I loved photographing Jessica and Kelven on their laid back, summer elopement in Fish Creek Park. This tasteful and romantic elopement consisted of an intimate outdoor first look, a private and personal vow ceremony, followed by a playful sunset session in Fish Creek’s backyard. I love the results. Let me know what you think!
If you’re thinking about booking a studio session for your family photos, they can a great alternative to outdoor photography as they offer a controlled lighting environment, and a variety of great furniture and props for your session. I loved photographing Eriel in her third pregnancy, alongside her beautiful family, in studio. We were able to get all the shots we needed in less than 45 minutes, and because the studio space features large floor to ceiling windows and tones of natural dreamy light, every shot was so easy to edit, yielding the classic photography style Eriel wanted for this photoshoot. I’ve missed shooting in studio and this cute little family reminded me of how much fun can be!
Planning a wedding is no easy feat and can easily lead you to feelings of overwhelm and indecisiveness. Choosing the right wedding photographer is easily one of the best ways to help streamline your planning process and recommend expert vendors and services. This article will discuss what exactly you should expect from your wedding photographer through out the wedding planning process and how choosing the right wedding photographer can help eliminate stress, provide peace of mind and expertise to help ensure your day runs smoothly.
The right wedding photographer will do so much more than photograph you and your partner on your big day. Other services include helping you create a timeline and save the dates, including a free engagement photoshoot, recommending vendors, providing input on colours palettes and florals, and meet up for location scouting and an initial coffee or wine date to ensure you and your photographer are a match. In addition to all this, your photographer should be communicating with you frequently before you your big day to ensure a plan is always in order. Here is my go wedding timeline I share with all my clients, that details when you’ll hear from me and what to expect until you tie the knot!
Right away-
Upon signing your contract and sending through your 50% deposit, your booking is official and I'll send you my preferred vendors list.
When you're ready
Happy wedding planning! Feel free to invite me on Pinterest, send me images on Instagram, or email me any inspiration photos of your dress, venue, color palette or floral designs. I love all this stuff, so please include me if you wish!
Start thinking of any special items you want photographed such as rings, special shoes, matching leather jackets, or anything else that tells your story. Do you want special accessories or fun props like balloons, sparklers, or smoke bombs in your photos? It's good for me to know these things in advance, so start planning and let me know as you go.
A few months before the wedding
Start thinking of your COMPLIMENTARY engagement session. Where do you want to be photographed and what kinds of photos are you interested in? A complimentary engagement photoshoot is included in all my wedding packages, so please take advantage. I view the engagement session as a way to practice in front of the camera before the big day.
6 weeks before the wedding
Expect to have the following four documents ready; Wedding Timeline, Wedding Photography Timeline, Wedding Vendor Checklist, and Family Photography Wish List. We’ll have a non negotiable, sit down meeting to go over all the details of the day with a fine tooth comb 6 weeks before the wedding. Please include your wedding planner in this process and have all documents ready in advance. Don't worry, I will help you too!
1 Month before the wedding
Your remaining balance is due. Please send me your balance through e-transfer to maxinelagarde@gmail.com
10 days before the wedding
At this time, we will go over all details and make a contingency plan for poor weather and any last minute changes.If you have a wedding planner, please invite them to this meeting.
I love the way Kelven and Jessica’s YYC winter elopement photos turned out. We lucked out with this beautiful warm winter day in February in Crescent Heights, and Kelven and Jessica were so sweet to photograph. They were slightly nervous, as this photoshoot was there first time being photographed together. This is, hands downs, the best way to practice being comfortable in front of the camera before your big day, so I was thrilled to book their complimentary engagement session and help them create some great memories before their June elopement, later this year. All my wedding clients receive a complimentary engagement session when they book with Maxine LaGarde Photography. Please send me an inquiry if you’re newly engaged, and let’s book your free photoshoot!
This blog post is for all my photographer friends in the photography community. Last year I decided to invest in my business and in myself, and I joined a professional development community led by accredited and internationally published photographer Justine Milton. Yah, she’s kind of a big deal, and she really knows her stuff, so trust that if you join, you’ll be in great hands.
