The Investment

Photography has always been more than a job to me — but it wasn’t until I married my husband, Kaden, that I truly understood just how priceless the gift of imagery is. Our wedding day was full of joy, sacred promises, and the sweetest in-between moments. Now, when I look at our photos, I’m instantly taken back to the way he looked at me, the laughter we shared, and the peace of knowing we were stepping into a life long commitment together.

Marriage is such a gift — a beautiful picture of love, unity, and choosing each other every single day. Wedding photos aren’t just about remembering how everything looked; they’re about remembering how it felt. Long after the flowers fade and the dress is tucked away, you’ll have these images to hold onto — the moments that mark the beginning of your life together.

That’s why I pour my heart into documenting your day. Because I know from my own story that these images will only grow more meaningful as the years go by. They’ll be a reminder of your promises, your joy, and the beauty of the love you share.

What People Are Saying

  • If you're looking for a photographer who captures real moments and makes you feel completely at ease, I can't recommend Mattea enough! My boyfriend and I recently had a couple shoot with her, and it was an absolute blast. Her documentary-style approach allowed us to just be ourselves—no stiff poses, no forced smiles. It felt more like we were hanging out with a friend than doing a photoshoot, which made the whole experience so enjoyable. The photos turned out beautifully—natural, raw, and full of emotion. She has an incredible eye for detail and captured moments we didn’t even realize were happening. We couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out, and we’ll definitely be booking with her again for any future shoots. If you’re looking for someone who can document the real, unfiltered magic of your relationship (or any special moment), she’s your person!

    – Ally L | Manhattan, KS

  • Mattea is the absolute best and is SO good at what she does!! She has taken my engagement, wedding, and multiple family photos! One thing I love about her is that she asks questions to make you feel comfortable and genuinely wants to hear the answers; while also capturing the beautiful candid moments. She will always let you into the process and allow you to voice your ideas during your shoot. I highly recommend her if you're looking for a relaxing, genuine, and overall fun shoot with high quality photos!!

    — Rachel B | Kansas City

  • Absolutely loved Mattea! Her creativity and talent behind the camera is unmatched. She made our shoot so fun and the photos were amazing. Definitely booking with her again in the future.

    — Marrissa T | Manhattan, KS

  • First met Mattea when she shot our engagement pictures. She made the session so easy and fun, and flowed up with that at our wedding! She captured all of our bridal parties personalities and I still can’t believe how perfectly she captured the tiniest of details at our wedding! Her style, personality is so perfect so of course we had to hire her for family pictures out at the farm! My house is now covered in Mattea Black Photography, and couldn’t be happier with that!

    — Antoinette H | Western Kansas

  • My fiancé and I absolutely love working with Mattea. Her work is always beautiful! The best part is that we can see she truly has a passion for capturing special moments. Mattea is so easy to work with and makes the overall experience so fun! We can’t wait for her to shoot our wedding 🤩

    – Megan C | McPherson, KS

  • Mattea has always gone above and beyond in her craft. I have loved every single photo she has ever delivered! She had documented many seasons of mine and my husband’s relationship. Every shoot we’ve done with Mattea she has made it feel so fun and effortless. She’s professional and timely with her business. I can confidently trust that I will get a STUNNING gallery back in a very timely manner. She is the bestie photographer everyone needs! I couldn’t recommend her enough. She will make your photo dreams a reality!

    – Samantha Q | Wichita, KS

  • Absolutely love Mattea & her work! She took our engagement & wedding photos & couldn’t be more grateful for her! So gifted & talented while also intentional with getting to know her client! Adored her!!

    – Brooklyn E | Lincoln, NE

  • Mattea is truly the best of the best. She’s captured so much of my family’s life over the last 5 years. Engagement, wedding, and family photos with our baby! She is so comforting to be around and will do everything for you. She is a fabulous director and even better at capturing the small moments. Documentary style shooting is so special and truly represents what life is like where you’re at.

    – Reagan D | Kansas City

  • Mattea captured our engagement photos and created our wedding film. Both times we worked with her she made me and my husband feel so comfortable and hyped us up the whole time. Her work is not merely photos and video but ART! She is so talented and you will not regret having her capture some of the biggest moments in your life or even just the small ones.

    – Natalie S | Kansas City

  • Mattea has photographed our family multiple times and always does an amazing job! Photographing a young family can be stressful but she makes the experience fun and enjoyable! 10 out of 10 recommend

    – Audrey B | McPherson, KS

  • Mattea is the best of the best! She made me feel comfortable, beautiful and blew me away with her artistic competency & creativity! She was easy-going and professional. The session was fun & the photos were weeeell worth the cost. I still use my college senior photos as my profile pictures despite the passage of time (I graduated 3 years ago) … I guess it’s time for another session soon!

