Mathieu Photography Blog

this is it...

2010-03-02T19:17:00.000-08:00

So, this is it...
We are very excited to announce our New Blog It's been a long time coming and now it's finally here! It's a sad day for this blog... *play Taps here* We are officially retiring her, she was good to us but we just have to move on and grow up. Much like all other good eras...they come to an end...so, this is it...let's take a moment of silence

.
With the end of one great era begins another great era...
We have spent a lot of time giving ourselves a makeover and now it's time for the reveal...
A brand new look....a brand new Website and a brand new Blog
This is it...We will continue to conduct all of our business at our new home on the interwebs here:

mathieuphoto.com & mathieuphoto.com/blog

I hope that you have enjoyed our work here and that you update your RSS and what not and follow us to the other side. This blog won't disappear so if you still want to come and visit I'm sure she'll appreciate it. As I bid you adieu here, I leave you with one last frame, a night cap if you will, the cherry on top, the icing on the cake, the nail in the coffin (sort of), this is it...
What can you expect from a pig but a grunt? Good night and good luck.

The Broyles Family: And Lucas, the new addition!

2010-02-09T17:51:00.000-08:00

It's always so neat to watch our clients grow their families. We enjoyed spending some time with the Broyles Family back in August (check it out HERE). Little Lucas was yet to be born and we were so excited to see the belly and then meet the baby!! I've always felt that childbirth is a complete miracle but it still amazes me every time! Jocie had a belly and then all of a sudden Lucas was out!! He's a perfect, chubby, happy little man. He had such a great temperament. The entire time we were together he was content. Josiah and Emma are amazing older siblings and Lucas is the perfect youngest child. I can already tell he loves to be tossed around. The kids were playing with him on the bed, pulling at his limbs and kissing his face and he just giggled. A few days after our shoot the Broyles were headed back to China. We prayed for a safe journey and we look forward to their return to the states in 2012!!

ps. Charlotte is scooting backwards. It's her latest trick on the path to crawling. We sure hope she learns how to move forward :)

Sarah & Ted: MARRIED!! in Cancun!

2010-02-08T21:49:00.000-08:00

Sarah & Ted were married in Cancun with 20 of their very closest friends and family. It's always such an extreme honor when our clients ask us to be a part of something so intimate. We feared rain in the forecast but it held off until the day after the ceremony and everyone was grateful! We can't wait until their reception at the end of the month :)

JuneBug at 4 Months + Natalie Norton is my Hero

2010-01-31T19:55:00.000-08:00

We take photos of Charlotte all the time but we want to make sure we capture a real good set at each month to see how she progresses in her first year. It's amazing to us that she has already doubled in weight!! I love watching her learn new things. Matt and I are amazed that she will learn something one day and then it just sticks. She learned to grab her toes and now it seems that she can't stop doing it. She giggles and "chats" with us and her personality is coming out more and more with every passing moment.

Over the last few weeks I have been on an emotional roller coaster with this gal Natalie. I heard about her and her serious need for prayer via Twitter. I asked everyone I knew to pray for her and her precious son Gavin, I even recruited my Bible study ladies. He was fighting for his life in the hospital and Natalie was giving us the play by play and the details of exactly what Gavin specifically needed. I was praying for miracles and Natalie didn't get the one we were all praying for. She lost her precious son. I cried as my heart broke for this woman that lives across an ocean who I will probably never meet. I wanted to hug her, her husband, her other little boys. I wished that from far away I could find some way to comfort them. But thank the Lord, He is bigger than an ocean and tiny little me. And thank God for Natalie's persistent faith.

Natalie, if you ever read this please know that I think of you every. single. day.

Thank you for giving me a new perspective. Thank you for teaching me an incredible lesson.

I always thanked God for my daughter before I fell asleep at night. But it is because of you and because of Gavin's short yet powerful life that I fall asleep much differently. Every night I fall asleep praising Him for every single second I get with her. And then I beg and plead with God for at least one more morning that I can wake up and see her face, hear her coo and feel her warm cheek on mine.

I do believe I will think of you everyday for the rest of my life. Thank you for being so honest.

Charlotte...

2010-01-26T03:01:00.000-08:00

Here's a fresh one...

The Johnston Family

2010-01-17T23:55:00.000-08:00

We love our neighbors! When Matt and I first moved into our apartment Lily was a brand new baby. Over the years we have seen Lily start to walk and talk and then last year we were so excited to meet Adam & Abby. (Please click HERE to see their precious newborn faces.) Gabe & Jess are great neighbors. I can knock on the door at any time of day to ask baby questions or to barrow sugar (it's cliche but I've done it more than once). I could go on and on, we just really love them! It was so fun to run around after them for a couple hours at the park.

yeah, they've made some babies ;)

2009: you were good to us {part 2}

2010-01-08T16:38:00.000-08:00

And here's the final installment of WAY too many favorites from 2009!

Good friends who have made our business grow and we love them so much!

The Belly.

And then she was here!

3 Months old already!

2009: you were good to us {Part 1}

2010-01-07T16:26:00.000-08:00

2009 was great for us! As the Snelsons we celebrated 3 years being married peeps! We find that marriage and all it's challenges and adventures suit us well. We love each other and we're so stoked to still be beginning our lives together. Matt and I were also stoked to bring our first baby home! Charlotte June is beautiful and although she doesn't highly value sleep we adore her anyways. Having her around reminds us even more that we have a million things to be thankful for. She also reminds us why we have to fight for our marriage every step of the way. We have vowed to each other to stay married for life and although Charlotte may not understand yet we have promised her a life with two committed, married, joyful parents. AND we put an offer in for our first home!! Although 2010 will bring the final word on the Chateau Snelson, we are hopeful!

2009 was an amazing year for Mathieu Photography as well. We met and formed rad friendships with a whole new set of wonderful clients. We saw past clients grow their families form two to three. And were so blessed to take part in people putting their faith into the beautiful promise that is marriage. I'll close out the year with my usual thought... we are blessed. Blessed beyond words. We are healthy, have a beautiful baby, food on the table, a tiny roof over our heads and a successful business that allows us to take part in something very special.

We love what we do and we are looking forward to 2010 with eagerness and excitement!

Cheers to the new year!!

A magical trip to New Mexico... we made new friends and gleaned all kinds of wisdom from Nate & Jaclyn, Jesh, Jose and Tamara.

A trip to Portland to visit the most amazing people on the planet Troy & Michelle

We didn't know if baby was a boy or a girl but we were so excited to see it's little profile!

Bree & Brad: MARRIED!!

2009-12-31T14:00:00.000-08:00

I cried. A lot.

If there was a dictionary definition of passionate, carefree love Brad & Bree would be the photo accompaniment.

I was allowed to be a part of the most beautiful prayers spoken to a bride on her wedding day since my own. Bree was blessed and the words of her girls washed over her as they were lifted up to the King. She shed tears of joy as she was starting a brand new chapter in her life. This new chapter is sure to bring challenges but she knows that it will also bring healing and joy.

Matt shared a sobering conversation with Brad on the car ride over to the ceremony. Two men talking seriously about the responsibilities of being a husband and how difficult it can be to take care of a woman's fragile heart.

Matt and I were so blessed. What a wonderful ending to our 2009 wedding season. We watched as Mr. Westcott married off his second and final child. It was so special to have shared in both of these weddings. It was beautiful to see our previous bride and groom Amy & Dan standing up as Brad's support on his wedding day. Our job is so cool. I could write about this wedding all day...bottom line; we love what we do and we're so glad that we've been blessed to do this for the last 3 years! Here's to 2010 and many, many more weddings!

An intense first look..

Their Grandmothers served as the ring bearers and they presented beautiful rings that included the melted gold of Brad and Bree's Grandfathers who where watching from heaven. (yet another point in the ceremony where I was nearly sobbing)

The whole gang!

Brianna + Brad

2009-12-30T01:43:00.000-08:00

more to come soon...

Merry Christmas! (a day late)

2009-12-20T02:29:00.000-08:00

Hello loyal blog followers! We wanted to take a moment to wish you a Merry Christmas and joyful holiday fun with family and friends. We were so swept up in celebrating Charlotte's first Christmas that I forgot to press the go button on this blog post yesterday! (oops)

So, now I can update you! She had an amazing first Christmas!! We got a Flip video and I am so excited to document even more of Charlotte's life! We are so blessed. I wonder how many times I have said that on our blog? But really we have wonderful family and friends. We know so many people that have lost loved ones this year and people that are fighting cancer and just dealing with rough patches in life. Matt and I try to remember that we are not guaranteed anything and we just continue to thank God for blessing us with Charlotte. She's the greatest thing that happened to us this year. Our business is growing, we've made some rad new friends, we're trying to get into a house and we are still totally in love after 3 radical years of marriage. Blessed, blessed, blessed.

Well Merry Christmas everyone!! We can thank my mom for the ridiculous idea of taking pictures of Charlie in a Santa suit. She started off okay but then she got mad, really, really mad.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! :)

Jodi & Casey: ENGAGED!!

