wedding photojournalism

Christina And Trevor's Elegant Summer Wedding At The Van Dusen Mansion In Minneapolis MN / October 9, 2023 by Bradley Hanson

After photographing Christina and Trevor’s engagement photographs at Cedar Lake a few months prior, I felt very much at ease with them and the feeling seemed to be mutual as I quickly evaporated into the background while beginning with photographing them getting ready on the morning of their wedding. The entire day unfolded in one location, the timelessly elegant Van Dusen Mansion in south Minneapolis, just outside of Loring Park neighborhood.

Just after the outdoor ceremony, the couple had their first dance outside in the courtyard, which was a romantic introduction to the reception.

Despite monsoon level rains moments after the wedding ceremony outside, all of my memories of the day are of Christina and Trevor laughing and having a good time, and the photographs from the day reflect that joy. This was one of those weddings that left me feeling optimistic about the world. It was also one of those events were everywhere I pointed my camera, a photograph revealed itself.

“Bradley was the absolute GREATEST. He completely understood our vision for our engagement and wedding pictures and they turned out better than we could have ever imagined. He is a pure joy to work with and made every step so much fun. he captured our day perfectly and we are so thankful that he was part of it. Thank you, Bradley, a million times over!!!”

-Christina Bartingale and Trevor Becker

If you want to follow me on Instagram, I have two accounts: @bradleyhanson is my personal one, all square images from my iPhone since 2008. @bradleyhansonphotography is my professional portfolio, a mix of weddings, family and portraits, as well as black and white and color landscape images. If you are still reading this far, you’ve already figured out how to find my website…

I am a Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota based wedding photographer, specializing in documentary style weddings and Indian/Hindu weddings all over the world. To see more of my wedding work, click the wedding galleries under the portfolio heading. To inquire about my rates and availability, call me at 206-393-8292, email me at bradley@bradleyhanson.com or fill out the contact form (click the “contact” link on the top right above this paragraph).

Clara And Pete's Downtown Minneapolis Summer Elopement / September 15, 2023 by Bradley Hanson

I was hired to photograph Clara and Peter’s elopement, consisting of a few portraits near the Hewing Hotel, their civil ceremony at the Minneapolis Government Center, and an informal dinner at North Loop classic restaurant, Spoon and Stable. Rather than me carrying on with the usual superlatives, I’ll let the bride provide some insight. The wedding was a blast and I felt like I got a lot of great photographs in a short period (3 hours).

“Pete and I met in 2015 while both playing soccer at Macalester College in St. Paul! We had been dating for around 7 years before getting engaged.

Before even getting engaged, we discussed our ideal wedding scenario - great food, great (but small and intimate) company, and a quick and easy ceremony without any fluff.

The day was a perfect combination of putting energy into what was really valuable to us and then finding ways to let go of the relevant details. Who would have thought that things work out exactly how they are meant to :) “ - Clara Webby

Click any image to enlarge

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“Bradley was awesome! He made our more low-key courthouse elopement into a special day, and now we have incredible photos to look back on.” - Clara Webby

I am a Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota based wedding photographer, specializing in documentary style weddings, elopements, and Indian/Hindu weddings all over the world. To see more of my wedding work, click the wedding galleries under the portfolio heading. To inquire about my rates and availability, call me at 206-393-8292, email me at bradley@bradleyhanson.com or fill out the contact form (click the “contact” link on the top right above this paragraph).

I Was Featured In This Interview In Rangefinder Magazine About Silhouettes At Weddings / July 20, 2023 by Bradley Hanson

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I was just interviewed as a featured photographer for this article in Rangefinder Magazine about silhouettes at weddings. Apparently, they are now trending, so I was happy to share images from 2005 to today for the article. Full text and photographs in the link below.

While using a flash is the most reliable way to shoot silhouettes, it isn’t always required. Minnesota-based Bradley Hanson relies on available light and an eye for strong graphical elements. “I think I’m kind of wired to see things more abstractly,” he says. “I like things that are simple and clean, and exposing to turn people into shapes and make the background hot white is a way to simplify the composition.”

