Over the years, Shawna Coats has shot dozens of weddings in Banff, and she’s never had any problems until a few months ago.
The Calgary photographer received a letter in the mail saying she had essentially broken a Banff bylaw.
“She just informed me they had complaints from photographers in Banff, and for us to shoot up there we needed to pay for a $780 business licence,” says Coats.
The bylaw has been in place for years but has never seriously enforced until recently, after a couple local photographers complained.
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The Mayor of Banff says local photographers pay $140 less than non-residents.
“The thinking behind that is, we recognize our local business first and foremost. We welcome other business, there is just another fee if you want to do business here,” says Mayor Karen Sorenson.
The majority of the money collected goes to the Tourism Bureau to help promote the destination.
On Monday, a group of Calgary photographers will be coming to Banff to present a petition to town council that already has close to 400 names on it. The photographers are hoping to reach a compromise with council, but it’s going to take a lot to convince the Mayor that the bylaw needs changing. xDo you think professional photographers should have to get a licence to take pictures in Banff National Park?
“At this point I don’t I’m going to need to be convinced. This is not about Calgary photographers, it’s how we structure our bylaws,” says Sorenson.
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