Matt Theilen Photography

New Blog is up and running

2008-07-26T07:35:00.001-07:00

New Blog Coming Soon

2008-07-19T10:14:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm making a new blog because I want BIGGER photos and a more functional way of blogging. Stay tuned, it should be set up here in a week or two....

Sorry about the delay

2008-07-18T22:29:00.001-07:00

Rachel, originally uploaded by Matt Theilen Photography.

I was out of town photographing and have been so busy with many photo projects that are not of the wedding type. I promise I'll catch up...

In the meantime here's a photo of Rachel on Green Pond in upstate New York...

Back to editing photos....

Mara and Mike

2008-07-05T21:27:00.000-07:00

Two words: Just Beautiful!

Jamie and Charley

2008-07-01T07:55:00.000-07:00

What a couple of cool people! Here is a slideshow of some of my favorite images from Jamie and Charley's wedding.

Alice and Rob

2008-06-19T16:03:00.001-07:00

Again, I was fortunate to photograph a beautiful wedding in a unique location. Alice and Rob tied the knot up at the Shinneyboo Creek Cabin Resort--what a cool, laid-back affair! You guys rock--and you have the best rings I have ever seen!

Lindsay and Steve

2008-06-13T18:30:00.000-07:00

So I was able to round up Brian Sweeney to come to Angel's Camp with me to photograph Steve and Lindsay's wedding. The wedding was perfect--perfect light, perfect location and a perfect couple. Thanks to you both for being so generous and having us, it was a beautiful day and one of my most memorable weddings. And check out the shots! Some of my favorites below...

Sarah and David

2008-06-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

So I met Sarah and David last fall and we got together for some engagement photos down by the Truckee River in Reno. I remember that it was freezing--I think it was December and we found this clump of bamboo that made an interesting backdrop for their wedding card photo.

Fast forward to May 31 and now we're at Sarah's parents house in South Reno. The ceremony and reception are going to be held in the back yard which has been under siege by Tom and Jenny to make it ready for the event. Diana and I show up and get just a few shots of the girls getting ready.

The guys of course, are already dressed and ready to go when they show up so I take a few shots of them outside--hiding them from Sarah who's in the room next door.

The wedding starts at 2pm and I've got my video camera running for a short ceremony video and Diana is taking stills. I break away from my video to get candid shots of guests and take a few of shots from down low.

The light gets better after the ceremony and we take advantage of the nice scenery around the back yard and get some great shots.

So then the wedding ends and David and Sarah ride off in the Limo--and as I'm driving home I just keep thinking of how I wanted to take some more photos of them by themselves in a really green, secluded setting. So Sarah calls me the next day asking if Diana lost an earring in the bathroom and it reminds me to ask her if David still has his tux. She was going to return it that afternoon but talks the guy into letting them keep it for a couple more days so we can meet down at Rancho San Rafael park and shoot some more intimate photos--I'm so grateful that we were able to do this--it was awesome (despite my sprained ankle!)

Thanks so much you guys -- it was an honor to be at your wedding and to photograph you two. Good luck in the move !

MT

Richard and Derya

2008-05-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

So it is May 23 and I'm on the phone with Richard trying to convince him that it is going to be beautiful up at Lake Tahoe on his and Derya's day--he doesn't sound convinced and I realize after talking to him and looking out my window that the batteries must be dead on my weather reporter thingamajiggy in my window sill. I do a weather search online and it looks bleak.

Now it is the morning of the 24th and Diana and I are heading up to the lake and it is COLD, we're looking at a high of 45 degrees on the shore Tahoe--add a little breeze, some hail and rain and now were closer to the weather in February--But we just have the ceremony inside a tent instead of out on the beach. Some of Richard's family are here from Korea dressed in traditional clothing. The rain isn't letting up and I'm wondering how we can get out into the rain to photograph and how long I can keep them out there before they freeze. JB is performing the ceremony and I'm shooting from the rear and sides and Diana is mostly up in the front shooting close-ups. We're trying to make the tent as interesting as possible with no decorations-- it was such a last minute deal because of the weather and as I watch Richard and Derya, I know it doesn't even matter whether they are on the beach or in the tent--they're in love.

