This Blog Has Moved

The new website and blog I have been working on is now up and running! For future reference, please go to www.matkey.com/blog to see my latest work as I will no longer post here.

Thanks!

Almost There...

Sorry I haven't posted a blog entry in awhile! I've been busy working on a new website and custom blog and it is close to completion. I'll post an announcement here once it is ready (hopefully in the next week). In the meantime, if you are on Facebook, you can see some of my more recent work.

Wedding: Tricia & Kevin

My 2009 season got off to a great start earlier this month when I photographed Tricia and Kevin's wedding at Caldwell Chapel. Their reception at Mellwood Arts Center was a blast, thanks in part to catering by Wiltshite Pantry and live music performed by This, That & the Other. If you're looking for catering or entertainment, these two vendors are highly recommended!

Louisville Bride

2009 is off to a great start and I thought I would begin the year by blogging about a wedding I shot last summer that has been featured in Louisville Magazine's twice-yearly bridal special, Louisville Bride. There's a one-page spread on page 11 from Anne and Andy's beautiful wedding at Rivue--the rooftop restaurant at the Galt House. Check it out! =)

Wedding: Whitney & Brandon

I shot my last wedding of the year in Apalachicola, FL a few weeks ago. Not a bad place to end the season! Whitney and Brandon were married at their family's waterfront property right before sunset. It was a beautiful wedding and they had a great band--everyone was partying late into the night, even in spite of the chilly nighttime weather. Favorites below!

Wedding: Amanda & Jeremy

At the end of last month I shot Amanda and Jeremy's Halloween-themed wedding at the Olmstead in Louisville, KY. The day started off with the girls getting their hair and make-up done at Bennie and Friends. Everyone there was really cool with me running around the place, getting my shots. Even Bennie himself mugged for a picture. About half the guests were dressed for the occasion in their costumes--it was a lot of fun! He didn't place in the top three of the costume contest, but if it's any consolation, the Joker was my favorite. A few shots from the day, below:

Wedding: Victoria & Richard

Running a little behind on this blog post--my apologies. =) These are a few favorites from Victoria and Richard's wedding a couple of weekends ago at the Cathedral of the Assumption in downtown Louisville, KY. As many Louisvillians know, it is one of the most beautiful churches in town. Their reception was held later in the day at the always fun Glassworks.

Wedding: Tiffany & John

I photographed a couple of weddings last weekend and I started things off with Tiffany and John who were married at the beautiful St. Agnes Catholic Church in Louisville, KY. The weather is really great this time of year and the fall colors are nice too where you can find it. After the ceremony, everyone headed over to Masterson's for the reception. A few early favorites below!

Wedding: Brittany & Joey

A week ago Saturday, Brittany and Joey were married at Lynnhurst United Church of Christ in Louisville, KY. Afterwards we headed over to Jeffersonville, IN for the reception at Kye's . Favorites below!

Senior Session: Rachel

I photographed Rachel's senior pictures recently during a portrait session in downtown Louisville, KY. She was great to work with, but part of the credit goes to my team of assistants (Rachel's family) who helped on the shoot. =)

More on Facebook.

Wedding: Tamara & Eddie

Last weekend brought me to Lexington, KY to photograph Tamara and Eddie's wedding. The day started at the Crowne Plaza Hotel with the girls putting on their finishing touches before we made our way to Saint Peter Church for the ceremony. Afterwards it was on to a brief portrait session with the wedding party at Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate and then we headed off to the Signature Club of Landsdowne for the reception. The reception, quite simply, was an absolute blast! Tamara, Eddie and their friends and family tore up the dance floor and I captured some really fun moments. Unfortunately, most of those pictures will have to remain in the couple's private gallery. =)

Oh, and there are a few more pictures on my Facebook page, too!

Wedding: Katie & Patrick

The afternoon started with a few portraits of Katie and Patrick at the Ashland Henry Clary Estate in Lexington, KY. It was a gorgeous backdrop on a beautiful day for photography. Afterwards, we headed to the Signature Club for the ceremony and reception. The talented, soulful Robbie Bartlett provided the evening's entertainment.

