Ethan BrownI have an interesting story for you. At my latest family reunion, we planned to have our family portrait taken (with matching clothes and everything!) Now, my cousin, who’s a self-proclaimed photographer, insisted on taking the picture.
Fifteen minutes in, we were still adjusting and trying various locations and poses. All that effort, and we still ended up with disastrous photos. That instance taught me the value of hiring someone who actually knows their way around a camera, so I asked for recommendations from friends and colleagues.
Luckily, I’ve found some photographers in Ottawa who are true wizards with lenses and deliver stunning event photography, commercial shoots, and lifestyle images! Since they’re too good not to share, we handpicked those that met our standard, so check down below!
How much do photographers charge in Ottawa?
In Ottawa, photographers generally charge between $200 and $800 for an hour-long portrait session, depending on their expertise and the specifics of the shoot.
This range typically covers the photographer’s time and basic editing services. For larger events like weddings, prices might start around $3,000 and can go up to $10,000, including full-day coverage and possible extras.
1. Spencer Studio
Address: 294-C, Dalehurst Dr.
Phone: +1 613 226 2079
Business Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday – 9:30 AM to 5 PM
- Saturday – 10 AM to 2 PM
Spencer Studio is famous for its diverse range of services, including headshots, graduation photos, and formal portraits. During our visit, we admired their thorough approach to customer care.
Here, you’ll get Robin’s, the photographer, undivided attention as he will handle your photos personally—no subcontractors or part-timers. Feedback from past clients was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising how he takes the time to make everyone comfortable and never rushes through sessions.
Furthermore, Robin also offers both print and digital photo packages. If you’re in a hurry, they even provide a rush service where your digital files can be ready the next day.
We also learned about their unique “Giving Back” program, offering free services in exchange for donations to select charities—a fantastic initiative!
However, due to high demand, appointments are a must. We recommend booking in advance to secure your spot.
Personalised experience with exceptional quality
“Rob is fantastic! Having grad photos taken by him was a much better experience than the assembly line set up at school. Once the quality of the shoot and photos is factored in, any price difference between Spencer Studios and school pics is pretty much non-existent. This will be our go-to for any photo needs.”
-A.M. Holmes, Google Review
Relaxed atmosphere and quick turnaround
“So happy with my experience with Robin, from beginning to end! The studio has a cozy atmosphere, and Robin was relaxed (and funny!) and helped me relax during our photo session. He was extremely fast and accurate getting the finished photo files to me! Definitely recommend his services.”
-Virginia Hurdon, Google Review
2. Kayla Photography
Address: 22 Antares Dr.
Phone: +1 613 558 9082
Business Hours:
- Monday – 9 AM to 5 PM
- Tuesday to Thursday – 10 AM to 8 PM
- Friday – 10 AM to 7 PM
- Sunday – 10 AM to 5 PM
Kayla Photography, founded by its namesake, Kayla Hannaford, caught our eye with her stunning portfolio. We noted her versatility with her family, newborn, maternity, glamour, boudoir, and business portraits.
When we spoke with her previous clients, many praised her personalised service and how the photos came out. Mothers, in particular, highlighted her remarkable patience when dealing with newborns, while others appreciated the snacks and drinks offered during sessions.
Another plus is that there’s no limit on the number of people or pets in a session. There are also no time restrictions, allowing for a relaxed and enjoyable experience.
Moreover, her studio is well-equipped, and all the necessary props are already provided. A hair and makeup artist is also available by request—plus points for convenience!
On the downside, some mentioned experiencing delays specifically when scheduling appointment dates. This is something to consider if you’re in a rush.
Fun and detail-oriented family portraits
“Working with Kayla was amazing! Kayla was fabulous working with five of us to get a family portrait. She made all of us look great! She made the whole process painless and fun! She made sure that we were all happy and kept lighthearted conversation the whole time. Kayla has an eye for small details when taking the photos and made sure they turned out amazingly! Would recommend Kayla 100%!”
-Leah Sutherland, Google Review
Exceptional artistic eye and composition skills
“Kayla is an exceptional artist. She has a very impressive eye for shading and composition. My wife and I needed some photos for our business website and Kayla really delivered! It was a wonderful experience! Now we are planning on going back to Kayla for family photos.”
-Danny Caplan, Google Review
3. Nuovo Artistic Photography Ottawa
Address: 598 McLeod St.
Phone: +1 613 701 7960
Business Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM
Nuovo Artistic Photography is renowned for self-love portraits, which can include semi-nude sessions. They have an all-female team for a comfortable experience!
They also excel in maternity and passion portraits for couples. We also received glowing feedback from their previous clients who highlighted the team’s friendliness and creativity.
