Photographer Spotlight: Bailey Bassen at St. John’s Abbey
Minnesota was at its autumn best on the day of our event at St. John’s Abbey.
Most of the images on this website exist because Bailey Bassen reached out with a generous offer: Would we be interested in having her photograph the event?
We'd never worked together. We'd never even met. But something about her portfolio, and her willingness to take a chance on a brand-new gathering, made us say yes immediately.
It was one of the best decisions we made.
A Leap of Faith
Photographing a Story Feast gathering is not a simple assignment. Our events unfold across hours, in multiple locations, with dozens of moving parts. At St. John's Abbey, that meant capturing:
Three simultaneous tours spread across the monastery grounds
A cocktail hour with 180 guests
A multi-course dinner by candlelight in a historic dining hall
The chefs, the partners, the details, the atmosphere
Interviews I conducted with key collaborators
I wasn't sure how to prepare someone for all of that. So I wrote Bailey a very detailed shot list, every moment, every partner, every angle I hoped we'd capture, and trusted that it would be enough.
Then the day arrived, and we barely crossed paths. I was managing the event. She was somewhere else entirely, doing her work. I caught glimpses of her moving quickly through the crowd, camera raised, but we didn't have time to check in.
I had no idea if we'd gotten what we needed.
And Then the Photos Arrived
When Bailey delivered her files, I understood.
Every moment was there. The tours: all three of them, happening simultaneously in different corners of the abbey were captured beautifully. The food, the table settings, the candlelight. The guests laughing, the chefs plating, the pottery glowing in the candlelight. The quiet moments and the joyful ones.
I still don't know how she did it. I imagine her sprinting from the organ workshop to the pottery studio to the church to The Great Hall and back again, catching every shot on the list and dozens I hadn't thought to ask for.
She didn't just document the day. She deeply understood it.
A Joy to Work With
Beyond her stunning work, Bailey was an absolute joy, professional, easygoing, and fully committed to capturing something special. She showed up ready, asked the right questions, and then disappeared into the work with quiet confidence.
If you're planning an event in Minnesota and need a photographer who can handle complexity, move fast, and deliver images very quickly that make you catch your breath, Bailey is your person.
Nearly every image on this site is Bailey's, unless otherwise noted. We're so grateful!
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