Emily Matheson Photography

08/23/2024

My best tip for having a perfect wedding day? Aside from booking me as your photographer of course, (wink, wink! Lol) I strongly suggest you book a great venue. Not necessarily an expensive venue, that does not always guarantee you a great wedding. Here are some points to consider in your search for the perfect venue.

What constitutes a great venue, you may ask? Aren't all wedding venues the same? No my friend, I assure you they are not all created equal! This is what I have learned after 15 years in the wedding industry.

Things to consider when choosing a venue:
1. Location. What does it look like? Are there beautiful rolling hills? Or is it next to a freeway with lots of noise? Does the location offer beautiful photographic backdrops, or will you have to hold your ceremony there and travel to a second location for pictures? Is this destination accessible to your guests? (This from the girl who got married on a ranch in Covelo, lol). Does it have ample and safe parking for all in attendance?

2. Amenities, what does the venue package come with? Are you renting tables and chairs, or does the venue provide those? Is there a place to get ready on site, or will you have to rent a hotel or Air B&B? Is there any lodging available on site for you or your guests? What other services does the venue provide?

3. Who are the owners of the venue, are they welcoming and accommodating? You would not believe what a HUGE impact this question will make on your actual wedding day, and the planning leading up to the event! I have had brides so stressed out by venue hosts and owners to the point of tears! Will the owner be your point person for all planning and questions regarding the venue, or do they have a coordinator that they require as liaison?

Some venue owners invite you to enjoy yourself on their property and give you general guidelines to follow. Other venues have massive contracts that outline specific rules and restrictions. Some venues even surprise the wedding couple with added "rules" the week of the wedding. My personal favorite was the venue who let the bride know a week before the wedding that all of the wine served at the event was required to be their particular brand, and they had 48 hours to purchase everything. This was news to the couple and not in their original contract. Can you imagine the stress?

My number one rule for a wedding is to take care of my couple above all else- whatever they need, I will make it happen to the very best of my ability. (Ask me about my tie replicating skills, that's another story) I have never understood why other vendors with strong personalities feel the need to make the wedding day about them or their needs/desires above our couple. It baffles me. A wedding is a time to celebrate a couple joining their lives together, it is not a place for added stress or drama.

So you are planning for a stress free wedding? Start with a venue whose hosts are invested in your day, and want the very best for you. This picture reminded me of a wedding I shot several years ago at Red Barn Ranch in Hopland. The beautiful bride had her friend bring this stunning chandelier to the wedding, and wanted a picture of her with her new husband under the chandelier. The chandelier was hung, and when we went to turn it on- nothing happened! The bride was so sad. The venue owner Kris was kind enough to come and splice things up and rewire the chandelier so that it would light up in the darkness so the bride could have her shot! Just going above and beyond for their couples is something Red Barn Ranch is known for.

❤️

08/07/2024

Give me all the sweet, loving couples who have found their person! The look of love is so sweet. Finishing up C+E’s gallery tonight, remembering every last wonderful moment. Summer weddings at Red Barn Ranch are wonderful, love these last moments of golden hour.

07/13/2024

It's Mallory & Greg's wedding day today! It's going to be a bit warm today, but the drinks will be cold, tunes fantastic (Eddie Vedolla DJing), and we will all be celebrating together. ❤

This is a sweet shot from their engagement session at Red Barn Ranch Events at my super secret location. (I am SO lucky!Thanks RBR for trusting me with your beautiful property!) At this time in their photo journey Gary & Mallory are professional dippers! They have even planned a dip for the ceremony. I can't wait!

06/23/2024

Enjoying the breeze coming through the barn at Gather Events today for their ribbon cutting ceremony. My little set up for today. It’s been fun having people come by and recognize my clients in the photos. ❤️ It’s toasty outside, but we have cold drinks, yummy tacos and fresh beats from the DJ. Party on people.

