Local service guide
Charlottetown photography and videography
Choose photography and videography by reviewing complete work from a comparable occasion, then agreeing on coverage, location access and finished files before paying a deposit. Request written quotes for the same brief and confirm who will capture each essential moment. For a Charlottetown garden session or a nearby beach outing, check the setting’s restrictions before committing to a shot list.
Choose a team for your occasion
For family portraits, review a complete gallery with a group size similar to yours. Explain whether you want posed photographs, candid moments or both. Mention children’s routines, mobility needs and anyone who needs a shorter appointment. Prepare the family combinations in advance so you can spend the session taking photographs.
For a wedding or family event, watch a finished film and listen to its vows or speeches. Ask to see work in lighting similar to your venue. Discuss how the photographer and videographer will cover simultaneous moments, such as a ceremony entrance and family reactions. Confirm the people attending your booking and the replacement arrangements if someone cannot attend.
Give the team a short list of essential people and moments, plus examples of the style you prefer. Ask how they will coordinate with your venue and manage an equipment failure. For an event, nominate someone who knows the guests and can gather groups without pulling you away from the occasion.
Compare written quotes on the same basis
Request written quotes for your date, coverage hours, locations and deliverables. Include the number of participants and any travel between settings. Ask for a total in Canadian dollars with applicable taxes, travel, parking, location charges and optional purchases identified. Keep the brief consistent when approaching different providers.
Specify the edited photograph count or selection process, retouching scope and download format. For film coverage, name the finished pieces you want: a highlight film, complete ceremony or speeches. Agree on audio coverage, film length and revision allowance. Ask about raw photographs or unedited footage if you want them, and record any separate charge.
Set delivery dates and ask how long you can access the gallery and request replacement files. Record deposit, cancellation and overtime terms. Confirm printing and personal sharing permissions, then decide whether you consent to portfolio use. If aerial coverage is an optional purchase, agree on the charge and replacement footage if the operator cannot fly.
Check aerial feasibility at the exact address
Give the drone operator the address, event schedule and expected gathering before approving aerial coverage. Transport Canada says the applicable rules depend on the aircraft, proximity to people, airspace, nearby operations and pilot qualifications. Ask the operator to explain the operation category and any required certificate or authorization for your proposed shoot. [4]
Transport Canada exempts drones weighing less than 250 grams from registration, marking and pilot-certificate requirements, but operators still need to follow microdrone rules and other laws, including privacy and trespassing laws. Ask about location permission as well as aviation requirements; aircraft weight alone does not settle whether your proposed flight can proceed. [4]
Plan the appointment and weather decision
Use the historical temperature chart to discuss clothing and outdoor session length, then check the forecast near your appointment. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s figures describe Charlottetown Airport, rather than conditions at a particular garden or beach. Agree on a decision deadline, who makes the weather call and whether changing the date or setting adds a charge. [5]
For a fixed-date event, have the team inspect your available indoor portrait and speech-recording spaces. Discuss room access, lighting setup and time to move equipment. For a flexible portrait session, record how the deposit transfers to a replacement date and how you will choose that date.
Send a final brief with addresses, meeting points, contact numbers and priority photographs. Confirm arrival and setup times, walking distance, breaks and how a late start affects coverage. Keep one contact person available to answer questions during the appointment.
Historical temperatures for summer and fall outdoor sessions
Local details that affect your job
Ardgowan requires outdoor planning
Parks Canada lists Ardgowan National Historic Site at 2 Palmers Lane in Charlottetown as open year-round, with restored Victorian grounds and a restored exterior. Its staff use the interior as administrative offices and do not open it for public tours. Ask the site about access for your proposed paid shoot, group and equipment, and arrange a separate indoor option rather than assuming you can use the house. [2] [3]
National park beach sessions need a permitted shot plan
For a regional outing outside the city, Parks Canada identifies Covehead Lighthouse and Brackley as photography settings in Prince Edward Island National Park. Visitors must stay on established trails and avoid dunes and closed areas. The park’s drone restriction covers all sizes; Parks Canada describes a lengthy special-permit process and says it rejects most applications. Plan ground-based coverage unless the operator obtains park permission, and agree on a route and shooting positions your group can use. [1]
Match the booking brief to your occasion
| Your occasion | Ask the provider | Agree before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Family portraits | How will you manage our group combinations and children's routines? | Participant list, session length and essential combinations. |
| Wedding photographs and film | Who will capture simultaneous moments and record speech? | Named team, coverage schedule and audio plan. |
| Several locations | How will travel and setup fit within the booked hours? | Route, access arrangements and treatment of travel time. |
| Aerial coverage | Can you assess the exact location before quoting? | Feasibility, permissions and terms if the flight cannot proceed. |
| A gift or deadline | Can you deliver the finished work by the date I need? | Delivery date, included revisions and any rush charge. |
Your hiring checklist
- Send the date, locations, participant count and essential moments.
- Review complete work from a comparable occasion.
- Confirm site access, meeting points and walking requirements.
- Record staffing and replacement arrangements.
- Agree on the total, deposit, overtime and postponement terms.
- Specify finished files, revisions and delivery dates.
- Set the weather decision deadline and alternative plan.
- Confirm personal usage permissions and portfolio consent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I budget?
Request written quotes for your date, coverage hours, locations and deliverables. Give providers the same brief and compare the total, including applicable taxes and extras. If a quote exceeds your budget, ask for separate options for shorter coverage, fewer locations or a different finished package.
Should I book photography and video with one provider?
Compare both arrangements. Ask a combined provider who performs each role and review complete examples of both services. If you hire separate teams, ask them to coordinate the schedule, positions and audio arrangements before the event. Choose the arrangement whose work and coverage plan meet your priorities.
How can I keep family photographs private?
Tell the provider whether you permit portfolio use, public galleries or images of children. Ask for gallery access controls and record your consent preferences in the agreement. Confirm how you can request removal of a published image and who may download the files.
What happens if the event runs late?
Agree on the finish time, overtime rate and who can authorize extra coverage. Identify the moments to prioritize if the schedule slips. Ask whether extending coverage depends on the team's availability, and record the answer before booking.
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.