    – Maria K | Manhattan, KS

  • I was attracted to Mattea’s photography because of the documentary style and film options and it did not disappoint! My fiancé and I are a little awkward when it comes to taking pictures, but she did a great job of making us feel comfortable and giving us ideas for poses.

    – Lynn W | Shawnee, KS

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A Kansas City bride at La Villa holding a bouquet of white flowers and garland, facing a group of nine women in pastel-colored dresses, who are reacting emotionally, possibly crying or laughing, outside a building with green window frames.
A Kansas-City wedding celebration with a bride and groom sharing a kiss surrounded by wedding guests, some holding bouquets, outdoors with trees in the background.
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Kansas City wedding photographer, editorial / documentary true-toned film inspired wedding photography
A black and white documentary-style photo of a wedding ceremony at La Villa in Kansas City with a bride and groom walking down the aisle, holding hands.
Bride and groom descending outside stairs of a church, at La Villa in Kansas City, with the groom carrying the bride's train, smiling.
A group of bridesmaids caught on black and white at a Kansas city wedding with buildings in the background.
Kansas City wedding photographer, editorial / documentary true-toned film inspired wedding photography
Kansas City wedding photographer, editorial / documentary true-toned film inspired wedding photography Affordable wedding photographer Kansas Kansas City elopement photographer Destination wedding photographer Manhattan KS wedding photography Kansas
Kansas City wedding photographer, editorial / documentary true-toned film inspired wedding photography
documentary wedding photography in Kansas capturing candid emotion
An elegant, editorial wedding table-scape with white candles in glass holders, white floral centerpieces, bottles of sparkling champagne, and wine glasses, all illuminated by candlelight.
A black and white photo of a couple kissing outdoors, with trees and a wooden fence in the background. The man has a beard and is wearing a suit jacket, and the woman has wavy hair and is wearing a vintage-style dress.
A newlywed couple walking hand in hand through their wedding reception, documentary style & editorial photography.
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Kansas City wedding photographer, editorial / documentary true-toned film inspired wedding photography

WEDDING COLLECTIONS

Every wedding & elopement collection includes…

→ Mattea as lead photographer

→ Professionally edited images in an online gallery

→ 1-2 rolls of 35mm film developed & scanned in final gallery

→ Timeline planning support

→ $100 off engagement session*

*Select collections include a full engagement session

  • Full-service wedding collections begin at $4000.

  • Typically 50 guests or less

    Custom coverage for elopements and micro-weddings begins at $2000.

VIEW RECENT GALLERY

Now booking 2026 & 2027 weddings & destination celebrations worldwide.

Discounted travel rates for weddings in West Palm Beach, Florida and other destinations!

