August 9, 2024

An impossibly perfect sunset Glacier National Park portrait session

If you go back through my portrait session archives right here on this blog you'll see a sentiment that while overused, is still no less true each time. And frankly probably any other photographer—especially those based here in the Flathead Valley—that it is such an honor to be invited to share the tiniest sliver of families spending time here on vacation. Northwest Montana and Glacier National Park are the sort of areas where the majority of people may never have an opportunity to return to. It's not always the easiest place to visit, and it can be expensive. To get to document such an occasion will never get old for me, it doesn't matter if it's my 100th time hanging out on the beach at Lake McDonald at Apgar Village, it may be that family's first and only time to be there, and I take that responsibility very seriously.

My evening with the O'Briens could not have been any more special. We experienced the perfect late July weather with clear views, virtually cloudless skies, and the perfect golden hour and sunset light. And yes, this session is a perfect example of how I will absolutely encourage you to get in the water if you're considering it.

July 14, 2024

Year two with chosen family friend group portraits in Whitefish

Last year I had the pleasure of working with Maggie and a large group of friends and their families here in Whitefish where they were staying together. Maggie has been visiting Whitefish since she was a child and had the opportunity to share the experience with her friends. Much to my good fortune, they all returned to the same location this year and I had the honor to document they're growing families once again!

We joked about them all being in the running for the largest 'family' group I have ever photographed and they're not quite there yet, but if we're able to go for year three in 2025 they will be!

July 12, 2024

West Kalispell Photographer, the Lewis Family

One of the coolest things I get to do as a family photographer is documenting extended families visiting the area for the first, fifth, or tenth time. As modern life takes family members and spreads them far and wide throughout the country and world it's so fun to share a couple of hours with them as they get to spend time together for the first time in a while.

The Lewis family was no different, and as you can no doubt see in the photos, they were a unique bunch of characters that kept the laughs coming through the whole session.

July 6, 2024

Whitefish Family Photographer, The Minors

Another amazing morning in Whitefish documenting a large family all together for the first time in a while. These portrait sessions are always such a pleasure to do, capturing memories for these families to look back on years from now.

July 3, 2024

Whitefish Family Photographer, The Chynoweths at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake

The Chynoweths and I met up on what was frankly a bit of a dreary spring day here in Whitefish this spring. While it was a bit on the chilly side for this family visiting from Florida we were able to successfully able to dodge any serious raindrops and get some lovely photos where they were staying at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, as well as the Holbrook Overlook off of Big Mountain Road.

July 1, 2024

Spring Family Portraits in Whitefish, The Vermillions

I was fortunate to hang out with the Vermillion family at their vacation rental on Whitefish Lake this spring. Funnily enough, it was the second time I've done a portrait session at this very rental which was fun. I even got the bonus of hanging out with them afterward when the road leaving the area was blocked.

June 26, 2024

Fischer Family Portraits at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake

The Fischer's eldest daughter lives in the area and had the pleasure of being visited by her parents, sister, and niece. They so rarely get the opportunity to all be in the same area at once it seemed like the perfect opportunity to knock out some family photos. It happened to be during a stretch of extremely rainy and cloudy weather this past spring in Montana, and the possibility of having to move the timing of the session around loomed all morning and afternoon. Thankfully though, we stuck to our original plans and were blessed with almost perfect weather for our evening time slot.

They were staying in one of the rental properties near The Lodge at Whitefish Lake which provided us a nice variety of photo backdrops to choose from including the trails in Viking Creek Preserve, Whitefish Lake, and Whitefish Mountain Resort.

March 20, 2024

West Glacier Vow Renewal Photographer, Joni & Brandon

Joni contacted me all the way from Texas because she, her husband, and their three children would be visiting the Flathead Valley and wanted to have a simple vow renewal somewhere picturesque, ideally with snow and mountains. Thankfully, Mother Nature cooperated, and we coordinated with Jason of Big Day Officiants for the ceremony exchange itself and had the most lovely evening together.

February 16, 2024

Whitefish City Beach Senior Portraits Plus Bonus Family Photos

The real impetus for the Sarailles family reaching out to me was senior portraits for their son because the due date for the yearbook was coming up. Hey, it happens to the best of us. So that was the main goal, and Mother Nature blessed Whitefish with a fresh layer of fluffy snow the day before so pushing the session to the last minute was ultimately the right call.

After wrapping up those we went ahead and knocked out some quick, updated family photos and called it a day!

December 29, 2023

In-home Newborn Family Portrait Photographer, The Rotars

All photographers who photograph weddings and family portraits cherish their repeat customers. There is truly no greater compliment than to be invited back into your family to mark a family milestone. And there are few bigger milestones than adding a new family member to the mix!

If you've followed my social media or browsed my blog and website before you've very likely come across the smiling faces of Chris and Paige before. Both for their wedding and an adventure portrait session in Glacier National Park. Needless to say, I was ecstatic to get the call they were expecting a baby this holiday season and would be needing some new portraits. I swore I would do whatever I could to get there as soon as they were ready for said portraits and I'm so thankful we were able to make it happen. The little one arrived a little earlier than originally planned, but we ended up able to do the portraits just one day away from his original due date. I just couldn't be happier for these two.

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Matt Wetzler is an editorial, motorsport, portrait, and destination wedding photographer based in Whitefish, Montana.

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