“Who do you recommend for photography?” – it’s probably the question we hear most frequently from web design clients here in Calgary.
Authentic imagery will always do more for your brand than stock photos, but the catch is that it has to be genuinely good. Strong photography moves people to engage and convert. Weak photography undermines everything else on the page.
It’s a conversation we find ourselves having regularly: a client arrives with dim, unflattering photos of their team, their facility or their products, and we owe them a straight answer. Put money into professional photography. Few things will do more for your website than getting this right.
The tricky part is that Calgary’s commercial photography scene isn’t easy to navigate. A truly skilled photographer brings more than technical ability – they bring intention, patience and a meticulous eye that separates memorable imagery from forgettable snapshots. We focus on web design and development and leave the camera work to others, but years of collaborating with photographers across Calgary has given us a clear picture of who actually delivers at a high level.
We’ve also had a front-row seat to what happens when clients choose the wrong person. The shoot wraps, the files arrive and the images are just… flat. Safe. Uninspiring. They don’t make the brand look like anything worth paying attention to. Calgary isn’t lacking in photographers. It is lacking in people who genuinely thrive in a commercial context.
That’s the gap this list is meant to fill. Every photographer included here has real commercial experience – not just portraits and wedding albums, but impressive work for companies of all sizes.
No one here bought their spot. They’re here because we’ve seen their portfolios, watched how they approach a project and would stake our own reputation on the referral. A number of these are people we’ve worked alongside for years.
Before you start making calls, keep in mind that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all list. Headshots, product work, architectural photography and event coverage each demand a different skill set, and the best photographers tend to own a specific lane. We’ve highlighted each person’s strengths so you can zero in on the right fit before you even pick up the phone.
Let’s get into it:
The 10 Best Corporate & Commercial Photographers in Calgary
1. Gilmour Photography
Website: https://www.brettgilmour.com/
Year Established: 1998
Overview: Gilmour Photography is run by Brett Gilmour, one of Calgary’s top corporate, commercial and industrial photographers. He has won many photography awards – most notably, he’s a three-time Gold Nugget Award winner for architectural photography. He operates studios in both Calgary’s Marda Loop neighbourhood and Oviedo, Spain, which reflects how much of his client base extends well beyond Alberta. His commercial specialties are tightly focused: mining, engineering, construction, transportation, agriculture and architectural photography – industries he knows well enough that his team can integrate directly into a client’s marketing department without much hand-holding. Corporate clients include NOVA Chemicals, GE, Shell, Home Hardware and Uber. He’s also an active industry educator, having lectured and taught photography at universities in Alberta, BC, Boston, New Haven and Connecticut.
Best For: Mining, engineering, construction, transportation, agriculture and architectural photography.
2. KeshMesh Studios
Website: https://www.keshmeshstudios.com/
Year Established: 2023
Overview: KeshMesh Studios is run by Kesh (Keshvar Merchant), a Calgary-based photographer who splits her practice between couples/lifestyle photography and brand photography for small businesses and entrepreneurs. On the commercial side, Kesh focuses on personal branding and brand content photography – the kind of imagery that solo business owners, coaches, wellness practitioners and service-based entrepreneurs need for their websites and social channels. Her approach is highly collaborative: she’s upfront about involving clients in the planning process, doing strategy work before the shoot day to ensure the final images actually serve a marketing purpose rather than just looking nice. She has a reputation for creating a comfortable, low-pressure environment on shoot days, which tends to show up in images that feel natural rather than overly posed. KeshMesh is based in Calgary but also serves the Toronto market and is available for travel.
Best For: Solo business owners, coaches, wellness practitioners and service-based entrepreneurs.
3. Calgary Real Estate Photos
Website: https://calgaryrealestatephotos.ca/
Year Established: 2018
Overview: Calgary Real Estate Photos is a real estate media company founded in 2020 and led by owner Ryan Hagel, with a team of photographers, videographers and drone specialists that includes Spencer Pries, Jeremy Martin, Brett Anderson and others. Their primary focus is real estate photography and videography for Calgary realtors – they’ve worked with 500+ clients, showcased over $1 billion in properties and have 125+ five-star Google reviews to back it up. Beyond residential listings, they offer photography for commercial properties, short-term rental photography (Airbnb/VRBO), iGUIDE virtual tours with RMS-compliant floor plans and measurements, drone/aerial photography and virtual staging. Their 24-hour turnaround time is a big differentiator in the market and they’ve built an app that lets clients schedule shoots, manage their portfolio and download delivered media in one place. For real estate agents, developers and commercial landlords in Calgary who need fast, reliable and consistent visual media, CREP is worth a look.
