; layers, drinks, snacks, water, etc (Check out our essential day-trip packing list here)

• Sunscreen!! We have seen plenty of brides, grooms, and wedding party folks end up with sunburns - at any time of year!

• Don’t be afraid of a little rain: We’ve had some really beautiful and dramatic photos from rainy days or surprise showers; we’ve even seen double rainbows over Medicine Lake during an engagement session! A little bad weather can sometimes make even better photos.

• Don’t tough it out: If you are too cold, too hot, too many bugs, don’t feel comfortable perched on a rock, or anything else during your wedding photos, say so! It is always better to stop and shift gears than to push through something that you either aren’t comfortable with or aren’t enjoying anymore.

• Have a backup plan: Sometimes the weather can change quickly, and it may not be possible to do photos at the Lake. If you have a local photographer who knows the area they can can help you coordinate a backup plan so that you still get incredible wedding photos.

  Things to remember

  In order to get the best photos at Medicine Lake in the winter time, it is necessary to walk a few minutes down to the lakeshore from the parking area. Then it is best to walk around a little bit to the places that are most suitable at that time. The lake is always changing in the summer and winter, but there are always great photo opportunities. Because of the time it takes just getting between photo spots, let alone taking the photos, it’s important to wear a good warm jacket and be prepared to be out in the cold for a little while.
  

  Be warned! It’s a long drive up to Medicine Lake, and we’ve seen more than a couple of groomsmen have more than a couple of drinks on the way! If you suspect that will be your group, we recommend getting wedding party photos out of the way first so that there are some sober faces in a few of the photos ;)

Ruth & Kathleen

Ruth and Kathleen had a beautiful calm summer day with deep blue water. The whole wedding party and their daughter came down to the side of the lake for photos with them!

Chris & Renee

Chris and Renee also took their whole wedding party down to the lakeshore, and so plenty of laughs were had! This was a beautiful September day, and the water levels of Medicine Lake were just starting to drop, as they do every autumn as the lake drains underground.

Engagement Photos at Medicine Lake

Medicine Lake is one of our favourite spots for engagement photos; especially in the late summer and fall. As the lake drains each year throughout the fall, the Maligne River braids it’s way through the mud flats, making some really beautiful scenes. As well, the aspens and poplars along the lakeshore turn bright yellow, and the evenings get beautiful, horizontal light casting through the narrow valley. But no matter what time of year or what time of day, Medicine Lake is always there with plenty of magic to explore.

Jill & Dave

Jill and Dave had a beautiful and blustery fall evening up at Medicine Lake all the way back in 2020!

Harley & Ash

Climbing over boulders and snuggling is the perfect recipe for a mountain engagement.

Winter Wedding Photos at Medicine Lake in Jasper

It takes a certain type of person to get married in the Canadian winter (no judgement here) but for those certain people; winter wedding photos with the stunning backdrop of Medicine Lake in Jasper National Park is a dream come true. Although it can be a harsh and frigid place for a bridal dress or a wedding party, as you will see from our Jasper wedding photos in this post it can also be an incredibly beautiful photo location.

Medicine Lake is about a 20 minute drive from either the Jasper townsite or the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, up the Maligne Lake Road. The road can be icy or snowy in the winter, but Parks Canada does regularly maintain the road all the way up so that it is safe for cars and buses with winter tires. For weddings and wedding parties who don’t want to drive themselves, Sundog tours and Open Top tours have escorted more than a few wedding parties up to Medicine Lake in Jasper.

Medicine Lake is a great wedding photography location for a few reasons. One, the mountain vista is stunning, as the impressive cliffs come right down to the lakeshore. Two, the lake is always changing throughout the year, making the wedding photos taken there always unique and different. Three, it is only a short, scenic drive from town that offers you and your wedding party wildlife viewing opportunities, and a dramatic high mountain scene for your photos.

We’ve compiled a few Medicine Lake wedding photos in this blog for you to enjoy and - hopefully - be inspired by! These were taken over the last couple of winters here in Jasper, and you will notice how the lake looks so different each time!

Medicine Lake Wedding Photo Tips

• Bring extra warm jackets, hats, mitts etc! It is a short but slow walk down to the photo area from the parking lot, and without a warm layer for in between photos it is possible to catch a chill, or even frostbite!

