French Touch Photography: Professional Wedding Photographer in St Paul, Mn
For you, wedding photography really matters. You want to keep authentic pictures of your wedding day, and you want every moment of it, every detail, to be recorded. You desire quality, and you don’t want to be stressed in front of the camera when you become husband and wife. You are looking for a photographer with a variety of skills whom you can rely on. You prefer a simple but complete package, including much more than a ceremony covered!
You need an engagement session, your full day, and several photo books at a fair price. You wish for an open-minded photographer with whom you can share your wedding plans and who can use his 20 years of experience in wedding photography to offer you the most appropriate solutions for your wedding day in Saint Paul.
Well, welcome! I hope it will begin a long story; I hope my prints will hang on your house wall (near your kid’s poster), and your library will be full of family books.
story;
We want to keep authentic pictures of your wedding and YOU want every blink of it, every detail and emotion to be recorded!
Table of Contents
Let Me Introduce myself as Your Professional Wedding Photographer in Saint Paul, MN.
I have picked the name “French Touch Photography” to remind myself of some characteristics usually associated with French heritage culture: elegance, sophistication, being well-designed, the power of truth, and luxury service. As you have probably guessed, I am French. I hope you won’t leave after this terrible confession!
I have a consequent artistic and fashion background.
Simplicity is Quality
Preparing for a wedding is time-consuming! You have many details to deal with and different vendors to hire. You also want someone awesome, and a simple photography package (and a fair rate would be better). Thus, I am happy to announce to you that my first package includes the full-day reportage of your wedding (from the early morning to the dance party on the dance floor), all images free of rights, a pre-wedding session, and much more (see details in the investment web page).
The Essence of Photography
I believe in truth and the power of veracity inherent to photography that underlines the authenticity of life. I am convinced that a pure instant captured into a beautiful picture will pass through the ages without getting “has been” or “kitschy.”
Documentary quality makes your picture timeless. Real art is immortal because it is deeply true, unlike a trend effect that changes every decade.
Indeed, if you look back at the last 10 years in wedding photography, you can see old trends are no longer in vogue now! When I write this, I think about those ugly black-and-white photographs with only one part in color and all those vintage Instagram effects.
Today, the trend is to take photographs looking like Argentic films. This style is quite easy, and I don’t follow it. What I do believe is that a passionate kiss, lovers looking to each other with complicity, or a real laugh between couples, guests, bridal party, or officiant, are true and strong portraits! And this will never be an old trend.
Of course, I capture all the expected and conventional moments in photography (dress, ritual, couple, family, dance, wedding cake), but also all the occasions off the record, all the unexpected instants. And those heartbeats are what will make your wedding unique and authentic.
Those snapshots require long experience, and they are the most difficult to catch.
I believe that photography, since its creation, has had a tremendous power: it testifies and documents personalities. That is its strongest force, and this is what I intend to explore through my photo. I work like a photojournalist: I capture each ephemeron of your wedding in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and I create meaningful souvenirs for life.
Discretion during photography coverage
When you turn a wife, you want a professional photographer to capture a variety of genuine memories quietly. That’s not to apply only to the ceremony but also to the preparation of the cocktail. Indeed, when people show me, they act differently, and we lose authenticity. Also, silence and discretion are some of the keywords for weddings I photograph.
Why would I be different from other wedding photographers in Saint Paul, MN?
I understand that finding the perfect wedding photographer in MN could be difficult for a bride-to-be (who has probably never faced a professional camera before). Indeed, there are many photography services, and they all pretend to do a very good job with amazing value, stunning joy, vibrant colors, and, of course, the best wedding photography packages!
Don’t trust a man on his words but on his pics.
Minnesota is the 2nd state, having the highest ratio of photographers/population. Thus, when you hire a photographer for your photo session or wedding coverage, choose among a large variety of vendors and personalities. That’s great on paper.
However, when you compare the websites, you might feel that they all have the same description. Right?
The problem is that quality is, like romance, just a word. It’s something relatively subjective! It won’t mean the same for me and for someone else. So, the first thing I suggest you do is to look at your photographer’s online portfolio. Do you like his/her photos, or are they only “OK?”