So now the ceremony is over and we decide to go downstairs off the balcony and the immediate consensus is to photograph the family down there. I just can't seem to get psyched to photograph anyone inside a building when they've traveled so far to be married on the lake. Richard and I agree to just let everyone get a bit wet and work quickly to do the photos outside. Diana holds the umbrella over me to keep the water off my lens (which works--kind of) and we photograph the family and wedding party out in the rain. We head back inside for a few minutes to let Derya warm up and then I take them down onto the pier with the umbrella for a few more photos, but now it's after 6pm and the wind is picking up and blowing in off the lake--it's cold so I do my best to keep them moving for just a few more shots before we have to head off to the reception at the Riva Grill.The reception is a laid-back affair with my favorite DJ--Gary of JJ Entertainment whom I've only worked with briefly once before, but he made an impression. The reception forgoes most traditions and instead does something very cool. Richard and Derya decide to have two performances from their ethnic backgrounds (Korean and Turkish) so we have a Korean fan dance which is so elegant and graceful and a belly dancer which is also elegant and graceful and I have to say that it iss not what I have seen before--she is pro. The food is great and after dinner we have a few dances, a couple toasts and a slideshow that makes me choke-up (I hide it well because I always just put the camera in front of my face) and then everyone just cuts loose and this is where I take my favorite image of the night-- Richard's grandmother comes out onto the dance-floor and busts a move to some 80's song (I think it was Vanilla Ice) and she justs cuts it up out there--

Thanks guys--it was an honor to be a guest at your wedding--looking forward to seeing you in August in Seattle! ---MT

Cynthia and Josh

2008-05-20T16:19:00.000-07:00

A beautiful, intimate wedding right on the shore of Lake Tahoe on May 17th -- surprisingly hot for this time of year (it was above 80 degrees) The wedding was at Tahoe Beach and Ski and then the reception followed at the Riva Grill. I brought Joy and Wynn as assistants and we had some amazing light right at sunset. Thanks Cyndi and Josh for being so relaxed and easy going on what is most of the time a very stressful day!

Alice and Rob

2008-05-13T17:08:00.001-07:00

Alice and Rob, originally uploaded by Matt Theilen Photography.

Standing in the street near Shinneyboo where their wedding is happening this summer--what a beautiful place!

It Has Begun.

2008-05-12T18:04:00.000-07:00

Here goes another great season of weddings...are you ready?

Fun in the sun

2008-05-10T22:13:00.001-07:00

Tanya Faux, originally uploaded by Matt Theilen Photography.

I got out and shot a few photos at the Reno River Festival--great fun. Click image to go to my flickr account and see a couple more of my favorites...

Watch out!

2008-05-06T17:13:00.001-07:00

Jason at the 2008 Rocksport Competition, originally uploaded by Matt Theilen Photography.

Once in a great while I buy a new piece of gear because of it's "technical" capabilities. Not that often though--I believe a good photographer could show up at an event with an 8 dollar point and shoot camera and make great images--it's never been about the equipment for me it's always about the image and what you can do with what you have...

That is until I took the plunge and bought the new Nikon D3...I can shoot at ISO 3200 and it looks amazing! (It looks like ISO 400 on my current camera) This frees me up to shoot with more natural lighting at weddings--not to mention the full-frame -- my lenses are once again working to full capacity. For all my brides this summer who are getting married inside--look out, I'm bringing the big guns!

New Stock and Art archive

2008-04-29T13:48:00.000-07:00

I have finally begun to archive my photographic work. You can see my progress at my personal archive on Photoshelter where you can license my images for commercial purposes and buy prints of my select images. My archive is growing rapidly so bookmark it or you can subscribe to my RSS feed of stock photographs on my photoshelter homepage.

One of my images of Washoe Lake. I'm offering 3 print sizes, click image to find out more.

Out-takes from a photo shoot

2008-04-09T22:01:00.000-07:00

I had an idea before I went to shoot some portraits for Moana Nursery. After the main shots were finished, I wanted to do something a little different that focused on the person and the prop... I used 3 Nikon SB-28s with Pocket Wizards and two white umbrellas that I shot two of the flashes through and then the third bounced off the ceiling.

More New Work

2008-04-09T22:00:00.005-07:00

Lisa, originally uploaded by Matt Theilen Photography.

More New Work

2008-04-09T22:00:00.003-07:00

Dwight, originally uploaded by Matt Theilen Photography.

