Liv Hettinga Photography

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Canada
Calgary, AB
Liv Hettinga Photography

Hey I'm Liv! I specialize in photographing and planning adventure elopements and small weddings. I work with brides who are adventurous, wild, quirky, & unique.

Who aren't afraid to get their feet a little dirty and who want to break tradition.

04/06/2026

You have to see the pictures from this October proposal at one of Banff's most iconic views.

Dennis reached out to me in September with plans to propose to his girlfriend on their trip to Banff in early October.

He told me he wanted something candid and real. Nothing overly staged, nothing that would take away from the experience. Just a moment that felt like them.

So we kept it simple.

I stood off to the side, pretending to photograph the landscape while they walked up to the viewpoint together, taking it all in for the first time. And then, just like we planned, he asked if I could grab a photo of them.

A few seconds later, everything changed.

He dropped to one knee, and suddenly the mountains, the lake, the entire moment just faded into the background for a second. It was just the two of them.

What I loved most about this is how it reflected their relationship. The quiet, steady kind of love. The kind that doesn’t need anything over the top, just presence, intention, and being together.

From summer camp, to long walks and hikes, to this moment overlooking Peyto Lake… it all led here.

If you’re dreaming of a proposal that feels natural, meaningful, and true to your relationship, I’d love to help you plan and capture it

Banff proposal photographer | Peyto Lake proposal | Banff engagement photographer | surprise proposal Banff | Rocky Mountain engagement

04/04/2026

Hien & John travelled all the way from Australia to Banff to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, and booked a couple's session to remember their trip.

From the beginning, they told me they were a little camera shy and just wanted candid, natural moments. Nothing forced, nothing overly styled. Just the two of them, experiencing this place for the very first time together.

It was their first time seeing snow, and it actually ended up being a super cold day, but they were troopers through it and fully embraced the snow. They ran across a frozen lake, made snow angels, and even had a snowball fight.

And somewhere in all of that, it stopped feeling like a photoshoot and started feeling like a memory they were making together.

That’s always the goal.

keywords: Banff couples photographer, winter couples session Banff, Lake Minnewanka photos, snowy mountain couple shoot, Canada couples photography, Banff anniversary session, candid couples photography, Alberta photographer, destination couples session, Banff winter photos

04/02/2026

Shone pulled off the best surprise winter proposal in Banff.

Shone + Jackie were planning a trip to Banff to celebrate Jackie's birthday when she decided it would be a great time to get photos done together. Little did she know, Shone was actually planning on proposing during their trip.

After they were booked in for their couples session, Shone sent me a secret email letting me know he was planning on proposing during the shoot. What a fun surprise!

We met up at Lake Minnnewanka and everything was beautiful and snow dusted making it the perfect backdrop for a winter proposal.

While we were exploring + taking pictures, Shone led Jackie to the end of a peninsula where they looked out at the mountains together, and then he got down on one knee and when Jackie turned around she knew exactly what was happening. It was the greatest surprise (she said yes of course)!

Then we went to a second location to warm up with a bonfire, hot chocolate, and roasting marshmallows. It was the perfect end to a perfect session.

Banff proposal photographer, Banff photographer

04/01/2026

Skating through the mountains together

03/31/2026

Manon & Ryan’s connection felt so natural from the very beginning.

The kind where it didn’t start with some big, obvious moment, but slowly built over time. Working together, talking about travel, quizzing each other on random things like world capitals, sharing small moments that eventually started to feel like something more.

They told me their high fives even felt different… and honestly, that says everything.

What they wanted for their session was simple. Something that felt soft, romantic, and real. Photos that didn’t feel posed or forced, but like a glimpse into who they are together.

So we leaned into that.

Letting them move naturally, stay close, laugh, and just be in it together. Capturing the quiet moments, the way they hold each other, the feeling of being somewhere beautiful with the person you love.

Because for them, this wasn’t just about photos.

It was about documenting a life that will be full of exploring, trying new things, and finding joy in the little moments along the way.

If you’re dreaming of photos that feel like this, I’d love to create that with you

Banff couples photographer | Banff winter couples session | Lake Minnewanka photos | mountain couples photography | candid couples session

03/30/2026

From the very beginning, Amé & Rhy told me they were drawn to candid, close, in-the-moment imagery. The kind that feels lived in rather than styled.

They wanted mountains that felt big in the frame, but also quiet, intimate moments tucked into the trees.

They wanted movement, blur, warmth, texture.

Photos that looked like art you would hang in your home, not something that felt like a checklist of “wedding shots.”

And everything about their day reflected that.

From the earthy tones of the landscape to their black, brown, white, and green palette… to the way they leaned into a classy, minimal, country-inspired feel without anything feeling overdone.

What made it even more special is that this place already meant something to them.

They travelled to Canada in 2023 and completely fell in love with it, and when it came time to start thinking about their wedding, coming back here just made sense.

It wasn’t just about choosing a beautiful location.
It was about choosing somewhere that already held part of their story.

So they flew all the way from Australia to get married in the mountains, and built a day that felt honest, relaxed, and entirely their own.

If your wedding photos were going to live on your walls forever, what would you want them to feel like?

keywords: Banff elopement photographer, candid elopement photography, destination elopement Canada, Australia to Banff elopement, mountain wedding inspiration, Alberta elopement photographer, documentary style wedding photos, Banff wedding inspiration, Canadian Rockies elopement

03/26/2026

Hien & John told me that one of their favourite things to do together is a simple coffee and pastry date, so it only felt right to begin their session that way.

It gave them a chance to settle in, warm up, and ease into the morning without the pressure of jumping straight into photos.

From there, we headed out into the snow.

We made our way to the lake, where the mountains opened up around them and everything felt quiet and still. It was their first time experiencing a landscape like this, and you could feel that sense of excitement in the way they moved through it.

There were snowball fights, lots of laughing, and those in-between moments where they forgot about the camera completely.

They met studying pharmacy at university and slowly grew closer over time, building a relationship rooted in patience, support, and the small, thoughtful things. The kind of love where driving across town just to bring someone a bubble tea feels completely natural.

This session was about documenting a small chapter of their story, in a place that felt entirely new to them, in a way that still felt familiar.

keywords: Banff couples session, Lake Minnewanka couples photos, winter couples photography Banff, candid love photography, anniversary session Banff, Alberta couples photographer, romantic winter photoshoot, destination couples photography Canada, Banff photographer, snowy mountain photoshoot

03/25/2026

There are actually so many fun activities you can include in your winter shoot in Banff. Like ice skating on a glacier lake. This is typically best early winter, just after the lakes freeze. But depending on the weather, certain lakes are windy enough that the snow blows off pretty quickly and can be skateable all winter long. Just make sure to do your research before heading out, or find a photographer who knows the area.

Winter couple shoot in Banff, Banff winter engagement session, Banff photographer

03/24/2026

A cutie winter engagement session with a bonfire + hot chocolate to keep cozy

Keywords: Banff winter engagement pictures, Banff photographer, Banff engagement photographer, Banff couple photos,

03/23/2026

The sweetest sunrise winter proposal in Banff

Address

Calgary, AB

Website

http://livhettingaphotography.com/

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