The 5 Best Passport Picture Studios in Calgary That’ll Make Traveling Approvals a Breeze
Let me tell you this, you don’t know true embarrassment until you get stuck with an awful passport picture. Whether it’s a crooked smile, a bad hair day, or an unfortunate zit, it will haunt you every time you travel.
My old passport picture used to be my biggest regret. It was so bad that I always wished for the ground to open up and swallow me whole whenever an airport officer had to check it.
So when it was time to renew my passport, I made it my mission to redeem myself. I promised my future self that I would never settle for a wonky picture again. And it starts with finding the right studio.
I have a handful of passport photos to choose from now but I’m confident that I’ve found some of the best places in the business. Listed below are the studios in Calgary that’ll give you a passport picture worth showing off.
How much do passport picture-taking services cost in Calgary?
Passport picture-taking services usually cost between $5 to $50 in Calgary. This rate depends on the amount of copies you need and the age of the passport holder.
Two physical copies of a passport picture typically cost around $5 to $10, but most places include additional fees for digital copies. Taking photos with babies and infants is usually more expensive as well due to the extra challenges that come with it.
1. Studio First Photo Studio
Address: 4150 109 Ave NE #4120
Phone: +1 587 230 0055
Business Hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 11:00 AM to 7:30 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 AM to 7:30 PM
You can rely on Studio First for any kind of official photo. Whether it’s for licenses, IDs, visas, or passports, they know the guidelines like the back of their hand.
They offer appointments for those who don’t like waiting. But their turnaround time is quite swift and you usually won’t have to wait for more than 15 minutes if you choose to go as a walk-in.
What we really love about this place is that the photographer is super patient and understanding. You won’t feel pressured to settle on a photo you don’t like. They also don’t mind taking multiple shots as long as you’re happy with the end result.
Just remember to collect your digital copies (if you bought them) before you leave the studio. For safety reasons, they won’t send it to you after you’ve left, even if you’ve paid for them.
Pictures turned out great
“Recently got mine and my daughter’s Canadian passport pictures taken here. Photographer was super friendly and helped us get a good shot. Price was good and they have a professional setup and lighting so the pictures turned out great. Much better than the pictures I got from Shopper’s Drugmart.”
-E Chan, Google Review
Amazing service
“Amazing service. My mom can’t control her head movement due to medical reason. we failed to take valid photo at other studio. The photographer at studio first was so patient with us and took multiple tries. The result turned out amazing. The quality of photo was far better compared to other places that we have tried. Thank you!!”
-P L, Google Review
2. The Portrait Calgary
Address: 224 14 Ave SE
Phone: +1 587 956 7121
Business Hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday – 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Monday – Closed
The Portrait Calgary is known as a place for great self-portraits or professional headshots. However, not as many people know that they do passport photos as well.
With their nice lighting and amazing skills in making people look good, you’ll never expect that a passport photo could turn out so flattering.
Their photographers are very supportive. Sometimes it can be quite nerve-wracking to smile in front of a professional camera, especially if you’re not used to it. But they’ll happily give suggestions on how to make your expression look more natural.
The only drawback with this place is that it gets quite busy, more so during the weekends. We almost didn’t get a slot, so better to make an appointment ahead of time since walk-ins aren’t always accommodated.
Couldn’t be happier with our sessions
“From passports to self portraits, this studio captures every frame perfectly! ❤️ My boyfriend and I were here for our Christmas photos, passport photos, and of course we had to swing by with our fur baby to capture our love story for Valentine’s Day 💘The Portrait always captures our best sides, whether it’s festive or romantic – They’re the real MVPs 🎅💕💌 📷✨ Couldn’t be happier with our sessions! 10/10 highly recommend”
-Da Eun Moon, Google Review
Amazing shots
“This is the place to go for passport photos! I was expecting the same style of photo that I’ve had in all of my previous passports… mug shot. Not these ones… dare I say, it’s almost a glam shot (or as much of one as a passport photo can be), which is amazing considering that I walked in wearing a toque and had a runny nose from the cold weather. Thank you The Portrait!!! 11/10”
-Tom Grant, Google Review
3. Photo Studio Calgary
Address: 15 Royal Vista Pl NW #126
Phone: +1 403 263 1313
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
For over 10 years, Photo Studio Calgary has been a trusted shop for all types of official photo needs. Customers keep coming back because of how convenient they are, partly because of how many stores they have around the city.