Justine offers a one-of-a-kind, comprehensive “Kick Ass Flash Course” to teach you all things “artificial light”. This flash course is jam packed so much useful information to teach you how to master using artificial light, in the most challenging lighting situations. Justine’s course explains, in-depth and specific examples on how to master artificial light to create soft and dreamy or moody images. As I once specialized in natural light photography, I knew I needed to invest in this Kick Ass Flash Courses to improve my indoor photography skills, and especially to transform my wedding photography. Wedding photography is probably the trickiest photography of all. Often, you are photographing guests in uncontrolled lighting environments with various lighting sources, and distractions, with ridged time constrains. Justin Milton’s lighting course helped me hone my skills on using artificial light and helped me put this new knowledge into practical use to level up my business. Justine goes over in detail the following topics.
· CAMERA SETTINGS
· FLASH SETTINGS
· COURTEOUS FLASH USE
· AMBIENT LIGHT
· VIDEO LIGHT
· ON CAMERA DIRECT
· BOUNCE FLASH
· OFF CAMERA FLASH
In addition to this comprehensive hands-on style of teaching, Justine is always available and ready to help her students learn. She recruits the help of her husband in the course videos, to help demonstrate and explain each concept. Her examples are clearly explained in great detail. She even shares her personal list of go-to flashes and camera gear and provides links on where to purchase your set up.
If you're interested in leveling up your business, learning some new skills from a real pro, and tapping into a new market of photography, Justine milton's Kick Ass Flash Course is definitely for you. For limited time only, I have a very special discount code to share with all of my readers. This discount code is available through to March 20th. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about this flash course, or if you're on the fence, I'd love to hear from you.
Everyone loves fall family photos. The cool crisp air, the beautiful colours in the leaves mixed in with a warm sunset and cool breeze always make for stunning photos. Oh, and it’s also my personal opinion that this weather makes for the best Christmas card photos too. This blog post is a friendly reminder to all families wanting to book a fall photoshoot for Christmas card photos, that fall is my busiest time of year for family photos. Please don’t wait too long to book your family session, booking 3-4 weeks in advance will secure you a spot this fall season!
The cutest engagement session in the heart of Calgary! This is definitely my new favourite spot for all my clients wanting something a little edgier and wanting to keep it local. Congratulations on your engagement Greg and Kassy! I hope you love these shots as much as I do.
There’s something undeniably magical about the Alberta Badlands. With its soft desert tones, rolling hills, and endless cotton candy skies, it’s one of the most breathtaking—and often overlooked—locations for couples dreaming of an intimate, romantic elopement.
This Badlands elopement will be featured in print in Rocky Mountain Bride (Spring 2024 edition), and it perfectly captures what’s possible when thoughtful planning meets intentional storytelling.
If you’re dreaming of a deeply personal experience, here’s exactly how to recreate your own unforgettable elopement in the Badlands.
Before choosing a location, a dress, or even a date, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the right photographer—someone who understands your vision and helps bring it to life from start to finish.
Your photographer isn’t just documenting your elopement—they’re helping shape the entire experience.
Look for someone who:
Understands your vision and aesthetic
Aligns with the feeling you want your photos to have
Can guide you through location, timing, and flow of the day
Offers an experience that fits within your overall investment and priorities
In a place like the Alberta Badlands, where light, movement, and landscape all play a key role, having a photographer who can bring all of those elements together seamlessly makes a meaningful difference.
At Maxine LaGarde Photography, the experience goes beyond photography—it’s about creating something intentional, romantic, and visually cohesive from beginning to end.
In addition to photographing your elopement, I also act as a stylist, helping you refine and elevate your overall look so it aligns beautifully with your setting.
Clients have access to a curated client closet, featuring a wide range of dresses and accessories chosen specifically for how they:
Move naturally in the wind
Photograph in soft, golden light
Complement the tones of the Badlands landscape
To make the process feel seamless and personal, I offer private, bespoke fittings, where we:
Explore different dress options and silhouettes
Align your wardrobe with your vision and location
Style your look to enhance movement, texture, and emotion
Ensure everything feels cohesive and true to you
This approach removes the guesswork and allows you to step into your session feeling confident, comfortable, and fully present.
