Kelsey P.
We had the best experience working with Andrew! He worked his butt off on our wedding day — calm, composed, and totally open to the (very long!) list of shots I wanted. He remembered which locations mattered to us and made sure we got everything we envisioned.
Leading up to the wedding, he was super responsive and easy to communicate with. We had multiple check-in calls, and he was always helpful, professional, and kind. On the day of, he directed us efficiently so we could get our photos done and get back to enjoying celebration with our friends and family without feeling rushed or stressed.
He brought such a positive, calming energy and made us feel comfortable in front of the camera. He captured a perfect mix of posed and candid moments, and he even coordinated with our DJ, planner, and hair/makeup team to make sure everything flowed smoothly.
We recently got our photos back and absolutely love them. It’s clear that Andrew’s work is a step above — the images are not only stunning, but they feel personal, artful, and full of life. He captured the emotion, the fun, and all the little in-between moments we’ll want to remember forever. We truly couldn’t have asked for a better photographer to document our day — highly, highly recommend!
Kelsey P
Andrew made us feel so comfortable and calm in front of the camera. He was able to find some truly incredible places to shoot at our venue. Multiple people asked me for his name after the wedding because they wanted to use him as well. He is such a warm, inspiring photographer and definitely one of the best choices we made for the wedding!
Taylor F
When my now-husband and I got engaged and started planning our wedding, my mom advised us to splurge on a photographer because that's how we will remember our wedding. I am really grateful for having received that advice. Our wedding flew by in the blink of an eye and the beautiful pictures we have will commemorate the day forever. We had an amazing experience working with Andrew Parfenov from Bellagala. We picked him from his portfolio alone - his work truly speaks for itself. We booked an engagement session, 9 hours of coverage on our wedding day, and a photo album. The investment was worth it, without a doubt. He was extremely easy to communicate and work with, and whenever we had to change details, he was flexible. It was quite clear to us from our first call with Andrew that he is an artist. He is very passionate about his work and has extensive experience with wedding photography. He walked us through a loose schedule of our wedding day and the various moments he planned to capture, while making space to listen for any feedback we had for him. We felt confident in choosing him as our wedding photographer right after that first phone call. He does an incredible job of taking full advantage of his surroundings to capture beautiful photos. For example, our engagement photos were in downtown Anoka and he hadn't been in the area before, yet he identified many photogenic spots for us on the fly - we were extremely impressed with the diversity of backdrops captured in our engagement photos. When it came to the actual wedding day, we didn't have many specific expectations about poses or shots, and Andrew took charge - it was very easy to follow his lead and SO WORTH IT to trust his vision. Truly, we cannot say enough good things about Andrew! We had a superb experience and absolutely love our photos. We’d book with him again in a heartbeat.
Rachel S
Andrew did a great job capturing our engagement photos and was very professional the day of the wedding. We appreciated his artistic vision and experience shooting at our venue. We look forward to seeing the final outcome!
Noah B
Hiring Andrew from Bellagala to take our engagement and wedding photos may have been one of the single best decisions my wife and I made for our wedding. Andrew is an amazing photographer and captured our day perfectly. He’s a fun presence and has great crowd control skills, which helped a lot during our family and wedding party photos. He has such a great eye for lighting and composition – there isn’t a single photo from the day that I don’t like. He’s prompt with communication and was super helpful with any questions we had. I cannot recommend Andrew enough – he’s the best!
Megan S
Andrew (and Billy!) were phenomenal. They were so professional. We love that they were both assertive in their craft and knew what would work and what wouldn't. They were so kind, and you could tell they actually cared about capturing our big day. We couldn't recommend them more. They truly have a gift!
Christine M
Andrew was an absolutely amazing photographer! He made us feel extremely comfortable in front of the camera! We would highly recommend him for your wedding!! We cannot wait to get all our photos back!!
J
Andrew was outstanding! He was so creative with the photo ideas he had, and he went above and beyond to get the best photos for our wedding. He also listened to what we wanted and ensured our vision was carried out. I would definitely recommend Andrew and Bellagala!