• Be sure to pack everything you might need for you or your wedding party. So warm layers, drinks, snacks, water, etc (Check out our essential wedding photo packing list here)

• Bring hand and foot warmers.

• Ice cleats or crampons are not a bad idea: Either path down to the lakeshore requires descending a possibly steep and icy path. Make sure you have footwear that can handle ice, even if you change out of them for the photos.

• Don’t tough it out: If you are too cold during your wedding photos, say so! It is always better to stop and take a warm up break than to push through and end up with frostbite.

• Have a backup plan: Sometimes the weather can change quickly, and it may become too windy or snowy for photos. If you have a local photographer who knows the area they can can help you coordinate a backup plan so that you still get incredible wedding photos.

Things to remember

In order to get the best photos at Medicine Lake in the winter time, it is necessary to walk a few minutes down to the lakeshore from the parking area. Then it is best to walk around a little bit to the places that are most suitable at that time. Because of the time it takes just getting between photo spots, let alone taking the photos, it’s important to wear a good warm jacket and be prepared to be out in the cold for a little while. Sometimes it takes people by surprise how quickly they get reeeeally cold on a winter afternoon in the mountains without layers on! Fur stolls or wraps are great for the photos, but they don’t cut it for the time in between photos.

Be warned! It’s a long drive up to Medicine Lake, and we’ve seen more than a couple of groomsmen have more than a couple of drinks on the way! If you suspect that will be your group, we recommend getting wedding party photos out of the way first so that there are some sober faces in a few of the photos ;) Otherwise it can really cut into your portrait time if it is tough to wrangle the tipsy folks.

If you are thinking of having your wedding or engagement photos in Jasper in the winter time, be sure to let us know! We live here in Jasper year round, and so we are always ready to recommend the best winter location for your photos given the current conditions in the Park. We hope to hear from you!

Four reasons to hire a local photographer

We receive plenty of requests to take engagement or wedding photographs at Spirit Island, and most people are surprised to discover that it requires an hours drive from Jasper and a 2-3 hour boat excursion to get there.

Have you ever traveled somewhere new with a specific spot in mind that you want to check out, only to discover that it is exceedingly difficult to figure out how to actually get there? Sometimes between asking directions, taking the wrong turn, or running out of time we end up missing the very things we came for.

Having a destination wedding can sometimes feel a bit like that. There is a lot of planning, coordinating, and figuring out that goes into ensuring that everything runs smoothly. For example, do all my guests know that it is a 20 minute drive from the hotel to the ceremony site? Does everyone know how to get there? There are lots of chances for people and things to get mixed up, and we certainly see it here every once in awhile.

Grandpa and the boys hanging out at the airfield, waiting. I would guess that somewhere around one in three weddings we photograph at the Athabasca Day Use Area, somebody is late because they didn’t realize it was a 15-20 minute drive from town, and there isn’t reliable cell service.

Now imagine you are a wedding photographer. Documenting such a special occasion as a wedding - a once-in-a-lifetime event - requires you to be present and in the flow, ready to capture the moments unfolding all around without any worry or uncertainty on the mind. When photographing in an unfamiliar place, it can be really challenging to pivot plans when the original timeline doesn’t play out. In Jasper, there are beautiful scenes all around, but sometimes the big question is: how do I get there? and how long does it take? It is not uncommon for someone who doesn’t know the area to get a little overwhelmed, and end up with lackluster images that don’t do justice to this beautiful place.

We believe that our work should speak to who our clients are, and where they have chosen to be married, and our ability to do that is absolutely enhanced by our experience living and working here in Jasper.

There aren’t very many photographers that wouldn't want to photograph in Jasper, if given the opportunity, but as local photographers in a destination location, here are some of our favourite reasons to hire a local wedding photographer:

1) Local photographers know the best places to go for each time of year. They know how to get around, and what the light is like in different spots.

That’s one reason why we strongly believe in hiring a local photographer. Local photographers don’t just know all the good spots, they know which ones are best at what time of year, what places are easiest to get to from each venue or location, how long it takes, what time the light disappears at each spot, and all the other details that someone who doesn’t know the area is just hoping will fall into place. For locals it’s not hope and luck that make things fall into place; it’s experience and expertise.

2) Locals have a unique knowledge of the location (Jasper National Park, in our case), and a love for it that makes them familiar with using the landscape to compliment their images.