2009-12-20T01:20:00.000-08:00

We had such a great time the night we met Jodi & Casey. We decided to meet up in LA before Matt & I checked out the Brand New & Manchester Orchestra show at the Hollywood Palladium. We knew we would be buddies when we found out that Jodi & Casey had seen the same show the night before. Gabbing about music & movies is what Matt & I LOVE to do so we appreciated two new opinions. We continued to chat about music, photography, and how they fell in love. And a few weeks later the four of us met up in Pasadena to shoot some rad photos and here's what we came up with... hope ya like it ;)

Meghan & Jake: ENGAGED!!

2009-12-15T15:16:00.000-08:00

Meg and Jake are the coolest cats. They're sweet and kind and treat each other like special treasures and we like that. A LOT. We were so excited when we met them a while back and even more excited when they chose us to be a part of their wedding!! We had so much fun with them racing the sun. It was a chilly adventure and we enjoyed every minute of it!

We cannot wait for your wedding. You guys are the bee's knees and you make some pretty HOT models! :)

Jennifer & Jimmy: ENGAGED!!

2009-12-14T17:27:00.000-08:00

We met Jennifer and Jimmy in Downtown Pomona near our old stomping grounds. Matt and I have been to many a punk-rock show and plenty of these outings were spent at the Glass House! Oddly enough it should now be called the "wood" house because all the glass is gone but never the less it brought back memories.

We wandered around Pomona and got to know our clients. It's funny, when we worked at restaurants we were friends with our coworkers and we all did the same thing. We shared stories about serving nightmares and horrible customers. When you work in a bar or restaurant you all speak the same language. Now that we get to photograph people for a living we meet ALL kinds of people. I feel like our clients are constantly educating us. For example, Jennifer is Veterinary Technician and Jimmy is an EMT. I love listening to their stories and chatting about their lives. We are so lucky to have amazing clients that share their stories with us.

Jenn and Jimmy, you're hot and we can't wait for your wedding!

Baby Bryant!

2009-12-07T16:32:00.000-08:00

I think one of the coolest things about our job is watching our brides and grooms grow little families. We are blessed with clients that we love. You may remember Nikki & Rob from their wedding or engagement session earlier this year. Every time we see them we laugh and chat and have a great time. I love that our clients always become our friends. Baby Bryant is an adorable little guy. We brought Charlotte along so they could meet but she slept the whole time. Typical! She always chooses to sleep when mommy can't rest.
Anyhoo, we love new babies and Bryant is no exception! Check him out!

Charlotte is getting BIG!

2009-11-28T15:00:00.000-08:00

It's SO weird... I look at Charlotte and I think, "you're getting so big!" And then I think she's only 2 months old! How will I feel when she's 1, 5, 10 YEARS old?! I am constantly reminded by my daughters presence that I need to live in the moment. I do not claim to have mastered the art of being present, I'm terrible at it. I worry, A LOT! But I'm working on appreciating all I have and spending quality time with the people I love.

I think Matt and I both struggle with documenting our lives because our job is to do this for other people. Our goal is to at least take a mini-session with Charlotte as a marker of each month of her precious life. Here is our first self-family portrait! Enjoy!

Bitty & Shawn: MARRIED!!

2009-11-25T23:14:00.000-08:00

We drove out to the Bakersfield Museum of Art for Bitty & Shawn's fall wedding on October 17th. Bitty's dress was handmade by Ryan, another one of our friends from the Costa Mesa Playhouse. He did a beautiful job and Mel helped with the beading. We love seeing the playhouse crew, they are so FUN! Bitty & Shawn, thank you for inviting us to be a part of your day. You're both such passionate people and it was so awesome to celebrate with you and all your friends and family.

Robyn & David: MARRIED!

2009-11-21T11:31:00.000-08:00

We get the opportunity to work with people who are in love. But people in love can be SO different. Everyone speaks a different "love language" if you will. Robyn and David are intentional. They love each other with joy but with seriousness. This is not to say they don't laugh and have a great time, they definitely do. But, they pour energy into making sure the other person is shown love and respect. I think this is something you have to work at. If Robyn and David have to work at it you can't tell. They make it seem effortless. I know I'm rambling a bit but I feel so blessed to glean unspoken relationship wisdom from our clients. I get to watch and learn.I tend to let laundry, vacuuming, Charlotte, work, emails and all the other stuff get in between me loving my husband the way he needs to be loved. Sometimes it feels like I'm trying to make googly eyes at him from across the room and everything is blocking my view. I want to learn to run across the room and get so close to his face that nothing can get in the way of me seeing him.
(*note: this does not mean I will neglect my new daughter :)

Robyn & David thank you for reminding me to be intentional. We loved being a part of your wedding day. We love even more your hearts. You are both dedicated to using your gifts for service and we can't wait to hear about your new life in a new place. Look out Utah, here some the Clintons!! :)

Bree & Brad: ENGAGED!!

2009-11-17T19:56:00.000-08:00

As I type I am watching my little girl sit in her little recliner-bouncy-vibrating seat-thingy. Her limbs NEVER stop moving! She's like a hamster in a wheel. Her little legs brush past each other so quickly I'm afraid she will spark a living room fire with the sheer friction caused by her tiny feet. I admit it is difficult to run a business with a new baby. I feel like finding a balance will be a constant battle for me. But if I step outside of myself for a second I remember that there are lots of moms & dads that have to say goodbye to their precious babies everyday for at least 8 hours or even worse they serve our country and have to say goodbye for months! So, all things considered I have an incredbly sweet deal. So, what it's tricky. At least I get to watch my baby grow (even if it does mean less beauty rest:)

Enough about us, Bree & Brad are romantic and sweet in all the right ways. When we have the privilege of capturing "the look" through our cameras we go away from our shoot on a cloud of happiness. Brad and Bree give each other "the look" all the time. Their look says a million things to me through my lens. It says, I will always take care of you, I will fight for you and defend you and I will always be here with a hug to comfort you. Bree & Brad, life will throw a lot at you and sometimes it will be easier to pout in your own corner and lean out. Take some advice from two people still figuring out how to love each other. When life gets hard walk away from your corner, cuddle on a couch together and lean in.

We can't wait for your wedding ;)

Blake: Awesome!!

2009-11-13T19:25:00.000-08:00

Blake called us to take some personal portraits that really expressed his personality and interests. We said "of course" and had such a great time. Blake is such a rad guy. I loved his outfits and his personal "flair". I think Matt did an amazing job, I'm so proud of his art. I loved looking through these images and I hope you will too!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

2009-11-10T15:33:00.000-08:00

Hey Friends it's that time again! Holidays are coming and us Snelsons are getting excited. The leaves are falling off trees and there are so many amazing things to be thankful for. We are especially thankful this year as our little Charlotte June is here. I had a moment where I was slapped in the face with how blessed I am over the weekend. I was sitting in church holding my precious baby and praying for our friends who lost thier baby boy over the summer. I have never known such devistation or despair. My heart breaks for them daily and I am reminded constantly that everyday, every moment I have with Charlotte is such a BLESSING and should be treasured as such.

I know it may sounds cheesy but last year I asked my amazing husband, my parents and my brothers to make a list of 50 things they were thankful for. We read them aloud after Christmas Eve dinner and it was awesome. I'm challenging our blog family and friends to do this with their families and friends over the Holidays. It's awesome on so many levels. How often do we really sit down to be thankful for a roof, clean drinking water and our health?? I have way more than 50 things to be thankful for and it's great to take inventory of that every so often. SO there you have it, consider yourself challenged!

While we're on the topic of quickly approaching festivities it's time once again for Mathieu Photography mini-holiday photo sessions!! We will be offering 30 minute sessions on November 21st and 28th. The cost is $125 and will include sitting fee + online gallery + 1 digital negative to be used for Holiday cards. We will be shooting from 8-5 on both days so please tell all your friends and family and we look forward to seeing you!

Please email us at mathieuphotography@me.com to get on the list!

Here our some of our favorite family shots from the past year :)

Darby & Eric: MARRIED!!

2009-11-04T02:08:00.001-08:00

As photographers we LOVE when our clients bring their own personal style to their wedding day. Darby & Eric brought sick amounts of funk to their engagement shoot so we were so excited to see what their wedding day would bring. They held a beautiful fall wedding and added all their snazzy personal touches. Darby's hair and bouquet were out of this world and her dress was killer! Our dear friend Brad rocked the ceremony as the officiant. We love all the friends we've made through Kara and her peeps at the Eli Alexander Salon.

Fall is officially here!!! Now let's all pray for brisk weather and maybe even some rain :)

Enjoy!

Times they are a changin'

2009-10-30T16:50:00.000-07:00

I'm not a writer but I'm in a mood (go with it) ...