Molly H
Andrew was great to work with and was flexible while getting great shots of us and our wedding fun! He was happy to go with the flow when we needed to switch things up due to tight timings. 10/10
Crystal O
Our Photographer was Andrew and he was amazing. He was so flexible and always willing to help come up with ideas. He was incredibly attentive to us and wanted to make sure we got all the planned photos we needed. He helped us feel comfortable in front of the camera and was just so great overall. Cannot recommend him enough. Bellagala's guarantee to have someone there to capture your day was something that helped us as our original photographer had a personal commitment she needed to attend to, but we are so happy we were granted our wedding day photographer free of charge since she was not able to photograph our day. Overall cannot recommend Bellagala and Andrew enough!!
Molly H
Andrew did a great job always wanting to get the next photo but also stayed flexible when we wanted to move on. I’m so excited to see the photos!!
Erin M
Bellagala was recommended to us by our venue, and we are so glad to have picked them! Andrew Parfenov, our photographer, was the absolute greatest. He made sure to show me sneak peaks of photos throughout the day, which were absolutely STUNNING. He matched the energy of our bridal party so well, we had lots of laughs all day. Andrew made hours worth of pictures feel like a breeze instead of a chore. Thank you Andrew for all your hard work, we appreciate you!!
Erin M
Andrew and Kathy were so fantastic! They matched the crazy energy of our group and made the day so much fun. Pictures didn’t feel like a chore at all, we flew right through them all and had a blast doing it. I can’t possible thank them both enough for helping to make our day perfect!
Alyssa Z
We booked Andrew Parfenov through Bellagala as our wedding photographer and couldn't be happier. We were looking for a photographer with a strong visual voice and a good mix of non-traditional/dramatic portraits and photojournalistic (candid) photos in their portfolio. Andrew brought the drama, the joy, and so much more! From the get-go, Andrew was a delight to work with - he shot our engagement photos and helped us find and arrange a venue for them - and immediately set us at ease. He goes above and beyond to get the perfect shot, the perfect lighting, the perfect pose. On our wedding day, Andrew took the lead on finding locations for photos around our venue, posing us/our bridal party/our family, and finding moments for candid shots at the reception. Multiple family members have reached out after the wedding to tell us how much they enjoyed Andrew's approach and how at ease they felt with him. If you're considering Andrew for your special occasion, book him - we can't recommend him highly enough!
Hannah D
Andrew & Bobby were EXCELLENT. They were caring, considerate, and most importantly throughly detailed in their work. They made everyone feel comfortable and truly special. They took amazing candids and also great small and big moment shots. They guided us and were always secretly catching our moments without being too in our face. They are kind and amazing and I would HIGHLY recommend them to any bride and groom. AMAZING JOB :)
Mara T
Andrew was great from the start with communication. We had a 2-day wedding (A traditional Vietnamese Tea Ceremony, then the wedding at A'BULAE) and Andrew was a dream to work with. He was flexible with us and the chaos of the weekend. He was very friendly and made everyone feel comfortable.
Amanda H
Andrew Parfenov photographed my wedding 6/22/24. Even though the weather did not always cooperate, he did an amazing job capturing all that I wanted. Every time I thought of a shot I wanted, they were already on it. Very professional and kind, 10/10 would recommend.
Allison H
Andrew was amazing! He showed not only how much he has mastered his craft but the level of professionalism and enthusiasm that you expect from your photographer on your special day. He masterfully got the most important shots.
Zachary P
Andrew was amazing! His professionalism and enthusiasm made our day feel effortless and exciting. When getting the perfect shot he was invisible one second and there the next, truly showing how much he has mastered his craft.
Caitlin W
Our photographer, Andrew, was awesome and captured amazing photos of our big day. We had a little trouble with staff turnover, between the time of booking and our event, but Andrew absolutely made up for it.
Jackie J
We feel so lucky we got to work with Andrew Parfenov (& Kathy) for our wedding!! He came recommended to us from the Bavaria Downs staff, and every point throughout the process, from our engagement photos to the wedding it was all a breeze! He is so easy to work with and made us feel comfortable in front of the camera with the best direction. He helped our day to run so smoothly and our pictures turned out INCREDIBLE! Beautifully captured every single special moment and the story of the day from beginning to end. The biggest plus is how familiar he was with EAE and the grounds, knew exactly where to get all the best shots. Would highly recommend working with him!!