04/14/2024

The flowers this time of year bloom as a promise that Spring is on its way. A big thank you to Miss Nakyla for modeling two of our new dresses in our client closet. She had so much fun picking daffodils on her Nana's ranch. I feel so fortunate to have friends with such beautiful properties that make for amazing backdrops.

02/28/2024

One of the best things about being a photographer, is having amazing clients who become your close friends. I have known Mackenzie for several years, and photographed some of the most special moments of her life. I photographed her elopement with her husband Tyler, and now I am celebrating with them and waiting for their precious daughter to come into the world. Thank you Mackenzie for your friendship, helping me at wedding expos over the years, modeling for me when I needed someone beautiful to practice on, and showing us how beautiful motherhood can be. She was so kind to model one of my new dresses from my client closet during this session. She is just glowing, and looks stunning in the dress! I am so excited to see these two become awesome parents, little Miss can't come soon enough!

PS, Mackenzie you look so incredible for 39 weeks girl! Thank you for being my maternity model, and showing off the dress! Stunning as always. Thank you for picking me to be your photographer for life!

01/29/2024

Last post about the expo- I promise! ❤️
It was a fantastic day in Ukiah for our team- we met so many new faces and saw some past favorite clients too! It was a fantastic show, and I’m looking through all of my contacts now sending out some emails to our engagement session & gift certificate winners! Yay!!! Thank you for all of your kind words about our booth- it’s a labor of love, truly! Thank you to everyone who made today possible especially my team today, Shailyn Brewer, Kayla Pedersen, and my long suffering, sweet hubby Angus Matheson. ❤️

(Oh and this my post wedding expo, heart is so full driving home in a U-Haul selfie.)

01/28/2024

Today is the DAY! (Sunday Jan 28th) 11:00am to 3:00pm- The Ukiah Wedding & event expo! (Located at the Ukiah Fairgrounds)
This photo was from Friday when my hubby took the day off work to help me set everything up! What a gem of a guy he is! ❤️ Special thanks to Kris from Red Barn Ranch and Ken Pedersen from Willits High for also helping with heavy lifting and wall building! We appreciate you guys so much!
We have a drawing to win an engagement session with me- including access to our gorgeous client closet! You don’t actually have to be engaged to enter… 😉
If you or someone you know is planning a wedding or other event- this is the place to be! Photographers, DJ’s, venues, catering, and tons of other vendors! Please share with your friends & loved ones.

01/20/2024

Win an Engagement Session with me!

We will be participating in the 2024 Ukiah Wedding & Event Expo on Sunday January 28th. Please come visit us at our booth and enter to win an engagement session with me!

Please share this with anyone local who is getting married in 2024/2025! We are looking forward to meeting so many new faces and hearing about all the beautiful new wedding trends for the new year.

Can't make it to the expo? No worries! Just message me your name, phone number, wedding date & venue and I will enter your name in the drawing as well.

08/11/2023

My heart breaks hearing of the devastation that has hit Maui this week. Maui is such an incredible place, filled with beautiful memories of all who have visited her shores. Back in 2015 I was fortunate to be able to photograph Mr. & Mrs. Jimenez for their wedding on the beautiful beaches of Maui. It was such an incredibly special day. It’s so hard to think that the hotel where we all celebrated the newlyweds may be reduced to ashes. Please keep the people of Maui in your thoughts and prayers as they go through this devastating time.

06/09/2023

10 years ago when she was 15, Kayla was my photography assistant. She came with me to sessions and weddings, watching and learning, fluffing dresses, holding flowers, and becoming a Jill of all trades. Even after she graduated high school and was working full time, she still gave her one day off to come shoot weddings with me. She grew up and started her career in healthcare, and I had to find a new person to help me with weddings. Even though she is all grown up, Kayla still comes to help me at wedding expos and the occasional modeling shoot.
Last week she was happy to come help me model 6 new dresses from my new client closet. (OMG, they are amazing!!!) I couldn't help but smile watching her in these gorgeous dresses, frolicking in the meadow, remembering all of our adventures together over the last decade. Kayla, you have grown up into such an incredible person, I'm so proud to have been a mentor to you and a friend. Love you for life baby girl.

