French Touch Photography Wedding Photographer Based in Rochester, MN

You’re likely to read this because you’ve recently become engaged. Congrats! Now, you are making wedding plans and you’re in need of a good photographer. But you have certain expectations… Well, voilà! Your search is over!

Table of Contents

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Meet Alex the human behind the photographs

As someone who is married, I perfectly understand all the pressures, the stress and the time consuming aspect that come with a wedding.
That’s why, in addition to the most important part of my job (which is to capture outstanding candid and artistic shots), the second most important part of this job is to make you feel comfortable, so you not worry about the photographs being taken on your big day!

I make the entire process easy and efficient for you. I’m actually someone you can rely on, with whom your guests will be comfortable around, and who won’t be an annoyance.

I have 2 Degrees and a background in artistic and fashion

I have a background in fashion and artistic photography, as well as 2 photography degrees.
I began my career in France, while I was a student in Paris. One of my degrees comes from a University, and another in a France-based art school (ENSAD). I have conducted several international exhibitions (maybe one soon here). I worked in the advertising and fashion industries for 7 years, as well as taught photography at a College school in Paris.

I’m More Than Just a Regular Wedding Photographer.

Taking portraits for families, lifetime events, such as the husband and wife getting married are great, but is only one aspect of my work in the Cities. Beside that I also to real estate, headshots, newborn, pack shots, products, commercial photography.

I Guarantee you a Great Experience

It’s my eight years living in the North State, with a total of 19 years of wedding photography resource. I’ll be pleased to provide high quality service for couples who ask more than a conventional cliché.

I want you to have the greatest experience (prior, during, and afterward).  Indeed, I believed you should not be stressed with us we follow you around. We want your day to be memorable, and I want the images I take to be hung on your wall or inside a wedding album, so you can relive those moments for the rest of your life!

I provide you with support

With more than 19 years in weddings, I have seen a lot of unexpected situations, and also their solutions. Therefore, the day of your marriage, I would more than happy to help and support you as I can. There are always some tiny details that you haven’t planned.

• You don’t know how to pin this boutonniere?
• For some reason, your desired location is not available anymore?
• It’s raining, or we are simply running late?

I help you building your Timeline

As smooth reception is usually the result of a meticulous preparation ahead.

A well design timeline will offer you enough time to face any situation.

That’s why, in addition to our first in-person meeting, I will help you create a valuable time line, entering in every detail.

I Operate with Discretion

During your ceremony, I remain quiet. I do not interfere (too much) and I m almost unnoticed.
My job is to catch true emotion. For that purpose, I operate like a ninja and bring tons of clichés.

What Clients think of us: check our Reviews

Don’t trust me on my words, but go online and check what are my past verified clients saying about me and how I handle my business. It’s free, it will only take you for a few minutes and it’s a good way to reassure you in your planning process!

French Touch Photography

1408 20th Avenue Northeast, Rochester

5.0 52 reviews

• Brittany Campbell ★★★★★ 5 months ago
  Alex is amazing and very talented! He was wonderful to work with for our engagement photos and on our wedding day. He was very flexible and really helped make our wedding memorable. He knew exactly what would look good and executed it perfectly! He also took a great mix of creative and candid shots, which we really appreciated. He was friendly, funny, and professional! Our family and friends loved him. It was honestly such a joy having Alex as our photographer and we can't recommend him enough!
• Richard Evans ★★★★★ 8 months ago
  Looking through hundreds of wedding photographers I came across French touch and took a look through his work, not only was I impressed I was stunned at the beauty of it. I saw the price and was worried because of everything else going on and didn't know how I could afford him being our wedding photographer. Long story short I found a way and don't regret it 1 bit. I'm not the easiest guy to work with and not very photogenic, but Alex was awesome and got so many beautiful photos of our wedding and being as its a "we're only doing this once" kind of event it was well worth the price. If you want a photographer that goes way above and beyond to help the bride and groom, then this is your guy. Again I have no regrets and am so happy I hired French touch photography. Thank you Alex for everything and hope we keep in touch.
• Hugo Guan ★★★★★ 6 months ago
  To start off, Alex is a wonderful photographer to work with! He's hard working and dedicated, talented, and can occasionally throw in a joke or two! We originally met him to do our engagement photo shoot in the fall and we really liked the way his pictures came out.
  We decided to go with him again for our wedding and he did another terrific job! We had a somewhat complicated wedding as it spanned multiple days and many events and he showed up on time for each occasion even though he lives farther away from the Twin Cities. He was also flexible and helped us customize a wedding package that fit our specific needs since we had multiple events.
  An area where I thought he went above and beyond was he spent time setting up a stage and then taking photos of us with many different groups of family and friends. I haven't seen other wedding photographers do this before but we really appreciated it since we now have high quality pictures of us with all our different guest groups!
  Overall, Alex is a great guy to work with and we really appreciate the time he spent with us!