I've never been very good with change. It always seems that as things find a happy balance life weasels it's way in and makes everything different. Over the last few years I have left "home" to live with some of my closest girl friends. It was such a growing process for me. I graduated from college and learned to be independent, to pay ALL of my bills by myself and to create boundaries as a roommate to others. Shortly thereafter I got married to the coolest cat I've ever known. I had lived with 5 other people for nearly my whole life and now I would live with just 1 person. When Matt wasn't home I would be ALONE. And gosh, it was lonely sometimes. The hustle and bustle of people coming and going became a memory. But I have loved learning to be a wife. I enjoyed looking forward to him walking through the door and building our marriage together. It took me all of three years to feel like I had finger hold (not even a grasp) on how to be a wife. And then all of a sudden I was pregnant!! I really felt like I didn't know yet how to be a good wife and now I had to learn how to be a mother! As soon as I got used to the idea of being pregnant it was over and Charlotte was here.

She's has changed our lives. We're responsible for a perfect little person and the worry kills me sometimes. I feel so blessed. Charlotte makes us smile and we can already see her little personality starting to emerge.

I've never been good with change but now I find myself looking forward to it. I can't wait to hear her little voice and her giggle. I want to see her walk and make friends. I can't wait to see what she's passionate about. And I may even take her to a ballet class!! I guess after 27 years of not liking change I have fully surrendered to the idea that God is in control of all the changes. I'm starting to look forward to change and I have Charlie to thank for that.

I'm a blessed girl in more ways than one. Here are a couple of photos my friend Megan took. She's another huge blessing to me and I am so grateful for these pictures of my two favorite people in the whole world.

Happy Halloween and enjoy your weekend!

This one is for Grandma and Charlie's aunties... big pink bows and all things girlie :)

the Woman in Black

2009-10-30T03:05:00.000-07:00

I look forward to shooting at the Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse every time. This time especially because one of our past grooms Ed McBride is acting it up in this one. The Woman in Black opens tonight...just in time for Halloween. This performance is pretty awesome and I encourage all who enjoy theater and/or ghost stories to check this out.

Adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from the Book by Susan Hill

October 30^th - November 22^nd, 2009

Directed by Stephen Hulsey

Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

Reserve your tickets NOW! - Call 949-650-5269

the Heard Family

2009-10-20T16:25:00.000-07:00

The Heard family was my first shoot back after Charlotte was born. It was a really neat experience because running after Donivan & Leila was the first time I got to run without a person in my tummy for almost a year! Shannon contacted me to book a shoot for Leila's first year photos. We were so excited to capture Leila at 1 as well as their precious family. Donivan & Leila are bundles of energy. Constantly running in different directions and totally keeping mommy & daddy on their toes. Terrell & Shannon both work in the fashion industry so it was no wonder that Leila had the HOTTEST kicks a little gal could have! They didn't make it to the blog but they were silver and amazing! I can't wait to buy Charlotte a pair! Here you have it... the Heard family!

Keighty + Raul

2009-10-09T21:56:00.000-07:00

Raul & Keighty are awesome. They will always be remembered as a special wedding to us because they got married the day I went into labor with Charlotte! I am so grateful for their understanding about me not being there and we are so thankful to have our friend Chuck come out and second shoot with Matt. The boys rocked it out and Raul & Keighty looked amazing on their wedding day. Keighty even worked it out with a broken foot! What a trooper!! They were married at a beautiful home in Brea and gathered all their closest family and friends. I especially loved the vibrant & happy yellow dresses the bridesmaids wore. How fun!

*I’m super proud of my husband! He did such a fantastic job. I’m so glad I get to work with him everyday and have him as a business partner! I am a lucky gal!

Enjoy the photos!!!

James + Kelli

2009-10-02T02:03:00.000-07:00

Bri + Trevor

2009-09-26T00:11:00.000-07:00

I met Brianne years ago when we worked together at Islands. Bri was one of those people that I always looked forward to working with. She has a great laugh was always encouraging. We came to work and talked about boys and life and family in between waiting on our tables and I would always try to encourage her that there was not just a good guy but an AMAZING guy out there perfectly made for her. A man that would tell her a million times a day how beautiful and treasured she is. She had been friends with Trevor for quite some time but then they started dating and man he is THE guy! They love to laugh together, they both love being active and hanging out with their group of friends that truly serves more as a family. We had the privilege of shooting Kim & Jeff's wedding last year where Bri and Trevor both were a part of the bridal party and we knew someday soon if would be Bri & Trevor's turn. Their wedding at Aliso Creek Golf Course was beautiful and peaceful.

Brianne and Trevor... you truly are Mr. & Mrs. Awesome. We love hanging out with you both and we love sharing in marriages that we know will last a lifetime. Thank you for sharing this momentous occasion with us. We cannot wait to see what the future has in store for the two of you!!

Notice that there is one person smiling in this photo... Harli is one of our favorite little gals but sometimes she runs low on patience. I asked everyone to make the "Harli" face for this frame and of course she smiled :)

We have been so BLESSED to have amazingly rad clients! Kim, Jeff, Bri, Trevor & Sam we love you guys! Tyler our prayers are always with you! We miss you and cannot wait for your safe return home.

Bri Trevor Single Frame

2009-09-21T00:04:00.000-07:00

here's a thousand words...

more to come soon...

Adam & Shannon

2009-09-18T02:41:00.000-07:00

First off Adam and Shannon are awesome! Second they're High School Sweethearts. How cool is that? What better place for an engagement session than...the school they went to. So we hit Fullerton High, we had tons o fun and got great images...we couldn't break in to the building where they had their first kiss but we got close enough...A picture is worth a thousand words so without further adieu, let's go back in the day with Shannon and Adam...

Headline: Mystery Baby Revealed!!!

2009-09-15T13:22:00.000-07:00

Saturday September 12, 2009...I'm at a wedding and Molly's at home...Molly had gotten no sleep Friday because she's a worry wart and didn't want to go into labor Saturday while I was at the wedding...But sure enough Saturday afternoon Molly started laboring at home just trying to relax and hope it wouldn't go to quickly so I could be there. I tried to get home as quickly as possible so I could help Molly with labor as much as possible. You can't go to the Super Bowl without a coach can you?

Once the contractions were roughly 5 min apart lasting well over a minute for about an hour we decided to go to the hospital...Molly was already getting tired and not wanting to move so we thought the quiet hospital late at night was the best place so we wouldn't have to go anywhere in too much pain.
We checked in to St Jude Hospital and they let us stay because we were at 4.5cm dilated and 100% effaced...meaning we were seemingly half way to holding our child. But our little mystery baby had another plan...Molly labored through the night with contractions continuing at a frequency of 5min and increasing intensity...Molly became super exhausted and with nearly no sleep since Thursday we agreed to a little something to help Molly rest between contractions...but Oh Boy she still felt those contractions coming. By 7am we thought we'd have baby withing the hour...but still not yet...10am we started pushing and pushing and pushing and pushing...After 3 mind numbing and physically exhausting hours we were so so close we could see the head...But our energy level was so low and the pushing became so difficult the Dr suggested some options most of which just seemed plain ridiculous (vacuum...no thanks) So we chose Pitocin...but oddly enough the pattern of contractions didn't change like the were supposed to and I think Molly really really wanted to hold her baby already just 5 minutes after pit drip Molly rocketed that little one right outta there...despite the cord wrapped around the neck 3 times, baby came out just perfect. I'm so unbelievably proud of Molly...our experience didn't quite match our intended birth plan but we did what we thought was necessary for a healthy and effective birth...We found out later the folks in the Operating Room really thought we were coming in there...but due to the determination of my wonderful bride and the patience and skill of our fantastic RN Norma We did it!!!!
Born with a full head of dark hair!
(not sure what happened there?)
and weighing in at 8lbs 1oz and 20 1/4" long
at 1:18pm on Sunday September 13, 2009
I reveal to you the Mystery Snelson child...
Charlotte June Snelson

Luke Gregory

2009-09-15T02:10:00.000-07:00

We met Erika and Matt in our Bradley class at Belly Sprout. We were all so excited to be first time parents and we loved getting to know all the families in our class as well as our amazing teacher Danielle!

Luke is so precious and we had such a great time catching his cute faces and I loved hearing all about his wonderful birth story :)

Matt & Erika we wish you a wonderful journey as parents (isn't this fun!?)

Isn't Erika beautiful?!

Check us Out!

2009-09-14T22:34:00.000-07:00

Check it out! Our friend Heather over at Style Unveiled featured us on their website. Thanks Heather! You're awesome!

Blythe, Trace & Sky

2009-09-14T13:12:00.000-07:00

They have a little bit of everything... a girl, two boys, a single birth and a set of twins! We were so blessed to share the morning with Janelle, Brian and their kiddos! They're all adorable and we loved spending time with them!!

Weston & Nicole: MARRIED!!

2009-09-10T19:56:00.000-07:00

Wes & Nicole were married at a beautiful estate in The Hunt Club of San Juan Capistrano. It was a gorgeous day with beautiful light and we got to see a bunch of familiar faces which we LOVE! Wes is older brother to my good friend Nicole and we love their family. The whole crew was there!!