The Only Way to Compare Wedding Photographers
Look at the result of an entire gallery! Indeed, it is “easy” for any lifestyle photographer to catch a few amazing pictures on a full day, but having 600 or 1200 good pics is much more difficult. Some professionals only focus on improving their portfolios with creative composition.
I do love artistic and cinematic pictures; I am proud of taking them, and I put these kinds of shots in my online portfolio. But they are not my priority. Furthermore, my priority is capturing the bride and the groom’s attitude, relatives, and guests. I try to have a good picture of each person.
I wish every guest could use one of my pics to set a new profile image on Facebook. What’s more, when you watch the pictures, ask yourself if every picture is well-edited. Is it handcrafted jobs or an automatic script? Do photographs look like fake HDR images (no dark or highlight), or are the skin tones realistic? Take care of people’s attitudes: are photographs caught in the right second?
How to define Quality in wedding photography
It is not just capturing the right instant, the right light, with the right frame!
The photojournalist approach
If I want to catch a candid and powerful instant (when the subject does not expect it), I fundamentally need one thing: that moment to happen! To do that, I stay quiet and present at the same time. As a photojournalist, I humbly testify by taking photographs, and I do not interfere; I do not take part in the action. While I remain discreet, I carefully look for each opportunity to capture images, to seize that spontaneous period of joy in an unobtrusive and journalistic way.
Dealing With All Kinds of Situations
One thing I have learned through 14 years of experience in weddings (and not only weddings) is that in photography, I should be ready to deal with every kind of situation, every kind of weather condition, and every kind of light. So, how could your photographer deal with your wedding venue in Saint Paul without light?
For a wedding photographer, anticipation and preparation are key to success.
Working With Two Cameras
You may think it’s just a technical point. But it is not. That’s a requirement for photographers who want to catch any unexpected moment. And believe it or not, running while carrying 30 pounds of photographic material on your back all day long necessitates a good physical condition!
Avoiding Cheese Poses
During the formal photo group session at the church, and all day long, you might have many prints that your dentist would be proud of (beautiful teeth). But that won’t be a major part. You might not always smile in candid photography. And they are so powerful! The natural image brings us back to the real moment of the wedding. Those bits are full of emotion: stress, tension, or laughs (depending on your mood). To sum up, a good photograph doesn’t need to be staged.
Styled Group Session
The group session is a fun moment with your relatives. Depending on your expectations, we can plan several groups: the bridal party and the family tradition of the portrait. If you and your beloved are OK to see each other before the church, it could be a relaxing moment to take some staged photos with your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Group shots can go very fast if people are present and if you have a clear list of types of photos you want. A good tip is to require the help of one member of your clan who knows almost everyone and who is energetic. Here again, preparation is the keyword for a wedding with minimal stress.
Family and Best Friends First
Family comes first, best friends second, and then all your friends and other guests. When I am working to cover weddings, I always start capturing the bride and the groom’s relatives. Then, I include the bridal party and the other guests. The moment I take the more candid shots is probably during the cocktail hours when people speak in the venue’s hall.
Creative Photography
I also provide you with creative photography. It’s the prints you will hang and be proud of for the coming years. Creative photography stays apart from traditional photography. The main challenge of creative photography is to be composed, with the help of the light, colors, and effects on the lens (using sunlight and studio flash techniques), a result that sublimely captures what you love. Creative work is all different regarding the couple, the mood, and the location. It showcases your love, capturing a stunning poetic cliché. I am proud to provide a creative photography service that makes your album unique.
Documenting a Wedding Under Pressure
The day passes very quickly. There are some moments, like the reception, where the wedding photographer has to work under pressure. He has to decide quickly to deal with some impromptu situations and make some last-minute adjustments.
When such a situation happens, one thing makes the difference: experience. It allows me to keep cool and not stress.
A high-value service before, during, and after your event
What do our affordable Packages include?
Besides an engagement session in the Twin Cities, our packages include, at an affordable price, a 10-hour coverage! All memories of your special day are in high definition, and personal rights have been released. But that’s not all! Because friends and fun matter, we also offer a Photo Booth!
We also include an intense pre-production service to help you plan your timeline!
Professionalism also means helping to plan your perfect wedding schedule.