Reception: Mindy & Darren

Earlier this month I flew out to Los Angeles to photograph Mindy and Darren's California reception at a family home in Rancho Palos Verdes. I had just photographed their wedding two weeks earlier in St. Simons Island, GA. Oh, and yes, LA traffic is as fun as advertised. =)

Wedding: Mindy & Darren

Tropical storm Fay caused a change of plans for what was going to be an outdoor, beach wedding in St. Simon's Island, GA for Mindy and Darren. The weather didn't stop everyone from celebrating just the same! The couple are from California, and I will be photographing their Los Angeles reception next weekend. More photos to follow soon!

Wedding: Megan & Niles

Megan and Niles were married at St. Michaels Church in the small farm town of Bradford, IN. We tried to find a corn field to shoot some fun portraits, but ended up doing a variety of other pictures in a neighbor's backyard. He was even mowing the grass at the time, but we decided to keep him out of the pictures! Good pictures can really be made in any situation--you just need a good photographer. ;) The reception was later held at Kye's.

Wedding: Jennifer & Ganesh

Last Saturday was another beautiful day weather wise, which was just perfect for Jennifer and Ganesh's wedding at Locust Grove in Louisville, KY. After a beautiful outdoor ceremony we headed over to the clubhouse at Persimmon Ridge for the reception.

Wedding: Erica & Mick

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous--the weather couldn't have been any better for Erica and Mick's wedding at the Frazier International History Museum in downtown Louisville, KY. We started the day off with a few pictures at the chic 21C Museum Hotel before heading down the street for the ceremony. Afterwards we headed outside and shot a few portraits along Main Street, taking advantage of the great light. Very photogenic couple!

Wedding: Anne & Andy

Anne and Andy tied the knot last weekend at the Galt House in Louisville, KY. The reception took place at Rivue, the restaurant located on the top floor of the west tower. Sweet, relaxed couple + a beautiful venue = awesome pics, if I do say so myself. =)

A Funny Poem

I meant to make mention of this in a previous blog post, but at Becca and Daniel's wedding a few weeks ago, Becca's sister and maid of honor, Hanna, beautifully delivered a poem for one of the readings. I had never heard this poem before and it was quite entertaining--it even had many of the guest laughing in their seats. It's cute and worth the read:

Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog
by Taylor Mali

First of all, it's a big responsibility,
especially in a city like New York.
So think long and hard before deciding on love.
On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security:
when you're walking down the street late at night
and you have a leash on love
ain't no one going to mess with you.
Because crooks and muggers think love is unpredictable.
Who knows what love could do in its own defense?

On cold winter nights, love is warm.
It lies between you and lives and breathes
and makes funny noises.
Love wakes you up all hours of the night with its needs.
It needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy.

Love doesn't like being left alone for long.
But come home and love is always happy to see you.
It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life,
but you can never be mad at love for long.

Is love good all the time? No! No!
Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love.

Love makes messes.
Love leaves you little surprises here and there.
Love needs lots of cleaning up after.
Sometimes you just want to get love fixed.
Sometimes you want to roll up a piece of newspaper
and swat love on the nose,
not so much to cause pain,
just to let love know Don't you ever do that again!

Sometimes love just wants to go for a nice long walk.
Because love loves exercise.
It runs you around the block and leaves you panting.
It pulls you in several different directions at once,
or winds around and around you
until you're all wound up and can't move.

But love makes you meet people wherever you go.
People who have nothing in common but love
stop and talk to each other on the street.

Throw things away and love will bring them back,
again, and again, and again.
But most of all, love needs love, lots of it.
And in return, love loves you and never stops.

Wedding: Renee & Chris

I was in Bloomington, IN last weekend to photograph Renee and Chris' wedding at Deer Park Manor. Last year I photographed the wedding for Renee's sister, Angela, and her husband Steven as well. Towards the end of the night, Chris performed a guitar solo for the crowd and it was such a fun and entertaining moment. The photography thing is working out pretty well for me, but I think I want to be a rock star now...I need to sign up for guitar lessons! =)

Wedding: Emily & Andrew

I traveled to Elizabethtown, KY to photograph Emily and Andrew's wedding at St. James Catholic Church. We headed over to Freeman Lake to get in a few portraits of the couple before a brief summer shower forced us to another location. I think my good luck with weather came in handy as it turned out to be a false alarm, thankfully. I actually grew up in this area and it was nice to see how much things had changed...and how much things still remained the same.