Winter Archives - Thewmatt Photography

March 13, 2024

Surprise Glacier National Park Winter Proposal, Melanie & Bryan

I told Brian—after he'd successfully asked for Melanie's hand in marriage on the shore of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park—that I think my heart was probably pounding as quickly as his heart was. Surprise proposals are such an honor to be a part of but man can they be stressful. What if I'm in the wrong spot? What if I'm focussing on the wrong couple? What if I have a camera failure at the key moment?

Thankfully, choosing a winter proposal here in Glacier means it won't be super busy, and with the proper preparation—something Brian and I began discussing three months prior—a lot of the risks can be minimized. Photographing a proposal is also an adrenaline rush for me not unlike the start of a race, where I quite literally have one opportunity to get it right, and there are no true do overs.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Couples Portraits, Engagement, Portraits

Tags: couples portraits, engagement, Glacier National Park, Montana, Portraits, surprise proposal, West Glacier, Winter, Winter Engagement

February 21, 2024

Whitefish Engagement Portrait Photographer, Gabrielle & Christian

Gabrielle and Christian had two prerequisites for their engagement session. They wanted to include their dogs, and as winter sports enthusiasts they wanted it to be snowy.

Including the dogs was the easy part, but the snow was not so much. This winter has been so strange—and more like spring than winter for most of it if we're being honest—so we kept pushing the session date. Thankfully, Mother Nature finally delivered with almost a week straight of snow, and temperatures low enough to where it stayed pretty and didn't turn to slush. We also lucked out by avoiding the weekend when it was -28 degrees. However, we still dealt with single-digit temps as it was.

I cannot wait for these to get married next fall at Star Meadows Ranch!

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Couples Portraits, Engagement, Portraits

Tags: couples portraits, engagement, Montana, whitefish, whitefish city beach, Winter, Winter Engagement

November 17, 2023

West Glacier Engagement Photographer, Abby & Kyle

When Abby and Kyle first booked me for their wedding and added an engagement session, we always planned on scheduling it in the Fall. Partially because the Fall colors in Northwest Montana are amazing, but also out of necessity. Kyle is a Wildland Firefighter, and during the summer his schedule can be extremely volatile.

Thankfully, things worked out tremendously weather-wise. We did have a heavy dusting of snow that provided a lovely contrast with the Fall colors. I am so looking forward to their wedding this spring.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Couples Portraits, Engagement, Portraits

Tags: couples portraits, engagement, Glacier National Park, Montana, Portraits, West Glacier, Winter

February 17, 2022

Glacier National Park Maternity Portraits, Cristine & Josh

Cristine and Josh seem to have developed a habit of finding themselves in front of my camera, and I do not mind one bit. We've met in Fall, Summer, and now winter. We need to get together in the Spring to complete the seasonal collection.

This session may have actually been my favorite as it's such an honor to continue documenting someone's life together as they move from a couple to a family.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Couples Portraits, Maternity, Portraits

Tags: couple, Glacier National Park, maternity, Montana, Portraits, Winter, winter maternity

December 1, 2021

Glacier National Park Winter Engagement Photographer, Xaviera & Adam

Xaviera & Adam contacted me sort of last minute as they were visiting Whitefish for a quick vacation and visiting wedding venues for a wedding the following year. It'd been a while since I'd had the opportunity to photograph a winter engagement portrait session so I was thrilled that I was available and we made plans to freeze our collective rear-ends off and pay Glacier National Park a visit. In these scenarios, I always feel a little bit bad for the couple who is trying to be cute and handsome in below-freezing temperatures while I get to bundle up as much as possible. And of course, as is often the case in life, the women suffer more than anyone else, as cute women's clothing is typically offers less coverage, and is just generally not as warm, to begin with.