I am present and reactive from the beginning of your wedding preparation, answering your questions and advising you. We have our first rendezvous, many email exchanges, phone calls, and additional rendezvous if needed. Finally, the event passes smoothly. After the wedding day, I am still active. I quickly provide the first proofs the week after, and then I deliver the final product a few days after. Finally, the period for the wedding books has come.
You need to feel your ease in front of the lens.
It is my job to make you feel at ease. Some people are afraid of the lens. Let me confess that I am, too! So, I know what it makes you feel. Each time my spouse wants us to take a selfie, she blames me for my frozen cheesy smile. That’s the way I am. If you want a natural smile of me, I need to warm up and a couple of minutes to forget I have my picture taken. That is one of the reasons why I consider it very important to cover your wedding from the beginning of the preparations, to have time to forget the camera.
So, where to go for your pre-wedding photo shoot?
What’s better than a photo session, to feel at ease with your lifestyle photographer? It’s the best way to get to know each other and trust your photographer in Saint Paul. That’s why it’s included in all my photography packages. So, where to go? Any place with lots of natural light should give an excellent result.
A few park in St Paul that works great:
- The Irvine Park
With its large fountain and oak trees, it’s a magnificent park. - The Mears Park
Pretty conveniently located, it adds a touch of greenery to a post-industrial background. - The Nina’s Café
It’s a historical building on Selby Avenue - The Harriet Island Regional Park
A huge park with a perfect view of the city skyline and of the river shore - The Capitol and the Cathedral of St Paul
Both massive buildings, whose architecture would work great for photos - The Como Park
With its conservatory (a big greenhouse), that’s probably the most famous spot for photo sessions in the Twin Cities. - The Indian Mounds
A less famous park with breathtaking views of the City - Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary
Probably the lesser-known park, but with huge potential
For more locations, I invite you to check the list I have done on the FAQ page. It doesn’t have to be in Saint Paul Downtown.
I mean that all these areas would work for me, like Edina, Eagan, Medina, Woodbury, Plymouth, Bloomington, Stillwater, Minnetonka, White Bear Lake, New Hope, Inver Grove Heights, or Maple Grove, Maplewood.
It can also be found in further locations such as Duluth, Wisconsin, Chicago, and Colorado.
And how should you dress for your engagement session in St Paul?
Being at ease in front of the camera is not enough for a successful photo session in Minnesota. Revealing your personality is not enough. You must coordinate your outfit and your colors. You must also take into consideration the weather, the location’s background, and your wall’s color (if you want to hang photos on your wall).
Does it seem complicated? Don’t worry, we will explain to you everything.
More than a client-vendor relationship, we advise you regarding your needs and personality
We help prepare a surprise proposal (once in a lifetime), outdoor celebrations (requiring some planning regarding the weather), and coaching for your engagement portraits. We do much more than just capture images of the event.
We are here to help you, support you, and guide you the best we can, so your experience will be better.
On this website, you will find a ton of Articles and resources.
Our Values
Like many Minneapolis wedding photographers, we love capturing all varieties of communities in front of our camera, such as LGBT weddings. Indeed, we believe love has no gender, and every couple is equal.
Our Luxury Wedding Albums to Tell Your Story
More than chronicling a husband and wife’s day, a wedding photographer is a storyteller transmitting memories for future generations. Through your image selection, I compose a wedding book with an elegant layout to show your event. The wedding book is not an obligation (I’m not the kind of photographer who tries to force a client), but I strongly recommend it. I don’t care if you do it with me or not: you have all the digital files. You can do it by yourself if you wish (if your uncle is a printer, for example), but just do it. It is the wedding album that really tells the story.
Indeed, shortly after the wedding, you might have watched a couple of times those stunning 1000–1200 cliches that I had delivered to you. But after a while, you will get tired of spending hours watching all those shots on this USB Drive (admitting that USB still exists in twenty years). The same for the video. Your wedding book is the only material thing that will stay with you for your entire life after your event.
It’s the book you will open to explain to your (grand-) children who is who in the picture.
High-End European wedding book
Let’s be honest with you: while living in the 10,000 Lakes state, I first checked all photography album makers in the United States (and around Saint Paul and the Twin Cities and further in the Midwest). Your wedding industry is very well developed and we can find almost all kinds of qualities.