Best For: Real estate agents and developers.
4. Dana Pugh
Website: https://www.danapughphotography.com/commercialbranding
Year Established: 2007
Overview: Dana Pugh is an award-winning photographer based out of Okotoks, Alberta. She specializes in professional headshots and personal branding photography for business clients throughout the Calgary region. Her commercial experience leans toward professionals in real estate, law, engineering and coaching/speaking – basically any individual who needs high-end, approachable imagery for their website, LinkedIn or marketing materials. Her natural-light studio in Okotoks has a relaxed, home-like quality that tends to result in less stiff, more genuine imagery than what you’d get in a traditional white-backdrop studio environment. She also has access to several Calgary studios for clients who prefer to shoot in the city.
Best For: Businesses in a wide variety of industries that are seeking a natural-light studio, particularly convenient for clients who are closer to Okotoks than Calgary.
5. Ridgerock Studios
Website: https://ridgerock.ca/
Year Established: 1997
Overview: Ridgerock Studios is a Calgary-based commercial photography studio founded and run by Todd Patterson, who has been shooting professional food and product photography for clients in Alberta since 1997. The studio’s core specialties are food and beverage photography and product/commercial photography, with a particular depth of experience in the food and grocery sector. Long-standing client relationships include Big Rock Brewery, Sobeys Wholesale, ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen and Greengate Garden Centres, among others. Todd is also a trained food stylist, which matters more than it might seem – most photographers bring in a separate stylist, while Todd handles both, which can make a meaningful difference on food shoots. The studio has a fully operational commercial kitchen on-site for food styling and cooking during shoots. For food brands, packaged goods companies and restaurants in Calgary, Ridgerock is one of the more specialized options in the market.
Best For: Food and beverage photography.
6. Christina (plus) Nathan
Website: https://www.christinaplusnathan.com/
Year Established: 2009
Overview: Christina Plus Nathan is a Calgary photography duo made up of husband and wife team Christina and Nathan Krentz. On the commercial side, they offer corporate portraits, headshots, content and branding photography, event coverage and videography, and project-based work for businesses of all sizes. Nathan’s background as a professional touring musician gave him a natural eye for lighting and performance, and his technical approach to multi-light setups has become a distinguishing part of their commercial work. Christina started photographing musicians and built toward portraiture. Together, they work well with clients who want imagery that feels human and authentic – particularly small and mid-sized businesses, entrepreneurs, professional service providers and musicians looking for content they can actually use across their website and social channels.
Best For: Musicians and event coverage.
7. David Watt Photography
Website: https://davidwattphotography.ca/
Year Established: 2001
Overview: David Watt is a Calgary-based advertising and commercial photographer, covering architectural, corporate, industrial and editorial work for brands, creative agencies and publications across Western Canada and the northwestern US. His client list is substantial and diverse – John Deere, McDonald’s, Petro-Canada, RBC, Shell, Scotiabank, CIBC, Costco, Loblaws, Cargill, Baker Hughes, Encana, Aramco, Enerplus, Landmark Cinemas, University of Calgary and numerous architecture and real estate firms. He covers four main areas: architectural photography (offices, high-rises, commercial interiors, universities), corporate portraits and headshots (featured in annual reports, business publications and websites), commercial and industrial photography, and editorial/people photography. Multiple client testimonials on his site reference his flexibility with last-minute scheduling, competitive pricing and reliable turnaround. David also collaborates with Rockyview Aerials for drone videography needs.
Best For: Commercial architecture.
8. Chris Amat Studio
Website: https://www.chrisamat.com/
Year Established: 2014
Overview: Chris Amat is a Calgary-based commercial photographer whose client list reads like a who’s who of major consumer and hospitality brands. His portfolio spans advertising, lifestyle and corporate work, with particularly deep experience in the hospitality, travel and outdoor/apparel sectors – visible through long-running relationships with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts (across multiple properties), Club Med, Arcteryx, Canada Goose, Adidas, Under Armour and Kicking Horse Coffee. He’s also shot commercial work for Mark’s, MadeGood, Mazda, Air Canada and HBO. Chris shoots both on location and in studio, and his aesthetic leans toward natural, editorial-style imagery – the kind that works equally well in print campaigns and brand websites.