More New Work

2008-04-09T22:00:00.001-07:00

Shawna, originally uploaded by Matt Theilen Photography.

It is coming along...

New Work

2008-04-06T21:56:00.000-07:00

This has been a series that I have been wanting to do for quite sometime now. These are the test shots from my Tachihara 4x5 field camera. I set up a white 4 foot paper backdrop in my living room and set a chair in front of it. It's just me, the camera and you. I processed the Ilford Delta 100 film on a rotary processor about 15 minutes after I shot the images. I'll probably start using ISO 400 film so I can have two extra stops and can use all natural light.

Come over and I'll make you a latte and take your portrait :)

At Last!! A new website

2008-02-15T07:48:00.000-08:00

At last I have a new website with a new name--it took a while to get this up but I have been contemplating a Livebooks site for some time now and it is finally live. I am still filling in the portfolio sections of the site and a few other pages, but it is live....

www.matttheilen.com

Alpine Meadows Photo Shoot

2008-02-07T10:26:00.001-08:00

Alpine Meadows, originally uploaded by Matt Theilen Photography.

A great day of photographing up at Alpine Meadows. This is one of my favorites.

Wrestling Photos

2008-01-31T11:03:00.001-08:00

Wrestler #2, originally uploaded by matttheilen.

I was hired to shoot some team photos and had an amazing time with these kids. It was utter chaos--these are a few of my favorites!! Lighting was horrible florescent so I used 2 Nikon SB-28s on stands, left flash on softbox and right was bare-bulb. Post-production was Lightroom and Photoshop.

Wrestling Photos

2008-01-31T11:02:00.003-08:00

Wrestler #1, originally uploaded by matttheilen.

Wrestling Photos

2008-01-31T11:02:00.001-08:00

Wrestler#3, originally uploaded by matttheilen.

Jamie and Brandon at Edgewood

2008-01-28T21:32:00.000-08:00

Congrats you guys--you were so great to photograph!!

Adam and Sarah at Edgewood

2008-01-28T20:41:00.000-08:00

Congrats Adam and Sarah! Here's a few of my favorites from our short 3 hour time together. Thanks for having me--I had a great time.

Engagement Portrait Mania

2008-01-02T20:51:00.000-08:00

Check out three sets of engagement portraits that I recently shot...

Zoe & ChrisAdam & Sarah
Todd & Amy

Sarah and Ty

2007-11-05T13:47:00.001-08:00

Sarah and Ty
Click image above to see a selection of photos

Paul and Angela

2007-11-05T13:41:00.001-08:00

Congratulations you two! Check out a few of the photos from your day.

Adam & Yvette

2007-10-15T12:51:00.000-07:00

Congratulations you guys!

Allen and Theresa

2007-10-08T22:45:00.001-07:00

Thanks you guys! I had a great time photographing your day and we got so lucky with the weather. Beautiful! Congratulations!

Deanna & Scott

2007-09-30T21:21:00.000-07:00

Congratulations you guys, it was an honor to be your photographer!!!!!
You two are just awesome!

Scott and Paige

2007-09-23T12:49:00.001-07:00

Congratulations you guys! I'm glad we dodged the rain!

A few images squeezed in....

2007-09-17T22:37:00.000-07:00

Check out a few images that I managed to squeeze in between all the rest. These were all taken with my Mamiya 7 rangefinder 6x7. Film was a mixture of Fuji Velvia, Fuji NPS, Ilford Delta 100. Click the image above to see a few...

Karla and Jake at Zephyr Cove

2007-09-16T12:25:00.001-07:00

Congratulations you guys, what an awesome day!

Deanna and Scott Portraits

2007-09-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

Congratulations you guys, I am so excited to photograph your wedding!!

Hannah & Nick

2007-09-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

Wow guys, what a great day!
Diana and I had a really good time photographing you guys.
Thanks so much for having us. Check out some cool photos...

Alexis & Jeff at Idlewild Park

2007-09-03T08:33:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Lexi and Jeff!

Abigail's Modeling Debut

2007-08-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

Check out a few images that I shot yesterday here in Reno
(click image above)

Shannon and Sterling

2007-08-26T13:41:00.000-07:00

Congrats you guys, we had so much fun with the portraits! Thanks for making time for that.