Nicole & Wes thank you for asking us to be a part of your day. We hope you love being married as much as we do and are having fun creating a home together :)

Sweet Hadlee giving Mama hugs!

The adorable Molly-Moo!

And a fun shot before we called it a night!

Pregnant + Beautiful

2009-09-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

This is really just a sneak peak of a much larger post, but I just couldn't resist...just look how beautiful my pregnant wife is. I'm so proud of her, she has done a fantastic job of baking our little bun in the oven. We are so close now we can taste it! We are due next week and just can't wait. We are bubbling with excitement and about to burst with the anticipation of meeting the brand new addition to our family. We have prepared for our birth using the Bradley Method of natural-childbirth and are ready for our baby's birthday to arrive...just waiting on him or her now. We have chosen not know the sex of our baby until birth just to add to the fun (I am usually a horrible surprise keeper, so this will be the best surprise ever!) Just out of curiosity we have done all the little wives tale tests to determine sex and taken poles from our friends and family and still have come up even...could be a boy or a girl! I'll let you know next week :)
Even with all the uncertainties and anxiety, Molly, I know you will do a fantastic job I will be right there with you the whole time and with everything you could possibly need! I'm so proud and can't wait to meet our baby and share in this experience with you! Go team Snelson!!

Heather & Brennan: MARRIED!!

2009-09-04T13:06:00.000-07:00

There are some Mathieu Photography clients that don't reside in California. We are incredibly grateful to be chosen by them to capture their wedding memories through the art of photography. However, we miss them terribly and we are so sad to not get to spend more time with them because of the distance. So many of our clients have turned into great friends, awesome people we have met and instantly felt comfortable with. Heather & Brennan are a perfect example of these clients. I met them and fell in love with them. They have a great sense of personal style, they love each other fiercely and they love the Lord. I, not so secretly, LOVE piercings and my body refuses to let mine heal properly so I live vicariously through Heather and Brennan's. When Matt and I took them out for their engagement session it was clear that Heather & Brennan encouraged each other, knew each other deeply and took marriage seriously.

I saw that once again on their wedding day at The Queen Mary. Brennan was SO excited to finally call Heather his WIFE! Heather looked gorgeous and then some on her wedding day, her eyes were bright and her laugh was loud. But Brennan had a wedding day glow as well and it was so cool to see the joy on their faces. I love my job and I get to be a part of something magical. Two people arriving to their wedding day as individuals and leaving as one whole and complete unit. Committed to forever not just until the flame fizzles.

Heather & Brennan, we love you guys. It was a serious honor to be a part of your day. We are so thrilled for you and we hope you will love each other everyday for the rest of your lives. Move to California so we can hang out more often :)

It was a warm one but nothing could wipe that grin off Brennan's face.

The men of Haste the Day, Brennan's boys.

I am SO in love with this photo.

This is the wonderful & sassy Katie from Fotoworks Pro She's the best! We have become friends and loyal clients to Fotoworks Pro because of her fantastic customer service, professionalism and all around awesomeness!!!

Then the boys from Haste the Day & Phinehasrock graced the dance floor. We were Livin' on a Prayer and IT WAS AWESOME!

And this is what we call a sad slow dance.

And a beautiful ending...

Sarah & Andy: MARRIED!!

2009-09-01T20:04:00.000-07:00

We've been in love with Sarah & Andy since we first met them! You may remember Andy & Sarah from their engagement shoot with the Dodger seats. Those same seats served as the seating for their wedding table for two.They had a awesome vision for their wedding day and we had been looking forward to it all year. The wedding and reception was held at The Red Horse Barn in Huntington Beach and flowed beautifully thanks to Shar, their amazing coordinator! In-N-Out was delicious, the music was perfection and the DESSERTS!!!! Get out of town! Heidi and Hillary of Twinfully Sweet were out of this world. There were desserts of all shapes, sizes and flavors and I was even sent home with a plate full of goodies :) This pregnant lady LOVES baked goods!!

Andy & Sarah we hope these pictures bring back sweet memories of your wedding day for a lifetime. Thank you for asking us to be a part of it!

I love the wet-willy response in this shot! ICK!

Raul & Keighty: ENGAGED!!

2009-08-29T20:56:00.000-07:00

We were so glad that Keighty and Raul came out from Chicago for their engagement session. I worked with Raul at Renaissance Bistro and I was so excited to see him again and hear about his adventures in Chicago and the life he's building with his bride to be. We woke early on a Sunday and wandered around downtown Fullerton together while waking up and sharing laughs. Here's the results of our wandering... enjoy!

Sometimes we get to capture really amazing once in a lifetime moments with our fantastic clients! Such as this moment were Keighty realized her first gray hair!!! (Keighty please don't hate me I thought this was hilarious!) And now it's out and you're gray free! :)

VenusFlyTrap

2009-08-29T00:14:00.000-07:00

One of my dear friends from junior high made me the most beautiful and unique earrings and I had to share them. Marie has been a creator since I can remember and she has brilliant ideas. Her site VenusFlyTrap shows of her spring/summer 09 collection. Her lovely pieces can also be found HERE at her etsy page. And last but not least her brand new fall/winter 09 collection can be viewed on VenusFlyTrap's facebook page. As of now my earrings are a funky new creation and I'm so proud to sport them and support my girl Marie. Stop by and show her some love!

Dan & Liz: HONEYMOON SURPRISES!

2009-08-27T22:11:00.000-07:00

A few months ago Dan of Dan Stewart Photography contacted me about a honeymoon surprise for his bride to be Liz. I gladly obliged and we set a date while they were out in California for the second half of their honeymoon. Dan & Liz live and work in Michigan and they came out here to visit sunny southern California. We hung out in Newport Beach and Balboa and captured some of the Dan and Liz spark! I have to say I'm a bit jealous, it's not easy as a photographer to be a model in front of the camera and they worked it out! I also thought Dan was such a sweety because he kept the whole thing a surprise. As photographers sometimes we forget to document our own lives in the same fashion we may for clients. Liz had lamented that they didn't have fun photos of them and Dan was listening! He even took her out to buy a sweet new outfit and super sassy shoes for our shoot.

Dan & Liz it was so great to meet you! We had so much fun hanging out with the two of you and we can't wait to do it again! Please come back and visit!!

p.s. this is what newlywed love looks like. they NEVER stopped touching and kissing. I LOVE it!

Liz is gorgeous!!

When life hands you lemons (your flash doesn't go off) make lemonade (go nuts!)

Lend Me a Tenor : Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse

2009-08-27T16:59:00.000-07:00

I'm honored that Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse asks us to shoot every play before opening. Everybody there is so awesome and is always so good to us. Every play I've had the opportunity to shoot and/or view has been great. This particular play is really funny and the actors are fantastic. If you enjoy good, quality community theater in an intimate setting this is the place for you. Go check out Lend Me a Tenor you will enjoy it! If you would like tickets follow the link HERE!

I've been Showered!

2009-08-27T00:10:00.000-07:00

Last week my mom spoiled me with love and threw a baby shower for me and mystery baby. I felt incredibly loved and supported. My girlfriends showed up and brought baby tons of goodies, things I never knew I needed and I am so grateful!! I still can't believe that I'm having a baby!! I mean I see and feel my bump all day but I could be holding a new baby ANY DAY! I feel the weight of responsibility, the excitement, the joy & the nerves. I am so excited to be starting a brand new chapter of our lives. Matt & I are a family but now we will have someone new to love like crazy!

My girlfriend Zoe works at the scrumptious Buttercake Bakery in LA and she brought the most adorable cupcakes to my shower. Check out their SITE and prepare yourself for a serious drool session because everything looks SO yummy!

Andres & Sabina: LIVING LIFE TOGETHER!

2009-08-21T18:57:00.000-07:00

Matt & I have known Sabina and Andres for a decade and they have been together almost just as long. Matt and I love to use our business to celebrate marriage and the love between two people. Our friends have been through trials together that some couples with 30 years of marriage under their belt have not had to endure. A while back Andres was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer called burkitt's type lymphoma. Our friends rallied to support him and Sabina took care of him. He has, by the grace of God, been in remission and all of his hair has come back along with the joy of being cancer free! Every time I see Andres I am reminded of what a miracle he is and we were so blessed when they asked us to document their lives together. Please enjoy our friends, their wicked sense of style and the love they share.

UMMMMMMMM, are you kidding me!? I love it!

Meet Lil'miss Sophie!

Sabina is a stunner!

The Primping Parleur

2009-08-20T00:14:00.000-07:00

Every bride needs to look fabulous on their wedding day, period. Our friend Lisa is in the business of making women feel beautiful. She runs a gorgeous boutique in downtown Brea that is a girly dream! Every time I go in I never want to leave. The design is chic and welcoming, the makeup is to die for and there are sweet sounds of Erykah Badu or Amy Winehouse playing gently in the background. The Primping Parleur run by Lisa and her lovely assistants can take care of all you beauty needs and make you feel right at home. Sit down on the couch, enjoy Moulin Rouge on the flat screen or pick up the latest issue Glamour and peruse it at your leisure. We are huge fans of the Primping Parleur and you will be too!