Hanson finds the graphical style of silhouettes especially useful in less than photogenic locations. “It’s those windowless basements where you have to push yourself to try to see things like silhouettes because the lighting is not good in a conventional sense,” he says. “You can take what could be perceived as bad light and make something out of it.”

There’s another kind of magic that promises to open up the possibilities of silhouette making even more. Though he hasn’t used it for any silhouettes, Bradley Hanson says he’s been experimenting with Lightroom’s new AI tools, which make it quick and easy to select subjects in an image and dial their exposure down to silhouette level.

The nice thing is that despite the brand spanking newness of the technology, the silhouettes it can be used to retain their timeless look. Hanson speaks for many photographers when he explains why silhouettes will remain part of his repertoire, whatever tools he may use to make them: “I want things to look classic and timeless and not to be screaming out the year that they were shot.”

https://www.rangefinderonline.com/wedding-portrait/weddings/trending-silhouettes/

Wedding Contest Winning Image For World's Best Wedding Photos "What Love Looks Like" / February 14, 2023 by Bradley Hanson

This photo of mine was just featured as a winning image in The World's Best Wedding Photos for their article on "What Love Looks Like." It's been an honor. To see more photographs from the article, you can click below. This photograph was at the beautiful Hewing Hotel in downtown Minneapolis, one of my favorite wedding venues anywhere.

Kelsey and Chase eloped at City Hall in Minneapolis and had a quick ceremony. This was their first look near the hotel just before then!

https://www.worldsbestweddingphotos.com/photography-contests-valentines-day-2023

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Maddie and Nick's New Year's Eve 70's Disco Theme Landmark Center Wedding RECEPTION in Saint Paul, MN / February 7, 2023 by Bradley Hanson

No getting ready, none of the formality, no wedding ceremony, just a fun, 1970s disco-themed reception at the lovely Landmark Center in downtown Saint Paul, MN.

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This was my last wedding in 2022. I’ve been taking a break from social media to catch up and renovate my website, but this wedding was a favorite of mine, so more images and text to come in the next few days.

Xandra And Ryan's Beautiful Outdoor Wisconsin Wedding at Hayvn At Hay River / October 26, 2022 by Bradley Hanson

Hayvn at Hay River in Wisconsin is a farm based venue owned by the bride, Xandra, and her family since 2019. Because of the pandemic, the grand opening was significantly delayed until recently. It’s tucked away in an area of Wisconsin with beautiful rolling hills, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. But during the wedding, it felt like the center of the universe because there were so many beautiful things to photograph in every direction.

Xandra is a graphic designer, and her vision for the venue is that it will feel like, as the name implies, a haven for a great day. From the venue: “Located just an hour from the Twin Cities area and 10 minutes from Menomonie, Hayvn at Hay River is nestled among picturesque rolling hills. Our newly renovated venue accommodates up to 225 guests and offers both indoor and outdoor locations to customize your day. The grounds allow plenty of space for lawn games, cocktails on the patio, bonfires and gorgeous views of the countryside. Come experience the tranquility of this unique property and let us help you create the wedding of your dreams!” For more information about the venue, click here.

I chose the example photos below to not only give one a sense of the couple, and what it was like to be at the wedding, but also to showcase some of the unique and beautiful things I loved about the venue. I can’t wait to come back…

Click any image to see it at a larger size.

Sarah And Peter's Lake Minnetonka Summer Boat Wedding In Minnesota / July 9, 2022 by Bradley Hanson

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Sarah and Peter got married on the Bella Vista cruise ship on Lake Minnetonka, after getting ready with the wedding party at the nearby Guest House in Excelsior on the main strip there.

From Sarah: “We have a love of travel and have learned to be spontaneous with it with Peter’s tricky pilots schedule. We take advantage however and whenever we are able. Our first trip ever as a couple after 1 month of dating was driving through a blizzard a few hours to Chicago to go to the Vincent Van Gogh exhibit. Next up was a week in Negril, Jamaica on a beach like lazy sea turtles and cliff jumping. And following that we packed a singular backpack, headed to the airport for our 5 year anniversary to jump on any flight stand-by that we’d be lucky enough to sit Delta One cabin. We ended up on the most romantic 48 hour trip to Paris and back. We landed in a rain storm, hopped on a bus straight to the Eiffel Tower and as we climbed the stairs amongst the first to arrive, the sun peaked through the clouds rewarding us for our journey. Museums, walking the hidden streets, lovely coffee, and home again. Knowing we have all our lives to add to our list of adventures.”