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Why do we include an Engagement Session in our packages?

You Need to Feel at Your Ease in front of our camera.

To me, wedding photography is contingent on human relation. Indeed, you must be comfortable with the guy following you to take your portrait !
Some people flourish when a camera is pointed at them, while others go shy as soon as they see a lens.

My approach is to make people feel at ease knowing they’re having their portrait captured. That’s why I include an engagement shoot in all my packages. As a matter of fact, it’s the best way to get to know your photographer better prior to your big day.

You Discover the Technics We Use to Get Authentic Smiles

We avoid cheesy smile. Instead we prefer having your laughing for real. Therefore we make jokes, asking you to do things, having you playing little games.

Thus, on your marriage’s day, you should not have any inhibitions. In most cases, that’s all I need from you to catch your natural reactions and expressions.
While we are taking pictures, we become acquainted with one another. And by the time it’s over, I (hopefully) win over your entire trust.

It’s Also a Way for You to validate your vendor.

Being a part of this occasion is something very special. Because it means that for 10 hours or more, I literally enter in the people’s lives, and meet all their family! I catch many intense moments! So in a way, I share those moments with you.

That’s why it is so important to see if it matches between us. And if for any reason, you made the wrong choice and you are not satisfied with our services, you can end the contract and have your money back and hire another vendor.

Pretty fair, isn’t it?

When, How and Where to Plan Your Engagement Session

When?

It usually takes place several months prior to the celebration so you can use the pictures for the save-the-date cards.

What the process?

• Before the shoot we discuss together several points, such as location and outfits.
• We shoot your pictures.
• Several days after the, we deliver the first pictures, and the remaining a few weeks after.
• At this point, if you’re not happy with my style, you’re under no obligation. You can simply break the contract and hire another vendor.

Where: Somewhere in the Olmsted County

Your pre-wedding portraits can take place in the Med City (check the best spots also used by families) or anywhere else in Minnesota. It’s a location, you fill confident in front of the camera.

For instance, the cityscape as a backdrop (or just downtown) can be gorgeous. When you think of historic buildings, other gorgeous place that comes in mind is the Assis Heights, St. Mary’s Hospital or the Mayo wood Mansion. Unfortunately, those places usually doesn’t allow us to take pictures. But luckily, we have a tone of options.

Downtown for Historic Building

For example, we could use the old The Plummer Building and its gorgeous doors (next to the Khaler Grand Hotel and the Mitchell Student Center). Some people would like the Historic Chateau Theatre on Peace Plaza. We can also use the 3rd St SW with lots of little shops (ThaiPop, the Tap House and its string lights, the red brick of the former Half Round Barrel).

We should also mention the Plummer House Located in the Historic Southwest?

Parks

If you prefer the Minnesota outside environment, I can suggest you several famous parks.

• First, Quarry Hill with its lake, forest, high grass and beautiful rocks.
• Secondly, Oxbow Park with its zoo, its rivers, its grassland and pine forest.
• Thirdly, Chester Woods Park with its big lake and hills all around.

There are a lot of other parks we can use Silver Lake Park and its skate park, the Zumbro River shore, Soldiers Field Golf Course, the Essex Park, Central Park, the Victorian Heritage House, just to name a few.

Rooftop

Coming from France, I am a big fan of (parking) Rooftop, they give a feeling of a big city. OK, it’s not Chicago or NYC, but, still, the few options downtown are great. We can see the Mayo Clinic buildings, or even the Kahler Grand Hotel sign.

Downtown for Modern Architecture

Thanks to the Mayo Clinic, the Med City is a pretty dynamic town, and abounds in new buildings.
Think about the Gonda Building, the Rochester Public Library, the RAC (Art Center), the Siebens Building or the One brand new Discovery Square just to name a few.
Those glass buildings bring a touch of modernity.

Check my Portfolio

Prior to anything, I strongly encourage you to go through my portfolio. Yes, it takes time. But photos matter: it is what will last forever!
I have separated my portfolio on a pair of sections. First, one shows pictures categorized into themes (candid, details, bridal preparation, etc.).