The girls are running a Paul & Joe special event on September 5th be sure to book your appointment for your free samples + more gifts if you book a friend! I'm so excited, this event is gonna be amazing!

Be sure to check out their SITE & tell Lisa that Matt & Molly sent you :) When you're cruising down Brea Boulevard if you see Trixie out then the Primping Parlour is open for business. Behold, Trixie, the wire dress form with attitude!

The Lovely Lisa!

Lisa always has a great time with her clients and knows how to make them laugh!

PJ and Kristen: MARRIED!!

2009-08-18T01:08:00.000-07:00

Pj & Kristen held a beautiful beach wedding at The Pacific Edge Villa. Complete with gorgeous details including tiny, perfect cranes! Our dear friend Nilo (Click on her name and check her out) took care of all the "day of" details and we got to work with another great friend, DJ Chuck! PJ & Kristen rocked it as usual! Check it out!!

D-daddy the moment before he walked Kristen down the aisle.

As they exited their ceremony "All You Need is Love" played and all the guests had kazoos for the chorus! It was so fun and there were bubbles too!!

Love It!!!!

More detail magic!

I almost stole this little girl! How precious!!

Thanks you two we had so much fun being a part of your day!!

Courtney & Michael: MARRIED!!

2009-08-11T16:56:00.000-07:00

We shot an intimate day for Courtney & Michael. They had a mini- portrait session and a quiet ceremony at Crescent Bay Park. We have loved getting to know and capture the clients form Eli Alexander Salon. Courtney and Michael are our 4th couple from the salon and we have our friend Kara to thank. So much of our business has come from referrals and we are so grateful that our clients and friends have lovely things to say about us. We love what we do and we pray that it shows.

Courtney & Michael thank you for including us in your day. It was a blessing to get to experience your exchange of vows and all the family and friends that came out to support you. We hope your fancy dinner was all that you envisioned for your evening. See you soon!

Courtney's dad gets all kinds of cool points for successfully walking his daughter down the aisle while playing the bagpipes!! What a stud!

Our Mathieu Photography couples... Lindsy & Lukas also parents to the handsome Hudson & our dear friends and biggest fans Brad & Kara! We love you guys!!

AND the stars of the day.. (not us, Courtney & Michael!)

Erin & Justin: MARRIED!!

2009-08-03T23:35:00.000-07:00

The ukulele player, the In-N-Out burgers, the ocean breeze, the cake smashing it was a perfect, sweaty day! Erin & Justin were surrounded by tons of people that love them and they had a perfect wedding day as every couple should.

We hope you both had a wonderful time in Hawaii starting your adventures as husband and wife. We'll see you soon! :)

"Dinner is served!"

The sassy, amazing crew from In the Now Weddings & Events, thanks for all your help Amanda! :)

Charissa & Jason: ENGAGED!!

2009-07-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

Charissa & Jason met, fell in love and will be married in December. Their story is short and sweet now but they will journey through marriage together for a lifetime. We met them both while shooting Charissa's sister's wedding in May.

Thanks for spending the afternoon with us in Balboa we had such a great time getting to know you both more. We can't wait for your wedding!

The Broyles Family: making dreams come true.

2009-07-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

Just so the whole world knows my feet are swollen with water and it feels like I'm walking on huge blisters. Yeah for pregnancy!!!! Other than that our little family is enjoying summer and anxiously awaiting the arrival of our mysterious baby. A boy, a girl???? I can't wait to see! Being around other pregnant women makes me feel a million emotions. I met Jocelyn at Brooke & Brent's wedding and she got us excited about having a natural delivery. Some may think I'm crazy but yes my amazing husband will be coaching me through a drug free labor and I owe a ton of that to Jocelyn and her enthusiasm. She gave birth to Emma and Josiah at home and in a about a week she and Jonathan will be welcoming their third gorgeous child to the world!

We had such a great afternoon hanging out with the Broyles family. Emma and Josiah are amazing kids and they play together so well! I would have to say the highlight of my day was hearing Jocelyn say, "This is a dream come true to have professional photos taken of our family." I asked her if that means that I make our clients dreams come true? The moral of this story is that Matt & I make our clients dreams come true so if you have a photographic dream give us a call and we'll hook you up! :)

Enjoy...

Boys like to sword fight.

I SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST!

Krista & Drew: MARRIED!!

2009-07-18T15:36:00.000-07:00

Drew & Krista are one of those couples, the kind of couples that pull you into their love. All of Krista's girls were in tears right before the ceremony, they were that incredibly excited for her. Drew & Krista are two of the most genuine, giving people we have ever met. Their connection is truly remarkable and I have no doubt they will change each person they come into contact with. I had to sit for a minute during their ceremony to ensure I didn't start sniveling near their guests and make a scene.

Drew & Krista we have felt blessed by the two of you since the moment we met at Gypsy Den for lunch many months ago. Never forget your wedding day and all the beautiful promises you made to each other. We hope you had a wonderful honeymoon!!

Some sweet ring shots!!

Lauren & Aaron: MARRIED!!

2009-07-11T13:36:00.000-07:00

Lauren and Aaron were married at the beautiful Portefleur estate. Lauren's parents own and reside at the estate so it was a ton of fun to see the family take their gorgeous home to a brand new level. The details were stunning and the day went off without a hitch. Aaron proposed to Lauren with a song that he wrote just for her. He played it for her and all the guests during the reception and it was beautiful! Even when we had a tiny power glitch and one of our favorite DJ's lost the use of his equipment the party didn't stop. A close friend grabbed a guitar and played a mini acoustic set for everyone to dance to. We also enjoyed seeing close friends and past Mathieu Photography couples! Mikaila & Josh and our very first wedding couple Tarahca & Greg!

Be forewarned! This post is long but there were just too many that we loved...

The amazing vendors we had the pleasure of working with..
Details/invitations: Divine Details
Delicious Food: Jay's Catering
Floral Arrangements: French Buckets
DJ: DJ FLO

Gorgeous custom invitations made by the ever-so-talented Mikaila.

Showin' off the new bling!

Guests were invited to have their silhouettes handcut while they enjoyed cocktail hour.

Ummmm, gorgeous much!?

Reception time!!

Some of the most encouraging people in our lives, we love and appreciate the Gibsons!!

And off they went!

Nikki & Rob: MARRIED!!

2009-06-25T21:29:00.000-07:00

I'm not gonna lie... blogging from Hawaii is pretty awesome. Vacation is wonderful and some time to get away from everything is much appreciated. I know not everyone can get to Hawaii. But I just want to encourage everyone to make time for rest. The pace of life back in Southern California is TOO fast. It's a relief to sit and not have to run and keep a crazy schedule. I challenge you, yes you, to turn everything off for a day and just RELAX. Enjoy the blessings and all the people you love. You will not regret it.

Nikki & Robert were married at the Summit House. This venue holds a special place in our hearts because we shot our first wedding for our business here almost 3 years ago! Nikki and Rob have are chill. They are relaxed and fun and stress-free and we love that about them! They have great friends and we enjoyed laughing with them and watching them all get their dance on!!

The RINGS!

Jaime & Cesar: MARRIED!!

2009-06-25T20:00:00.000-07:00

We love our couples. Jaime & Cesar are no exception! Their connection is tangible and the ceremony they shared with their closest family and friends spoke intimately of that connection. There were tears and huge smiles and they even bowed to the audience before being presented as husband and wife for the first time. They make us laugh and they both have electric personalities!

We are so excited that you're lives together have begun! Your honeymoon photos looked amazing!!

She did not want to have her picture taken.

Brent & Brooke: MARRIED!!

2009-06-23T20:50:00.000-07:00

Brooke & Brent are awesome for a million reasons. Our favorite reason is that they decided to take all of their portraits before their ceremony! The day ran without stress and on time. Brooke's father officiated their beautiful ceremony and their bubble filled exit was super fun! We can't wait to see them again at Brooke's sister Charissa's wedding in December!

Excitement!!

Kiddos with cameras!

The people trying to get away from this bouquet crack me up!

The DeWolf Fam!!

2009-06-17T16:42:00.000-07:00

Erin is one of our amazing brides this summer. She and her sisters wanted to surprise mom with a family shoot for Mother's Day! What a fantastic idea! We had so much fun with them. They were soooo silly and had a blast together. I hope my growing family will love to spend time with each other the way the DeWolfs do. Erin's mom and dad celebrate month-a-versaries, they celebrate their love every month rather than once a year. (and from the looks of things they celebrate their marriage ALL the time!) I think it's such a blessing to see amazing marriages that have lasted for decades!!

Well, enough blabbering about how wonderful they are... here are some photos.

This is one of the reasons we love Erin. We said okay everyone squish together on 3 and Erin disappeared and let everyone fall all over each other! :)

THE MAN.

I love it! All the girls were soooo grossed out!!

Amy & Tim: MARRIED!!

