S-Layton Photography

09/26/2026

I just love how you never know where photography is going to take you.

After all the things I’ve photographed over the years and all the places this job has taken me, I never thought I’d find myself photographing an elopement in a cemetery.

And honestly... I was absolutely here for it.

It all started when my friend Carl reached out and told me that some friends of his were getting married and wanted to gift them a couples wedding photoshoot after their ceremony.

He gave me the date and time, I was available, so I said yes.

Then came the little detail I wasn’t expecting...

“Oh yeah... I forgot to mention. Are you comfortable shooting it at Mountain View Cemetery? That’s where they’re getting married.”

Naturally, I had a few questions.

When I asked why a cemetery, I was told that the couple has a daily ancestral veneration practice and a very strong connection to their family and ancestors.

For them, the cemetery doesn’t feel strange or out of place at all. It feels familiar, homey, and welcoming. It’s a place where they feel connected to their family.

And there was something really beautiful about that when I thought about it.

Even though they were eloping and weren’t having a traditional wedding with a big guest list, they were surrounded by family in a different way.

They had plenty of “guests” there with them.

I also asked if they had all the necessary permissions to hold their ceremony there, and they assured me they did.

Once I knew everything was approved, my response was:

HECK YEAH, I’M IN!

How cool is this going to be?

We worked out all the details, and then the wedding day arrived.

Except... the plan changed.

What was originally supposed to be a couples photoshoot after the ceremony turned into getting-ready photos, the ceremony itself, and couples portraits afterward.

And honestly, I couldn’t have been happier about it.

The wedding started at 6:40 PM and wrapped up around 7:10 PM. After the ceremony, we grabbed some extra gear because the sunset was already in full force, and we started taking their portraits around 7:20 PM.

From there, we photographed until the light was completely gone.

And WOW.

The fall colors mixed with that perfect sunset created an absolutely incredible backdrop for these two. The colors, the light, the location, the weather, and most importantly, the couple themselves all came together to make this such a perfect day for photos.

These two were amazing from start to finish, and I’m so grateful I got to be there to document their wedding day and the beginning of this next chapter together.

There’s something pretty special about being trusted to document a wedding day in a place that is so different from the traditional wedding venue.

It was intimate, unique, a little unconventional, deeply personal, and completely them.

And that’s one of the reasons I love photography so much.

You never really know where it’s going to take you.

So let’s show this amazing couple some love as they start their journey together. We hope you’ll all join us in wishing them a lifetime of happiness, love, adventures, and beautiful memories together.

Congratulations to you both!

09/23/2026

Alex and Auryn have been friends of mine for many years, so I was incredibly honored when they asked if I would capture the moments from their wedding day while also getting to celebrate alongside them as a guest.

Their wedding took place at Auryn’s dad’s house, and after a week of rain, there was some concern that the ceremony might have to move indoors. Thankfully, the day turned out beautifully.

When I arrived, I found myself working with a bit of wind and a completely backlit setting with the sun behind the ceremony. I wanted to preserve those incredible blue skies and clouds while still lighting Alex and Auryn beautifully, so I set up 1,400 watts of flash to balance the bright sky and create some beautiful light for the ceremony and family photos.

After the ceremony, we headed to Helen Schuler Nature Centre, where we captured the bridal party and couples photos in some absolutely beautiful fall weather. The sun was hitting everything just right, and the colors and scenery made the perfect backdrop.

Looking through these images, you can see just how perfect these two are for each other. The love between them was obvious, and it was incredible to see how much love surrounded them throughout the entire day.

From there, we headed to Paradise Canyon Golf Resort for the reception, where we enjoyed a great dinner, speeches, games, and plenty of dancing. It was an absolute blast from beginning to end.

Alex and Auryn, thank you for trusting me to capture such an important day and for allowing me to be part of it in both a professional and personal way. It was an honor to be there with you.

Make sure to show this newlywed couple some love by liking, commenting, and sharing!

09/14/2026

Justin and his family are some of the nicest people I know, and I’m so grateful I had the chance to spend an evening photographing them.