The second part is comprised of real featured real “entire” weddings. Each gallery gives you an idea of what to expect by hiring me.

Creative, Artistic and Timeless

My style is a mix of different things. While I mostly capture true timeless candid shots, I also like to stage artistic and creative images. Those are breathtaking composition that just illustrates how much you love each other.

More images

A Photojournalist Approach

I photography not only the bride and the groom but also the guest!

Many photographers only take shots of the couple being wed. Your wedding album should be full of everyone and everything involved that special day. As such, I concentrate on taking pictures of friends, siblings, parents, and everyone else present. You’ll have an abundance of photos of your bridesmaids, groomsmen, siblings, parents, and everyone else. I take candid photos and capture the emotion felt by all your guests.

That’s why I also focus on relatives, friends, and all present people. Of course, you will have a lot of pictures that show the complicity between you and your bridesmaids and best men. My photographs reflect your guest’s character.

You will also have pictures of your parents and your siblings. For instance, I may capture your mother’s stress during the preparations, or even your father who cries when he walks along the church alley with you. I also like taking grandparents in pictures. Most of the time they are quiet people, who don’t make a lot of noise, but if you look carefully, they are very happy, funny and proud, to share your wedding.

But what I like the most, it is those unexpected pictures that show what is really unique.

You may Rediscover Through our Photography Some Unknown Moment.

Often, the newly married tell me that the photos revealed things they weren’t aware of. I’m in many places while I shoot. On the day of your marriage, everyone solicit you, and you probably don’t have a minute to yourself. While this is happening, I’m moving around capturing genuine moments. You can trust me to take as many unanticipated photos as possible.

What kind of genuine moment?

• Your groomsman starting a conversation with a lady.
• Your friends secretly repeating their surprise choreography.
• The attitude in the face and in the eyes of your mother looking at your father making jokes.
• Your grandma gossiping something.
  
  I mostly capture happy moments, but I also like to take unexpected moments that could be funnier.

Our Photo Books

Top Quality Wedding Albums

I provide clients with the best wedding albums to protect their memories. Indeed, the proper way to present this story is through an album. Wedding books are watched as movies telling your family’s story. They are awesome hand made albums part your heirloom. They can last for many generations.

A Layout Telling a Story

You pick the files you prefer. We are storytellers, so we design the layouts so they tell a story, your history.

The Guest Book

Guest Book albums are alternative to traditional guest book, allowing your guest to sign it.

The Mini Gift Book

Those mini albums are ideal gift to thanks people you love such as bridal party.

Learn more about our Albums

Our Wedding Photography vs. Others?

As a photographer, I know how to capture the family’s portraits and candid shots showing the true personality of your relatives.
But all photographers say the same thing! So, what make our artwork unique?

Our 10-hour package

A traditional Wedding Photographer would come for the ceremony might take a few group shots, a short photo session with you, and he would probably leave after the cocktail opening (or at least, he would not stay until the ball opening nor the cake cutting). You would have some very conventional pictures, but you won’t have your entire wedding story told, and you won’t have authentic moments. Well, it used to be this for one century, and everyone was happy.

But now, due to “recent” evolution of technology, a new way of taking pictures appeared in weddings. Taking candid moments for 10 hours brings much more powerful pictures, full of emotions, true and authentic feeling. This truth is what allows your story to resist the times. Real and authentic art, past the times with no wrinkle.

That is why I offer full-day coverage that starts your story at the beginning of your preparation. You will receive pictures from your getting ready until night, when you have already danced for a while!

10 hours of Coverages

To cover your entire event from A to Z.

All the Digital Files in HD

You receive all your files retouched, in HD, with a personal right released.

Photo-Booth

You want your guests to keep a souvenir from your wedding?

I offer an elegant photo-booth with unlimited prints.

A Trash the Dress Session

For people who want to have an amazing photo shoot with no limit of time. It’s a good opportunity to drive a couple of hours away to the north to enjoy an amazing location! Such sessions are pure pleasure and offer unforgettable memories.

Learn more

The wedding venues we love in Rochester, MN

Here is a list of the venues we have covered.

• The Mayowood Stone Barn
• The J.Powers at the Hilton
• Rochester Marriott Mayo Clinic Area
• the Kahler Grand Hotel
• The Plummer House
• The Graham Park
• The Blue Moon Ballroom
• Studio 324
• Rochester Golf & Country Club
• The Steeplechase Event Center
• The Pond View Barn