We have photographed hundreds of weddings in Jasper, and we’ve learned from each one. We’ve seen countless plans go astray, and been able to provide assistance through our local expertise to ensure that the client still gets what they need. We help clients pivot as quickly as the weather here in the mountains does.

2) Local photographers work within a network of other local vendors, each with plenty of homegrown experience.

Another major reason why we believe in hiring a local photographer is that we haven’t just photographed these hundreds of Jasper weddings alone; we’ve done so with the same group of local wedding and event vendors who have operated here just as long as we have (some of them even longer). The Jasper wedding industry is something like a big happy family in a lot of ways. We are all friends and collaborators who have worked together countless times over, like a well oiled machine as the saying goes. We believe in each others work and we regularly help each other to achieve our shared goal of giving our clients the best memories of being married in Jasper possible.

3) “Shopping Local” supports local economies, family businesses, and community members.

Over the last few years we have seen the ‘Shop Local’ mentality spreading all over. It is a great concept, because it shows value for the places we visit and inhabit, it educates on the benefits of small community economies, and recognizes the shared values of communities and families the world over. We have come to see over the years of photographing weddings that a great many of our clients have a history of visiting Jasper, and have created countless great memories here. Hiring local, in our eyes, is one way of giving back to the community that makes visiting Jasper so special.

Jordan and Brett from Jasper Event Management with the lovely couple; Sara and Bryan.

4) Locals don’t charge extra fees; like travel, accommodation, additional business license…

Local expertise, vendor networks and feeling good about where we spend our money are some great benefits of hiring local, but there are plenty of practical reasons as well. Locals don’t charge travel fees, and anyone who has ever booked a hotel room in Jasper knows that travel fees to the Rocky Mountain Parks pile up fast. A photographer from outside of Jasper might require two nights of hotel stays plus food and travel (not to mention the park pass), tacking on quite an extra bill. Not only that, but many photographers who aren’t local are not aware that they are legally required to purchase a business license for Jasper Municipality, as well as Jasper National Park. In addition, a National Park business license has very specific requirements for business insurance policies that may be time consuming or costly for a non-local business to arrange in time for an event.

Reasons abound, and of course everyone’s decision is their own to make for their own reasons. We are grateful to live in a place that so many people want to visit, and if visiting includes hiring local, family-run businesses - well - that’s alright with us!

Making the most of summer smoke and rain

These past few years it has become increasingly common to have smoke-filled days in July and August, and so smoke has joined the likes of rain and wind on the list of things people worry about leading up to their wedding or photography session. It’s normal to be worried about smoke clouding out the sun and views or rain making your nice clothes and hair look a little drab, but fortunately it’s not all bad. The most important thing to know is that smoke and rain are not the end, and sometimes they can even be unique and beautiful.

Planning a wedding can often be more stressful than we might imagine, trying to ensure that everything can go smoothly and enjoyably for yourselves and for all your guests. There are many pieces of wedding planning and organizing that we can control, and there are some - like weather - that we can’t. Since it is something that we have no control over, it’s best if we can find ways to set aside the stress and worry of those less-than-ideal scenarios, and be prepared let it go, put a smile on, and make the most of whatever comes. No marriage, unfortunately, will be free of hardships, frustration, or bad luck every once in awhile, what better time to start practising letting the little things go than your wedding day?

Over the years we have photographed in all kinds of conditions; heat and cold, rain and sun, smoke, fog, snow, sleet - the list goes on. Of all of those sessions in all those different conditions, there has never been a time where we didn’t come out with something worthwhile. To be honest, sometimes the worst conditions bring the best opportunities.

Smoke can be a tough one, admittedly. There have only been a small handful of weddings that we have photographed where the smoke obscured the mountains for the entire day. On days like that, we lean towards photographs in locations that are in moody forests, or in front of impressive rock faces that can still give a sense of place even without the mountains. But fortunately, even in the midst of lingering waves of smoke, most of the time the smoke cover varies and changes throughout each day, usually leading to good photo opportunities.

It is rare for inclement weather to persist so badly that it stops us from getting what we need. Rain rarely stays for long, and most times the rain falls it falls in one place and is clear in the next. We simply work around the rain wherever possible. Sometimes it requires that we hop around to different locations throughout the valley, umbrellas in hand, in order to avoid the rain as much as possible.

