About

Goofy picture of me sitting in the bone of a whale’s skull in arctic Norway.

Thank you for your interest in learning more about me. I’m an outdoor photographer specializing in outdoor family portraits in Grand Marais, Lake Superior photography workshops, commercial work, fine art and magazine photography.

Quickly get in touch by calling me at my cell: 218-370-8351. I’d love to photograph your family or your commercial project. I’d also love to teach you more about photography. I’m happy to answer questions or give you more information, too. Email me at bryan@bryanhansel.com.

Brief Bio

I first learned photography in high school. I had an encouraging teacher who taught me how to print photos in the black and white darkroom. The process of making a photo captured my imagination, and I took every class my school offered. By the time I was a senior, my teacher had to create two new private study classes for me, and I designed my schedule so I could spend several hours a day in the darkroom.

After high school, I studied English and religion in college only to return to photography as a hobby after I graduated. I used photography to document my backpacking, climbing and paddling trips. Eventually, I settled down with a “real” job in Iowa City and started taking college-level photography courses which revitalized my love of photography.

Lake Superior in winter

It’s so beautiful here. I feel lucky to live here and to be a “Grand Marais photographer.”

When I moved to Grand Marais, I knew I wanted to earn a living from photography. So, I started my own photography business. I started as a real estate photographer, but moved into fine-art landscape, magazine photography, portraits and commercial work.

I also teach one-on-one photography lessons and photography workshops. I love teaching photography and hope that by teaching, I can instill the love of photography to my students the same way my high school teacher instilled it in me.

I love photographing the Lake Superior shoreline near Grand Marais and the many lakes of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. I feel lucky to live in an area with such great beauty, and I hope that my photos help you fall in love with the area, or if you already love it but can’t live here, I hope that my photography fills that longing to return. There’s something about this area that seems to lure people back.

Please, let me know if there’s anything that I can do for you.

Publications

My work appears in national and regional magazines, newspapers, calendars, in both print and broadcast advertisement, on numerous websites, in stores, in galleries and on the walls of many homes. Publications include Ocean Paddler, Canoeroots, Canoe and Kayak, Backpacker Magazine, World Haiku Review, Frogpond, Sea Kayaker Magazine, Paddler, North Star Port Magazine, Lake Superior Magazine, Minnesota Monthly, Wine Spectator, Superior Outdoors, Masik, Cook County Star and News Herald, Northern Wilds, Minnesota Public Radio, National Geographic online, Canoe and Kayak Magazine online and more.

Contact Info

Bryan Hansel Photography
PO Box 149
Grand Marais, MN
55604-0149
Email: bryan@bryanhansel.com
Phone: (218) 370-8351