Lake Minnewanka Engagement Session
Lake Minnewanka is one of the most perfect places for your engagement session in Banff National Park, especially if you’re looking for something that is easily accessible, close to the Banff town site, and still has that “wow” factor when it comes to the beautiful view! I get it - not all of us want to hike a mountain for stunning views (my asthma could never). Located only about 20 minutes from the Banff town site, it offers not only a scenic drive on the way, but easy access to one of the most beautiful destinations in Alberta.
Amol and David’s Lake Minnewanka Engagement Session
A morning in the cabin and a first look against the mountains
When Amol and David wanted to incorporate their love for the outdoors and travel into their engagement session, we knew Banff was the perfect place! As soon as Amol and David booked me for their wedding (on recommendation from their insanely amazing wedding planner, Joy By Joelle), I knew we would hit it off immediately, and I was right! There was zero hesitation about meeting the two of them in the middle of a national park with barely any cell service haha! Getting to know them was a complete blast - so easy to talk to and hang out with, and I must tell you how important that is to have with your wedding photographer. I cannot think of two people that compliment each other more, and that was really represented by these words from the couple themselves when I asked what quality they love and appreciate most about each other:
Amol says, “One of many things that I love about David is his patience. He is so calm and collected and has so much patience for me and my Type-A ass. Sometimes I need someone to bring me down to earth and I know that David will always be there for that.”
David says, “ It's hard to pick just one thing, but for this, I will say Amol's confidence. It can be a little intimidating some times, but so often she has a way with words I can't describe. She knows just what to say in so many situations. She knows exactly what she wants and just goes for it.”
These two did a wonderful job of focusing on each other and just having so much fun during their engagement session!
Why you should consider an extended engagement session
Amol and David chose to extend their engagement session so that we could really take advantage of spending as much time as possible in such a beautiful place. This also allowed for us to do an outfit change midway through their session. Their final gallery was full of variety and we were able to capture images that felt like all of the versions of themselves. I totally understand the desire to have ‘nicer’, more fancy images when you’re celebrating a special event like your engagement, but to also feel like your regular, every-day selves! This gives you the best of both worlds.
More time for our session allows us more time to get to know each other, which means you also have more time to get used to being in front of the camera. I always find there’s an adjustment period where things might feel funny and awkward at first, especially if you’re not used to being in front of the camera, but we’ll always find our groove!
An extended engagement session also gives you the benefit of a final gallery that has more images in general, which is perfect for displaying in your home, using for wedding invitations, or even printing some out to display at wedding events.
When should we have our engagement session in Banff?
If you’re considering travelling to Banff National Park for your engagement session, I suggest choosing the autumn shoulder season - specifically, mid-September and October. Fall in the mountains is literally perfect in pretty much every way. Tourists have gone home from summer vacations and school has started, which means even a lot of local Albertans aren’t crowding up the streets! You still get to see some beautiful sites before some of the winter routes close, and the weather is perfect for hikes. And of course you get to see such gorgeous fall colours! A portion of the Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive closes between November-April, so visiting before the end of October is recommended to make the most out of your visit!
Important things to consider when planning your Banff engagement session
Leave no trace
Leave No Trace is a set of principles that everyone who recreationally spends time outdoors should strive to practice in order to minimize our impact on the environment. The principles are: plan ahead and prepare, travel & camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, minimize campfire impacts, respect wildlife and be considerate of others. I will always abide by these when photographing outdoors.
Permits & Park Admission fees
Photographers require permits in order to photograph in both Banff National Park and the Banff Town site. Everyone visiting the National Park is required to pay admission fees (you can also purchase an annual pass). Currently, the daily admission fees are:
- Adult (18-64 years of age): $11.00
- Senior (65+ years of age): $9.50
- Youth (0-17 years of age): free
- Family/Group (up to 7 people arriving in a single vehicle): $22.00
quoted in March 2025, subject to change - check the Parks Canada page for the most up to date information
Location & accommodations
Banff is about an hour and a half from Calgary International Airport, and about 25 minutes away from Canmore. If you’re staying in Canmore but driving into the Banff National Park area for your session, we have to adjust the session time to accommodate for travel time. We always try to aim for the best light at golden hour either at sunrise or sunset, so that may mean waking up early or needing to consider whether you want to drive back late in the dark.
