Ottawa wedding photography and film · Now booking 2027
Weddings, kept true to life.
Candid and composed moments, true skin tones, and a calm presence on the day. Your wedding is photographed by me, Nathanael, from the first call to the final gallery, with cinematic video from Essey Harnet when you want it.
The approach
Your day should look the way it felt.
Documentary
I blend candid moments with thoughtfully composed portraits, so every look, laugh and heartfelt exchange is kept. You can relive the day for years.
Visual storytelling
From the smallest details to the biggest celebrations, each image is part of one story. Quiet moments alone and loud ones with family both belong in it.
Effortless posing
I work with what feels natural to you. Subtle guidance keeps the experience calm, intentional and unforced.
Culture and tradition
Photographed by someone who knows the customs.
Whether your celebration is full of cultural tradition or modern elegance, I bring the understanding that comes from my own roots. As an Eritrean wedding photographer, I know the sacred customs, the dances and the details that define a couple's heritage.
Every moment is captured with care so your story is honoured as it happened.
Eritrean, Ethiopian and multicultural weddings, in Ottawa and wherever you celebrate.
Recent weddings
Timeless colour. True-to-life tones.
Edited true to life, with accurate skin tones, so the photos look as vibrant in decades as they do today.
Ask for a full wedding galleryKind words
In their own words.
I finally went over all the pictures. Every time I go over them again, I see new things that I love. Thank you so much for capturing so many candid moments. There was so much love and great energy at our wedding and we literally get to feel it through the photos. Your quality and communication level is amazing.
Thank you for every capture, details, whether it's pictures and video, it is amazing. Thanks to you now we have something to always look back to. I'm not sugarcoating at all, it's so beautiful.
Thank you, Nati, for capturing our unforgettable moments. The photos turned out amazing, and we absolutely love them. Thank you for your incredible work!
Omg Natu these photos... speechless!!!
OMG, I absolutely love how it turned out! Thank you so much for capturing these beautiful moments.
Wedding video, with Essey Harnet
One team, one look, one fewer vendor to manage.
Essey Harnet films your wedding while I photograph it. We share one vision for how it should look, so your photos and your film feel like parts of the same story.
Booking photo and video together gives you matching edits and one point of contact, and it costs less than booking them separately.
- 4K LOG footage for the best colour
- Highlight film, ceremony and reception feature, social reel
- Service in English, French, Tigrinya and Amharic
The process
Six steps from hello to gallery.
1Inquiry
Send your date, location and a few details about your day. I reply within 24 hours with availability and next steps.
2Consultation
We meet on Zoom or in person to talk through your vision. I walk you through the packages and answer your questions.
3Booking and agreement
I send the contract and invoice. A signed agreement and retainer secure your date.
4Timeline planning
Closer to the day, we map out your timeline, photo priorities and must-have shots.
5Wedding day
From getting ready to the dance floor, it is covered.
6Delivery
A sneak peek within 7 days. Your full gallery and videos within 12 weeks, in a private online gallery you can download and share.
Photo and video packages · 2027
Pick the length of your day.
The Standard Collection
6 hours
One day of continuous coverage
Best for the ceremony through the early moments of the reception.
Photography
- Up to 6 hours of photo coverage
- 500+ edited, full-resolution photos
- Private online gallery
- Sneak peek within 7 days
Video
- 1-minute highlight video
- 4K film of the ceremony and reception
- 1 social media reel
- Filmed in 4K LOG for the best colour
The Premium Collection
12 hours
One day of continuous coverage
Best for getting ready all the way through the reception.
Photography
- Up to 12 hours of photo coverage
- 700+ edited, full-resolution photos
- 1.5-hour pre-wedding shoot included
- Private online gallery
- Sneak peek within 7 days
Video
- 3-minute highlight video
- 4K film of the ceremony and reception
- Two videographers at the reception
- 1 social media reel
- Filmed in 4K LOG for the best colour
The Platinum Collection
24 hours
Across two days, split however your celebration needs
Best for multi-day celebrations.