We enjoyed viewing their photographs; each truly captured stunning, intimate moments with an artistic flair. This attests to their goal of highlighting the subject’s natural beauty and emotional connections.
We appreciate how they have a complimentary 15-minute consultation. With this, every client’s vision is understood and met.
Although, we’re a little bit bothered about the persistent marketing of additional services after the session, which can be overwhelming if you have a strict budget.
On a brighter note, their studio was well set up—the themes and motifs requested by clients are always prepared in advance. Plus, their makeup and hair session offerings are right in the studio, so all you need to do is just show up.
Confidence-boosting experience
“I had such an amazing experience at the Nuovo Ottawa location. My beautiful photographer Kiahna made me feel so comfortable from the minute I stepped into the door. She truly is incredible at what she does. She made me look and feel amazing throughout the whole shoot. I didn’t even have to think once, she would tell me how to pose and I would follow her directions. I couldn’t have had a better person for me that day! This was the most confidence boosting thing I’ve ever done. I am so happy I did it!”
-Amanda Ashton, Google Review
Confidence-boosting experience
“This will be an experience I will never forget. I’m so glad that I didn’t talk myself out of doing. The staff, make-up artist and Dom the photographer were friggen AMAZING. They made me feel empowered being a woman -who is approaching 60. I was placed at ease almost immediately. I strongly encourage any woman to take a moment in their life and have their photos done. They are done with “class”. Perhaps my photos are not shared with the world but whenever I do look at them it will be a reminder to myself that I’m proud to be a woman. I can’t believe that when I look at the results that it is me. Great work!!”
-Ana Sundue, Google Review
4. Jen Bernard Photography
Address: 174 Colonnade Rd Unit #17
Phone: +1 613 981 4200
Business Hours:
- Open 24 hours
Jen Bernard’s creative style shines through in portraits, headshots, lifestyle shots, and event photography.
What initially caught our eye is Jen’s informative website. Her rates can be clearly seen, and you can easily see which one will fit your needs.
Furthermore, her portfolio is stunning! We were impressed to see her versatility in style and events—she’s even adept at shooting commercial campaigns.
Though she has a pretty neat studio, she’s totally on board with on-location shoots. With this, you’ll get a two-hour session, which is great. But the best part for us is that Jen can transform any location with her creative lighting skills, and many clients agree with us on that regard.
We’re just a bit iffy that her replies online aren’t always prompt—likely due to a high volume of enquiries because of her popularity. Still, client feedback is overwhelmingly positive, noting the professionalism and creativity Jen brings to the table.
Warm and comfortable experience
“I had the best experience with Jenn! She really did such an incredible job. This was my first shoot ever and I was pretty nervous bur from curating a playlist I’d love to being engaging, chatting throughout the session Jenn made it so easy and comfortable to let go and really make the most of the experience. She really understands how encourage you throughout the session! Would definitely recommend going to see her for any purposes!”
-Monadi Nasir, Google Review
Professional and enjoyable collaboration
“Jen is THE BEST at what she does. My real estate team and I were very pleased with the whole experience from pre-shoot to seeing the final product. She is a true professional and super fun to work with! Already booking out next shoot with her!”
-Josh Reyes, Google Review
5. Grey Loft Studio
Address: 176 Wilbert Cox Dr.
Phone: +1 613 899 3581
Business Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 9 AM to 4 PM
Grey Loft Studio, founded by Bethany and Luc, isn’t only widely celebrated for their wedding photography and videography services but also excel in studio photography. Their services extend to family shots, newborn, and maternity sessions.
When we tagged along a photoshoot, we noted how this dream team is fun and comfortable to work with.
We saw how they love turning moments into an art form—which is evident in their portfolio. Their works are dreamy, focusing on muted tones, soft lighting, and the emotions of their subjects.
Another good point is that they offer affordable packages and do not charge for travel expenses if you happen to choose a certain location.
However, we noted several clients have expressed that while they were delighted with the final product, the delivery of hard copies took longer than expected.
Incredible professionalism and quality
“We cannot say enough amazing things about GreyLoft studios, we hired both Bethany and Luc for our wedding in September 2024 and their professionalism and quality were incredible! Both were such a pleasure to work with, always kept it light and fun while making sure we got all the perfect pictures we needed. Definitely will be using them again in the future! Thank you a million times!!”
-Katie Kroup, Google Review
Captured authentic and precious moments
“Thank you Bethany for taking such beautiful photos of my family. Everything about the pictures is wonderful. I wasn’t sure how it was going to go because my toddler is normally shy with new people, but you were able to coax authentic smiles from him right off the bat. You captured the little quirks that I love about my kids, like the way my baby squeals, curls up and sticks his hands in his mouth when he’s happy. Superb job.”
-Stephanie Christine, Google Review
