Aly Matei Photography

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Aly Matei Photography

Present > Posed
Mixed mediums. Intentionally used. digital + film photography + super 8

08/29/2026

Getting ready is the only part of the wedding day where nobody is watching yet, or so you think 👀

I get asked for “documentary” constantly and TRULY, I love photographing a wedding day with a documentary approach more than anything! Buttttttt the couples who actually get those photos aren’t the ones asking me to “make it feel candid”. They’re the ones who forgot I was there. Maggie didn’t plan a single one of these moments. She just let the morning happen and I kept up.

The pajama photo on the bed? We were literally just waiting on everyone to get there. Her sister buckling her shoes was not a “moment,” it was her sister buckling her shoes. The girls gathered around after she was fully dressed and honestly I could have put my camera down and they would have reacted the exact same way. Her dad took one look at her and had to laugh so he didn’t cry, while her mom was off to the side with her phone up getting her own version (as she should).

You can’t put any of that on a shot list (trust me, couples have tried) 🙃 The only thing you can actually control is being present with your people and not treating the morning like a to-do list. The photos come from that, not the other way around.

The amazing vendors that made this morning perfection:
Planning: Houston Wedding Planner Jillian Howe Bishop
Floral: Thistle & Grace Design
Venue: Junior League of Houston
Beauty: Jentry Kelley Weddings
Film Photography: Shelby Day | Wedding Film Photographer

candidweddingphotography filmweddingphotographer

07/30/2026

Turns out I just needed a little yeehaw to bring me back to life 🤠 When Adalyn first told me she wanted to use the TAMU equestrian center for their engagement photos, I was a little thrown off (mostly because I didn’t even know this place was a thing). Turns out it made for the PERFECT setting for their little love story.

I miss Rodeo Houston too much, and this session filled my yeehaw cup in the most editorial and perfect kind of way.

Beauty: Sunkissed & Made Up Amy Winstead | Houston Bridal Hair Artist

06/30/2026

Groomsmen photos are so underrated. Everyone puts so much thought into the bridesmaid portraits and the guys kind of just get whatever’s left. A hallway, two minutes, a lineup, done. (Granted, the guys are usually thrilled about that.)

With a large group it’s tough to get more than just the “stand here and smile” shot, mostly because of space. But this group had an entire bar to themselves and that opportunity was not going to go to waste.

Every wedding has something to work with. Sometimes you just have to stop and look around at what your setting is offering you.

Venue: River Oaks Country Club
Coordination: King Events, Inc

06/26/2026

When weddings is your life, you tend to get incredibly excited about bridal gowns 🫶🏻 needless to say, I’m a happy lil photog when I get to see what my brides chose for their wedding day!

06/25/2026

A mix of mediums perfectly documenting a beautiful mix of moments. Film for the soft & slow and the little in-between moments. Digital for the must haves. And content for the vibes that photo documents, but video preserves.

One phone call to make sure we were a good fit, then I showed up on the day and it felt like I’d known Alex & Robert for years. The only way that I can explain it was that truly the vibes were absolute perfection, the entire day was non-stop smiles from everyone, and it showed in literally everything. The whole day flowed so well because literally EVERYONE was just vibing and truly enjoying the day! Stress free for them, stress free for us vendors (which honestly doesn’t happen as often as you’d think). When a day moves like that, I get to actually document it as it happens instead of working to “manufacture” a moment.

My job is to make sure the day is documented as I saw and experienced it. And when a day just truly flows, different mediums altogether create the perfect balance to relive the wedding day. I say it on basically every call, “Not every medium is meant to document every moment. Some moments are best for film, some are best for digital, and some are best for video.”

Venue: Sandlewood Manor
Planning: Wed and Prosper Rachel D
Photography, Content & Super 8: Aly Matei | Wedding Photographer
Beauty: Jentry Kelley Weddings
Florals: F. Dellit Designs
Linens & Rentals: AnyOccasionTents&Events
DJ: J&A Entertainment
Strings: Houston Wedding Music

05/31/2026

Mrs. Mary Catherine Washburn
05.30.2026

05/16/2026

In the most non-weird way, my job is literally to watch, listen and take photos. That’s genuinely it.

(If I weren’t a wedding photographer, we would all be questioning what I do professionally 👀)

But even as weird as it sounds, it is so rewarding to watch the day unfold and see all of the little moments happen in real time. I didn’t tell the flower girls to peek over the balcony for a photo. I didn’t tell the man in the cowboy hat to be fully present during the ceremony. I was just there, paying attention, and anticipating the moment so I could document it.

Don’t get me wrong, there are moments when I need to step in and direct. But you can only curate a real moment by first observing how people move, how they interact, what they do when nobody is telling them what to do. The role of a photographer is more than just taking the photos. The primary role is people watching.

05/04/2026

This is the most myself I have ever felt. Last year I went through a real rediscovery of myself and I came out of it knowing exactly who I am, what I want, and what I am capable of.

Evy just turned 5. Mabel is almost 4. Russell is almost 2. Add on a thriving business and you could easily say that I am fully in the thick of it and I would not trade it for anything.

When I got pregnant with Evy, I had people asking me if I was going to step back from weddings to get my weekends back. That thought genuinely never crossed my mind. If anything it did the opposite. It made me want to be better at everything. It became my motivation.

Becoming a mom changed how I show up to work. I am not just taking pictures. I am documenting memories. I think about what my own kids will want to look back on one day and that follows me into every single thing I do with my camera.

My confidence in myself as a photographer and as a mom grew in a way I did not expect. I stopped shrinking and I surrounded myself with people who actually want to see each other win.

This season of life feels like fully being myself. And I am so grateful for every single part of it.

I am so lucky to call this little family my home 🫶🏻

(Yes, we are a walking ad for & )

Photos taken by
Edited by yours truly

04/23/2026

The florals at this wedding did something I don’t always get to see. They actually told you who the couple was before they even walked in the room. Cassidy is soft and structured, everything intentional and considered. Connor has personality that fills up a space (and then some). And somehow put both of them into one tablescape, the clean linens and the wild long stem blooms spilling everywhere at the same time.

That’s the thing about good design at a wedding. When it’s done right, you don’t just see a pretty table. You see the couple’s personality as one.

Venue:
Planning:
Beauty:
Florals:
Cake:
Band:
Lounge Rentals:
Linens:

Address

22402 Holly Creek Trail
Tomball, TX
77377

Website

http://www.alymateiphoto.com/

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