Glacier National Park Archives - Page 4 of 8

August 31, 2022

Glacier National Park Elopement Photographer, Susan & Steve at Lake McDonald

When you get a call from your friend Sarah Harding to see if you're available on a weekday for an hour for a sweet elopement in the park, you don't say no. Bonus points for the couple wanting to include the Jeep they've been driving across the country.

Susan and Steve were visiting from Lousianna and while they were still going to have a big party for friends and family back home, they thought "why not do something intimate with just the two of us?" And I couldn't agree more. It was super low-stress, we chatted about life and Jeeps, and Sarah and I got to be part of something extremely special.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Elopement, Wedding

Tags: Elopement, Glacier National Park, Lake McDonald, Montana, Wedding, West Glacier

August 22, 2022

Glacier National Park Senior Portraits, Aspen, Class of ’23

Hey everybody, meet Aspen, Class of '23. Aspen is a badass softball player, you don't want to mess with her. Especially when this senior absolutely rocked a chilly August morning and a 4:30 am wake-up call to make this sunrise happen.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Portraits, Senior Portraits

Tags: Glacier National Park, Montana, Portraits, Senior, West Glacier

August 15, 2022

Glacier National Park Adventure Portrait Photographer, Natasha & Aaron

The idea of "day after" portrait sessions seemed to have gained steam over the last several years. At least here in Northwest Montana where you might be getting married at a particular venue, but still want portraits done in Glacier National Park.

What may not be as popular, but just as sound in terms of destination wedding planning, is the "day before" session. Natasha and Aaron were traveling from out of state, and the way the travel schedule was working out, plus just the basic logistics of hair & makeup, etc. we opted to schedule their portraits in the National Park the day before their wedding at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

It was a perfect opportunity to spend some time getting to know each other in person, while also getting some of the wedding day and portrait jitters out of the way ahead of time, and it worked out beautifully.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Couples Portraits, Family Photography, Portraits, Wedding

Tags: adventure session, family, Glacier National Park, Montana, Portraits, Wedding

August 8, 2022

West Glacier Family Photographer, The McDowell’s

Nothing like a simple and relaxed family portrait session in and around West Glacier. We kept this one pretty relaxed and informal with the little one because it's pretty easy to get tired of smiling for the camera (this applies to grown-ups sometimes too.)

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Family Photography, Portraits

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

August 5, 2022

Glacier National Park Adventure Portrait Session, Paige & Chris

This was one of my favorite days all summer, even though it was very much my longest day of work. My previous post featured Natalia & Ben's sunrise Glacier National Park portrait session. Well, that very same day I got to hang out with Paige & Chris again for their adventure session. It truly was a day that cemented in my head why I love doing what I do. The weather was perfect and we simply took our time meandering our way through the park and stopping when the opportunity presented itself. Prior to that, we did stop just outside the park to take some photos with their dog who was unable to attend their wedding day. That way he could be let off leash briefly which is generally frowned upon when inside the park, and explicitly denied on trails.

Paige & Chris once again proved themselves to be more kind than I could've imagined, and I can't wait for our paths to cross again.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Couples Portraits, Portraits

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

August 1, 2022

Glacier National Park Sunrise Adventure Portrait Session, Natalia & Ben

Northwest Montana is an almost unbelievably beautiful place, and Glacier National Park is a perfect illustration of that. And sunrise pretty much anywhere usually provides really great light for photography. That said, in this part of the world devotion to that morning light comes at a cost. The cost of waking up very, very early in order to arrive at your destination for said light. It's bad enough living in Whitefish and traveling to the Western entrance to the park, but it's even worse when you live about halfway down the Western edge of Flathead Lake like Natalia & Ben do.

They had to get up and on the road a solid two hours before I did in order to make it to our session on time but I'm so thankful that they made the effort and were good sports about it all.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Couples Portraits, Portraits

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

July 18, 2022

West Glacier Wedding Photographer, Emily & Logan at Glacier Raft Company

I always get hyped up for photographing a wedding. Doesn't matter if it's big, small, or medium-sized or where it might be taking place. I get doubly hyped up when it's a couple I've been fortunate to do their engagement portraits beforehand. Since we've already gotten to know each other ahead of time over a couple of hours, it's just like attending the wedding of long-time friends.

Emily and Logan's wedding was unique for me personally because they grew up and traveled from the very same area where I grew up in Central Texas. The weather didn't exactly cooperate 100% with the whole evening—it rarely does in Montana—but it did for their private vow recitation in a secluded area of Glacier National Park and the ceremony at the wedding pavilion at Glacier Raft Company, and didn't really bother us with rain until everyone was under the aforementioned pavilion for the dance party.

Venue: Glacier Raft Company / Catering: Gina MacNeil Catering / Hair & Makeup: Mountain Soul Event Styling / Couture: Essence of Australia & Men's Warehouse / DJ: V-Team DJs / Jeweler: James Allen / Florals: Something Borrowed Blooms / Videographer: Taylor Films / Rental & Decor: Celebrate Event & Party Rental / Second Photographer: Porsche Jean Photography

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Wedding

Tags: Glacier National Park, Glacier Raft Company, Montana, Montana Wedding, Wedding, West Glacier

July 15, 2022

West Glacier Family Photographer, The Pattersons

What do you get when you mix a delightful family, absolutely perfect mid-summer weather, and Northwest Montana's beautiful scenery? Some truly amazing, almost unbelievable family portraits. I truly didn't want this portrait session to end, and the Patterson's to return to their home in Florida. I wanted them to find a house here not even so that I could have them as repeat clients, but just to hang out and chat.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Family Photography, Portraits

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

June 22, 2022

Glacier National Park Maternity Photographer, The Dittmans

The Dittmans had quite the adventure in order to arrive at their portrait session on time. First, their flight was delayed coming into Missoula, so they arrived a day later than expected, arriving the afternoon of our scheduled session. Along with that flight delay, their luggage somehow managed to not arrive with them, so they had no clothes for the session (though a quick trip to Target on the way to the Flathead Valley made up for that.) Finally, it was the week of historic flooding throughout Montana, making some areas impossible to get to for several days and even weeks, though thankfully that did not impact their drive. I met them at Lake McDonald Lodge, which is where they were staying for the first part of their trip, and they literally arrived 15 minutes before our session. Thankfully, that was just enough time to get settled and we had a delightful evening ahead of us as we documented this time before they moved from a couple to a family of three.

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

Tags: couples portraits, Glacier National Park, maternity, Portraits, summer maternity

June 10, 2022

Glacier National Park Elopement Photographer, Dee & Steve

I met Dee and Steve through wedding planner extraordinaire Kate Jimenez with An Epic Elopement. They'd initially contacted her for her all-inclusive elopement package but after consultation—and because she's such a sweetheart—she realized they didn't really need that much for what they were looking to do. After contacting me to see if I was available, she basically handed them off to me and suggested they order a bouquet from Mum's Flowers in Whitefish, and it would be super simple. They weren't needing an officiant, they were simply going to exchange vows between themselves, which for now does not require a special permit to be obtained from Glacier National Park ahead of time.

Initially, our plans were for a part of the park that sometimes opens by early June but with the unpredictability of weather, and a very late winter storm we experienced in Northwest Montana that was unfortunately not possible, but I think we found a suitable alternate location, and it was such an honor to play my small role in documenting their exchange of vows.

Published by Matthew Wetzler in Blog, Elopement, Wedding

Tags: couple, East Glacier, Elopement, Glacier National Park, Montana

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