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.

December 10, 2023

Whitefish Family Photographer, Morrison-Walrath Families

I've been fortunate to work with Betsi, Luke, and their twins Gabriel and Elijah several times, but never for some laid-back family portraits. It's always been theatre performances and studio headshots.

Betsi's brother and his family were in town over the Thanksgiving holiday and I was able to make time for some quick portraits. It was so much fun meeting the whole family and documenting the occasion of everyone being in one place at one time.

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.

September 6, 2023

West Glacier Family Photographer, The Duecks

The Dueck's were on a cross-country trip visiting National Parks and just experiencing all of the amazing things the American West has to offer. We met up in West Glacier just outside Glacier National Park on a mildly smoky late summer day, which is a fairly common occurrence unfortunately. The good news is, sometimes the haze makes for some truly dreamlike light and backdrops. That feeling came through really well in this gallery of images.

September 3, 2023

Whitefish Family Photographer, The Owens

The Owens family were visiting from Canada. And while they'd visited Whitefish before, this was the first time they'd all been able to get together in several years. I enjoyed joining them at their vacation rental in the Beaver Bay area of Whitefish Lake and we set out getting individual families photographed, along with individual photos of the children, followed by big groups, and even popping some champagne.

August 30, 2023

Whitefish Family Photographer, The Hippersons

I finally was privileged to meet Mary, whose sister Anna I've enjoyed working with over the years. Mary and her family were in town and took the opportunity to get some updated family photos. I met them essentially immediately after they arrived at the airport, and we worked as quickly as we could before their little man was thoroughly done with the session having been taken well out of his typical schedule. But I think it all worked out quite well.

August 28, 2023

Whitefish Portrait Photographer, The Desmonds and Friends

Earlier this summer I had the pleasure of working with a large group of friends here in Whitefish. Much to my delight it led to me working with Renee's family, because her cousin was in that first group. Renee had some friends along for the ride as well and we had a great time where they were staying, and then on the way up to Whitefish Mountain Resort.

August 23, 2023

Whitefish Family Photographer, The Ewens at Whitefish City Beach

Reunited and it feels so good. I once again had the pleasure of meeting up with the Ewens here in Whitefish before the end of summer. If you've got a good memory, you'll recognize this family of three—though soon to be four!—from an engagement session many moons ago, and a portrait session last year. They were in town again and wanted one more chance to get some family photos before becoming a family of four, and I was overjoyed to oblige. We started at Whitefish City Beach and explored a newish trailhead on the Whitefish Trail system on the way up to Whitefish Mountain Resort.

August 18, 2023

West Glacier Family Portraits, the Feckes

I'm not sure what it is with so many of my family portrait clients who are vacationing from places I have deep ties to, but the Feckes were no exception. They were visiting from Northern Illinois, which is where my mom is from, and where many of my friends from my time at Eastern Illinois University live. I'm not mad about it, it's always fun to compare and contrast the geography of Western Montana—majestic mountains everywhere—and just about anywhere in Illinois which is decidedly lacking in majestic mountains, though there is often a small hill or two. In addition to getting family portraits, they also used it as an opportunity to snag individuals of each kiddo, as well as some 'senior style' portraits of their oldest.

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

Copyright ©Matthew Wetzler 2008–2024