But what really amazes me is when those conditions that we would tend to think of as the ‘worst case scenario’ sometimes provide us with magical moments that could never have been created otherwise. This is why we take an curious or adventurous approach to bad weather. We’ve found that making the most of what we are given is easiest when we can be curious about what different conditions can provide us for making unique photographs.

As photographers in the Rocky Mountains, we are always advising our clients to come prepared for everything when they come to their session or wedding day. Bring the boots, bring the jackets, bring the umbrellas - bring whatever you need to make the most of what we find.

In the end, with photography what matters most is the story that the photos tell. Even when the story doesn’t feel so great in the moment (think cold wet feet or sore, smoke-breathing throats) the value of that story and the photographs of it will only grow over time. Embrace the moment in all it’s discomfort and keep the important things in mind - creating unique memories with your loved ones on one of the most special days of your life.

When we are ready for ‘the worst’ we really give ourselves the opportunity to find ‘the best’ in each situation. So don’t stress, trust us to help you make the most of whatever Jasper gives us.

Here is what one of our wedding clients had to say about their experience with Ash:

"Ashley was super good to deal with, provided some very good tips for a Jasper wedding and made the whole process seamless when we hired her.

She is an amazing photographer and captured our day perfectly. We happened to get married on a very smoky day and were very disappointed since the day prior was perfectly clear skies. Somehow Ashley managed to make all our photos amazing even with the smoke. She also managed to move around us during the ceremony and got every angle possible. When we reviewed the photos afterwards we often said "how did she get this shot? We didn't even notice her at this angle."

Overall, we would highly recommend her. You won't regret it!"

Such beautiful words from Jeremy + Janelle, it gives me the warm fuzzies.

Kind of like that feeling when your person gives you a hug and laughs when you suddenly find yourselves caught out in the rain…

- Ash and Brian

Why does Wedding Photography cost so much?

So many pieces of all shapes and sizes have to fit together to bring each unique wedding vision to life. There can be a tonne of planning that goes into a wedding day, from the type of paper and font for the invites to the colour of the napkins at dinner, everything needs to suit both the couples style and idea - and their budget.

Ashley and I have photographed weddings that budgeted over $100,000, and we’ve photographed weddings that budgeted less than $5000. There is no right or wrong way to do it, it’s simply a matter of defining what things are most important to you on your special day, and what things deserve the value of your hard earned dollar. One thing that I’ve noticed over the course of photographing well over a hundred weddings is that many clients say their biggest ticket purchases for their wedding were…. (drumroll please)… photography and flowers!

We all know the romantic and artistic flair that flowers give to a ceremony of love, and I’ve certainly got a soft spot in my heart for a well-arranged bouquet or an elegant floral centerpiece (like the ones over at Elysion Florals, anyone?). But flowers are not my area of expertise, so although I can’t speak much to that, I can certainly expand on the answer to a question that I often hear floating around - why is wedding photography so expensive?

Just like a wedding, there are many factors that contribute to the cost of wedding photography. But one thing many people notice while shopping around for a wedding photographer is that there is a huge range of prices. Some people found a wedding photographer for $500, while the next paid $12,000. The reason for such disparate rates? Most often this is because some wedding photographers are professional, while others are hobbyists. “Professional” is a pretty loose term in the industry. A widely acknowledged dividing line draws professionals on the side of those who make 50% or more of their total income from photography, while non-professionals make less than 50%. There are obvious problems with this model, as it doesn’t take into account actual experience, training, and education. It also makes it easy for someone who works part time as a photographer but doesn’t actually have any other income to claim professional status.

But before I dive in to what I believe makes a professional photographer ‘professional’, I want to make a point that whether to choose an established professional, or a part-time hobbyist, or someone fresh out of school looking to shoot their first wedding completely depends on your own personal preference and what you want from your wedding photographs. Again, there is no right or wrong. Some people prefer a very distinct, crafted style that will shine through in the whole days coverage, and others just want a few simple shots to remember the moment. That’s why I’ve always maintained that there is a photographer for everyone, but no photographer is for everyone.

A professional wedding photographer is ultimately far more than a person with a camera who takes pictures for a client. A professional is someone who has created a business of their photography and is capable of creating images that are not only technically proficient, but are creative, consistent in their quality throughout different lighting scenarios, and are capable of communicating visually through emotion, tone, light, texture, and composition. A carefully developed artistic craft is a signature of the professional photographer, and this quite often requires the photographer to be formally trained in photography and lighting and to pursue a continual education that allows them to refine and define their own artistic vision. We’ve all tried to take a photo of that perfect dreamlike sunset only to realize that in order to bring our artistic vision to reality, we need certain technical tools or knowledge to do so. A professional knows how to bring their vision to life.

