Blog Archives - Page 4 of 26 - Thewmatt Photography

November 6, 2023

Austin Senior Portrait Photographer, Holden, Class of 2024

This past fall I was delighted to receive an email from a former coworker from my very first job after school. Her son—who was just starting elementary school when we first worked together—was entering his senior year in High School and she was wondering if there was any chance I'd be in Austin over the next six months or so for a senior portrait session! After I got over the shock of feeling super old I was happy to report that I would be in town that fall. I was able to piggyback that portrait session on my time in town to cover the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.

We met up at a county park closer to their house and then headed into downtown Austin where we used the more urban environment as a backdrop and took advantage of sunset on the skyline.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Portraits, Senior Portraits

Tags: austin, downtown austin, Portraits, Senior

November 3, 2023

Whitefish Wedding Photographer, Christopher & Nick’s Backyard Wedding

Christoper and Nick were another couple I was fortunate to meet at the My Montana Wedding Expo back in January. They approached my booth with a unique request. They were planning an evening, outdoor wedding. Their timeline guaranteed that artificial light would be needed so they needed to see how comfortable I was working with artificial lighting. Great news, I'm super comfortable with it, it's something I don't get to do as often as I'd like because we get so many hours of daylight here during the summer months—not that I'm complaining—so I was all in.

The wedding was happening in Christopher's parents' backyard, it was planned by family members, and the food was prepared by the families, it couldn't have been more intimate.

Bakery: Ephemera Confections / Couture: Rococo Bridal & Formal Wear / Rentals & Decor: Celebrate Event & Party Rental / Second Photographer: Porsche Jean Photography

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: Love is Love, Montana Wedding, Wedding, whitefish

November 1, 2023

Montana Wedding Photographer, Rebecca & Bobby at Green Valley Ranch

Rebecca, Bobby, and I initially met to discuss their wedding at Gunsight Saloon in downtown Columbia Falls. It was primarily a vibe-check meeting to make sure we were compatible. You see over and over again on social media that you should get along with your photographer because of all of your vendors, you're going to spend the most time with them on your wedding day, and that is one piece of advice I wholeheartedly agree with.

Needless to say, I felt I had an instant rapport with these two. We only discussed their wedding for about 15 minutes and then proceeded to discuss life in general, snowboarding and skiing, and classic cars for the next hour plus.

They were working with Big Day Celebrations as their planner so I knew the vendor team would be a band of all-stars to work with it, and was eagerly awaiting their wedding day.

As I've said before weather here in Montana can be sketchy in the Fall, but rarely does it stay sloppy all day. Well, this was one of those one in 100 occurrences. It alternated between spitting rain and heavy rain quite literally all day. But true to their laid-back nature, Rebecca and Bobby didn't want to fall back on a 'plan B' scenario for their ceremony and quite literally said "We're going to full-send it" in true snowboarder fashion and it was a beautiful, rain-filled vow exchange in a meadow surrounded by their friends and family.

Venue: Green Valley Ranch / Planning: Big Day Celebrations / Bakery: Mountain Mama's Cupcakery / Catering: Forage 406 / Couture: Mimi's Bridal / DJ: RMF Entertainment / Florals: Conrad Floral / Hair & Makeup: Bridal Bliss by Lana / Rentals: Empress Tents & Events and The Party Store / Transportation: Montanan Trolly Co. and Wild Horse Limo / Second Photographer: Cortney Foster

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: Coram, Green Valley Ranch, Montana, Montana Wedding, Wedding

October 30, 2023

Glacier National Park Elopement, Amanda & Cale

I was so excited to get a message from Amanda telling me she was engaged and that I was her first thought to photograph it! I initially met Amanda when I photographed her with her parents, her brother, and her dog Penny. The elopement was a great opportunity to reconnect with the family and be a part of an amazing sweet elopement.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Elopement, Wedding

Tags: couples portraits, Elopement, Glacier National Park, Montana, Montana Wedding, Sun Point

October 27, 2023

West Glacier Wedding Photographer, Alaina & Harrison at Snowmoon Ranch

I was honored to be brought into this wedding at the suggestion of Empress Tents & Events for this lovely wedding they were planning at Snowmoon Ranch which has an amazing panoramic view of Glacier National Park. We had the absolute perfect weather and a dream team of wedding vendors that made for a night not soon forgotten by anyone in attendance.