2009-06-11T23:13:00.000-07:00

Tim & Amy had an amazing wedding day! They were married at the Knott's Wedding Chapel and held their reception at the beautiful Hacienda. I love how our world grows increasingly smaller with each day that goes by. We got to see our good buddies Nikki & Hoover AND ran into our favorite tattoo artist Jared and his rad wife and brand new baby!

Amy & Tim we love you guys! We had an amazing time hanging out with you both and we wish you the most amazing life together!!!! :)

*Going to the chapel*

Walked down the isle by her brother.

HOOVTANG!

Outside with Benji.

2009-06-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

So, I rarely take photos that aren't of people. I dislike this about myself but I do truly love capturing human interaction and the beauty I find there. I am trying to stretch myself in other photographic areas. My brother Ben just got a new camera for graduation. He's brilliant. (I'm biased I'm sure but I don't care I still feel that way.) Anyhoo, I love to talk and pretend I have wisdom to share so we took out our cameras and had some fun. Once I got started I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could have shot plants all afternoon! I was shocked!!

I enjoy and appreciate all of my time spent with my brothers. I am blessed.

Long-armed self protraits are not my strong suit. But this blog serves as a journal for our work as well as our personal lives. I don't ever want to forget my time spent with friends and family :)

Compleat Female Stage Beauty

2009-06-04T16:40:00.000-07:00

It's that time again! Time to head down to Costa Mesa and check out the latest play at the Costa Mesa Playhouse. Compleat Female Stage Beauty opens June 5th and runs through the 28th. Click HERE for more info!

Bob and Karen: MARRIED!!

2009-06-03T22:49:00.000-07:00

Bob & Karen love each other. Their day was filled with teary promises, heartfelt toasts, and emotional dances. We love seeing families come together, it's pretty much the coolest thing ever! We also got to see Kim, Harli and new baby Brayden and Travis. All friends from previous weddings. We did miss Jeff though :(

Bob & Karen it has been an honor getting to know you both. You are both so kind and we wish you the most wonderful future together.

the lovely little Harli

Cassie & Gibson: LET'S DRESS UP AGAIN!!

2009-06-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

Cassie & Gibson dressed up again for some fun wedding portraits. We love when clients decide to do this!! Due to the crazy-ness of wedding days sometimes there is not a TON of time for creative portraits. Day after sessions are fun because there is no stress, no time-crunch or family patiently (or impatiently) waiting for you to return to your reception. We get to visit different locations, relax and have FUN! We took their photos at the beautiful Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. Check them out and all their sassy-ness!! :)

Robyn & David: ENGAGED!!

2009-05-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

David and Robyn are two more exceptionally awesome people that we are so blessed to get to know! We had such a blast walking around Orange with them. They are genuine, kind and REAL. It is always our hope that our marriage can get our couples excited to be married to their best friend and it's funny how I always feel like it's the other way around. Our couples teach us new things all the time and we are so grateful that God has put us into this business. It strengthens our commitment everyday. Thank you Robyn and David, our time with you guys was awesome!

Jen & Arjen: MARRIED!!

2009-05-20T19:37:00.000-07:00

So... Jen had a friend who attempted to email a guy and accidentally left off the numbers from the end of the email address. Rather than the guy she meant to connect with she made a cyber space pen pal in the form of Arjen, a nice guy from the Netherlands. They chatted for a bit and Jen's friend thought that Arjen and Jen would be a good match. They chatted.. all three becoming close friends and then Jen and Arjen became more. He came here, she went there. They saw each other every six months and decided they should get hitched! The last year or so Jen has lived in the Netherlands, making a life with Arjen and learning to speak Dutch and a bit of German. Their entire story hinges on the lack of a couple digits on an email address. I think it was meant to be and I love that their love formed through two computers communicating from halfway across the globe.

Arjen & Jen it was wonderful hanging out with you and meeting your families.

Enjoy...

The Men of Polo.

2009-05-20T19:04:00.000-07:00

Our good friend Ellen over at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club asked us to come up and take some shots for an ad campaign that will be running in the Santa Barbara area. These boys will have their pictures in store fronts up and down State Street if Ellen gets her way! The idea is to promote this beautiful Club. The Polo games are exciting to watch and they want to welcome people to come and participate in the fun. Have a drink and watch some Polo. We hung around to watch a practice game and I must say I have never seen anything like it. So many of our sports require athletes running from end to end of the field but there are HUGE horses out there with skilled Polo players on their backs! It's really something you must check out!

Be sure to look at their site for more info: The Polo Club

Jen & Arjen: ENAGAGED!!

2009-05-15T19:52:00.000-07:00

All I have to say is, " The Netherlands never looked so good!" Jen and Arjen have an awesome story and I promise it will follow shortly with their wedding post. We got to hang out with them twice in one week! Enjoy some photos..

Kaelen turns 1!!

2009-05-12T22:09:00.000-07:00

Erica and Kyle have been friends of ours for a long time and they have made quite a few appearances on our blog. Click HERE to view Kaelen over a year ago in the belly! We were so excited to see Kaelen on her first birthday. She is growing so fast and she is precious! Her expressions are endless and her lungs are in perfect working order ;)

Thanks for allowing us to watch your family grow and asking us to capture it!!

Sarah & Ted: ENGAGED!!

2009-05-12T00:06:00.000-07:00

We are so glad that Sarah & Ted found and chose us! We had so much fun with them and we can't wait for their Cancun wedding in January and their reception in February!! They've been waiting patiently so I'll keep the blabbing to a minimum... they rock!!

Sarah looked even more super duper gorgeous than usual thanks to Shannon (one of our amazing brides and a hair wizard!) give her a ring 714.614.2943!

AND the amazing Nicole DeAnne making faces look amazing all over southern California!

ENJOY...

Southern Weddings!!

2009-05-11T11:17:00.000-07:00

Our friend Lindsey over at Southern Weddings published Ross & Kelly's wedding on their blog. Southern Weddings always present beautiful images and elegant weddings so we were excited to be published!! Thank you Lindsey and please check their blog out here for a huge dose of wedding inspiration and lots of pretty things :)

Mother's Day

2009-05-10T10:49:00.000-07:00

Happy 1st Mother's Day to the hottest Mom around!
I know it's still all jammed up inside you but it's gonna be a fantastic day when she/he comes out and we get to hold it!!
Thanks for bearing my child...I know it's rough but it's gonna be all good!!
We're taking votes on whether it's a girl or a boy! If you guess correctly you can hold it! (maybe)

Denise & Domonic: MARRIED!!

2009-05-08T21:52:00.000-07:00

Denise and Domonic are kind, patient, loving, and amazing. They greated us with such warmth and it was so fun to be there with them throughout the day. They chose to see each other before their ceremony and so we set up a private meeting for the two of them. They cried, I cried. It was beauiful to see the way Domonic looked at his Bride. I am a lucky gal, I get to witness moments that I will cherish forever.

Domonic and Denise thank you for inviting us in to take part in your day. We came home and read your thank you card and we were so humbled. You guys ROCK!! We can't wait to watch your family grow and all the amazing things that lie ahead for you both! :)

Special thank to the incredible, talented, gorgeous, rockin' Blair for hanging with us for the day!! We love you!!

Awwwww dang!!!

My Fave!

Amy & Tim: ENGAGED!!!

2009-04-30T23:17:00.000-07:00

Amy has the smile-iest eyes! Yes, I know that's not a word but she really does. Especially when she looks at Tim. I feel like she is telling Tim she loves him just by pointing her sparkly eyes in his direction. I love when I can feel the connection between our clients. Amy & Tim claimed to be shy but were nothing short of amazing. Like I've said a million times, "if you two love each other and have some chemistry we're good to go!" They were silly, fun, and willing to do anything! We even got a chance to grab a photo of them in front of the door to the very first place they shared together. Memories are awesome.

Enough jibba-jabba here's some rad photos!

Like I said, "i love you" with the eyes!

Darby & Eric: ENGAGED!!

2009-04-30T00:09:00.000-07:00

We met Darby and Eric on Halloween and it just so happened to be the night they got engaged! Darby hangs with our other friends/clients the amazing Lindsy & Lucas AND the original believers in Mathieu Photography Brad & Kara! We have been so blessed to see our circle grow. We have amazing clients that tell their friends and family about us. It is the biggest compliment and the key factor that has grown our business from the very beginning. If you are reading this please know that Matt & I are incredibly grateful.

Darby & Eric were nervous, we work well with nervous. I pull out some extra silly-sauce and do crazy things like jiggle my arm fat to get people to laugh. It works for the most part and we all end up having a good time. We love what we do!

You guys are so HOT! Check yourselves out!!!!

Bitty & Shawn: ENGAGED!!

2009-04-29T19:12:00.000-07:00

Bitty is one of the amazing actresses we get to work with at the playhouse in Costa Mesa. We've made some great friends there and we are so excited to shoot their wedding! Shawn is rad and we've been so blessed to be a part of their wedding process. We got to hike around the Will Rodgers Park in Pacific Palisades... the view was breathtaking and I was huffing and puffing like a big'ol pregnant lady! This kid is squishing my lungs for sure ;)

If you've never been there go check it out! Hike to the top and then think about how awesome Shawn is for proposing with that gorgeous view!