The artistic value of hiring a professional is obvious, but it is actually the business side that brings a lot of the value (and the added cost) to the table. For example, a professional photographer wouldn’t bat an eye if their camera broke during a shoot, because they would have a backup camera on hand. Ok, fine, they would probably do more than just bat an eye, but it wouldn’t be the end of their ability to get the images their client hired them to. A professional photographer has the experience that allows them to know what to do when things go wrong, and they are always prepared to do so.

When a photographer decides to take their craft full time, and make a career out of their passion and their art, the structure of their business and pricing model will undoubtedly change. Whereas a part-time or hobby photographer may have no problem photographing a wedding here and there on the weekends for $1500, because their income is supplemented by a partner or other means, their pricing won’t hold up as they begin to offer more robust services to their clients. Wedding photography becomes more expensive when you start to factor in costs of proper licensing and insurance, equipment replacement, networking and marketing, time spent in post-production, not to mention the costs of websites and galleries that will be convenient and aesthetically pleasing to clients. Don’t get me started on file-storage either (100 TB and counting over here), although it’s a good point to mention that many hobbyists might not know the importance of proper file management.

My point is that the costs of professional grade wedding photography are higher because the costs of doing business are higher, the professional has tools and systems in place to manage all aspects of a clients experience (even when things go wrong), and they have experience and artistic aptitude that offer real value to clients who are relying on them to capture very important moments.

As artists first and business people second, we could certainly be biased in saying that good wedding photography is worth paying for. We know the value of our own work, as well as the value of our time and what we need in order to provide for our family. There is no one offering us a benefits package or blue cross, those are costs that need to be worked into our cost of doing business if we intend to be self-employed. But we don’t mind those types of trade-offs, because we feel so blessed to be able to make a living out of our art and creativity. Our clients are generally quite happy with those trade-offs too; they are happy to support family-run businesses and to support the belief that making art is a valuable and meaningful career - a belief that we hold to heart and have the good fortune to live every day.

Choosing the perfect wedding day coverage

Cute photos of the kids at the wedding… check!

There is no one-size-fits all for either wedding dresses or photography coverage. Both depend on your unique vision and values for your wedding day. By values I mean that each person or couple chooses what is important to them for their wedding day. For example, a couple choosing to elope might value private time together on their wedding day, wheres a couple planning a big ballroom wedding might value their siblings, relatives and little ones all coming together in one place.

Some people want photos alone together under the stars, and others want photos of their friends busting moves on the dance floor. There is no right or wrong thing to value, it’s a simple matter of individual preference, but you’ve gotta know what you value most in your wedding before you can know how to choose the right wedding photography coverage.

Some people want photos alone together under the stars, and others want photos of their friends busting moves on the dance floor.

What story do you want to tell with your wedding photos?

Think of how you want to look back on your wedding day; both what you want right now, and what you’ll want when the memories are beginning to fade. What parts do you want to keep fresh for ever? What little parts of your story are the ones that might speak to you, when you are reminiscing decades from now, maybe even with your grandchildren playing around you.

Like we said before, everyone is different. For some people a single photo will hold all of their memories, a symbol that recalls the feel of the day, the love you shared, the commitments you made. Others want to look back through the whole thing, like reading a book from start to finish. They want every piece of the story.

So, what story do you want your wedding photography to tell?

Let’s start with the basics

If you strip it down to the basics, the most minimal wedding photography coverage is simply the ceremony, and a couple of photos of the two of you (and your family/wedding party if you have those present) nearby afterwards. The ceremony and bridal portraits are kind of the core piece of any wedding day coverage. Nobody really hires a photographer and doesn’t get those covered. The actual legal ceremony in Alberta only takes about 10-15 minutes, so there really isn’t any reason to skip those few moments that will symbolize the commitment you have made to each other.

The smallest wedding package that would cover only these basics would probably be 3 hours of coverage. For micro-weddings and elopements you could get by with less than that, but for an actual wedding it would make sense to budget around an hour of coverage for the ceremony and family portraits, a half hour with the wedding party, and about an hour and a half with just the wedding couple. This is the minimum time that we have found gets the best results, because we are able to get a bit of variety which is especially helpful when conditions are challenging and/or changing throughout the day.