Unfortunately, their reputation and longevity mean that their basic package is a bit pricier than most. However, you can be assured that you’ll be getting photos that are good quality.
The photographers here are total pros as well. According to some of their previous customers, even the fussiest baby is guaranteed to have a good photo at this studio.
Their services are also impressively fast. We didn’t even have time to sit down and wait after our photos were taken. We were just told that our photos were already printed and ready.
Patient, kind, and helpful
“Yana was an absolute pleasure to have taking our photos today for our family! The kids needed their photos taken and it’s not easy with 3 babies and she was such a gem! Patient kind and helpful 😊 thank you and we highly recommend this location for your photo needs!”
-Dr. Sana-Ara Ahmed, Google Review
Quick & easy
“We made an appointment to get photos for my 6 month old daughter. There was a very short wait to get seen, and the photo process was really quick & easy. The photos were ready VERY quickly (much less than 15 minutes). The place is clean and welcoming and the photographer was very friendly. Highly recommend!”
-Caitlin B, Google Review
4. The Village Studio
Address: 125 Oakmoor Pl SW, 2nd Floor
Phone: +1 403 281 0444
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Saturday – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Parents in need of passport photos for their young children are going to love The Village Studio. They’re experts at capturing clients who can barely even say their ABCs.
We appreciate that they’re very accommodating when it comes to time. They understand that having kids can be hectic, so they won’t cancel your appointment even if you come in late.
It’s also nice of them to take extra precautions before directing kids for pictures, such as washing their hands and using a friendly tone of voice. This doesn’t just apply to children though, as they also accept other customers who have special needs.
Oh, and did we mention that they give free first-birthday photoshoots to any of their infant clients?
That being said, their rates can be quite high. It’s understandable though — kids aren’t exactly the easiest and quickest clients to handle.
Smooth and stress-free process
“We just finished our appointment for a passport photo for our 3-week-old baby, and I can’t recommend this place enough! The owners are incredibly warm and friendly, and the entire process was quick, smooth, and stress-free. They made sure our little one was comfortable and the passport photos turned out perfect! If you’re in need of passport photos for yourself or your little ones, this is definitely the place to go. Highly recommend!”
-Tara Babins, Google Review
Patient, supportive, and incredibly accommodating
“We are so relieved to finally have gotten our strong-willed toddler’s passport picture taken! The staff at The Village Studio were patient, supportive, and incredibly accommodating in the lengthy process of coaxing our son into sitting still in front of the camera. They made time for us between existing bookings, and didn’t make us feel rushed or stressed in the process. Thank you for the time and care you put into getting the shot. We will for sure be back!”
-Emily Chell, Google Review
5. Mosaic Photo Studio
Address: Temple Crossing Plaza, 5401 Temple Dr NE K1
Phone: +1 403 453 3987
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
One of the best things about Mosaic Photo Studio is its location. They’re situated right next to Service Canada, making the whole trip much more convenient for those who are about to apply for passports.
At this point, they’re so knowledgeable about the entire process that they’re even willing to offer a bit of guidance if you need help with your application.
We were also pleasantly surprised that their services are reasonably priced. With how ideal their address is, we assumed that they’d be taking advantage of that. Luckily, we were wrong.
Plus, if, for some reason, your photo gets rejected, they’ll take new ones of you for free.
On most days, they can get photos printed in less than ten minutes. But when they get busy, let’s hope that you’re not in a rush because you might have to extend your patience a little bit.
Professional, efficient, and friendly service
“I had a digital picture taken for my application and encountered an issue with it. Raghed from the studio handled the situation with professionalism and promptly fixed the problem. I highly recommend this photo studio for its professional, efficient, and friendly service.”
-Kanav Gandhi, Google Review
Quick and hassle-free
“I had a great experience getting my passport-size photo taken at Mosaic photo studio next to the Calgary Temple Crossing Service Canada Centre. The service was incredibly fast, affordable, and professional. The staff was friendly, and they ensured the photo met all government requirements. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a quick and hassle-free passport photo service at a great price!”
-Krish King, Google Review