Chandler H
Andrew is the person you want as your wedding photographer. His ability to adapt to the environment and use creativity to capture the most beautiful images is incredible. Even the guests were commenting on how kind and fun he was throughout the night.
Abbi R
Andrew was so easy and fun to work with and the preview photos we’ve received so far are GORGEOUS! He did such an amazing job.
Megan L
We worked with Andrew Parfenov. He was so easy to work with, informative, and made us feel very comfortable in front of the camera. Even in a fight with the weather, we managed to get all of the photos we wanted with family, wedding party, first look, and couples photos. He had some fun, creative ideas and I can't wait to get our final pictures!
Ruth R
Everyone was so kind and I had the best time! I definitely recommend using Bellagala. Andrew Parfenov was my photographer, Karon S. Was my DJ and yes, I was on the dance floor all night. Floral was from Leslie and Venue was The Van Dusen! Having in house vendors made the process so easy and less stressful. Thank you!
Ryan K
Andrew and Kathy are true pros. They went above and beyond to capture every moment that we wanted and then some. Thank you for being genuine professionals and making our wedding day all that we had dreamed of.
Lindsey F
Thank you for capturing our day and respecting our photo requests. It was a joy to have you both there on our big day!
Sara V
We booked a wedding venue that provides vendors for things like photography, floral, etc., so we had no idea who we would get for a photographer. We seriously lucked out that we got Andrew Parfenov, through Bellagala Photography, as ours! He was ready to go as soon as we arrived at our venue and captured all of the little details we wouldn't have even realized we wanted. We had a small wedding group of 12 people and he made sure to get all of the group photos we wanted. He was energetic and positive, making him very easy to work with. He went above and beyond to capture our special day, and we couldn't be more thankful to have had him as our photographer. We would definitely recommend him to anyone we know needing a photographer. We have received so many compliments over how amazing our wedding photos look. Thanks again, Andrew, for capturing our special day!
Jess S
Andrew Parfenov is an absolutely amazing wedding photographer! We had a blast with him. He was extremely professional and easy to work with. He knew exactly how to pose us to get amazing shots. I can’t recommend him enough! He was fantastic!
Miranda R
Andrew Parfenov was the absolute best, not only at our wedding but the captures and questions we had before our wedding day. He is so talented!!
Kari K
We had Andrew as our wedding photographer and we couldn't have been happier with the results. From our initial consultations, to taking pictures the day of the wedding, Andrew simplified every step. His experience made each of us more relaxed and we were able to enjoy the day as we knew Andrew had everything under control. We loved his photography style and interactions. He knew when to give direction, tell a joke, or to just be able to capture moments as they were unfolding.
Leslie R
Andrew P. was the absolute best photographer we ever could have hoped for! He was extremely kind, communicative, hard-working, flexible, and had beautiful ideas for wedding shots. He constantly checked in with myself and my husband to ensure we were getting all the shots we wanted and were happy with how things were going. I can’t recommend Andrew enough!
Annika K
Andrew was amazing! Would highly recommend him. He was very friendly, considerate, and supportive of us! The photos also look great. This was for a petite wedding at Bavaria Downs. Despite the rush due to a shorter time frame, Andrew got us photos of every moment.
Maggie E
Andrew could not have been more wonderful!! We would recommend him and his team to everyone we know :)
Maggie E
Andrew Parfenov from Bellagala was amazing from start to finish! He made us feel so comfortable behind the camera and let us have so much fun! If you want a photographer who provides a great experience and beautiful photos, then look no further!!
Maggie E
Andrew could not have been more wonderful!! We would recommend him and his team to everyone we know :)
Aspen S
Andrew was an amazing photographer—he did everything we could have asked of him, and our photos from the day turned out beautifully! He was professional, fun, and flexible. We are so happy with his results (and our family has raved about them as well).