From location scouting and timeline planning to styling and creating space for meaningful moments, the goal is to ensure your elopement feels effortless and deeply personal.
The result is not just beautiful imagery—but an experience that feels intentional, connected, and true to your story.
When you choose a photographer who also supports the creative direction and experience, everything comes together with ease—and your photos reflect that.
If there’s one decision that will transform your photos, it’s timing.
The Badlands landscape can feel harsh in midday light—but as the sun begins to set, everything softens. The tones become warm and golden, shadows stretch across the hills, and the entire environment feels cinematic.
For the most romantic and flattering images:
Plan your session 1–2 hours before sunset
Stay through golden hour into blue hour
Embrace slower pacing so moments can unfold naturally
This is where the magic happens—and where your photos truly come to life.
Your elopement isn’t just about photos—it’s about how it feels.
Working with a photographer who also helps guide the experience makes all the difference. At Maxine LaGarde Photography, the focus goes beyond capturing images—we help create an environment where you can be fully present, connected, and at ease.
From location scouting to timeline guidance and styling direction, having someone who understands both visual storytelling and emotional experience ensures your elopement feels effortless and deeply personal.
One of the most impactful parts of your elopement experience is what you wear—and how it all comes together visually.
At Maxine LaGarde Photography, I don’t just document your day—I also step into the role of stylist, helping you create a look that feels elevated, cohesive, and true to you.
Clients have access to a thoughtfully curated client closet, featuring a wide range of dresses and accessories chosen specifically for how they move, photograph, and complement the natural tones of the Alberta Badlands.
To make the process feel effortless and personal, I offer private, bespoke fittings where we:
Explore different dress options and silhouettes
Style your look to match your vision and location
Select pieces that enhance movement, texture, and light
Ensure everything feels aligned with the mood you want your photos to reflect
This experience is designed to remove stress and help you feel completely confident stepping into your session—so your photos reflect not just how everything looked, but how it felt.
Whether your vision is romantic and flowing, minimal and modern, or soft and editorial, styling is approached with intention to bring your entire story together seamlessly.
While elopements are often simple by nature, that doesn’t mean they can’t feel elevated.
A planner or stylist can help you:
Design a cohesive aesthetic
Set up a romantic ceremony space
Coordinate details so you can stay present
Hire a chef and organize an intimate meal for your ceremony
Collaborating with creatives like The Blondie Bride brings intention and beauty into every detail—from florals to tablescapes—without overwhelming the experience.
One of the most beautiful parts of an elopement is the freedom to make it your own.
You can keep it simple—or create a deeply intentional experience with meaningful touches like:
Private vow readings at sunset
Hiring an officiant for a legal or symbolic ceremony
A quiet moment to exchange rings
Personal letters or shared reflections
These moments not only deepen your experience—they create powerful, emotional imagery that tells your story authentically.
Elopements deserve celebration too.
Consider adding a simple but elevated experience like:
A romantic cake cutting moment
A styled picnic with champagne
Hiring a private chef for an intimate dinner
A beautifully curated table setup in the landscape
These elements add variety to your gallery and create space for genuine interaction—laughter, connection, and those in-between moments that feel the most real.
The Badlands offer something truly unique:
A desert-like landscape without leaving Canada
Soft, neutral tones that photograph beautifully
Wide open space for privacy and intimacy
Multiple locations within a short distance
Whether you’re planning an elopement, engagement session, maternity shoot, or family photos, this area offers endless versatility in one setting.
This elopement was brought to life by an incredible group of artists:
Photographer: Maxine LaGarde Photography
Planner + Florals: The Blondie Bride
Cake: The Blondie Bride
Hair: The Blondie Bride
Makeup: Makeup by Ruz
Jewelry/Rings: Blu Boho
Stationery: Hooray Weddings
Rentals: Modern Rentals
Shoes: Goiz Handmade Shoes
Menswear: Ed Williams Menswear
Dress: The Bridal Boutique
Table Numbers: Her Modern Artistry
If you’re dreaming of an intimate, romantic experience in the Alberta Badlands, I’d love to help you bring it to life.
