Minnesota Photographer Now Accused Of Secretly Recording Bride

A lot goes into planning a wedding, including hiring a photographer. You want them to capture every moment of the special day, and usually, the biggest concerns are the cost and the quality of the images.

What you don't ever expect to need to worry about is your photographer violating your privacy in an act that leads to a formal criminal charge, but that is the story making headlines this week in Minnesota.

Multiple sources are reporting that a Duluth-based photographer, who works weddings throughout the state, is now facing a criminal charge for an incident that occurred in 2020.

The Incident At The Barn of Chapeau Shores in Albert Lea

According to reports, photographer Mitchell Ringness, owner of Duluth-based MR. Photography, was at the Barn of Chapeau Shores in Albert Lea, to shoot a wedding in 2020.

Ringness is accused of hiding a secret camera in the bridal suite and recording the bride while she changed. The video, which was later turned over to authorities, reportedly the bride in her underwear with her breasts exposed.

After she changes, someone calls to Ringness, who later appears with his camera to take "first look" photos of the bride.

A Crime Discovered

The secret recording was saved on a thumb drive. In April, the investigation began when authorities were notified about it by the significant other of Mitchell Ringness, who then ultimately turned the thumb drive over to the Cloquet Police Department.

Now, Ringness is charged in Freeborn County with one count of 'interfering with privacy – hotel, tanning booth, or other – install or use a surreptitious device.'

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He is scheduled for a first appearance in Freeborn County Court on Thursday, September 5.