An eye for light.
A heart for your story.
I'm Hoang, the photographer behind Sota Studio in Minneapolis. Thi, my wife, is my partner in everything we do, and every wedding is a team of two.
I'm drawn to soft light, quiet in-between moments and the little things people do when they forget a camera is there. For years my goal has been simple: to turn what is really happening on your day into something beautiful you'll want to come back to. Thi makes sure the day around that runs calmly.
Check availabilityTwo people, one camera and a foggy hillside
Before I photographed anyone else's love story, we were trying to capture our own. We would drive up the North Shore on misty autumn mornings with a camera, a thermos of coffee and no plan, just to see what we'd make.
When we looked back at those pictures, we noticed something. They weren't perfect poses. They were the way Thi was looking at me, and the way I was laughing. They held more of us than any posed portrait ever had.
That is still how I photograph couples. I look for the glance, the hand squeeze and the breath before the vows, because those are the images you'll feel in ten years.
You live it. We pay attention.
I photograph. Thi is right beside me, working as my teammate: keeping the timeline, looking after the small details and helping you and your family feel relaxed. Beyond assisting, Thi also acts as a second photographer, capturing candid shots of the extra special moments I might otherwise miss. We start by getting to know you: what matters, who matters and what your day should feel like. Then, on the day, we watch. I step in when the moment is right, step back when it needs space, and give gentle direction only when it helps.
Our aim is for you to feel comfortable being yourselves, not performing for the camera. My training in wedding photography gives me the technical confidence, and being a couple means we naturally put people at ease.
And because we want to be friends who walk with you, not vendors who show up, we're glad to help with timelines, locations and outfits long before the wedding day.
Real life, in a considered frame.
We love the quiet corner before the ceremony, the crowded family table, the hug that lasts a little longer than planned. We pay close attention to composition, colour and timing, always letting the moment belong to you.
Our palette leans warm and natural: forest greens, soft earth tones and honest skin tones, edited to feel timeless rather than trendy.
A point of view that stays yours.
Every wedding has its own rhythm. A rooftop in Minneapolis, a lakeside harbor in Grand Marais and a mountain lake in Banff all ask for something different, so we let your day set the tone instead of following trends.
We'd rather give you pictures that feel personal and distinctive than ones that look like everyone else's. The test we use is simple: will this still make you smile when you look at it 40 years from now?
Wherever your day takes you
We love the North Shore and the Canadian Rockies, and we're always up for an early hike to catch the right light. If your wedding or elopement is somewhere beautiful, we'd love to hear about it.
Check availability