Andrew and Cambria Wedding Portraits in Mankato MN

Andrew and Cambria’s wedding took place in Mankato, MN. Since they live on the East Coast, they contacted me through the internet. The connection was immediate, and I knew they would be at ease in front of my camera. They were looking for the best and affordable photographer, that could capture in albums, not only their ceremony, but every single moment of their big day. We chatted a lot and exchanged many emails during their planning, trying to figure out what would be the perfect timeline and the best locations to go.

Photojournalism coverage reflecting the husband and wife’s special day through candid portraits

The bride and the groom were getting ready at their wedding venue, the Courtyard by Marriott.

When I arrived, the girls’ room was such a clutter! Food and soda from the previous night covered the tables. There was open luggage everywhere on the floor. I immediately had the feeling of being on vacation with my friends.

In a way, that’s exactly what this wedding was. All the girls were relatives or high school friends, and hadn’t seen each other for a long period. This weekend was for them a great opportunity to party together. That’s what they came for, and they didn’t waste a single night, starting from the rehearsal dinner! From my personal point of view, that’s exactly what all weddings should look like.

On the contrary, from a professional photographer’s point of view, I would probably prefer a bride who gets to bed early, waking up with her batteries fully charged, and a clean room. Every object (wedding rings, dress, veil, save the date card) would be ready for the photographer. That actually helps me capture beautiful portraits.

Obviously, Cambria and her friends were closer to my personal preferences. I can’t blame them for that, and I tried to capture this happy messy preparation through candid shots.

A Geek Squad

While I was taking pictures of details, I started to realize that I was facing an authentic geek team! They used multi-sided red dice as part of the decoration. What’s more, the bride gifted each of her bridesmaids with daggers, while she would carry a long Celtic sword in front of the pastor!

The Groom and the Groomsmen

It was the same for Andrew and his groomsmen! The team had, in surprising complicity, painted their big toes red (red being the color of the wedding) and drawn a mustache on top. Actually, all the guys let their mustaches grow for the wedding, in order to present handlebar mustaches! The groom offered all his groomsmen a leather bag, handmade in medieval style.

One detail made me smile. The groom was wearing red Converse with his suit. I did the same for my wedding.

An epic wedding with both families united in front of my camera at the Minneopa falls

As a Twin Cities wedding photographer, I was happy to discover a new location: Minneopa State Park and its falls. That’s indeed the place that the bride and the groom chose to host their ceremony under the covered shelter. They hadn’t seen each other since the day before, and were both pretty nervous. The decoration was pretty uncommon. They used car trees and decorated them with a mini Darth Vader, a Doctor Who phone booth, and Stitch (from the Disney movie). On the other side stood a large bird cage with a red dragon. The officiant was the groom’s uncle. The flower girl was to hold a kind of spartan lance, while the ring bearer had a lightsaber.

The uncle’s speech was great. He was very invested, managing to bring life to religious text. It was an intense moment.

The groom and the bride were obviously very emotional! After they exchanged their rings, they suddenly became much more relaxed!

After the union, we enjoyed the park to take some bridal party pictures before heading to the venue. We actually didn’t have much time left to enjoy the state park and the falls that photographers love so much!

Wedding Reception at the Courtyard by Marriott in Mankato

It was a family reception. The bridal party all stood on a stage, where a long table was set, facing the guests. The couple also managed to bring their universe into the reception. There were some big inflatable dice to play role-playing games. The bride and groom also had a special dance for their guests. The groom played a ukulele song for his beloved. It was at the same time romantic and funny. Finally, their wedding cake was also decorated with all kinds of characters (dragons, Star Trek figures, wizards, monitors, a Millennium Falcon, and much more).

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After the wedding

Some pictures that bring satisfaction to every generation

After the wedding, the father of the bride (who was also a professional photographer) sent me messages to thank me. It is not often that parents take the time to do so, and I highly appreciated it. While it was clearly a wedding organized by a group of great friends who wanted to showcase their universe, the photography satisfied everyone. From the improbable bridal party stage picture to the more classical family picture.

Photo Book to Secure the Memories

Keeping all those pictures on a hard drive would not make sense. That’s why Cambria and Andrew decided to print their albums. Indeed, contrary to videographers, photographers have the possibility to print pictures that will last for centuries. If today, your memory is still fresh, for many years, it’s the photos that will help you relive this piece of life, telling your story.

Art of Portraiture. Yes, I also do seniors, maternity, headshots, real estate, etc.

Do I do other photography than engagement sessions? Yes, like photographers based in Rochester, MN, I do real estate everywhere in Minnesota. But that’s not all, I also take family photos, maternity portraits, and high school senior portraits. I offer a large variety of portrait sessions! I am happy to tell people living in Mankato, Eagle Lake, New Ulm, and Skyline that I’m totally used to driving (most of my clients live in Minneapolis or Southern MN). Indeed, I am not afraid of driving miles when I find the wedding photos would be perfect. For instance, I have already driven to Duluth for a wedding that looked fun!

About Video for Wedding in MN

Videography is able to reveal another side of your personality. That’s why I proudly offer photography and videography packages with professional partners. Video from your engagement session to the after-day photo shoot will offer sublime images in movement.

Indeed, I believe photo and video are two different approaches. In order to provide only the best quality, I offer only photography services.

Why I always include a pre-wedding session

As an advertising photographer based in Rochester, MN, I travel all over Minnesota to capture your true personality. Indeed, I believe a relaxed engagement session is the best way to put people at ease while they have their portraits taken. Indeed, people do have inhibitions that I can work on! It’s very important to know your professional photographer prior to your event in order to have a great experience. If you feel more comfortable with your sister or best friend, I allow you to come with third parties during sessions. And if it’s a destination wedding and you don’t live in the state, I would be happy to travel. For instance, I recently went to cover an engagement in Rhode Island! I love to travel to new destinations!

Conclusion

I was so happy to record Cambria and Andrew’s story. There were a lot of beautiful true moments. If you love my work, please contact me and let’s set up a first consultation. It could take place close to your home, in Rochester, or in Minneapolis. I am available most weekdays after business hours.