05/25/2023

Even though I am a wedding photographer, I also love photographing little ones and their families. I recently had the pleasure of photographing little Mr. Braxton for his first birthday. His mama Carolyn wanted to do a "cake smash" with mashed potatoes and a pork chop! Such a clever idea, and we had so much fun, especially little Mr. Braxton! I took so many photos and couldn't choose my favorites- so here are a few.

05/15/2023

Exciting announcement!

Today of all days, I am so excited to announce that after months of planning, dreaming, and designing... We have created a beautiful boho space in our photography studio! The entire studio has had an overhaul these past months, and we are so excited to share our vision with you. This new space in the studio will be dedicated to celebrating Motherhood in all of its uniqueness and beauty. Authentic moments of Mothers with their children, captured organically for them to cherish for years to come.

Here at the studio we will be offering a warm and comfortable space for all, equipped with a stylist and our new client closet we have curated with dresses and clothing for our sessions. We will have hair & makeup artist services available to all clients. We hope you will come and experience your own stunning photography session to honor your unique journey though motherhood and beyond.

Please enjoy these photos of beautiful McKenna and little Eliza, our models for our photography studio's Motherhood sessions grand launch.

Our studio is not limited to motherhood sessions, we will still continue to offer regular outdoor family sessions with Emily Matheson, and traditional newborn sessions with Hollie Nass.

We are so excited to see you in 2023, and hope you come enjoy our new space!
Studio Location: 291 School St. Suite 7, Willits, CA.

04/22/2023

Wedding season has officially started for me, and I am swooning over Juan & Jennifer’s beautiful photos on their Winter wedding day in February. As a mother of a US Marine, this wedding will always hold a special place in my heart. Juan wore his Air Force dress blue uniform, equipped with medals and a sword to marry the love of his life, Jennifer. The look on his face as beautiful Jennifer walked down the isle with her parents was just perfect. Here they are dancing in St. Mary of Angles Church directly after their full mass ceremony. Two just wonderful, gorgeous and kind people, I’m so very happy for them. Wishing Mr. & Mrs. Martinez a lifetime of happiness together!

Hotel: Thatcher, Hopland CA
Venue: Brutocao Cellars, Hopland
Florist: Jasmine of Mendocino Bridal & Tux, Ukiah

04/05/2023

My latest creation for the studio… who doesn’t love a spray of boho florals? Exciting things are ahead and I’m SO excited to share with you all what we have been working on!

01/31/2023

When your client loves their photos and thanks you so much for just doing your job- it’s just the BEST! ❤️

Photography and Florals captured and created for Mrs. Kari Radder.

Thank you so much for the shoutout, we love you lots!

01/29/2023

Who’s getting married? Planning an event?

I cannot believe the Ukiah Wedding Expo is here!!!
Can’t wait to meet all of our new brides for the 2023/2024 wedding season. SO many new and exciting booths were bringing their A game at set up day, and it is going to be the best Expo to date! I’m honored that the Expo creator and coordinator asked me to speak to the audience about how to hire a wedding photographer. First public speaking gig, and I’m terrified! Lol.

If you want to come see you Sunday January 29th at the Ukiah Fairgrounds from 11:00-3:00. Admission is free, and the first few groups through the door get extra swag in their bags! See you there! Cheers! 🥂

*photo of the expo in years passed. ❤️

01/24/2023

The Ukiah Wedding & Event Expo is BACK, happening this Sunday, January 29!!!!!

(Ukiah Fairgrounds, 11am-3:00pm)

I am SO excited to meet all of our 2023, 2024 (and beyond!) brides and their entourage. It’s going to be the BEST expo we’ve ever had with SO many drawings, giveaways, and amazing vendor specials. We will have presentations (yikes, I’ll be on stage!!!), a fashion show and my very favorite- the wedding ring cake dive! (Brides go hands first through a wedding cake looking for the ring! 💍) We have so much going on, amazing vendors for all kinds of events. Please join us, and bring your friends!!! See you THIS Sunday! I will be holding a drawing for a free engagement session, be sure to get your name in!