Erin M
We had Andrew P from Bellagala for our wedding photographer. He amazing job throughout the entire day. He was super nice and made us feel comfortable right away. Even going above and beyond to make sure we got the pictures we wanted and that everything went smoothly. We would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a wedding photographer!
Shelby & Jace V
Bellagala made it easy to get services! We worked with Andrew and he was very professional and captured our day beautifully. He was very responsive and receptive to wants, wishes and last minute changes!
Kim & Brad Bebchuk
Andrew was the photographer with our wedding this past weekend and he did an amazing job! From the first time we spoke a few months before the wedding, until the end of the wedding day itself Andrew was easy to work with. He walked us through the expected schedule of the day in our first meeting which let us get a very good understanding of what our day would look like, and could plan accordingly. On the day itself, he showed up on-time and got right to work. In-fact, his second shooter did not arrive on time due to a some confusion, but it was hardly noticeable. We were able to get all the shots we wanted anyway. Andrew is very knowledgeable in his craft and did a very good job of giving direction on positioning, location, and group composition. A lot of positive reinforcement was given as well which helped us relax and feel more natural. Throughout the day he did a good job of splitting up our couple shots to ensure we had a variety of location, background and lighting to work with. During the ceremony Andrew did a good job of working his way around the guests and alter to ensure he got good photos but while remaining out of sight of most guests. Andrew also worked seamlessly with our videographer. I have great confidence in the result and am very excited to see our photos. I would 100% recommend Andrew for friends and family's events.
Sarah & Shuhn L
Andrew Parfenov and Kathy were the best photographers we could ever ask for. My husband who doesn’t like having his photo taken was even having fun with them. The photos have all been stunning and beyond our greatest expectations. It was such a pleasure having them as part of our day.
Estefania & Christian W
We are so happy we chose Andrew for our big day! He was great to work with; listened to us and what we wanted, was flexible, and always there to answer all of our questions. Before we even got to see our pictures, we already knew they were going to be perfect. He was so professional and detail-oriented that it made us feel confident that our most special day was being captured by the best photographer we could have had. Kathy was amazing as well, I would find her around every corner capturing beauriful candid pictures and she always had something sweet to say to us while we were all nervous and emotional. The Bellagala Team gave us our pictures before we expected and were quick answering our questions as well. A great team behind the scenes and the most beautiful pictures that we will always cherish thanks to the both of you ♥️
Katelyn & Matthew W
We loved working with Andrew from Bellagala (and the second photographer, Kathy)! He was punctual and professional throughout the whole process and made us feel very comfortable in front of the camera. We got married at the Van Dusen Mansion and loved that he shoots weddings there often, and was familiar with many good photo ops! He had a lot of fun ideas for photos and we are very excited to see them. My one complaint is that Bellagala doesn't let us get much of a preview of either our engagement shoot or our wedding photos. We had/have to wait 4-6 weeks for photos which is a bummer and longer than some other photographers that my friends have worked with for their weddings. However, my review is still 5 stars because this doesn't reflect on Andrew or his photography skills!
Nicole & Rob W
We were very fortunate to have Andrew (and Kathy) as a photographer for our wedding. He had a good vision and gave us clear direction, but adapted to our preferences. The shot quality was outstanding. We had a good blend of posed and candid photos and all of our guests were captured having a good time.
Kalie & Andrew Y
Andrew and Kathy from Bellagala did an excellent job at our wedding! Andrew helped us put together a timeline while we were planning. Day-of photos went very smoothly- we got a lot of great shots in different areas of the venue with all our family and friends.
Kalie & Andrew Y
Andrew from Bellagala was an excellent photographer! He helped us with planning the timeline, and did a great job of capturing a variety of shots throughout the day. Very professional and fun to work with!
Laura & William A
Andrew was fantastic to work with! The whole process from beginning to end was smooth and professional. We had multiple calls prior to the wedding day to talk through our ideas and what we expected, and then day-of he and his assistant Kathy did a great job moving us through different settings and moments with all of our important friends and family members. While I am very comfortable in front of the camera, my partner is not. Andrew was very considerate of both of our comfort levels and boundaries when it came to shooting. Now begins the long wait for the edits to come back, but based on what we've seen of Andrew's previous work, and how we felt on the day, I'm sure they'll be gorgeous. I can't recommend him enough. Thank you so much again!!!
