TJ & Paul — North Loop Minneapolis wedding

As soon as I moved back to Minnesota, I knew I wanted to plan a Minneapolis wedding styled shoot in the Twin Cities. I’d spent years photographing the wild expanses of Western Washington, so it was about time to be challenged by an urban environment!

This shoot is the first of my “Four Corners Styled Shoot Series” an effort to rediscover my creative spirit + hone in on my photographic style through experimentation. Each of the four shoots dives into a different element: earth, water, fire and air.

For this dreamy urban styled shoot, I chose the word earth and — by extension — the idea of instinct, fun, grit, film, + shadows. I wanted this to feel a bit like paparazzi, to experiment with light and dark and embrace femininity in a more cold, urban environment.

The Shoot

TJ + her boyfriend Paul reached out to me early in July, and I knew right away they were the perfect models! They radiate positive energy and joy, and were so flexible and lovely the entire planning process. We started the day at their apartment, taking a few BTS photos while TDT Beauty did her magic. Then, we went to their rooftop for some epic skyline views before heading out to North Loop.

We explored the blocks neighboring The Neu Neu, a stunning urban Minneapolis wedding venue in the heart of the North Loop district (their bridal suite is to die for!). One of my favorite images is from the entryway to our parking garage, when TJ + Paul fell into a wild smooch under fluorescent lights. You’ll have to scroll to find it!

From there, we traveled a few blocks down to Gateway Park. This spot feels like you’re in the heart of New York City, with a gorgeous fountain and towering white arches. It was so much fun to shoot there.

All in all, I left this shoot feeling inspired and beyond happy. As a creative, it’s difficult to feel completely at ease leaving a shoot, but this was one of those special times it all came together.

The Vendors

I also worked with a few local wedding vendors to make this vision a reality.

The gorgeous Vagabond Bridal dress comes from a&bé bridal shop minneapolis. The sleeves of the Ventura gown are detachable, and we loved the ruching and neckline.

The romantic bouquet was crafted by the lovely Juniper Rose Floral. Crystal is such a skilled florist and went above and beyond my vision to create something truly magical. If you’re looking for a Minnesota florist, it doesn’t get better than her!

We also had the lovely Tamara from TDT Beauty join us for the shoot, creating a stunning, minimalist look on TJ that amplified her natural beauty. TJ couldn’t get over how light the makeup felt, and Tamara was kind enough to join us throughout the shoot to touch up her makeup and act as assistant. Everyone LOVED Tamara, and it was a joy to have her around!

And last but not least, the fabulous Kirstin from K Kay Designs provided the stunning engagement ring and stack rings.

I hope you enjoy looking through these photos! The shoot was such a breath of fresh air, and I loved every minute! If you’re in the process of planning your Minneapolis wedding, I’d love to be your photographer! Fill out the inquiry form on my website to receive a custom quote.

If you’d like to see more from this project, the other shoots are available here:

Urban North Loop Styled Wedding(Earth)

Black Beach Styled Elopement (Fire)

Woodsy River Wisconsin Elopement (Water)