Whether you’re planning an elopement, engagement session, or simply want photos that feel like you, I’ll guide you through every step—from location to light to creating moments that matter.
✨ Inquire here with Maxine LaGarde Photography to start planning your Badlands session
This mountain elopement was inspired by the raw beauty of the Rocky Mountains, and Canada’s best and most sustainable bridal and engagement jewelry, Blu Boho. Our gorgeous redhead bride, Naomi Jane radiated in this vintage cream lace bohemian dress by We Are Reclamation. The theme features elegant, luscious hair and flawless makeup by Mountain beauties, charming French inspired florals by Posy Floral and fine jewelry engagement wedding rings by Blue Boho. Eloping in the Alberta’s Rocky Mountains never looked so beautiful.
In Calgary, the first snowfall always comes too soon, and with our chinook winds, we are often lucky enough to see the snow melt away just as quickly as it came. But the weather can be deceiving. Just when you think it’s too cold out for a family photoshoot because its November and it’s been chilly all week, Calgary turns around and gifts you the most beautiful weekend alongside the warmest sunset. These are one of my favourite conditions for outdoor photoshoots, making all of mother nature’s earth tones pop with warmth. Hope you guys like all the yummy warm tones in this family session as much as I do.
Warm Alberta temperatures lead to lazy river baths in Calgary’s Sandy Beach recreational area. Check out this beautiful family photo shoot where are my clients splashed around in the Elbow River to make these photos extra special. Sandy Beach’s shallow waters are perfect for families with young children. The soft and lightly wooded landscape make the perfect backdrop for a true Alberta summer family photo shoot. I wore my rubber Birkenstocks for this photo shoot, but I wish I had worn my bathing suit to take a quick dip after the shoot. Would you do family photos at this location? I love how Eriel’s golden dress matche’s the yellow wildflowers on the background.
Being re invited to photograph a client is the sincerest form of flattery a photographer can receive. I have had the pleasure of photographing this family many times through all the exciting chapters of their lives, through both of their pregnancies commas births, and the photos and memories we create together I will cherish forever. I love these clients so much because they always approach life with gratitude joy and love. Thank you Kendra and Krasen for re inviting me to photograph you and your family, time and again.
Sarah and Jer are seriously one of the cutest couples I’ve ever photographed. I just love their relaxed vibe and easy going nature that just seemed to translate so well on camera. Sarah really wanted a styled session, so we worked together to give her a bohemian feeling, casual maternity photoshoot and I think the pictures turned out great. Sarah’s wearing one of my white lace dresses from my personal collection in my “Client Closet” and we styled the rest of her’s and Jer’s outfits based on the weather and bohemian, relaxed vibe they were going for. For more look from my client closet, check out my Instagram stories entitled. ”Client Closet”.
Eloping is so underrated. With an elopement you get more connection, more time for photos, more private special and moments, more freedom with your timeline, more savings, more time and you get to do exactly what you want on your wedding day. You also get less pressure to conform to others expectations of what YOUR wedding should be or look like, you get to save so much money and spend it where you value it the most, and you get to do exactly what you want, no explanation needed.
Working with Teagan from @theblondiebride on this rustic Cremona wedding was real treat. Check out all the other amazing vendors who made this special day even more unforgettable.
Caterer: Meraki Cuisine, Bar: The Bottled Bronco, Photographer: Maxine Legarde, Flowers: Blush Blooms Faux & Frond, Rentals: The Blondie Bride, Special Event Rentals, Hair & Makeup: Bloom Bridal & Beauty Co., Band: Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Transportation: AMPM Limo
Being reinvented to photograph a client over and over is the most sincere compliment. Erika is always such a joy and photographing her and her family as it grows has been really special for me. I hope you enjoy this south Calgary Maternity session or the Yarmolys.