Amanda & Andrew J
We worked with Andrew at our wedding last week and he was such a professional. He's also kind, thoughtful, and flexible. He listened to what we had to say and made us feel comfortable. I would highly recommend him!
Mary & Dan G
We got Andrew last minute after our initial photographer had a family emergency -- he came in ready to rock on such a short notice and did an amazing job! He was fun and all the pictures turned out great. If I had to do it again I would definitely go the Echelon level and I highly recommend Andrew!
Ruth R.
Andrew was the best Photographer for our wedding! He is detail oriented and knows how to handle a large wedding party. He is kind, genuine, and made me feel comfortable and beautiful. You’ll be lucky to have him!
Emma & Andrew S
We absolutely loved working with Andrew Parfenov for our wedding photography and Dillon for our videography! They were everything you'd want in your wedding media - detail oriented, professional, artistic, and great hype men!! They made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera and were great at getting the entire wedding party excited during group shots. Andrew even went out of his way to crank out a few absolutely gorgeous sneak peeks for us the day after the wedding :) Look no further!!
Emma & Andrew S
We absolutely loved working with Andrew Parfenov for our wedding. He was everything you'd want in a wedding photographer - detail oriented, professional, artistic, and a great hype man!! He made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera and was great at getting the entire wedding party excited during group shots. He even went out of his way to crank out a few absolutely gorgeous sneak peeks for us the day after the wedding :) Look no further!!
Ashely & James A
We had the blessing of having Andrew Parfenov as our photographer! Our night did not go as planned as I fell very ill later in the evening. Andrew was honestly the first to notice I was starting to feel ill because as we were taking photos he suggested a break and soon after I sat down I became very ill. As you can imagine I was pretty heartbroken as our ceremony was about to begin and we still needed family photos. Andrew really helped me through it all! He made sure everything was set and ready before I came out for the ceremony and family photos. He was very attentive to my needs and took frequent brakes. Unfortunately I was unable to join family and friends for the dinner.. and first dance.. but thankfully Andrew still captured the night for us. I was recovering in a small room, looking worse for wear in sweats and a flannel with a cold towel over my head to keep my temperature down, yet Andrew was still able to capture our wedding party speeches (which we did in a very small room so I could be present) and all the emotions we went through that night. He took each challenge with a smile and made us feel so confident and thankful. With Andrew and the help of the bellagala staff our night was so amazing.. even through all the challenges. So very thankful to Andrew, his amazing skills, and his incredible ability to adapt and make any situation beautiful. On top of it all, our photos were ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!! So, so thankful to him.
Jevita & Arman A
We worked with Keighla Anderson and Andrew Parfenov from Bellagala as our primary photographer and second photographer and I cannot say enough good things about how smoothly they helped the day to run, how relaxed photos felt, and how confident I feel that we are going to have so many amazing memories captured!
Carley & Ethan F
I recommend Andrew to everyone, he did a phenomenal job and all of our wedding photos are amazing!! He was so easy and fun to work with, and made the day go so smoothly. He also made us really comfortable so being photographed seemed natural and never awkward. If you're looking for an excellent photographer, look no further!!
Sara & Benjamin
Wow, wow, wow! Andrew was absolutely amazing! We love our engagement photos already and can't wait to get our wedding ones back! I really loved how Andrew was so helpful beforehand with helping us plan the flow of our day and offering advice when we were clueless. It was really great too on the day of the wedding how he was so positive and easy-going, yet great with expertly directing us into poses. He made it so easy to just follow instructions and feel comfortable. I also loved his creative ideas and enthusiasm. We booked the 7 hour package and while we got everything we wanted in before that time ended, we probably should have booked another hour to keep them around just a bit longer. Honestly, I think my favorite photography moment was when Andrew jumped behind the bar we stopped at on our way to the Reception to get a good shot. That was a really cool surprise and showed how fun and dedicated he is! I hope someone I know gets married soon in MN so I can recommend Andrew!
