July 1, 2024

Spring Family Portraits in Whitefish, The Vermillions

I was fortunate to hang out with the Vermillion family at their vacation rental on Whitefish Lake this spring. Funnily enough, it was the second time I've done a portrait session at this very rental which was fun. I even got the bonus of hanging out with them afterward when the road leaving the area was blocked.

June 26, 2024

Fischer Family Portraits at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake

The Fischer's eldest daughter lives in the area and had the pleasure of being visited by her parents, sister, and niece. They so rarely get the opportunity to all be in the same area at once it seemed like the perfect opportunity to knock out some family photos. It happened to be during a stretch of extremely rainy and cloudy weather this past spring in Montana, and the possibility of having to move the timing of the session around loomed all morning and afternoon. Thankfully though, we stuck to our original plans and were blessed with almost perfect weather for our evening time slot.

They were staying in one of the rental properties near The Lodge at Whitefish Lake which provided us a nice variety of photo backdrops to choose from including the trails in Viking Creek Preserve, Whitefish Lake, and Whitefish Mountain Resort.

March 20, 2024

West Glacier Vow Renewal Photographer, Joni & Brandon

Joni contacted me all the way from Texas because she, her husband, and their three children would be visiting the Flathead Valley and wanted to have a simple vow renewal somewhere picturesque, ideally with snow and mountains. Thankfully, Mother Nature cooperated, and we coordinated with Jason of Big Day Officiants for the ceremony exchange itself and had the most lovely evening together.

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.

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

Copyright ©Matthew Wetzler 2008–2024