10/17/2022

My son, my Marine. This is Jensen with his recruiter Sgt. Helbig. She has been such an incredible mentor for Jensen as he has navigated his dream of becoming an United States Marine. We are all so proud of this young man.

03/06/2022

My office for the evening… can’t wait to shoot a my first wedding here this year! Stunning spot!

06/27/2021

I wish I had the perfect words to describe the total outpour of love I witnessed today as Rylie and Zack said their vows in front of their closest family and friends. These two are loved by so many, it was amazing to see everyone come together and celebrate their marriage. Every detail of their wedding was special. The venue: Rylie's Aunt & Uncle's house. The flowers, a gift from aunties Briana & Lorraine. Food: Garbocci Catering by long time friends Ashlin Macias & Jesse Macias. DJ Larry Thompson brought the tunes and was a brilliant DJ, as well as being a very long time friend to the family. A lovely cake was made by friend Michele Collicott. A video is being made by the bride's friend Nikki as well! Hollie and I were so fortunate to be amongst such outstanding staff, and truly enjoyed the beautiful day with the couple.
Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Zack and Rylie Williams !!! We trully couldn't have asked for a sweeter couple, and wish you so much happiness in the amazing life you are building together! Cheers! Thank you so much for allowing us to be part of your family!

Here are a few sneak peeks before the honeymoon!

05/23/2021

Once in a blue moon, I have the Saturday of Prom available in my calendar and can take pictures of my favorite students! Tonight I am assisting my friend & fellow photo lady Shailyn Brewer (Shailyn B. Photography) tonight taking prom pictures. Can you believe we created these backdrops yesterday?! Lol. You have to move when inspiration strikes! I made the flowers, we asked Shailyn’s Dad to make the wooden hexagon. Boho rug and vintage settee are mine too. ❤️ Special thanks to our friends at Safeway in Willits for donating a few of the flowers for prom that I still needed this morning. 🌸🌺🌻
Special thanks also goes to Brooktrails Golf Course for giving us a special spot away from the golfers to take some pre-prom photos! (Hey, did you know Dad’s golf for FREE on Father’s Day!!!) ⛳️ 🏌️

04/06/2021

Planning a wedding in CA? This may be the news you’ve been waiting for! ❤️❤️❤️

I’m grateful to be fully vaccinated and looking forward to celebrating more weddings in 2021! Cheers!

This just in from CDPH! The day we have been waiting 14 months for! Private events, meetings and wedding receptions can resume beginning 4/15/21.

Per CDPH’s Press Release Issued Today:

Purple Tier- No indoor events. Outdoor events for up to 25 people. With proof of testing/vaccine capacities increase to 100 for outdoors only.

Red Tier- Outdoor events allowed for up to 50 people. With proof of testing/vaccine capacities increase to 200 for outdoors only, or 100 people indoors.

Orange Tier- Outdoor events allowed for up to 100 people. With proof of testing/vaccine capacities increase to 300 for outdoors only, or 150 people indoors.

Yellow Tier- Outdoor events allowed for up to 200 people. With proof of testing/vaccine capacities increase to 400 for outdoors only, or 200 people indoors.

12/23/2020

❤️❤️❤️Win a FREE photoshoot with me! (NOT an iPhone photoshoot of course!)

I’m hoping this isn’t our portrait this year- but I’ve been so swamped with work- this shot might have to do as our 2020 photo! You see, today was my birthday, and my husband also had today off of work. It’s the first time in months we have all been together- so we booked it to the coast to enjoy the sun and salty air.

Hopefully we will have our actual portrait next week- but until then, this will have to do! Lol.