Banff has become part of my own proposal story
My high school sweetheart Colton proposed to me on the top of Sulphur Mountain in Banff after an extremely romantic sunset dinner at the Sky Bistro (and a not-so-romantic, asthma-induced, gasping jog up the massive stairs to get to the top of the mountain before the sun completely set). We managed to get up there before the sun completely set, but by the time he proposed, it was so dark I could barely even see the ring and was terrified of dropping it down the side of the mountain! Since 2021, it’s become one of my personal favourite happy places and I’m so grateful that this trip with Amol and David also allowed us to both explore new places, and re-visit some of our favourite haunts! I love being able to share the special magic of Banff in a new way with my couples.
Things to do in & around Banff
Activities
- Take a gondola ride: Book in advance! You need to ride the gondola to get to the Sky Bistro (also an amazing place to eat), and the views are stunning! Climb the rest of the way to the top of Sulphur Mountain (via stairs) before or after dinner to get a gorgeous view of the town of Banff from above, along with the surrounding mountain range.
- Local shopping: Pick up some loose tea leaves from Jolene's tea house - their Creamy Earl Grey is a staple in our house.
- Book a lane or two in advance to bowl at High Rollers!
- Lake Minnewanka is one of my favourite lakes for sessions, wedding day portraits, and just for visiting in general. There are areas with picnic tables, and they offer boat tours on the lake. The scenic drive route is gorgeous and will also connect you to Two Jack Lake, Lower Bankhead, and my personal favourite lake, Johnson Lake. You'll find Johnson usually quieter than others and you'll often see people picnicking, walking dogs, hiking or paddle-boarding in the water.
- Visit the Bankhead ghost town: Bankhead’s coal mine closed operations in 1922, and many buildings were dismantled. What remains is now a fascinating outdoor museum of sorts that is dedicated to Alberta’s mining history. The hike is an easily manageable 1km, though it is located down a large set of stairs.
- Take a dip in the Banff Upper Hot Springs, of course!
Where to eat & drink in Banff
- Waldhaus is located on the Banff Springs property, you can take a walk through the castle property to get to this quaint German-inspired cottage nestled at the bottom of a valley (this restaurant is located down a set of large wooden stairs, so be warned!). Stunning views from their patio and upper level. We were able to watch a herd of elk lounge in the valley for several hours while we enjoyed our multi-course dinner!
- Go for breakfast at Farm & Fire. They’re gluten and allergen friendly, and I love that they advertise which foods on their menu are nut-free! It makes me feel way more comfortable eating at restaurants that do this.
- Brazen is a wonderful high end dining experience located right on Banff Ave. Order their crème brûlée for dessert, trust me.
- Park Distillery is a great place to grab a cocktail and some pub food. When we were there in the fall, they even had shotskis outside for passers by to take part in!
- Bluebird was a new find the last time we were there, and we thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and fondue happy hour. Left wishing I could bring their decor home to my house.
Places to stay in Banff
- Rimrock Resort: The staff is so kind, their breakfast menu is delicious, amenities are great, and they did include a couple of the Roam bus passes with our stay. We were able to leave the car parked at the hotel when we wanted to go into town and just hop on the bus. You may find that finding parking during the summer to be quite challenging, so the bus was definitely a perk!
- Fairmont Banff Springs: The iconic castle in the mountains! Stunning views, a ton of activities and amenities, and an amazing way to immerse yourself in the history of the building.
- Elk & Avenue: One of the more consistently affordable spots to stay in Banff, and has the added benefits of being dog friendly and sharing the lobby with the aforementioned Farm & Fire restaurant!
In general, my top tip is to still make reservations where possible to make your experience more seamless! Any of the above activities would make a wonderful start to an engagement session activity for you to enjoy together. Don’t forget to inquire in any public space as to whether or not they allow for photography. Some places may charge session fees.
I’d head back to Banff National Park any day, so if you’re looking to plan your wedding or elopement in the area, don’t hesitate to reach out and chat with me!