Best For: Travel, hospitality and outdoor/apparel brands.
9. Graham McKerrell Photography
Website: https://www.mckerrellphotography.com/
Year Established: 2010
Overview: Graham McKerrell is a Calgary commercial photographer with a dual focus on corporate/lifestyle work and outdoor action/sport content. On the corporate side, he specializes in documentary-style company coverage – photographing people, facilities and culture in a natural, unposed way that brands can use to tell an honest story about who they are and how they operate. He also covers executive headshots and corporate events including conferences, seminars and company gatherings. On the outdoor and lifestyle side, he has deep roots in the community – he’s an avid backcountry skier and mountain biker who has shot for brands like Arcteryx, which gives his sport and lifestyle work a level of authenticity that’s hard to fake. For businesses looking for someone who can move between polished corporate content and dynamic brand/lifestyle imagery, Graham is a versatile option.
Best For: Sports and lifestyle photography.
10. Nathan Elson
Website: https://www.nathanelson.com/
Year Established: 2008
Overview: Nathan Elson is a Calgary-based commercial and corporate photographer with a studio at 4029 8 Street in southeast Calgary. He has shot for a broad mix of clients across energy, financial services, manufacturing, healthcare and retail – notable commercial clients include Gibson Energy (annual report), Mark’s and MacLeod Trail Plastic Surgery, among others. Nathan’s industrial portfolio is particularly strong: he’s done location work at oil and gas facilities, agricultural processing plants and other heavy-industry sites in Alberta, and he’s been vocal about genuinely enjoying the access and variety that industrial work provides. Beyond industrial, he covers corporate portraiture, executive headshots, business branding and architectural photography. He also sells Lightroom presets and runs photography workshops – which is a sign of someone who’s deeply invested in the craft side of the business, not just the commercial output.
Best For: The industrial sector.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the best commercial photographers in Calgary in 2026?
The best commercial photographer in Calgary in 2026 depends on your type of business and specific photography needs. If you’re in residential real estate, go with Calgary Real Estate Photos. If you’re in the food and beverage space, go with Ridgerock Studios. For travel, hospitality and outdoor/apparel brands, go with Chris Amat Studio. For music and event coverage, go with Christina (plus) Nathan. For clients south of Calgary – closer to Okotoks – and who prioritize convenience and a natural light studio, go with Dana Pugh. If you’re a solo business owner, coach, wellness practitioner or service-based entrepreneur in need of a personal branding shoot, go with KeshMesh Studios. For commercial architecture, go with David Watt Photography. For sports and lifestyle brands, go with Graham McKerrell Photography. If you’re in the industrial sector, go with Nathan Elson or Gilmour Photography.
How Much Do Commercial Photographers in Calgary Charge?
Commercial photography pricing in Calgary varies quite a bit depending on the type of work and the photographer’s experience level. For simple headshots, you can usually expect to pay between $250 – $500 CAD. For branding sessions, you’re generally looking at a range of $500 – $2000 CAD. More established studios with broader commercial capabilities (advertising, corporate events, drone work or large scale team headshot days) typically quote on a project basis rather than publishing flat rates, and those engagements can run significantly higher. It’s also worth noting that most photographers charge plus GST, so factor that into any budget planning. Some photographers also offer lower rates for ongoing work – so if you’ll need monthly or annual shoots, that could be factored into the negotiation.
Don’t Forget High-Quality Web Design
Getting high-quality imagery with a top commercial photographer in Calgary is great, but you also need to showcase those images in a way that really WOWs your audience. That’s where our team here at Azuro Digital comes into play. We create beautiful websites that effectively integrate your images and motivate visitors to take action. We do rigorous A/B testing on our clients’ websites to maximize their bottom-line results. Go ahead and book a strategy call with our team – we’ll assess your current website and show you how we’d improve it!
On a related note: check out the Top 10 Video Production Companies in Calgary