Jenna & Jeff
We loved having you as our wedding photographer! Not only were you professional, you were fun and made us both feel comfortable in front of the camera. You were good at corralling the large groups of family we wanted to take pictures with and got great shots without being in the way of everything. Thank you for capturing our memories.
Amanda L
Andrew was simply fantastic! We got married in August and Andrew was so flexible with all the changes due to covid. He was so fun to be around and captured our day perfectly. We couldn’t be happier with our photos and I would highly recommend him!
Roslyn U
My fiancé and I were looking for a really good photographer through Bellagala and we stumbled upon Andrew's Parfenov's profile and photo gallery. We instantly saw a difference within his work as he captured many unique and creative shots of his previous clients. We were drawn to him for this reason. He was incredibly responsive throughout the planning process and we arranged a meeting with him to go over the details of our big day and talked about what shots and family combinations we were hoping to get. The day arrived and he not only managed to grab the shots we were hoping for, he also created some really unique ones in and around our hotel venue. He showed us some of his shots he got and they were absolutely breath taking. We are excited to get our photos back! If you want someone that is worth every penny and someone with a really artistic and creative view, I highly recommend him!!!!
Angela R
Andrew Parfenov was absolutely amazing for our big day! He went above and beyond to make our day so special. Working with him the past 2 years has been so easy. He made me feel so comfortable and kept everything on schedule for us. We highly highly recommend Andrew for any photography needs! We are so glad we chose him! ❤️❤️
Amanda and Jason
Absolutely amazing!! Andrew was so great to work with as our photographer. His attention to detail is unreal! He was so patient with our group and made sure he captured exactly what he had in mind. We highly recommend Andrew to photograph your special day.
Jacqueline M
Andrew was very open minded and flexible. He was wonderful to have at our wedding.
Jessie C
During our initial consultation, Andrew listened and asked all the right questions. We received the communication and direction we were wanting, and we would definitely reccomend Andrew!
Farwa A
We booked Andrew for our wedding after hearing great things from the Bellagala team. We had planned a Western ceremony and reception at Van Dusen Mansion, but with several tweaks (no wedding party, non-religious ceremony, etc). Andrew took time to discuss the details of our vision and was very knowledgeable about the venue. He worked closely with the Van Dusen staff and other vendors to come up with a good timeline for the day’s proceedings. This made sure we had ample time for photos without feeling rushed through the ceremony or reception. Andrew and Brian, the second shooter, did a great job capturing us getting ready and just hanging out in the mansion. They were able to capture nuances and intimate moments without being intrusive. When it came to couple photos Andrew was very creative, suing the inside and outside of the mansion to highlight our outfits and interactions. We don’t generally like being photographed and didn’t know how to pose for formal photos. Andrew guided us through this process and we are in awe of the final results. He used a lot of his own lighting and was constantly swapping out flashes, lenses, etc. He also had great ideas about using props and taking action shots.Andrew photographed the ceremony in a deeply personal way, highlighting our important moments without making us look too emotional! He also did a great job with guest photos during the ceremony and cocktail hour. We snuck out briefly during the cocktail hour to take some evening shots and he was respectful of our time and health – it was very cold…During the reception, speeches and the dancing afterwards Andrew was tireless. He was constantly roaming around getting different shots, interactions, and so on. When the night was wrapping up he was drenched in sweat but visibly happy and engaged. He decided to take a couple of final photos of us near the dancefloor and it is some of our favorite shots of the night. This speaks to his commitment and passion for making the couple look their best.We are so, so happy with Andrew’s photos and cannot imagine another photographer for our wedding. We would love to take Andrew with on our honeymoon, to family and work events, and just about everywhere we go – his photos are almost better than real life
Morgan O
Andrew P was our photographer for our wedding and he was absolutely wonderful! He is super knowledgeable about the best places for photos, lighting, etc. He has great pose recommendations while also capturing those candid moments. I asked a few times to do poses that I saw on pinterest and he was more than happy to do them as well! He would also show me a few photos here and there which got me SO excited. He was like our own personal hype man all day - I could not recommend him more highly!