That kid in the orange shirt? He didn’t know what a portrait was.
He just knew there was something magical about faces.

Funny thing is—I still feel the same way.

Somewhere between that curious little boy and the man I am today, I discovered my calling: showing people the beauty they forget to see in themselves.

Hi, I’m Vivek (rhymes with cake)—a studio portrait photographer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

I was born in Canada to East Indian parents and grew up with a Sanskrit name that means wise discernment of the mind. (Definitely a great conversation starter at parties!)

In 2012, a surprise green card brought me from Toronto to Minneapolis. And yes—it’s colder here. But I’m in the same city as my brother and doing the creative work that lights me up, so it feels like home.

Over the years, I’ve photographed just about everything—weddings, events, landscapes, even jewelry. But I always came back to portraits.

There’s something powerful about connecting with someone one-on-one and capturing the essence of who they are. It still moves me.

Today, I run a portrait studio in the Arts District of Northeast Minneapolis, but my creative roots run deep. Over the years, I’ve worked as an illustrator, videographer, and real estate photographer for both residential and commercial spaces. Before photography, I spent a decade as a copywriter—crafting stories for nonprofits, tech companies, and big brands. Back then, words were my medium. Today, it’s light, shadow, expression, and connection. Turns out, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

At Vivek Narula Portrait, we create Vanity Fair-inspired legacy portraits for women, men, couples, mothers & daughters, families, and high school seniors—as well as headshots and personal branding sessions that help entrepreneurs and business professionals show up with confidence, clarity, and presence.

Think you’re not photogenic? We’re here to rewrite that script. My team and I see beauty in every face, every age, every chapter. We’ll cue your favorite playlist, laugh together, and guide you every step of the way—from choosing your outfits to professional hair and makeup to natural, personalized posing.

The result? Well, that’s yours to discover!

Because here, it’s not just about taking a photo—any smartphone can do that.

We’re here to help you be seen as the work of art you already are.