Photography
- 24 hours of photo coverage across two days
- 1,000+ edited, full-resolution photos
- 1.5-hour pre-wedding shoot included
- Private online gallery
- Sneak peek within 7 days
Video
- 3 to 5-minute highlight video
- 4K film of the ceremony and reception
- Two videographers at the reception
- 2 social media reels
- Filmed in 4K LOG for the best colour
Book photography, video, or both together. Photo and video are listed separately in each package so you can see exactly what each includes.
Pricing is shared when you inquire. Covers a wedding day and/or a cultural ceremony. Travel within Ottawa–Gatineau is included, and I quote travel further out.
Pre-wedding shoot
Time in front of the camera before the big day.
Good for save-the-date cards, wedding websites, guest book displays and anniversary portraits, or simply for celebrating your story. Included in the 12-hour and 2-day packages. You can add it to any other booking.
45 minutes
- One location
- 1 outfit
- Outfit, posing and location guidance
- Private online gallery
- Printing rights
1.5 hours
- Up to 2 nearby locations
- Up to 2 outfits
- Outfit, posing and location guidance
- Private online gallery
- Printing rights
Optional add-ons
Build the day around you.
Photo booth
Book the studio-quality booth with your wedding photography and get a bundle discount.
Second photographer
Expanded coverage so no moment is missed, from the preparations to the processions.
Luxury album
A custom-designed, high-quality album to hold your memories in print.
Highlight reel
A blend of video clips and photos to relive the best moments of the day.
Questions
Before you inquire.
How do you approach a wedding day?
I blend storytelling and candid moments with intentional portraits. I document the real emotions, the in-between moments and the joy that makes your day yours. I guide you when needed, and step back when the moment is happening on its own.
What is your editing style?
True to life, vibrant and timeless. Rich colour, natural skin tones and a touch of warmth, so the photos still feel beautiful in 25 years.
Will you be the one photographing our wedding?
Yes. When you book Life Photos, you book me, Nathanael, from the consultation to the final delivery. I do not outsource weddings to other photographers. If you ask for it, I can bring a second photographer.
When will we receive our photos and video?
A sneak peek gallery arrives within 7 days of your wedding. Your full gallery and videos arrive within 12 weeks, edited and ready to download, share and print.
Do you travel for weddings?
Yes. I am based in Ottawa and love travelling for love stories. Travel within Ottawa–Gatineau is included, and I provide a custom travel quote for weddings further out.
What languages do you speak?
I am fluent in English and Tigrinya, with conversational French. With Essey, our team also serves clients in Amharic.
Your photographer
Hi, I'm Nathanael. Most clients call me Natu.
I have been the one with the camera at family gatherings, trips and Eritrean community events since I was a kid.
My parents gave me my first camera, a Canon Rebel T3i, for my high school graduation around 2013. In 2014 I spent four months in Eritrea and started a photoblog so others could see the country through my pictures. That connection to home still shapes how I photograph our traditions.
I named the business Life Photos instead of using my own name. The photos should be about your life and your milestones, not about me.
By day I work in toxicology. By night you will find me with a camera, watching movies or cafe surfing around Ottawa.
What I believe about photography
A wedding photo should make you feel the day again.
Beautiful is not enough if it feels staged. I look for the laughs, the tears and the in-between moments, so when you open your gallery you feel the day, not only see it.
Customer service comes first.
You get quick replies, a clear timeline and smooth delivery, so you can relax on the day.
Colour should be true to life, skin tones included.
I grade every gallery for natural colour and accurate skin tones on every complexion, so your photos look right today and still do in 25 years.
Meet the team · Your videographer
Essey Harnet films the way you remember the day.
He has an eye that makes even the simplest moments feel like a movie.
Essey has seven years of experience filming weddings across Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, Dubai, Kenya, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, and works with Aeon Multimedia.
After several weddings together, and plenty of road trips and flights, we found we share the same vision. We both want to capture our culture in a way that is modern yet timeless, cinematic, and focused on the small details that make our traditions vibrant.
Inquiries for 2027 are open
Tell me your date and where you are celebrating.
I reply within 24 hours with availability and next steps.