My thoughts on life, love, and how it all applies to photography.
To me, every wedding tells the story of the couple through the details, the choices, the music. Weddings shouldn’t be a checklist of traditions, but rather the coming together of friends and family to celebrate love and joy between two people.
I believe that life is a series of experiences meant to bring us closer to our creator and to each other. People matter. Relationships matter. Experiences matter. The rest, well, isn’t nearly as important.
The decisions I’ve made for my business, the images I take, and the stories I strive to tell reflect those values. I do my very best to connect with the couples I’m capturing and form genuine relationships with each one of them. Many of my favorite images show the connection between humans. Tears of joy when a bride sees her groom for the first time while wearing her wedding gown. The look in a dad’s eyes when he walks his daughter down the aisle. The smiles and laughter when a couple relives the memory of their first date. Other images show the in between, the unplanned moments that are real, natural, and absolutely perfect. The two year old that can’t stay off the dance floor. Grandma adjusting her granddaughter’s vail. The belly laughs when the bride can’t get her groom’s ring to fit on his finger. It’s those little moments that become sweet memories, and to be able to have them captured forever is why I do what I do.
My wedding day philosphy.
I believe in authenticity on your wedding day. I want to capture the real, the raw, the unplanned, and the unposed. This is why, for the most part, I take a photojournalistic approach to shooting weddings. I’ll sit back and capture your day as it naturally unfolds. I won’t ask you to look at the camera or tilt your head a certain way.
Of course, we also take the time to capture group photos of your family and wedding party, but I try to get through those as quickly and painlessly as possible, so you can enjoy your day, and not spend half of it posing for photos.
A few years back, I started to step away from posing, and instead, started to allow my couples to interact in the way that feels the most natural for them. And I love it that way! My goal is to capture YOU. That requires trust on both sides. You have to trust my vision, and I have to trust you to open up and be yourselves.
I might ask you to close your eyes and breathe for a moment, to reflect on your first date, or walk together holding hands. Of course, we’ll grab one or two shots of you smiling and looking at camera. You know that’s the one Grandma will want to hang on her fridge, but the rest of time will be spent with you interacting and loving one another.
-Matthew and the Atlas-
Prints and albums.
I also believe in the tangible. Photographs are meant to be printed. It’s so different to look at an image on a screen versus hold a photograph in your hands. I want you to be able to experience your images in print, but more importantly, I want your children to be able to see the story of your wedding day. Even better, your grandchildren. Hard drives don’t last forever. Technology changes constantly. Only the tangible will last. Because I believe strongly in this, half of my packages come with an album to help tell the story of your wedding. On top of that, all of my wedding clients receive prints of 50 of my favorite images from their wedding along with their USB.
Kind words from past clients.
Jessica + David
Leona + Mike
Petra + Drew
Investment
I hate this part. Really, how can you put a price on having your wedding memories beautifully captured for lifetimes to come? Well, I guess you sort of have to.