It’s my job to tell your story and capture your love in its truest form. It doesn’t matter if you're a model or are super shy in front of a camera, I’m here to make you feel comfortable throughout the process. I’ll provide as much guidance as necessary to capture those raw and authentic photos that you’ve always dreamed of!

I'm a Moab-based wedding and elopement photographer with a passion for the outdoors and this industry. I love the entire process! From my first call with the couple to hearing their reactions after delivering a final gallery. Every day I feel grateful that I get to do this for a living.

Hey, I'm Matt

couple sits together on cliff edge at Moab sunset elopement

Moab My Muse–How I Continue to Find The Magic as a Moab Photographer

Elopement Tips

I got my start as a wedding photographer in Hawaii so that when I became a Moab elopement photographer, everything was new! I have been continually surprised by how much Moab has to offer no matter how often I capture it. This is the story of my journey from newbie, to seasoned local, to a Moab photographer who calls this wild red earth his muse.

bride approaches groom during Moab elopement first look

couple exchanges vows during The Red Earth Venue ceremony

couple approaches The Red Earth Venue Moab

From Tropical Hawaiian Islands to The Moab Desert

A Northern California native turned Hawaiian local, I moved to Waikiki when I turned 21. It was on the island that some of my greatest life events occurred including meeting my wife. Hawaii also became the location where I launched my wedding photography business by photographing large weddings.

I worked alongside my wife, Hannah, who is a wedding coordinator and runs her own wedding planning business. Having lived in Hawaii for a total of 10 years, Hannah and I were both ready for a change when we received the call from The Red Earth Venue. The venue was preparing to open and the owner, Angela Hays, also a top Moab wedding photographer, was looking for a team to run the show.

couple exchanges vows at The Red Earth wedding ceremony

While she and her husband would still oversee the business, Hannah and I would manage the venue. Hannah would also plan many of the site’s events while I photographed them. We were instantly sold and moved our entire lives to Moab which includes us living on the Moab wedding venue property (with our beloved dog, Sophie).

To this day, Hannah operates as the venue’s Sales Manager while I manage the facilities. This is in addition to our continued work as the Utah wedding planner and Moab photographer for many of The Red Earth Venue’s events. We jumped from Hawaii to literally living and breathing Moab every day of our lives. We live in an Airstream on the property and have never regretted our decision!

**How I Really Became a Moab Photographer**

A Different Experience Every Time

wedding details on red rocks captured by Moab photographer

My first impression of the city of Moab was that it was just a tourist town. But, that couldn’t be further from the truth! Moab is a thriving community of rad, adventurous people, many of whom were born and raised here. The fact that so many of them couldn’t imagine living anywhere else says a lot about this town.

couple kisses at The Red Earth wedding ceremony

While I do photograph the same locations often (usually the Moab area state and national parks), each outing is so different. Several factors make almost every session feel completely new: the weather, the lighting, and the couple themselves.

Moab continues to inspire due to its ever-changing natural environment and the unique ways it interacts with the sun. The different angles of sunlight, clouds, and how the colors change with the seasons always offers variety in my shots.

sunset over a sandstone butte captured by a Moab photographer

A photography session is also often a couple’s first visit to Moab, Utah. Witnessing their raw reaction to seeing the region for the first time always varies according to the couples’ personalities. No two sessions are ever the same!

couple waves at each other on cliff edge at Dead Horse Point elopement

couple laughs together at Dead Horse Point elopement

couple holds hands at Dead Horse Point elopement

The Challenges of Moab Living

the red earth venue at sunset captured by a Moab photographer

Another big reason that the area remains my muse as a Moab photographer is the fact that it is very challenging to do year-round, full-time photography here. Fortunately, I love a good challenge!

red rock in the Moab desert captured by a Moab photographer

The high desert keeps me on my toes, forcing me to continuously pay close attention to the weather and prepare a Plan B in the event that it suddenly turns. The challenge of capturing something new in a well-known location also pushes my creativity.

bride poses in front of window during wedding bridal portraits

parents walk bride down the aisle at sunset

This has me constantly learning new things and playing with different photographic compositions, angles, techniques and gear! I typically take my clients to spots they have never seen before and I love witnessing their reactions to the epic views!

couple kisses on cliff edge at Dead Horse Point elopement

couple holds hands on cliff edge at Dead Horse Point elopement

couple catches wedding dress train in wind at Moab elopement

While I have my favorite spots and seasons with their own pros and cons, generally, Moab is amazing to explore all year long. Following my couples around for their Moab elopement or pre-wedding Moab adventure, we continually find new spots that I have never shot before!

couple poses together at edge of cliff at Moab sunset elopement

What Moab Is & Isn’t & What I Love About it The Most

There is a certain magic in this desert that keeps us coming back. I was used to wedding guests being in awe of Hawaii because everyone knows what to expect. But, when they visit Moab for the very first time, it leaves them speechless.

couple exchanges vows at The Red Earth Venue wedding ceremony

couple exits ceremony at The Red Earth Venue

wedding guests mingle at The Red Earth Venue Moab

Moab is such a unique and beautiful landscape that many of my couples choose it as their wedding destination because they want to share it with the ones they love! Adding on travel also means that only those who really truly want to attend will make the effort to be present.

couple walks along Moab desert at The Red Earth Venue

Moab is a very adventurous place that attracts the coolest variety of people, most with a similar athletic mentality. A lot of the visitors here are adrenaline junkies who bring with them a really cool energy to conquer the “Moab Utah Things To Do” checklist:

Mountain Biking
Rafting
Rock Climbing
Hiking
Off-roading
Skydiving
Tandem base jumping (this is newer!)

Couples who love the outdoors can also incorporate these activities into their wedding experience making it more than just a one-day event. Your Moab photographer is happy to join the adventure!

You seriously need at least a week to fully explore Moab! I’ve spoken with countless friends who only allotted 2-3 days in town while on a long road trip across the states. I always hear afterwards that 99% of them wish they had more time!

You can easily spend a full day exploring Arches National Park, which would leave an insane amount of sights left unseen at Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park and BLM land (Bureau of Land Management). Of course, you can’t see everything, but you might as well stay long enough to get a really good sense of the area.

Moab is centrally located between other amazing places like Park City, Durango, St. George, Lake Powell, Telluride, etc. There are so many incredible adventurous places just within a few hour drive of the Moab, Utah city map!

Why I Love Being Your Moab Elopement Photographer

couple kisses at The Red Earth Venue wedding ceremony

The wedding industry in Moab has grown immensely in the past ten years which has developed a really tight-knit group of amazing vendors. While shooting larger weddings in Hawaii, there was a lot more competition amongst the vendors. For Moab weddings, we all collaborate and work together in a really amazing way.

This includes the amazing selection of wedding vendors we regularly get to work with for weddings at The Red Earth Venue. It took me a while to prove myself not only as a Moab photographer but also as a team player here but I can definitely say I’m in the cool kids club now!

A high percentage of my clients choose to get married in Moab because that’s where their love story began. It’s a place where couples go to adventure around for a variety of purposes including their Moab engagement photos. There’s definitely always something to do!

I find even on my days off that there’s no excuse to not get out there and do something epic! Plus, it’s never hard to find a friend to tag along for a Moab desert adventure!