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Shortly after seeing their wedding images, Sarah and Peter left this review for me:

”Our experience with Bradley Hanson was exactly what we had sought out for our wedding. Besides being a perfect gentleman and a calm presence on our stressful excitable day, it was as if he disappeared into the rays of sun and captured the best moments of our day without barely even being noticed. His photos delicately but most ardently tell the story of our day, the hidden moments in between, and we are overwhelmed with joy and the love we see in each shot. Bradley’s unique vision for variety, use of lighting and photographic intent are unparalleled. A subtle genius.”

Wedding Contest Winning Image For World's Best Wedding Photos Silhouette Contest / March 27, 2022 by Bradley Hanson

minneapolis saint paul minnesota wedding photography photographer worlds best wedding photo silhouette contest — Guests during the wedding reception toast at a winery in Napa, CA

A favorite photo of mine was just selected as a winning photo by World's Best Wedding Photos and Rangefinder out of over 1500 worldwide entries for this contest on wedding silhouettes. It was taken with the Fujifilm X-Pro1 and the 14mm lens.

More images from the contest here:

https://www.worldsbestweddingphotos.com/photography-contests/30-best-wedding-silhouettes

Gina And Amanda's Elegant And Snowy Winter Wedding At The Hewing Hotel In Downtown Minneapolis / December 20, 2021 by Bradley Hanson

This was my last wedding of 2021 and easily one of the best.

Gina and Amanda got married at the elegant Hewing Hotel in the North Loop neighborhood of downtown Minneapolis. It was such a joy. They were amazing people that clearly and a deep connection. Gina is from Boston, Amanda from Minneapolis. They met in September of 2019 and survived 6 months of long distance relationship until the pandemic forced them to quarantine together in Minneapolis. A few days after a heavy blizzard that began melting almost immediately, they were married on a moderately mild December day in Minneapolis. They are both special ed teachers in Boston, which perfectly suits their intelligence and their caring and giving nature.

The Hewing Hotel in downtown Minneapolis is one of my favorite venues because of the timeless design and beautiful light.

From Gina and Amanda: “We decided on a Sunday brunch wedding because we are both sober, vegetarians, and love brunch, so it felt very us!”

Wedding planning and floral design by Ashley Skeie | Wedding And Event Planning

“Bradley - I’ve been trying to craft a perfect response but the pictures have left me speechless. I know when I thought of pictures for our wedding, your work has completely blown every expectation I had out of the water. There are absolutely priceless pictures of not only us as a couple but of us with people that mean so much to us. I cannot thank you enough for doing your job and your passion so beautifully. We have only scratched the surface in the words of gratitude we truly have for you. In the weeks after our wedding we have received countless compliments on the incredible pictures but also from our family and friends that were able to speak about how kind you are. There are truly no words I could attempt to string together that could convey how proud we are to tell and show people who our photographer was. I cannot wait to relive that day through your work in the years to come. Forever grateful.” - Gina and Amanda

I was just interviewed in World's Best Wedding Photos about how I got started in Seattle shooting weddings on film, how I work, and why I never ended up delivering pizzas. They also selected some of their favorite photographs of mine. If you’d like to read the entire interview and see the accompanying gallery, click here.

https://www.worldsbestweddingphotos.com/artist-interview-bradley-hanson

Another One Of My Wedding Photographs Was Featured On World's Best Wedding Photos / December 1, 2021 by Bradley Hanson

Wedding reception toast at sunset in Sonoma, CA

One of my images was featured by the website World’s Best Wedding Photos, along with other wedding images that are on the theme of silhouettes. This image was something I saw while digging through my camera bag at a wedding reception in wine country of Sonoma, CA. Of all the photographs taken during the reception, this one not only best communicated the celebratory nature of the wedding, but was new territory for me visually, although I have a number of silhouettes in my portfolio. You can see the entire article and all of the other great work by clicking here.