Erin & Justin: ENGAGED!!

2009-04-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

Erin & Justin are amazing! I probably sound like a broken record but we leave our shoots feeling so blessed. Our clients feel like friends and who wouldn't want to work with their friends day in and day out? We have been so humbled by the perfect amount of work to support us financially and getting to meet some wonderful people along the way. Sure, there are moments of "we live in Orange County itis" but we know that we are exactly where God wants us; fully dependant on Him. (and He always makes sure the bills are paid)

Justin and Erin were made for each other and their chemistry and ear to ear smiles every time they look at each other speak volumes. We had so much fun laughing and "line-crossing" all day. (For those of you who haven't spent much time with me and Matt we tend to be a bit on the inappropriate side... we mean no harm by it but our quirky, sometimes straight stupid sense of humor is a part of OUR chemistry. We like to giggle like little girls. All of my girlfriends refer to Matty as "the line-crosser")

Bottom line: we love Justin and Erin, we can't wait for their wedding, we love what we do :)

ENJOY...

ps. Justin wins super RAD points because he plays a ukulele!!!!!

My husband is super talented, I'm his biggest fan!

In case this entire blog post hasn't showed you true love and you needed 2 more visual examples of what love looks like... this is it!

City Of Angels: Costa Mesa Playhouse

2009-04-23T19:13:00.001-07:00

Do yourselves a fun favor and head down to the Costa Mesa Playhouse to check out City of Angels. Look closely at these photos the amazing Ed, one of our rad grooms and Bitty coming soon to a Mathieu Photography Blog near you is one of our brides to be! For reservations call their box office @ 949.650.5269 or visit them on the world wide interwebs at.... www.costamesaplayhouse.org

Jen & Eric: MARRIED!!

2009-04-21T18:17:00.000-07:00

Jen & Eric had such a beautiful and intimate day. It was mellow and calm and just plain perfect! (For my brides out there the CSUF Alumni House is an awesome location and I hear it's pretty affordable) Jen looked stunning and seeing Eric's practically speechless reaction was priceless. I feel so special that I am one of the few who gets to experience that moment over and over again. A groom stunned by the beauty of his bride and the realization of what this very special day brings; love for eternity. I get to hear the weight given to their very special vows and how intently they plan to care for each other for always. Jen & Eric we were so blessed to be a part of this. Have fun growing old together, it's the best way to be.

Please click HERE to check out the highlight video from Jason Daniel Productions

sexy time ;)

kids are rad, i love their little personalities!

apparently this doll belongs to a family member and it makes an appearance at all family events. creepy? yes. awesome? yes.

American Nobodies

2009-04-16T14:38:00.001-07:00

We here at Mathieu Photography have a lot of cool talented friends and we have embarked on a collaborative journey with some of them and created a new blog. This one is gonna be good! We have teamed up with the Awesomeness that is Chuck Oldfield and others to share with you how we see the world. From our optic nerves to yours!
This is a little taste...but you gotta go check out the blog for the goods!!
http://americannobodies.blogspot.com
CHECK THIS OUT!!!

photo by Chuck Oldfield

Blend!!

2009-04-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Matt and I had the opportunity of a lifetime! We got to attend the most amazing photography workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico. We went because we wanted to learn and grow and pick up some business knowledge along the way. I was nervous. There are some photographers that totally intimidate me and sometimes there is some serious ego that comes along with that. The photography community in Southern California is WAY competitive and usually Matt and I just hang back and keep to ourselves because we're shy and nerdy. SO, going into this I thought I was flashing back to high school. I was worried about the cool kids and being totally unaccepted. I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG. I came home feeling loved, accepted, encouraged and excited. We also came home with 30 something new friends! Truly people I would love to hang out with again! I never knew how it felt to have friends all over the country/world. Now I know! I hope life takes us around because I can't wait to hang out with them again.

Aside form making new friends we got to hang out with the Kaisers. Nate & Jaclyn are awesome, no joke. We have been slowly getting to know them over the past year and we laugh hysterically every time we're with them. We also got to learn from the incredibly talented Jose Villa. He shoots amazing images on film and has a beautiful portfolio of kidlets (my fave.) The amazing Tamara Lackey brought the business mindedness and some encouragement about managing other photographers. And last but most definitely not least we met Jesh. There are some people that leave a huge imprint on your life, Jesh is one of those people to me. He lives genuinely, loves freely and learns constantly. There really aren't words but I would encourage photographers and non-photographers alike to make it a life goal to hang with Jesh. I'm trying daily to be genuine, honest, and loving to every individual that i come across. (i'm not trying to be holier than thou, this is sooo difficult but I am working on it.)

And the kicker to this amazing trip.... wait for it... I got to see snow fall from the sky for the first time!!!!!!!!! AND the next morning I woke up to 8 inches on the ground!!! It was like a white Christmas in March! All in all I had an amazing time. I'm still trying to implement all the wonderful things I learned. Check out some photos, enjoy...

The WHOLE gang. (photo stolen from FB, thanks)

Done in camera.. wheeerrrrreeeeee's Matty???

Matt says this is what I would like like in 2001: A Space Odyssey. I think it's kinda scary lookin'

So the Encantado Resort we stayed at was super swanky and then we found this in the bar. It seemed very out of place. But Amy does need to be saved.

Me & one of the funniest people I have ever met, Tara.

Another rad buddie, Stephanie, workin' that thang.

Mr. Jesh

Mr. Villa

Mr. Sassy-pants (Nate). Jaclyn: not featured, she's a total babe and I hear you have to pay tons of money to publish a photo of her.

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!

*All photos taken by Matt. I was too busy relaxing in the bathtub and trying to absorb all the knowledge that got crammed into my brain over 3 full days. :)

Isn't he awesome (he even photoshops my face and makes it look all purty).

Brianne & Trevor: ENGAGED!!

2009-04-11T17:07:00.000-07:00

Me and Bri go way back... she was that person at work who put a smile on your face and made the fact that you had to wear shorts and a Hawaiian shirt to work everyday bearable. Yes, we worked at Islands! We listened to Jimmy Buffet and The Beach Boys and ate lots of cheddar fries except you wouldn't know it by looking at her thighs (mine tell a slightly more dimpled story). We talked of meeting "Mr. Right" and the future. And here we are both in love with amazing guys that love us right back! Trevor was made for Bri, he makes her so happy. She seriously giggled the entire time we were together. They really are Mr. & Mrs. Awesome.

Guys, we are so excited to be a part of this incredible time in your lives. Thanks for inviting us into this and being silly with us along the way. :)

(ps. I love them so much there are way too many photos, sorry they're just gorgeous people!)

So, Matt gets down on the grass to take these shots and there is a wooden bench on the other side of Bri & Trevor. This is where we thank Jesus that our clients like us and don't want to hit us. Notice how close Trevor's fist is in proximity to Matt's face. Because when Matt uttered, "Stupid Bench!" We all thought he said something else entirely and if Trevor hadn't started laughing Matty may have come home with a black eye.

Rochelle & Andy: MARRIED!!

2009-04-10T23:24:00.000-07:00

I had never been to Thousand Oaks before Rochelle and Andy's wedding...it's beautiful there!!! And the Westlake Village Inn was such a gorgeous reception location. We always love shooting weddings when we get to see friends we've made at other weddings :) Congrats you guys! Enjoy being married peeps, it's the best!!!

Hudson Is Here.

2009-04-09T12:34:00.000-07:00

I got to hold two brand new babies this week!!!! Hudson rushed into the world a bit early and has tiny frame to show for it but he is strong! He fought through sleep and squirmed around the entire time. He was throwing his head around and kicking out all limbs at once. He was so much fun to be around and I feel privileged when our brides & grooms include us in the growth of their families. Lindsy & Lukas thanks for letting me be a tiny part in capturing the huge impact Hudson will have on your lives. I hope he brings you joy and love :)

If you've never seen a baby say whaddup to his homies and throw gang signs you're in for a treat becasue Hudson lives the thug life.

And Hudson with his beautiful Momma, Lindsy...

Nikki & Rob: ENGAGED!!

2009-04-08T17:13:00.000-07:00

Nikki & Robert are perfect clients because they said the magic words, "Do whatever you want, we trust you." We are guaranteed to get something different and new when we're given the freedom to stretch ourselves. Matt and I also enjoy a new challenge by shooting somewhere we've never shot before. Knott's Berry Farm was so cool! We probably could have shot there all day, we barely scratched the surface of the theme park. Nikki & Robert are seriously the coolest because they ended our day together with a delicious meal! Thanks guys!! Can't wait for the wedding!!