To stray just a little bit from ‘the basics’, some people choose to get the last little bits of getting ready photographed as well. If you have two photographers you can usually get some nice, very simple getting ready photos in only about a half an hour, although we recommend an hour for best results - especially with only one photographer, as sometimes it can take a bit of time to get from one partner’s getting ready location to the other’s.

Another variety of straying from the basics might be a couple who is more design oriented, and would want their basic ceremony and portrait coverage to also include photos of the reception set up and decor, even without having actual reception coverage. But this is definitely straying from the basics now!

Beautiful royal blue table settings from Jasper Event Management and fantastic flowers from Elysion Florals at Pyramid Lake Resort.

Establish your general wedding day itinerary

Here is a general run down of how much time we recommend for covering different parts of the day. Keep in mind this is very generalized, and only you will know best what works for you!

• Getting Ready - .5-2 hours for simple coverage, 2-4 hours for full coverage (aka all the girls at the salon and at the hotel)

• Ceremony - 0.5- 1 hour, plus whatever time it takes to get there. (0.5 for standard ceremonies, and 1 for more complex ceremonies, such as Catholic or Hindu)

• Portraits - 10-30 minutes for family photos (Depending on the size of the families and how well they listen. The worst I’ve ever seen was an hour, but I’m sure you know already if that is your family or not), 1 hour for photos of just the couple, near to the ceremony spot, or 1-3 hours for photos of the couple and wedding party, heading off to scenic locations.

• Reception - 3-4 hours for cocktails through speeches, 1-3 hours for the dancing and late night shenanigans.

So that is just to give you a broad idea of what we commonly see at weddings, but here is a little more information if you don’t quite feel ready to make a decision on your coverage.

The real first look.

Getting Ready

There is simple getting ready coverage and then there is more comprehensive coverage. Many clients only really want photographs of the finishing touches being put in place, putting on the dresses and tying the ties sort of thing, and so they will only bring a photographer for an hour or two before the ceremony. When there are two photographers, then one can be present with each of the wedding couple and make best use of time, but somentimes when we photograph solo we simply hop back and forth between the couple as they get ready. An hour or two of coverage is usually enough for the finishing touches of getting ready, but some people prefer more coverage so as to get the full story.

For more comprehensive getting ready coverage, we have seen 3 or 4 hours being dedicated to this part of the day. For example, we’ve had some brides who wanted photographs of their bridal party getting their hair and make-up done while the groom has photos taken out golfing with his groomsmen at the Fairmont before getting into their suits. In other cases we’ve seen couples who wanted coverage of just the two of them getting ready together alone in their room. Another example was a recent wedding that had 8 or 9 children under the age of 10 in the wedding party - they wanted coverage of everything to document four generations of family all preparing for the big day together. It was a wild morning! But there were so many precious moments captured in photos.

Ceremony

The legal Alberta ceremony only runs about 15 minutes from start to finish. When couples add in their own vows, or different additions to the ceremony then it can take a little longer, but generally 15-30 minutes is the maximum for a ceremony, unless it is a traditional church wedding or something like that. Keep in mind when planning your timeline whether or not driving time needs to be included, for example if you are having your ceremony at Pyramid Island or the Athabasca Day Use area. This can add an extra bit of time on each direction. Another thing to consider (especially for weddings with a lot of guests) is the time it takes for people to arrive and settle at the ceremony, whether or not you will be late (lol, jk), and of course how the ceremony will end (for example if there will be a receiving line, champagne and a moment to talk with the bride and groom, or if they will head straight off and see their guests later at the reception). Consider how your ceremony will flow into portraits by taking into account how many people will be wanting to give you hugs and well wishes.

Portraits

There is a wide range in the amount of time people set aside for portraits. We usually recommend 1-3 hours. We recommend that one hour for photos of the wedding couple is the absolute minimum. This is why both our most basic elopement coverage and our portrait sessions are each an hour and a half. For clients who want to have time to go get photos at some beautiful spots around Jasper, we recommend adding on more time to give space to do so. Some popular examples of this would be Medicine Lake or Jasper Lake. As well if you are bringing a wedding party with you, then that adds another factor for consideration. If you stay in the valley (close to the townsite or Jasper Park Lodge) then two hours is enough time for photos near your ceremony site and at another location. Think Pyramid Lake, Old Fort Point, Lake Edith, and that type of distance. If you wanted to go somewhere further, such as Medicine Lake, Jasper Lake, or on the Icefields Parkway, then you’ll be leaning towards 3 or 4 hours.