Paul & Sheila at Heavenly

2007-08-21T11:12:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Paul and Sheila!

Shirley & Gabe

2007-08-19T09:26:00.001-07:00

Just WOW!
Thanks for having us photograph your incredible wedding!

Lyndy & Charlie at the Tannenbaum

2007-08-18T11:05:00.001-07:00

Congratulations you two!

Shawna and Dave at Round Hill

2007-08-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

Congratulations you guys!
We had a good time and the music was the best! And the vows, the vows were better than all the rest. Oh yes, oh yes thank you for having us photograph your wedding-party-fest!

Jamie and James in Homewood

2007-08-05T00:09:00.001-07:00

Congrats you guys! Beautiful wedding!

Stephanie and Don at Rancho San Rafael

2007-07-30T22:50:00.001-07:00

Hey you guys, thanks for such a great time. It was nice to photograph a photographer and her husband! Beautiful ceremony--it's one of my favorite places to photograph!

Kellie and Mike on the Safari Rose

2007-07-30T22:37:00.001-07:00

What a beautiful evening! You guys were great and I had tons of fun on our tour around the lake on the Safari Rose. Thanks for having me there!

Scott & Jen

2007-07-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

Congratulations you two! You guys looked great and it was an honor
to be your photographer!

Kim and Clay at Round Hill Pines

2007-07-18T14:45:00.002-07:00

Awesome wedding you guys! Congratulations!
Riley and I were amazed how fast it all went...seems like we were only there an hour.
You guys were so great to work with, thanks for having us!

Kristina and George at Tahoe Beach and Ski

2007-07-15T09:49:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much you guys and congratulations! As Riley and I were walking down the beach with you two he said that it is so great to see the excitement and love between you two. He said,"George is all giddy like a little kid in love." Thanks for being so appreciative and fun.

Christina and Simon on The Party Boat

2007-07-15T09:46:00.000-07:00

Cool People, A Boat, Lake Tahoe, Three Dogs:
What more could a photographer ask for?

Kim and John at Lake Tahoe

2007-07-06T11:51:00.000-07:00

Congrats Kim and John, you guys were great!
Thanks for making my day more fun than work.
I'll always remember those sweet aprons--if there's an extra one I want it!

Chrissy and Suresh at Tannenbaum

2007-07-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

Congratulations you two, what a day!
Two ceremonies and 12 hours later, you guys are married. We had
a great time photographing your day, so much color and wonderful people!

Jim and Teresa at 7 Mile Canyon Ranch

2007-06-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful ceremony! You two looked amazing in those get-ups...congrats on
gettin' hitched! Thanks so much for having me there.

Kate and Kyle at Tannenbaum

2007-06-23T11:19:00.001-07:00

Congrats you guys! What a relaxing, beautiful wedding -- you guys made my job so easy!

Jesse and Alaena, Westwood CA

2007-06-23T11:10:00.002-07:00

Congratulations you guys! Riley and I had a great time photographing your day--thanks for
having us there for the rehearsal dinner -- good times!

Jill and Howie in Virginia City

2007-06-07T10:12:00.001-07:00

We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. Congratulations Jill and Howie--you guys are so much fun. Excellent choice on the band, those guys were awesome! Hope you have an amazing honeymoon in Belize.

Click image above

Shanel and Joe

2007-06-07T08:51:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much you guys!
It was an honor to be your photographer and witness the legendary Tango done with such style! You two are made for each other.
I'll see you out on the rocks!

Click picture to see a few photos from the day.

Andrea & Brian

2007-06-05T11:31:00.001-07:00

Congratulations Andrea and Brian!
What a beautiful wedding. Thanks for having me there and good luck with that sweet VW bus!

Click on the picture to see a few shots.

Jessica and John at Squaw Valley

2007-05-08T08:55:00.000-07:00

On Cinco de Mayo I had the privilege of photographing Jessica and John's beautiful wedding in Squaw Valley. I don't think I have ever heard so many people get up to give a toast to the bride and groom--and such great stories! And then there was the unforgettable dancing!

Congratulations to you both!

Here are a few images from the day:

2007-04-14T15:23:00.000-07:00

Check out a slideshow of a recent portrait shoot.
Congratulations on your graduation Diana!!

Slideshow requires Presenter Plugin