Blog - Page 4 of 27 - Thewmatt Photography

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

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: Columbia Falls, Montana, Montana Wedding, north forty resort, Wedding

October 15, 2023

Studio Portrait Headshot Photographer, Neva S.

Another young actor I've had the privilege of photographing on stage a half dozen times or more, Neva has been in many, many Alpine Theatre Project productions—often in the same cast as my daughter—and was looking for some updated studio headshot portraits. Here are the results!

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Headshots, Portraits

Tags: Headshots, Portraits, Studio Portraits

October 13, 2023

Studio-Style Portrait Headshots, The Walrath Twins

I've known Gabriel and Elijah for over six years now. My first encounter with them was as a volunteer reader for my daughter's first-grade class which they happened to be in. From there our paths have crossed dozens of times as their parents founded Alpine Theatre Project which I've had the pleasure of working with for over three years both as a volunteer and as a theatre parent and they've been a part of some Whitefish Theatre Company productions as well.

They're aspiring stage, film, and television actors, so they needed some headshots for a conference they would be attending in the winter. Pretty happy with how these turned out.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Headshots, Portraits

Tags: Headshots, Studio Portraits

October 9, 2023

Anna & Justin’s Wedding at Dog Creek Lodge in Olney, Montana

I was finally able to make it out to Dog Creek Lodge in Olney for a wedding, and it was such a blast. Just a short drive North of Whitefish on Highway 93. Anna and I met for coffee very early in the planning process and she had everything organized and very much under control. She and Justin are both very much into the outdoors—hiking, running, biking, all of the things—they just wanted everyone to have a great time for the wedding day in a beautiful outdoor setting.

One of the more unique elements they had was a unity ceremony consisting of making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich together, and then each taking a bite together not wholly unlike "The Lady and the Tramp" spaghetti scene.

Venue: Dog Creek Lodge / Planning and Rentals: Empress Tents & Events / Bakery: Fleur Bake Shop / Band: The MAC Band / Catering: Silk Road Catering / Florals: Two Kays Flower Farm / Transportation: Rocky Mountain Transportation / Second Photographer: Porsche Jean Photography

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: Dog Creek Lodge, Montana, Montana Wedding, Olney, Wedding

October 8, 2023

West Glacier Family Photographer, The Genthers

The Genther family, like many families I have the pleasure of working with each year, were on their way around the country while taking the time to 'road school' their kids. I guess technically you'd call it homeschooling, but when your classroom is the wide-open country that doesn't seem to encapsulate the experience. We met up in West Glacier towards sunset, headed into Apgar Village, and they ultimately ended up in Lake McDonald to close out the evening. Pretty much the perfect way to end a session on a relatively warm late-summer day.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Family Photography, Portraits

Tags: family, family portraits, Glacier National Park, Montana, Portraits, West Glacier

October 6, 2023

Whitefish Wedding Photographer, Haley & Evan at The Homestead

A friend I met through volunteering with the Whitefish School District—who happened to also grow up in Austin and graduate from the same High School my brother did—put me in touch with the DeVore family who have their own Texas ties. The oldest DeVore daughter would be getting married and they were looking for a photographer.

This friend was doing some initial wedding planning help before they had brought on wedding planner extraordinaire SG Weddings and Events and her team and once the ball got rolling she assembled just a stellar team of wedding vendors. The day was absolutely beautiful with fluffy white clouds in a blue sky, and maybe just a little too hot for us wedding vendors but almost chilly to the guests from the Lone Star State.

Venue: The Homestead / Planning and Florals: SG Weddings & Events / Bakery: Montana Wildflour / Bar Services: Spinnaker / Catering: The Kopper Kitchen / DJ: Big Mountain DJs / Hair & Makeup: Shayna Beauty & Sieh Beauty / Rentals & Decor: Barndoor Event Rentals / Transportation: MT Party Bus / Videography: Skeeter Johnston Productions / Wedding Content Creator: Keep Candid / Second Photographer: Porsche Jean Photography

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: Montana, Montana Wedding, The Homestead, Wedding, whitefish

October 4, 2023

Whitefish Senior Portrait Photographer, Cole, Class of 2024

I've known Cole and his family for a few years now having photographed him and his sister multiple times in productions put on by the local theatre non-profits Alpine Theatre Project and Whitefish Theatre Company. And even did studio headshots for both of them earlier this summer.

Cole's mom had a very defined vision for his portraits leaning into the fact he is very much a 'theatre kid.' We coordinated with the technical coordinator of the Whitefish Performing Arts Center for some photos inside the empty stage, utilized the stage all dressed up for ATP's production of "Million Dollar Quartet," and okay since we're in Montana we did just a handful of outdoor photos with a view here in Whitefish.

This leads me to my biggest advice to seniors looking to have their portraits done. You should take the opportunity to have the portraits reflect who you are and your personality. No need for boring studio portraits.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Portraits, Senior Portraits

Tags: class of 2024, Portraits, Senior, whitefish

September 27, 2023

West Glacier Engagement Photographer, Ashley & Matt

Ashley and Matt were recently engaged and just happened to be here in Northwest Montana for a friend's intimate wedding day. In my extremely biased opinion, they had the magnificent idea to get some engagement portraits done while they were here. After all, it's awfully difficult to pass up the opportunity for engagement portraits at Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park.

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

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

September 25, 2023

Jennifer & Eric’s Glacier National Park Adventure Portrait Session

I met Jennifer and Eric at the My Montana Wedding Expo & Style Show in Kalispell this past January. They already had an amazing wedding photographer for their big day but weren't able to schedule an adventure session with that same photographer due to scheduling. They were on the hunt for a photographer who offered adventure portrait sessions and was familiar with Glacier National Park. I was happy to inform them that I fit both of those requirements and was more than happy to get them on my summer schedule.

We enjoyed a very hot but no less beautiful late summer wedding day along Going-to-the-Sun Road, getting to know each other, and making some stunning portraits. The session honestly couldn't have gone any better.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Couples Portraits, Portraits

Tags: adventure session, couples portraits, day after session, Glacier National Park, Montana, Portraits

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