Kieran June

2009-04-07T19:14:00.000-07:00

Our good friends Tim and Nandar just welcomed their third kiddo into the world!! Sometimes I'm a weirdo and I give photography as a gift, so newborn photos were Nandar's baby shower present! Little Kieran is a mere 12 days old in these photos. OHHHHHHH man being pregnant and around babies is awesome! I got to do two newborn sessions in one week and I smell like brand new baby! I would be in heaven in I got to take photos of babies everyday, they're just precious!! So, here she is!

Denise & Domonic: Engaged!!

2009-03-20T14:58:00.000-07:00

Denise and Dominic are one of those special couples. The kind of couple that has it together. I don't want to embarrass them with compliments but they are stable, educated, self-sufficient, young and my personal favorite home-owners! I am more and more impressed with them every time I hang with them. They are yet another prime example of the couple that shows up nervous and unsure of how to model and then they make it happen. They make modeling look easy. Denise is so incredibly photogenic and she just giggled the entire time we were with them.

Denise, Dominic we're proud of you guys. It's not easy these days to make a comfortable life for yourself and your family and you are both off to an amazing start. We can't wait for your weddding!

Wes & Niki: ENGAGED!!

2009-03-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

Wes is the adorable older brother of my dear friend Nicole. It has been so fun getting to know him and Niki more and more. They have great chemistry and make each other comfortable in front of the camera. We got to hang out with them this weekend. I love that our circles cross and we get to see them more often than most of our clients. We can't wait until their wedding in August!!! :)

Ross & Kelly: MARRIED!!

2009-03-16T22:02:00.000-07:00

Ross & Kelly moved to Oregon and I'm jealous. Screw the tropical honeymoon they moved to one of my favorite places on earth! Green, lush, rainy, gloomy, gorgeous countryside and a beautiful city! I miss Portland...

Before they took off on their first huge adventure as a married couple they got married. Joy & Mike of the gorgeous Portefleur Private Estate were wonderful hosts as usual with their fabulous assistant Marta! We love working with them and we are looking forward to our summer weddings at the estate.

We are so blessed to have couples with amazingly supportive family and friends. I wish there was a not-so-lame way of saying "you can feel the love." But you really can! Their details were beautiful, the candy table was a HUGE hit, and the glow-stick tunnel sending them out was awesome.

Ross, Kelly thank you so much for letting us be a part of this. If you didn't already know we will travel to Oregon to photograph your family ANYTIME. Enjoy every moment of being newlyweds, it is such an amazing time.

This was the event that immediately followed the ceremony. Go here for the back story.

Kelly receiving her beautiful diamond earrings from her thoughtful husband to be :)

How adorable is Ross and his Mom?!

Ring shots anyone????

Krista & Drew: ENGAGED!!

2009-03-07T17:12:00.000-08:00

Drew & Krista are two very amazing people. They were brought together through technological circumstances and they are soul mates. As we sat over lunch the first day we met them they told us about their careers and how their hearts are in almost the exact same place! They both work with college students and minister to them in any way that they can. They spoke of the theme of their wedding, "deeply rooted" and what that meant to them. Drew and Krista's lives are deeply rooted in the Lord and that those roots will help ground their marriage. We are so honored to be a part of people's lives in this small but intimate way. We can't wait for their wedding!

Big Things Are Happening!!!

2009-03-03T14:07:00.000-08:00

HELLOOOO INTERWEBS! So, here we are a couple of years into Mathieu Photography and we have some personal updates. Matt and I are blessed to be full time wedding photographers. We have been truly blessed with clients that love each other and desire to commit themselves to each other for lifetime. I realize more and more everyday that staying married to your spouse for the duration of your life is a counter cultural rebellion to American society. Perhaps we're crazy but we believe our clients are committed. Just because I have a blog doesn't mean I have any wisdom to share with the world and I'm definitely not a writer BUT for those people that are married.... stick with it. I love my husband and I tell him and show him everyday! Marriage is not easy but it's worth the work.

Matt and I very recently found out that we are expecting a little peanut come September...

What's completely hilarious to us is that it was a total surprise but God's timing is incredible. We have weddings filling August and October but we're due in the middle of September and it's completely open for delivery and recovery! Whew!

In the midst of being very tired, due to building a person inside my body, Matt has been nothing short of awesome!! The other day I apologized for letting the house go a bit due to heavy napping. Matt replied, "That's why I'm here to help." He pulls back the covers, brings me snacks and tells me to rest. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband. I am even more blessed to not have had one spell of morning sickness, Hallelujah!

We make a rad team!

In other news, Matt came out to talk to me while I was working on the computer and I noticed he had found some kitty whiskers and made a fancy Parisian mustache on his face. You may not find it funny but I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe and tears were coming out of my eyes. I love Matt!

Thanks for indulging me... Have a wonderful day and remind your friends and family that you love them!

Brent & Brooke: Engaged!!

2009-02-26T17:38:00.000-08:00

Brent & Brooke are the cutest!! It happened to be an overcast day and they brought their warm coats. I was so excited because I've always wanted to shoot an "East Coast" session in the cold weather. Being that we don't really get seasons in southern California I was so excited to shoot some photos of people in layers! We trucked it all over Santa Monica and found some quiet places to shoot away from the weekend crowds.

Sidebar: People in love are the easiest people in the WORLD to capture!!! There is no substitute for natural chemistry!! Piece of cake. Thanks for lovin' each other ;)

Our makeshift traveling closets...

The Pier.

Our fave!

Just Some Sweet Samples...

2009-02-24T15:11:00.000-08:00

So, the other day Matt made some rockin' save-the-date samples for PJ and Kristin and I was very proud of him so I thought, "Hey, why not share these with the world?!"

And so I'm posting them below. All our save-the-dates are custom made and touched with Matt's magic wand (no he's not a fairy).

Enjoy...

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Rock N Roll Bride

2009-02-24T13:23:00.000-08:00

Hello interwebs!! We just wanted to let you all know that our girl Kat over at Rock N Roll Bride has chosen to feature TWO of our weddings on her fantastic site! Kat is awesome and has rockin' pink hair! (if you know me my hair has changed colors many a time since my high school years, so I love the pink!) We love Kat's philosophy that a Rock N Roll couple is one that represents themselves in the details and feel of their wedding day. She chose to feature Mark & Jickie and Blair & Sean, please click here and scroll down a bit to check them out!

Lauren & Aaron: ENGAGED!!

2009-02-19T23:51:00.000-08:00

Lauren and Aaron are HOT! I'm just sayin' they were not difficult to photograph and we are so stoked for their wedding day!! Lauren lives at the Portefleur Estate (for now)! She is one of Mike & Joy's amazing children and we are so excited to spend some of our summer days at the estate! Aaron plays as a member of the worship team at our church. We had so much fun with them we probably could have taken pictures ALL day long! And they were such good sports about cancelling on a rainy day so we could have some gorgeous sunlight to accompany the beautiful field we found! yeah!!!!

My husband is so cute! Look at his handy work!

Wedding Chicks!

2009-02-17T16:02:00.000-08:00

Hello interwebs! I hope you're enjoying the gloom and rain as much as I am. I love this cozy weather and I only get it a couple days out of the year so I really have to soak it up (no pun intended). I wanted to let everyone know that we are a part of the Wedding Chicks family! As many of you know Amy Squires was our fantabulous wedding photographer and has encouraged us over the years in our starting business. Well, Amy and her best friend Jocey have teamed up to create Wedding Chicks! This is a one stop shop for brides!! Check it out and thank me later because you can find everything you need on one handy-dandy site.

Click here for Wedding Chicks and be sure to check out Mathieu Photography featured in the Real Weddings section!

Happy Tuesday!

PJ and Kristen: ENGAGED!!

2009-02-13T17:13:00.000-08:00

PJ & Kristen are awesome! We actually go wayyyyy back. It has been so fun to hang out with them and catch up on the years we've missed. I just DIE when people tell me that they're nervous about being in front of the camera and tell me over and over that they're not models. Puh-lease! Just wait till you see these photos!! Kristen finally fessed up and told us she'd been practicing her modeling faces and man-o-man did the practice pay off! They look amazing! We can't wait for their wedding in July, enjoy...

Ross & Kelly: ENGAGED!!

2009-01-30T17:38:00.000-08:00

Ross and Kelly are amazing and they're getting married at one of our favorite private residences! We also share a love for the fantabulous city of Portland!! Ross and Kelly are committed and ready for marriage. We hung out at McClain's in downtown Fullerton where they shared their first date and then headed over to the beautiful Arboretum. During our time spent together we heard an awesome story from Ross. Some girl at a camp far, far from home and long, long ago wanted to kiss him. Ross being as thoughtful as he is pondered the idea and decided that his first kiss would be more than a fun moment with a stranger. Rather than the traditional promise ring Ross started to wear an anklet that has since been wrapped SEVERAL times with tape to hold it together. It will be ceremonially cut at the wedding but that first kiss was saved for his wife to be. Can you imagine how special Kelly must feel to know that Ross' lips have only touched hers!!! I love our clients. They remind Matt and I how to cherish each other.

Ross & Kelly we are sooo looking forward to your wedding. Thanks for loving each other and making our job ridiculously easy :)