Venue: Snowmoon Ranch / Planning and Rentals: Empress Tents & Events / Bakery: Bonjour Bakery & Bistro / Band: The MAC Band / Bar Services: Mavericks Bar & Casino / Catering: A Moveable Feast / Florals: Forage & Floral / Couture: Mimi's Bridal / Hair & Makeup: Bridal Bliss by Lana / Invitations: Paper Muse Co. / Officiant: Best Day Officiants / Photobooth: Pixelated Photobooth Gigs / Transportation: Wild Horse Limo / Second Photographer: Porsche Jean Photography

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: Going-to-the-Sun Chalets, Montana, Snowmoon Ranch, Wedding, West Glacier

October 26, 2023

Whitefish Wedding Photographer, Emily & Kyle at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake

Montana's Fall weather is rivaled only by Spring weather in terms of unpredictability. What you can bet on, is it will be either beautiful, or sloppy (whether that means cold, rainy, snowing, or all of the above.) Emily and Kyle were blessed with the latter, without the snow. It rained a good majority of the evening but gave us enough of a break for some lovely portraits before the wedding after a first look on the dock.

Venue & Catering: The Lodge at Whitefish Lake / Bakery: Ephemera Confection / Couture: The White Dress / DJ: Sidecar Audio / Florals: Elevate Amenities / Rentals & Decor: Celebrate Event & Party Rentals

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: Montana, Montana Wedding, The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, Wedding, whitefish

October 25, 2023

Glacier National Park Elopement Photographer, Emily & Zachary

Emily and Zachary decided to have a lovely Fall elopement in Glacier National Park and secured a permit for the shoreline behind Lake McDonald Lodge. We met up just outside the park as it's often easiest to do so where cellular service is still available, and then proceeded to Lake McDonald Lodge.

After a brief first look right there on the beach next to where the DeSmet launches for its boat tours, they exchanged vows officiated by Emily's Father. Afterward, we traveled along Going-to-the-Sun Road for some epic portraits. As always it's such an honor to play my small part in such intimate celebrations.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Elopement, Wedding

Tags: Elopement, Glacier National Park, Lake McDonald Lodge, Montana, Wedding

October 20, 2023

Whitefish Theatre Co.’s production of “Lost in Yonkers”

Whitefish Theatre Company's first full theatre production for this 2023-2024 season was Neil Simon's "Lost in Yonkers." This production, it also marked my third season working with the crew at WTC and it's always a blast, even if the material my not be... celebratory. To put it lightly.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Theatre

Tags: Live Performance, Lost in Yonkers, Theatre, whitefish, Whitefish Theatre Co

October 18, 2023

Somers Wedding Photographer, Jessica & Tanner at North Shore Farm

Jessica and Tanner are both from the North East, but Tanner's uncle lives here in the Flathead Valley and they've been visiting several times over the years. Tanner's uncle also manages North Shore Farm in Somers, which also had the perfect space along the Flathead River for a beautiful ceremony.

One of my favorite parts of photographing larger weddings is the reception because all the stressful parts of the wedding day are over, the couple can relax—let their hair down so to speak—and just enjoy their time with friends and family. And I've witnessed some crazy dance parties, but none nearly as crazy as this party turned out. Of course, when the party favors are temporary tattoos of the bride and groom in Juggalo makeup, I should've expected nothing less.

Wedding Design, Coordination, and Florals: Signature Events and Design / Bakery: Cakes by Debi / DJ: DJ Portarock / Hair & Makeup: Beauty Bee / Rentals & Decor: Celebrate Event & Party Rental / Second Photographer: Porsche Jean Photography

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: Montana, Montana Wedding, Somers, Wedding

October 16, 2023

Columbia Falls Wedding Photographer, Samantha & Austin at North Forty Resort

While not from Montana, Samantha and Austin hold a special place in their heart for this corner of the state. They were both seasonal workers at Glacier National Park and met by what some might call fate when wildfires caused closures in certain areas and caused staff to be consolidated in the areas that remained open. They've been together ever since.

They had an intimate, DIY-style wedding at North Forty Resort located between Whitefish and Columbia Falls. The wedding favors were postcards created from historical maps of where they both grew up and a postcard from the Many Glacier Valley where they met.

Venue: North Forty Resort / Catering: House of S+M / Rentals & Decor: Celebrate Event & Party Rentals