Matei Horvath photography is simply the best on multiple levels. Allow me to explain. 

Our wedding took place in December 2016 in Santa Barbara, CA but was originally supposed to happen 2 months earlier in Jamaica. When Zika hit in the first half of 2016 we decided to shift wedding locations and the whole experience was pretty stressful. I was scrambling trying to get back deposits, rearrange dates with all of our vendors,  and re-plan a 400 person Indian wedding (which is no easy feat!) Matei remained calm (as he always does) and was able to figure out how to fit us right into his hectic schedule. Immediately I felt at ease and knew we chose the right person to photograph our wedding. He was chill and easygoing; just what I needed to keep my stress at bay. 

As we approached the wedding we opted to do an engagement shoot with Matei as well and I am SO happy we did it. Matei is this rare combination of a true artist with an extensive education in photography so he not only knows all the beautiful places to go but his timing is perfect and he has a keen eye for very unique angles and lighting. I woke up the morning of our shoot to check the weather- a thick fog was rolling into our well-planned shoot location (Malibu) so, naturally, I was very concerned about how our photos would turn out. How do you capture sunset photos when there's no sunset? Yet again, Matei calmed me with his easy temperament and assured me our photos would be gorgeous, maybe even more so with the fog. And OMG was he right. We started hiking up into these random mountains in Malibu (I was like where am I going??) and 20 min later we ended up on this sandy hilltop with a breathtaking view of the ocean that I had never seen before or even knew existed. Our photos ended up having this element of mood and drama that we never would have had on a beautiful sunny day. The images were perfect. To Matei, perceived adversity is actually an opportunity to create something beautiful. He's kind of a McGyver in that respect.  

Indian weddings are generally spread out over a few days and Matei and his team were right there with us, documenting the moments all along the way. They always showed up on time, smiling, ready to work, and you kind of just forget that they are even there. They blend right in. And MAJOR props to anyone who can handle a crazy Indian family the way Matei and his shooters handled us!!! They laughed with us, became part of the family within seconds, and made us all feel like we were working together. It was pretty amazing.  

Naturally, our wedding photos were better than I could have imagined. At this point, I knew they would be. But something I didn't anticipate was Matei's acute ability to capture very raw and real emotion. There are a few images he shot during my wedding that I tear up thinking of to this day. There is one specific image that means everything to me: as I walk out into the crowd and approach my soon-to-be husband, Matei focused his lens on my usually very stoic, reserved father. He is choking up, struggling to hold back his tears. When I saw this image for the first time I had to catch my breath. How did Matei know to do this right at the moment he did? This is what sets him apart from the rest. Matei understands people to the core of his being. This coupled with his art form creates a very rare breed of talent you don't come by too often. 
Needless to say our wedding was not the last time we used lovely Matei to capture our life moments. We did a post-wedding shoot (which I HIGHLY recommend because you get relaxed photos with your partner without the stress of the wedding) and very recently a maternity shoot as well. And I've already booked Matei for my newborn shoot. I'm never letting him go!!!! 

Truly a gem. 

What this man and his assistant did for my Wife and I at our wedding in August, is almost indescribable. The memories that he captured of our family and friends were nothing short of spectacular. You don't know how crucial a good photographer really is to any affair. Let me tell you, Matei Horvath is nothing short of a godsend. His creativity, eye for the moment and even for the moments that aren't quite obvious, is simply unmatched. He not only captured beautiful memories, but he was able to bring everyone's personality shine through. If I spent the rest of my life thanking Matei for what he created for my Wife and me, I would need 3 lifetimes to have it feel like I thanked him enough. If you want proof of what he brings to the table, just look on his instagram feed. Don't take my word for it. Let your eyes be the judge. You will not be sorry you did that.

My husband and I very happy with Matei's work on our special day. He was punctual, responsible, and very responsive. We found him through instagram and was very impressed with his portfolio. We felt comfortable working with him and the pictures came out very artistic and avant-garde, which was the vibe we were looking for our wedding day. We appreciate Matei's professionalism and we hope that he will be of great service on your special day as well.