A newlywed couple dressed in wedding attire, smiling and embracing outdoors during sunset, with urban buildings and landscaped garden in the background.
White calla lilies in a white ceramic vase on a table, with a framed artwork and a window with teal shutters in the background.
A two-tiered white wedding cake decorated with fresh fruits on top, placed on a round table with a white tablecloth, along with a cake knife and server.
A couple dressed in wedding attire sharing a kiss in an open field with mountains and forests in the background.
Close-up of a bride holding a bouquet with white calla lilies and greenery, wearing a white wedding dress with lace details.
A couple dancing on a grassy area near a large tree, with smaller trees and rolling hills in the background, photographed in black and white.
A young couple smiling and laughing together at night, with the woman leaning into the man, who is wearing a cowboy hat and a blazer.
White wedding shoes, a bouquet of white flowers, and wedding rings on a concrete surface.
Close-up of a bride and groom's hands showing their wedding rings, with the bride wearing a wedding dress and the groom in a dark suit, tied together over a bouquet of flowers on a wedding table.
A diamond engagement ring resting inside a cream-colored rose surrounded by various flowers and green leaves.
A group of people dressed in formal attire, including a wedding dress, walking on grass outdoors during daytime, with their shadows cast on the ground.
A table decorated with white calla lilies in glass vases, white candles in various holders, and a bottle of sparkling wine. The background features white walls and chairs.
A bouquet of white roses, baby's breath, and eucalyptus in a clear glass jar with a white ribbon, next to white high-heeled sandals with ankle straps.
People dancing at a celebration or wedding reception, with a man in a tuxedo smiling and another person dancing with raised arms.
A black and white photo of a wedding celebration with a bride and groom kissing, surrounded by smiling guests holding bouquets and raising their hands in excitement, outdoors with trees and sunlight in the background.
Bride standing on stairs in front of a church, holding a bouquet, wearing a white wedding gown and veil.
A black and white photo of a bride and groom standing outside at night, holding hands. The groom is wearing a black suit, white shirt, and black tie. The bride is in a white wedding dress with a train and veil, smiling with her head leaning on the gr
A group of women in colorful dresses holding bouquets of flowers, standing on grass outdoors.
A woman dressed as a bride in a wedding gown, sitting on the floor with a bridal veil and holding a bouquet of flowers, in a dimly lit room, in black and white.
White hydrangea flower bouquet resting on a rough, cracked asphalt surface alongside wedding invitations.
A wedding ceremony outdoors with a bride and groom kissing, surrounded by guests clapping and celebrating on a sunny day.
Silhouettes of a kissing couple outdoors at dusk with a crescent moon and trees in the background.
A man and woman standing outdoors in a park, looking at each other, with the woman lifting her white dress as they share a moment. The background features large trees and a fence.
Black and white photo of a bride holding a bouquet of flowers, with her face turned away, standing against a stone wall.
A person in a white shirt, wearing a mask, walking on a wooden floor with another person dressed in dark clothing nearby.
Happy bride and groom standing outdoors on a sunny day, with the groom in a black tuxedo and bow tie, and the bride in a white wedding gown holding a bouquet of white flowers. They are close together, smiling, with trees and a sidewalk in the backgro
A newly married couple sharing a kiss on the steps of a building, surrounded by friends and family celebrating with confetti in the air.
A man and woman holding hands in a field with mountains in the background, the woman wearing a white dress and the man in a black suit and cowboy hat.
A bride and groom kiss during their wedding ceremony in a church, with an officiant and a young pageboy standing nearby.
Wedding flat lay including white high-heeled sandals, a bouquet of white roses, greenery, baby's breath, a wedding invitation with initials K and M, a small perfume bottle, a pair of earrings, and a wedding ring in a box.
People dancing and celebrating at a party, wearing sunglasses and formal attire.
A white dress with puffed sleeves hanging on a wooden hanger against a stone wall with a window in the background.
Black and white photo of a couple standing close together on a dirt path, surrounded by trees and mountains in the background, in an outdoor setting.
A bride holding a bouquet of white flowers and wearing a white dress, smiling and surrounded by bridesmaids in floral dresses, on the steps outside a stone building.
Three young girls in flower girl dresses with tulle skirts, holding hands in an outdoor wedding setting, with women in formal dresses standing behind them.
A bride in a wedding gown and a young boy in a white shirt on a staircase, seen from above.
A bride and groom standing outdoors, smiling and holding a bouquet of colorful flowers, surrounded by trees and greenery.
A bride in a white wedding dress facing a group of women, who are reacting with surprise and joy.
A black-and-white photo of a wedding ceremony outdoors with a bride and groom drinking from glasses. The bride is in a white dress holding a flower bouquet, and the groom in a dark suit. Guests are seated in the background under a pavilion decorated

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Absolutely—I’m always up for an adventure! Whether it’s a cozy elopement in the mountains, a beach ceremony, or a destination wedding somewhere new, I’m all in. I’m based in Manhattan, Kansas, and often work in Kansas City, but I love traveling for love stories of all kinds. I’m happy to road trip or hop on a flight to meet you wherever your day is happening!

    P.S. If you’ve got a cool spot in mind, let me know. Sometimes I offer discounted travel if it’s a bucket-list location! <3

  • Once you inquire through my contact form, I’ll send over a full pricing guide with all the details! I offer a variety of photography collections for weddings and elopements, all tailored to different needs, timelines, and budgets. If you’re planning something in Manhattan, Kansas, Kansas City, or beyond, I’m happy to walk you through what collection would be the best fit.

  • Absolutely! I love helping find the perfect spot for what you are envisioning! Whether you’re going for something romantic, natural, or urban, I’ve got lots of favorite spots!

    In Manhattan, some popular options include Top of the World Park, Tuttle Creek, and downtown MHK for a mix of natural and city vibes. In Kansas City, I often shoot at Loose Park, Liberty Memorial, Shawnee Mission Park and around the Crossroads or West Bottoms!

    We’ll talk through your vision and figure out what spot fits best—lighting, season, and mood all play a part!

  • Yes yes yes! Just mention you want film included, and if it is not already in your collection, and I will send you a quote!

  • If the forecast isn’t looking great, we’ll keep in touch leading up to your session and decide together what makes the most sense! I’m always happy to reschedule if needed, unless you’re down for some romantic, umbrella-in-the-rain photos. For weddings, I come prepared to adapt and work with whatever light and weather the day brings!

  • Expect around 60 photos/hour! Your gallery will be sent to your email and mobile through a site called Pic-Time! You may access the gallery on your desktop and mobile, while also receiving a guest link so that friends and family can take a peek too!

  • You can expect your full gallery within 2–3 weeks for sessions and up to 8 weeks for weddings. I always aim to deliver as soon as I can without rushing the process!

  • I don’t deliver RAW files. Part of my job is curating and editing your final gallery to reflect the full story in a way that feels true to my work and your day. The images you get are carefully chosen and edited with intention—no unfinished files, just the best of the best!

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