Some US photographic laboratories offer some very nice wedding books, but they are either out of price, or they sell only cheaply printed ones. Moreover, I also wanted some gifts for your parents, and I want them to be delivered in Saint Paul. That’s why I chose a European photographic laboratory (which has a branch in the US) that does fine art excellence.
Therefore, I am happy to offer you and your parents the best of the best constituents and a large choice of well-designed wedding books.
The Venues we Love to work in St Paul, MN
The Landmark Center
It’s one of the most incredible historic buildings in Town. Its atrium is unique and elegant.
The Saint Paul Athletic Club
It’s another historical building with an awesome lobby (with a fireplace) and a majestic dining room with a balcony.
The Historic Concord Exchange
It’s a must and probably my favorite historic venue in St Paul. It has three floors, lots of rooms with different decorations.
The Como Park
Located downtown next to the Mears Park (pretty convenient for photos). We love its brick walls.
The Lowertown Event Center
Located downtown next to the Mears Park (pretty convenient for photos). We love its brick walls.
413 on Wacouta Event Center
This Charming old building is perfect for a small event. We especially love the rooftop access.
The University Club of Saint Paul
This Charming old building is perfect for a small event. We love the view of the Mississippi River, the old woodwork, and the ceiling.
The Summit Manor
Located on Summit Avenue, it’s one of the big houses that now serve as a wedding venue.
W.A. Frost and Company
Charming old restaurant located on Selby Ave St Paul.
Minnesota Boat Club
The Minnesota Boat Club has a great view of the city landscape, offering a good balance between natural and urban vibes.
Ready to hire us? Let’s Meet in a Coffee Shop in Saint Paul, MN
Like many Minneapolis wedding photographers, I am based in Rochester, but most of my portraits and events for families are taken in St Paul. And, if you wonder why a French guy lives in Med City, which is located in the middle of nowhere, yes, my beloved one works at the Mayo Clinic.
I would say that 90% of my client hold their wedding in a venue located in the State Capitol, a real metropolitan, or in the metro Suburb.
So as a lifestyle photographer, I am serving not only Minneapolis.
Therefore, I am totally used to driving miles on the highway in (almost) every forecast condition to share a coffee with you and learn more about your wedding! Speaking of weather, if your wedding is in winter and a storm is coming, don’t worry, I will book a hotel prior to your event. I cover weddings and other special events up to 60 miles around Saint Paul, MN, and Rochester, MN.
Choose St Paul Downtown to capture your wedding celebration.
I happily travel to the capital in order to cover the bride and the groom’s one lifetime union. I prefer weddings taking place in a nice mansion, or other historic buildings (with which I have a partnership). The old building is indeed photogenic, like the Summit Avenue, with the cathedral, the Capitol, Landmark Center, and the Saint Paul Public Library.
With no doubt, the Capital, its boulevard (Kellogg, Hamline, Dakota, Grand Avenue, Lyndale, Hennepin), the Mississippi River and its natural reserves on the riverfront, its lakes (Bear Lake, White Bear), its parks (Rice Park, Harriet Island, Inver Grove Heights) and its metro area (Bloomington, Stillwater, Maplewood, Edina, Burnsville, Burnsville, Roseville) have almost become my second hometown.
So, if you are looking for the best place to do a photo session in Saint Paul or looking for some funny ideas (like enjoying the State fair or the Winter Carnival), I am happy to recommend you some locations!
Extra Photography Services
Because you may wish more than just digital files of the D-Day, as your Saint Paul wedding photographer, I also offer some extra services for the bride and groom, such as
- Rehearsal
- Photobooths
- Trash the dress session
- Shoot-proof album
- Partnership for videography services.
To see all extra services available (such as photo sessions) from your Saint Paul photographer, look at the FAQ page.
Check our previous Reviews.
Were their families happy? Read our past clients’ reviews!
So, before hiring me, check my studio reviews. What do my past clients say about me? How was their experience? Indeed, great photography is mandatory, but great experience is as well. So, checking reviews is the only way to read between the lines. You can check my Google reviews, Facebook reviews, or Knot and Wedding Wire reviews.
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