A little while back, I was having some trouble with my 3D printer, and Justin generously offered to take a look at it and do his best to get it working again. He was incredibly kind and refused to let me pay him for his help, so I offered to return the favor with a family photoshoot.

They took me up on the offer, and his wife had a wonderful idea: photos in their backyard during blue hour, around the fire pit, with the new string lights they had recently hung to create some beautiful ambiance.

When I arrived, we quickly realized the lights were a little too high to really make it into the shots the way we had envisioned. But honestly, that ended up being just fine. Their backyard is a very special place for their family and where they spend so much of their time together, so it became the perfect setting for their family photography session.

It was a beautiful evening, but blue hour waits for no one. I had to move quickly to make the most of that short window of beautiful evening light. That said we captured some genuine family moments, and I’m really happy with what we came up with.

Thank you again to Justin and his family for trusting me to capture these memories. I hope everyone enjoys the photos as much as I enjoyed creating them.

09/11/2026

When family asks for a professional headshot, of course you step up and help.

My sister Kelli Ane works in the insurance industry, and she is very good at what she does. She had been using the same photo for quite some time and really wanted an updated, professional headshot that better represented her and the professional she is today.

So, when your sister asks for help, you set everything up, go to work.

We kept things quick and simple. We captured a few different looks that she liked, then she was kind enough to help me take everything down afterward.

This was the photo she loved the most, and I can certainly see why. It captures her confidence and professionalism while still feeling like her.

It was a pleasure photographing my sister and creating a professional business headshot that she feels confident using for her work.

We hope you enjoy it as much as she does.

If you are in need of an updated professional headshot for your business, career, LinkedIn profile, or personal brand, I would love to help create an image that represents you and what you do.

09/09/2026

I recently had the opertunity to connect and photograph my cousin, Debi Watson, for some new headshots, and I couldn’t resist taking the opportunity to introduce you to the wonderful work she does.

Debi is the person behind Artful Mindful Playful Counselling, where she provides compassionate, creative counselling for adults who may be feeling stuck, overwhelmed, anxious, disconnected, or simply looking for support as they navigate life’s challenges.

Her areas of focus include trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic pain and neurodivergence. Her approach is warm, curious, creative, and person-centered, with an emphasis on creating a safe space for people to better understand themselves and work toward meaningful change.

I’m proud to call her my cousin, and it was a real pleasure to capture the person behind the practice through these portraits.

If you or someone you know is looking for a counsellor who brings compassion, creativity, and a genuinely thoughtful approach to her work, be sure to check out Artful Mindful Playful Counselling.

https://www.artfulmindfulplayful.com/contact

09/07/2026

I’ve been going to Tyler for haircuts for years, so when he reached out and asked if I’d be available to photograph Old Soul Barbers again and help introduce a new barber to the Lethbridge community, I was more than happy to oblige.

If you’ve never been inside Old Soul, it’s a whole lot more than just a barbershop.

There’s an authentic, old-school atmosphere throughout the space, with wooden floors, custom products made in-house, chandeliers, skulls, artwork, a bear head on the wall, and plenty of character in between. It’s the kind of place where you can look around and find something interesting in every corner.

And yes, there’s actually a bar in the barbershop. You can grab a b**r while you wait, or enjoy a pop, or snack. They’ve also built their own Old Soul clothing and grooming product line, so they really do have a little bit of everything under one roof.

But what stands out most is the people. Tyler and his crew have created a genuine, welcoming barbershop atmosphere where the conversation is good, the craftsmanship is taken seriously, and the smiles are free.

I had a great time photographing the shop and meeting the newest addition to the Old Soul team. If you’re looking for a fresh haircut, beard trim, or just want to experience one of Lethbridge’s most unique barbershops, go check out Old Soul Barbers.

Stay wild. Look sharp.

09/04/2026

It is with heavy hearts that we let everyone know that our friend Jeff has passed away.

Many years ago, I noticed that Jeff’s garage door was open and he and his son, Dan, were working on a car. I walked over, said hi, and told them that one day I would love to learn how to do what they were doing.

