Excelsior Photographer
Natural, authentic photography for your most meaningful moments
Who is your Excelsior photographer?
Honey Deww Photography photographs weddings, engagements, couples and family sessions in Excelsior, a Lake Minnetonka town inside the 40 miles of included travel from downtown Minneapolis. Portrait sessions start at $300 and wedding collections at $3,100. The Commons and Port of Excelsior, which the city counts among its chief assets, is a 13-acre historic lakefront park with lawns, two beaches, a band shell and excursion-boat docks. The city issues its own Wedding Permit for ceremonies or receptions on city property or on the lake, and The Commons pavilion seats about 150 for a ceremony. Charter boats, including the Lady of the Lake sternwheeler, leave from the downtown docks for receptions on the water, and the Water Street historic district and Studer Pond in Excelsior Parkland add quieter settings for portraits.
Looking for photographers in Excelsior, MN?
Planning a wedding specifically? Start with my Excelsior wedding photographer page, or compare all four wedding photography collections.
Quick Answer
Who are the best photographers in Excelsior, MN?
Honey Deww Photography, led by Emma Ziegler, covers Excelsior and the surrounding Twin Cities metro for weddings, engagements, couples, maternity and family sessions. The studio has photographed 200+ weddings and 500+ sessions since 2018 and holds a 5.0 rating on Google from 49 reviews. Portrait sessions start at $300 and wedding collections at $3,100. Travel within 40 miles of downtown Minneapolis is included; beyond that it is billed at cost, with no markup.
5.0 ★ on Google
49 reviews
Booking since 2018
200+ weddings
Minneapolis-based
Travel up to 40 mi free
Replies in 24 hrs
Mon–Fri
Do you photograph weddings, portraits and families in Excelsior?
Yes. Excelsior sits in the west metro of the Minneapolis–St. Paul area. I photograph weddings, portraits and families in Excelsior and plan each day around the venue, the light and the timing that come with this corner of the Twin Cities.
Excelsior, founded in 1853 by settlers from upstate New York, has a Water Street commercial district on the National Register of Historic Places and The Commons, a 13-acre lakefront park with excursion-boat docks where the city issues its own wedding permits.
Clients choosing an Excelsior photographer can book the nearby suburbs on the same terms — Shorewood, Greenwood, Tonka Bay, Deephaven, Chanhassen, with travel included within 40 miles of downtown Minneapolis. If your session is in Excelsior but your portraits are downtown Minneapolis or on Summit Avenue in St. Paul, that's a routine day rather than an add-on.
Where do you take portraits in Excelsior?
Local places to plan a Excelsior day around include The Commons and Port of Excelsior, the Commons band shell, Excelsior Parkland and Studer Pond, the Water Street historic commercial district. Whether you're after something classic or more editorial, I map the day's schedule around the light so you get the best fifteen minutes at each stop, with no rush between Excelsior and downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul.
Which cities near Excelsior do you cover?
I photograph weddings, engagements, and portraits across the Minneapolis–St. Paul west metro. These are the towns next to Excelsior, plus Minneapolis and St. Paul; the linked ones have their own local guide.
- Shorewood
- Greenwood
- Tonka Bay
- Deephaven
- Chanhassen
- Minneapolis
- St. Paul
Also serving the wider Twin Cities metro — view all Minneapolis–St. Paul locations.
Local details
What licenses, permits and park rules apply in Excelsior?
Excelsior is in Hennepin County, and the city issues a separate wedding permit for ceremonies on city property along Lake Minnetonka, including the pavilion on The Commons.
- How many guests can an Excelsior wedding permit cover?
- The wedding permit covers weddings that use city property and Lake Minnetonka, including the pavilion, with capacity for 150 at a seated ceremony or 100 at a seated dinner. Source: City of Excelsior event permits
- How far ahead do you need the permit?
- Event permits must be submitted at least 30 days before the date, or 60 for larger events. Any event with amplified sound or alcohol needs a permit regardless of guest count. Source: City of Excelsior event permits
- What does an Excelsior wedding permit cost?
- $500 for a ceremony and $1,000 for a reception, with a refundable damage deposit of $150 or $1,000. Alcohol adds $250 a day and at least one South Lake Minnetonka Police officer at the couple's expense. Tents must be weighted, not staked, and permits and fees are non-refundable regardless of weather. Source: City of Excelsior wedding permit policies
- Where do Excelsior couples get a marriage license?
- At any Hennepin County service center (612-348-8240), or by mail through the county's remote option. The fee is $125, or $50 with 12 hours of premarital education and the educator's statement. The county page states no waiting period, and the license is valid six months and only in Minnesota. Source: Hennepin County marriage licenses
Checked against each authority’s own page in September 2026. Fees change — confirm before you budget.
Excelsior Photography Portfolio
Where can you hold a wedding in or near Excelsior?
- · The Commons and Port of Excelsior pavilion (city Wedding Permit)
- · Lady of the Lake sternwheeler (up to 100 passengers)
- · Paradise Charter Cruises
- · Wayzata Bay Charters (from the Port of Excelsior)
- · Mount Calvary Lutheran Church
- · Trinity Episcopal Church
- · Shorewood Community & Event Center (Shorewood)
Rates, capacities and rules for each: Wayzata and Excelsior wedding venues.
Where are the best photo locations in Excelsior?
- · The Commons and Port of Excelsior
- · The Commons band shell
- · Excelsior Parkland and Studer Pond
- · Water Street historic district
- · Lake Minnetonka shoreline
People also ask
Quick answers about photographers in Excelsior
Do you travel to Excelsior?+
Yes — Excelsior is in the west metro. Travel within 40 miles of downtown Minneapolis is included; share your venue address when you inquire so any additional travel costs can be confirmed in your quote.
Excelsior Photography FAQ
Can you photograph a wedding on a Lake Minnetonka boat from Excelsior?
Yes. The Lady of the Lake, a three-deck sternwheeler, takes wedding receptions and rehearsals of up to 100 passengers from the downtown Excelsior dock, and Wayzata Bay Charters and Paradise Charter Cruises board at the Port of Excelsior. Timeline assistance, included in every collection, plans family photos and portraits on The Commons around your boarding time.
Can you do lakeside sessions in Excelsior?
Yes. The Commons and the Port of Excelsior give lawn, beach and dock settings on Lake Minnetonka, and Studer Pond in Excelsior Parkland is a quieter, tree-lined option. The city publishes no photography rule for its parks, so check with City Hall on (952) 474-5233. An engagement session is $450, or included with any wedding collection.
How much does a Excelsior photographer cost?
Portrait sessions in Excelsior are $300 for 30 minutes or $500 for an hour, with every edited image in a private online gallery. Engagement and maternity sessions are $450. Wedding collections run from $3,100 (Emerald, 4 hours, one photographer) to $5,300 (Sapphire, 12 hours, two photographers), and each includes a 1-hour engagement session. Travel within 40 miles of downtown Minneapolis is included; beyond that it is billed at cost, with no markup.
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By Emma Ziegler