Tom Baker - Lead Photographer and Owner of Manitou Weddings

Manitou is an Algonquin term combining the meanings of spirit, mystery, and magic, and generally is applied to the manifestation of some form of power that is not readily understood or coming from elsewhere. I got the name for my business from the Manitou River in Northern Minnesota, which is a river that flows into Lake Superior. I spent a lot of time there when I was younger camping with my father and brother and it's a special place that's influenced me in my life.

I've worked at the Havre Daily News in Havre, MT, The Dalles Chronicle in The Dalles, OR, and at the Portland Tribune in Portland, OR, and currently contract as a photojournalist for Minnesota Public Radio to provide content for their website. I use my background in journalism to blend with my creativity when photographing weddings or portraits. I strive to be the best photographer possible by embracing light, whether it's natural or artificial, to create images that will absolutely wow my clients. I love what I do. I view being a photographer as a service to others, a creative outlet for myself, and a profession where my art creates aesthetic memories for all whom I work with.