Block Portrait Studios is a photography studio specializing in custom-designed portrait art and helping small businesses elevate their first impressions in a big way.

Block Portrait Studios has been on the West Side of Saint Paul since 2015. The mural on the South wall was designed and painted by a local Westsider, Suzanne, with Studios Moss. We enjoy connecting with a neighborhood full of artists, musicians, fur babies, and families. Feel free to pop by when in the neighborhood.

Schedule a Discovery Call to begin designing your portraits today!

meet our team

Jeannine

Owner + Portrait Artist

Jeannine is the owner and a portrait artist at Block Portrait Studios. She strives to create a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment for clients and staff! She is client-minded and values creating a memorable experience from start to finish. Each step of the way is done with care and devotion.

Since 2007 Jeannine has had the honor of documenting fun couples’ wedding days as the main photographer of Jeannine Marie Photography. In 2015, Jeannine moved from her home office to the current space on Saint Paul’s Westside. After 2020 and a global pandemic, she rebranded as a full-service portrait studio creating custom artwork for families to enjoy in their homes. She loves living in the neighborhood and spending time with her husband and their eight-year-old. They spend much of their time at local restaurants, playing baseball or softball, riding bikes, and visiting family up North.

My strength comes with my vulnerability

Adriana

Studio Make-Up Artist

Adriana also works as a makeup artist. Grown out of self-love and self-care, she creates unique looks for each client! Her favorite part is when the bride sees herself for the first time.

When she is not creating unique looks or work for us, she takes her dog to the park, spends time with her nieces and nephews, or rests.

An organization Adriana supports is The Jeremiah Program

I have the strength to endure the storm

Alee

Post-Production + Graphic Designer

Alee is our post-production specialist at Block Portrait Studios. She makes sure all the photos are edited to perfection. 

She also owns a graphic design company, Urban Mast. Alee helps elevate the brands of small business owners and entrepreneurs who have a purpose behind everything they do. 

When Alee is not designing the world, she’s traveling, resting, or listening to the greatest era of music: the 70’s. Alee is a huge Elton John fan! She finds the act of listening to a record both intentional and soothing.

An organization that Alee supports is the MN Prison Writing Workshop 

I love who I am becoming

Emmerlee

Underwater Photographer

Emmerlee is our resident underwater photographer. She creates surreal portraits of her subjects using the ethereal atmosphere of being submerged.

When she’s not scuba diving, Emmerlee spends her days knitting and loving life. She could spend hours in a yarn shop looking at different spools and on the search for her next project.

An organization that Emmerlee supports is Make-A-Wish

 

You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think

Mandy

Studio Assistant

Mandy is our on-site photography assistant. She loves being in the action, learning the ropes, and working with our amazing clients.

As a huge fan of mystery novels, her favorite author is Mary Higgins Clark. Speaking of reading, a pastime of Mandy’s is thrifting for old books on women and sexuality. Mandy loves creating collages from old magazines, creating something new from something made.

An organization that Mandy supports is Women Build

My new life requires me to say goodbye to my old ways

Yoon-ah

Studio Assistant

Yoon-Ah is our spreadsheet sorcerer. She focuses on ways we can improve and develop efficient and effective processes to give our clients the best experiences.

Yoon-Ah’s passion in life is mentoring. She enjoys watching a mentee’s progress and opening them to different perspectives and world views.

During her free time, Yoon-Ah tends to travel or fish with her boyfriend. She is a self-proclaimed Cardboard Engineer. Yoon-Ah loves making things from an aluminum boat to prop sets. Her current thing is paper art.

An organization she supports is AAA-J (Asian Americans Advancing Justice)

I let go of control and I forgive myself

Ty

Studio Gremlin

Ty is our studio gremlin in charge of data and process management. They hide in the office and maintain order from Jeannine’s schedule to ensure that internal operations flow correctly.

Outside of work, Ty owns a multimedia online art journal — Brownbag.online. They love being within the creative world and having a space for other creatives to share their work.

In their free time, Ty spends time at home with their cats, Nick, Neville, Wesley, and Leo. They bake, cook, and generally live quiet lives when they aren’t scaring tour guests on Summit Ave.

An organization that they support is Keshet

I am capable of way more than I know

"It has nothing to do with the act of taking the picture, but everything to do with rehearsing the story, the one we tell every time we see that picture." -Seth Godin