I thought in honor of turning another year older, I would hold a drawing for a complimentary photoshoot! To enter the drawing comment below with your favorite photo I have taken of you or someone you love. I will announce the winner on Thursday night!

In the meantime I’ll try to plan my own family portrait because this “photobombed iPhone sitting on my wallet with the timer on” shot isn’t going to cut it. Hey... it’s what you have to do when you have to be IN the picture! 🤣🤣🤣

Sending you all love from our family to yours!!!

11/26/2020

I have watched this young woman grow from ages 7-17. She is smart, witty, talented, and always has known what she wants in life. She is also exceptionally beautiful inside and out. I am very lucky her mama (also a talented photographer) asks me to photograph their family portrait every year, because I get to watch McKenna and her 4 siblings grow up. Heres to you sweet girl... I hope we keep the annual tradition even though you are grown.

11/01/2020

May the light of the full moon lead you home to safety tonight.

Sleep well, tomorrow is November and BIG things are happening in November!

09/23/2020

Confession time.

I have been afraid.

I have been afraid of the Naysayers, and the Busybodies, the Pitiful Bullies with nothing better to do with their time.
I have been a coward this summer, and haven't posted a single 2020 wedding photo. Why do you ask? Because of people. I have suffered so much backlash from inconsequential people about doing my job, what I love to do, what I am legally contracted to do... that I went underground and kept everything to myself.

I was so excited every wedding morning, drove to meet with my fantastic couples, celebrated, loved and had a joyous day with each of them. Then I came home and went quiet. Posted nothing. Did not continue to grow my business with beautiful imagery I was creating. This unfortunately somehow allowed vicious rumors to spread.. "Emily isn't shooting because of Covid, Emily has her doctor husband to answer to... Emily will cancel..." Oh HONEY! EMILY has NEVER in 10 years canceled a wedding. Not when I was in the hospital. I did not cancel on a wedding the DAY after my first chemo treatment. In fact, I took my anti nausea meds and photographed some of the most incredible photos of her entire career, AND created wedding florals for the entire wedding.

I am a dedicated photographer, I am a true friend to my clients, I am someone you can trust and always depend on- no matter what. I have let the couples that I have photographed this Spring and Summer to post photos in their own time. I have made the choice not to bring any public negativity on such a sacred part of a couple's life together by posting an image of what they decided to do for their wedding on my social media.

2020 was not what any of us imagined. Some couples have decided to get married this year, Covid be dammed. I have been there, by their sides. Some couples have had small ceremonies, I have been there as well. I've been part of elopements this year where I was the witness on a marriage certificate! Some couples have also made the choice to have a large wedding next year. My job is to take care of my couples, and to make their day as wonderful as it possibly can be while documenting everything for them to enjoy for generations. This is my job, and I dearly love it. Watch out 2021! You are almost booked up beyond what we can handle!

All I ask is if you hear someone speaking about me, please make sure you check the facts first and do not continue the slander. I have worked tirelessly for 10 years to build an amazing portfolio and an excellent reputation. This kind of hateful speech is not what the world needs today. Please be the light, bring others joy and look to the future for more wonderful things to celebrate soon!

With love,
Emily

08/19/2020

August means back to school! SIP school means awesome school photos! This little guy was such a trooper though a family shoot and school photos for 7 kids! Little Jake I am so happy to be the one to take your very first school picture- even if it is only preK.

07/21/2020

Models needed!

Hey everybody! I’m really excited to have a new wedding project on board, but need some help with a model couple. I’m looking to shoot in the next couple of weeks- please let me know if you and your partner are interested! You will be compensated with digital files for you to enjoy of course! Please send me a message with your availability- thank you!

06/07/2020

I was supposed to be at Red Barn Ranch yesterday photographing a beautiful wedding, but the pandemic has encouraged couples to postpone their celebrations. So I went to Shamrock Ranch instead and watched some real cowboys work the cattle. Over 100 calves were accounted for and branded. Next to weddings, this is my favorite kind of photography... watching one of the most honorable and skilled American traditions.