Right then and there, I think Jeff and I became friends.

He told me to grab a wrench and that they would tell me what to do. From that day on, whenever they were out there wrenching, I was invited to join. Jeff always had a project on the go, and over the years, we fixed and built a lot of things together. We replaced a transmission, took apart and rebuilt a quad engine, pulled an entire engine out of a vehicle, rebuilt front suspensions, replaced gas lines, and so much more.

When it comes to fixing things, 99% of what I know, I learned from Jeff. I am incredibly blessed to have had him as a friend and to have learned so much from him.

Jeff was also the one who taught me how to ride a motorbike — something my mom was never too keen on, haha. He helped me purchase my first bike and even helped me get my tool chests home with his flatbed.

That was Jeff. He was a man of action. He didn’t need to talk about doing something; he just did it. And when he did talk, he always seemed to have the perfect one-liner that could crack up an entire room. He had a spunkiness and personality that naturally drew people toward him.

From the day I met Jeff, he had been battling cancer. But you would never have known it by the way he carried himself. He faced life with a strength and determination that I will always admire.

Last week, Jeff reached out to me. His health had declined significantly over the years, and he told me he felt that his time might be drawing near. He wanted to have some family photos taken, along with a new headshot, just in case.

Jeff and his family came over on Sunday, and we were able to make those photos happen for him.

Two days later, Jeff sadly and peacefully passed away, surrounded by the people who loved him.

Jeff will forever be missed by his family and friends. We will remember him with every vehicle repair, every motorbike ride, every project, and every witty one-liner that makes us laugh and reminds us of him.

His presence in our lives made our lives better. I hope that we can all carry a little bit of what he taught us forward and live up to the example he set.

Farewell for now, my friend. I know your up in heaven riding motorcycles fast and fixing wrenching fixing everything your heart desires.

Rest easy, Jeff. You will never be forgotten.

09/01/2026

Amy reached out recently and said she had gone long enough since her last photoshoot with us. She told us that everyone absolutely loves the photos from their last session and how they have so many of them proudly displayed around their home. But, like it does for all of us, life got busy.

She blinked, and somehow her beautiful kids had grown up so much.

With the new school year just around the corner, Amy was hoping we could squeeze in a family photoshoot before the kids headed back. She wanted to try something a little different this time and suggested Park Lake because she was hoping to capture some fun family photos in the water.

Of course, before we got everyone soaking wet, I had another idea.

I suggested we start with some beautiful backlit family portraits surrounded by tall grass and that gorgeous late-summer light. Then we could head down to the water afterward because, as we all know, once you're wet, there really isn't any going back.

So we braved the mosquitoes, made the most of the beautiful evening light, and captured some amazing family photos before heading into the water for plenty of splashing, laughing, and fun.

I have a feeling those water photos are going to be some of the most special images from their session. But I'll let Amy share the ones she loves most from that part of their adventure.

For now, we hope you love these little teasers from their Park Lake family photography session as much as we do.

And if you've been thinking, "I really need to update our family photos," take this as your sign. Kids grow incredibly fast, and sometimes those years between photoshoots disappear before we even realize it.

08/30/2026

Jillian Eaves, Amber, and I go way back to when I first started my photography journey. These two have always been some of my fav people to work with. They are incredibly professional, genuinely kind, and the kind of people who make you feel like friends and family almost immediately.

So when Jillian reached out and asked if I had time for a few quick mother-daughter photos while Amber was home for the weekend, I knew I wanted to make it happen. Some sessions are just too special to pass up.

Now that I’m a dad myself, I get to see firsthand just how important and amazing those family relationships can be. That bond between a mother and daughter truly shines through in these images.

Jillian and Amber have the kind of connection that makes photographing them so much fun. They aren’t afraid to be goofy, laugh, have fun, and simply be themselves. I think that’s exactly what makes these photos so beautiful.

These aren’t just portraits. They’re little pieces of a relationship that will hopefully be looked back on and treasured for many years to come.

It was so good seeing you both again. Thank you for trusting me to capture these moments.

08/30/2026