Reception

People looking for reception coverage can break it down into three parts. There is the cocktail hour and dinner setting - for those who want photos of their guests mingling as well as photos of all of the decorations and set up in the dining hall, then there is the dinner, speeches and first dances, and the third and final part would be the dance floor. For a medium to large sized wedding, usually the cocktail hour through to the end of speeches runs between 3-4 hours, an hour for cocktails, an hour for dinner, and 1-2 hours for the speeches (think 4:30-7:30 or 8:30 sort of thing). Then if a couple wanted photos of the dancing afterwards, then another 1-2 hours is generally plenty. We’ve found that in most cases, right after the first dances finish the dance floor gets busy, and it doesn’t take long to get a good variety of shots. However, if you like the wild side of the dance floor to come out in your photos, lean towards the longer coverage. Sometimes people want to end out the night with a photo under the stars, or with sparklers or something like that as well.

3 common examples of wedding coverage timelines

J + J don’t want getting ready or party photos, but they do want speeches and the first dance. They want their wedding ceremony to take place later in the afternoon to take advantage of the good light, while still saving enough time and good light for portraits afterwards. They hire a second photographer for three hours to make the most of their ceremony and portraits coverage, and to photograph their guests at the cocktail hour.

• Ceremony @ 3 PM

• Portraits with family @ 3:30 PM

• Wedding party and couple portraits from @3:50-5:50

• Cocktail Hour at 5:30

• Dinner @ 6:30

• Speeches start @7:30 while dinner service finishes

• First Dance @ 8:30PM

  • 6 Hours of coverage - 3PM-9PM, plus 3 hours of second photographer

C+S want every little detail of their big wedding; from the hair, makeup, and jewelery to the drinks spilled on the dancefloor after the late night snack. They also want some casual family photos taken at their rehearsal dinner the night before.

• 9AM partner 1 getting ready starts

• 12PM partner 2 getting ready

• 1PM ceremony

• 2PM family photos

• 3-6PM couple and wedding party

• 6-9 dinner and speeches

• 9-10 first dances, cake cutting

• 10-12 dancing and garter toss

  • 12 hours with two photographers (one photographer 9AM-9PM, the other photographer 12PM-12AM)

  • Additional discounted portrait session (for rehearsal dinner)

Beautiful Medicine Lake

L+L are having a small wedding with their closest friends and family. They want just the finishing touches of getting ready (after the make up is done), and they are both getting ready close to eachother and close to their ceremony site. They want photos of their intimate ceremony, photos with their guests, and then photos of the two of them. They really want some of their wedding photos at Medicine Lake, despite the 15-20 minute drive.

• 1PM getting ready with partner 1

• 1:30 getting ready with partner 2

• 2 PM ceremony

• 2:20 PM family and guest photos

• 3-5 PM - photos at Medicine Lake and along the way

  • 4 hours of wedding coverage - 1-5PM

Things to keep in mind for Jasper wedding timelines

• Consider how much time it takes to drive from one location to the next, and make sure that your guests know these details too!

• Don’t expect to get anywhere faster than posted speed limits, between the wildlife and the RV’s traffic moves a little slower if anything.

• Hiring a wedding planner can help simplify planning difficulties.

• Try to keep schedules loose and comfortable. Tight schedules often don’t work out well for weddings, especially in the mountains, and you don’t want delays to cause you any stress.

Getting Creative with the Timeline

A lot of the finer decisions really come down to your individual timeline. Keep in mind while planning your timeline how long it will take to get between different locations throughout the day and add a little buffer space if necessary. You don’t want to be stressed about timing everything just perfectly on the day of. Also keep in mind which things you’ve decided are most important to you, and what you value the most on your wedding day.

There are also many weddings that don’t follow a traditional framework like we’ve gone through here. Whatever makes your wedding day the one you want it to be, plan it around that. We’ve seen picnics on Pyramid Island, helicopter rides, boat tours, limo rides, even wedding party hikes in the mountains! We’ve also taken couples out under the stars or into the local pubs. We are happy to collaborate with you to achieve whatever your dream wedding coverage is.

So let’s chat!