Howdy!
My name is Matt—or rather Matthew I suppose which is where the name “thewmatt” comes from—but you can call me Matt, or thew, or even "hey you!" My family and I moved to Montana’s Flathead Valley in 2017. The story of how we decided to move here is just about the least original story you can imagine. We took a family trip here one summer to visit Glacier National Park and stayed the week in Whitefish where we fell in love with the town, the scenery, and the people. A whirlwind 12 months later we were newly minted Montana residents.
Part of our move was my leaving my full-time gig as a graphic designer where for 15 years I worked on everything from branding internationally renowned music and culture festivals, the digital strategy for beloved Texas travel publication Texas Highways, to collateral and marketing communications for multiple Texas universities, Fortune 500 companies, and local businesses. It was my design education that first re-introduced me to my love of photography through the required photography classes. The rest, as they say, is history. Through my work as a graphic designer, I was able to work closely with some of the most talented commercial and fine art photographers in the country, providing many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for continuing my photography education.
What I love most about photography is the power to provide permanence for moments that are otherwise fleeting and can never be replicated. There's only one "first kiss" after your wedding vows, only one start to every Grand Prix race, only one family vacation to a beautiful place when your children are a certain age.
When I’m not out documenting people’s lives through wedding or portrait photography you can probably find me taking care of our three cats, two guinea pigs, and two goldfish, volunteering at my daughter's school, playing Xbox—Gamertag Mattuke if you’re so inclined—hiking the Flathead Valley’s many trails with my family, at a track somewhere covering Formula 1 and other motorsports, coming up with silly enamel pins and stickers, and serving on the board of the My Montana Wedding Association.
Recognition
My work has been featured on Zola, Modern Weddings, and published in Premiere Weddings, My Montana Wedding, and Texas Highways magazine. I've also received Two Bright Lights 2019 Editor's Choice Award and multiple WeddingWire couples' choice awards.
Photos courtesy Kelly Kirksey Photography (top) and Amber Lynn Photography (bottom.)
