Photographer in Kanata

The hour after sunrise and before sunset ('golden hour') gives soft, warm, directional light. Midday sun causes squinting and harsh shadows — if midday is unavoidable, open shade works. Trust the photographer's slot suggestion; a mediocre location in great light beats a great location at noon.

In most countries the photographer automatically owns copyright as the creator, and you receive a licence to use the images. Personal-use licences are standard for family shoots; printing rights and social sharing are usually included. If you need commercial use (marketing, resale), that's a separate licence — agree it upfront, it changes the price.

Usually you don't need them. Raw files are unfinished negatives — large, flat, and unusable without editing software. Most photographers either refuse to sell them or price them high because unedited work carries their name. Ask instead for high-resolution edited JPEGs with a print licence, which covers almost every real need.

For events that can't be re-staged — weddings, milestone birthdays, graduations — yes. The professional difference is not the camera: it's directing people, handling harsh light, backup bodies and cards, insurance, and delivering a consistent finished gallery on a deadline. For casual updates, a capable friend is a fine budget option.

Hobbyists and newcomers charge roughly a third of what established professionals do. Expect a 1-hour portrait or family session to cost about one to three hours of a skilled trade's labour in your country, with editing time built into the price. Event and commercial work costs more per hour because of prep, gear and licensing.

Hourly rates run CAD $125-$400, with Toronto and Vancouver at the top. One-hour portrait or family sessions commonly total $250-$600 plus tax; minis run $125-$250. Full-day wedding coverage clusters at $2,500-$5,000.

Yes — GST/HST (and QST in Quebec) applies to photography services once the photographer exceeds the small-supplier threshold. Ask whether the quoted price is tax-inclusive; a 13% HST surprise on an Ontario wedding package is a meaningful sum.