Xaviera and Adam were troopers about it though, and braving the frigid temperatures was totally worth it.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Engagement, Portraits

Tags: couples portraits, Engagement Session, Glacier National Park, Montana, Portraits, Winter, Winter Engagement, winter portraits

April 8, 2021

Whitefish Wedding Photographer, Joann & Ryan at Star Meadows Ranch

Joann and Ryan came to Whitefish from Colorado with their closest friends and family to hang out, go skiing, and get married! Their wedding at Star Meadows Ranch was the perfect match for their laid-back attitude full of dogs—they've got three—no attendants, unicorn socks, corn hole and hockey set up in the pavilion, a roaring fire, and fireworks to close out the evening.

They also had the most unique unity ceremony I've ever witnessed which involved them both pouring un-aged whiskey into a custom aging barrel to age over time and be enjoyed at a later date.

Venue: Star Meadows Ranch / Lodging: Star Meadows Ranch / Catering: DeSoto Grill / Whiskey: Buffalo Trace Distillery

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: Montana, Star Meadows Ranch, whitefish, Winter, Winter Wedding

February 15, 2021

Whitefish Montana Family Photographer, The Ahmads

I'd hate to speak for other photographers, but for this particular photographer, repeat business is one of the best feelings ever. I met the Ahmad family this past fall when they were paying a visit to Northwest Montana, and I was extremely stoked to get a text from them again this winter asking if I was available for some portraits this February as they were here for some powder turns at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

While it was certainly chilly we did manage to sneak in before an arctic system moved in and temperatures plunged below zero. We were also blessed with the most perfect light snowfall, something I've been wanting to have for a portrait session for the last three years but had never materialized until now!

Ahmad Winter Family Portraits in Whitefish Montana at Riverside Park

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Family Photography, Portraits

Tags: family, family portraits, Montana, riverside park, whitefish, Winter, winter portraits

January 11, 2021

West Glacier Family Photographer, The Connellys

My wife and I both come from a long line of teachers, with current and retired teachers on both sides of our respective families. As such we've got an immense amount of respect for those individuals that choose such a noble profession. So whenever I get an opportunity to work with one of my daughter's teachers it's always an honor. This winter I got to reconnect with her first grade teacher who had a profound impact on my daughter, and by extension us. She and her husband have three boys so it seemed appropriate to schedule the session in a location with an epic sledding hill to close out the photos.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Family Photography, Portraits

Tags: family, family photography, family portraits, West Glacier, Winter, winter portraits

December 11, 2020

Glacier National Park Wedding Photographer, Kaylee & Braxton’s Post-Wedding Portrait Session

Kaylee and Braxton didn't actually elope, bu they were celebrating their honeymoon here in Whitefish. And what is that saying "When in [Whitefish] you do as [Montanans] do." You put on your wedding attire and you book a portrait session in Glacier National Park!

Okay, maybe not everyone does that, but I am so happy these two Texans—by way of D.C.—ended up contacting me for said portraits. Kaylee is a photographer herself so it was really fun to talk a little shop. It was also a little different working with someone who knew just about all the prompts, and what those prompts were trying to accomplish. It made things super quick and efficient which was ideal given that it was below freezing. But I was once again blessed with a couple that was all smiles for miles.

Incidentally I'm so glad my wife insisted on buying a box of the little hand warmers to keep in the car to use for photoshoots. They've come in super handy this winter.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Couples Portraits, Portraits

Tags: couple, couples portraits, Glacier National Park, Montana, West Glacier, Winter

February 15, 2020

Whitefish Wedding Photographer, Wedding Inspiration at North Forty Resort

I was fortunate to be included in this fun styled wedding session at North Forty Resort this past weekend. Book of Love Weddings & Events pulled together a bevy of awesome collaborators from My Montana Wedding for this pink-hued, winter inspiration.

Planner: Book of Love Weddings & Events / Venue: North Forty Resort / Photography: Thewmatt Photography / Hair & Makeup: Rare Beauty / Florals: SG Weddings & Events / Cake: Delectable Desserts & Catering / Rentals: Empress Tents & Events / Rings: McGough & Co.