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Meet Dallas Wedding Photographer Matthew T Rader

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew T. Rader.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Matthew. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In my 20’s, I started traveling quite a bit. To remember my trips I bought a point and shoot camera to take photos of the cool places I visited and people I met. When I found myself living in southern Mexico I was in awe of the beauty and culture there. So I began to read about photography to learn how to take better photos. After four years there I return back home to Texas.

I continued to take photos every chance I had, mainly of nature and landscapes, and shared them on social media like Facebook and Flickr. People around me noticed my photography skills and started hiring me to be their photographer. This was when I first began to think of photography as a service. I bought my first DLSR on eBay which was a Nikon D100, an outdated professional DSLR I able to afford at the time. As the years went by I gradually upgraded my camera equipment.

A few years later, while photographing a wedding in Dallas a lady named Elena Hernandez, who was a guest there, told me she was also a professional photographer and invited me to a Professional Photographers of America (PPA) gathering to hear a high-end wedding photographer speak. I took up her invitation and attended it. This is the moment that completely changed my photography career.

The speaker was Hiram Trillo, after his talk, I went up to him, along with many other photographers and introduced myself. Later that week I messaged him on Facebook asking if could I be his second shooter some time. He seemed to just brush me off. Then a week later he messaged me back and invited me to shoot with him at one of his weddings. That transformed into a full-on three-year mentorship that brought me all over the US shooting weddings with him, from New York City to Indianapolis and all over Texas. It was during those years I learned what it truly took to be a great wedding photographer and how to always push yourself. Since he and many of my friends at the time where also Canon shooters, I switched to the Canon system which I now absolutely love shooting with.

I’ve had my own photography business now for about 7 years and it continues to grow and flourish. I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people and see some amazing places I would have never known existed. I specialize in capturing candid and authentic moments. I rarely pose, except for portraits, and focus on the emotion, colors, and atmosphere of the wedding. I love knowing that my art is capturing some of the most special memories in people’s lives to enjoy for many generations.

Has it been a smooth road?
It definitely has not always been a smooth road. One of my biggest struggles for many years was making enough money to be able to buy professional equipment. At most of my early weddings, frequently guests have better cameras than I did, it was at times embarrassing.

Though I know it’s not about the camera, and I did eventually learn to let that go. For me, it was more about credibility in the eyes of those people. I always bought camera equipment second hand and several years older than current systems. It’s a practice I still do for the most part. Those struggles helped me learn the importance of skill over equipment and also to be financially efficient with how I purchased equipment.

Another big bump in the road was a time when I was hired to photograph a surprise proposal at a park in Dallas. I showed up over an hour early and was fully prepared. Unfortunately, though, two minutes before the guy was to propose my camera battery died when it was showing half a charge. I had left my backup camera and batteries in my car nearby, but it was too far to run and get and come back to capture the proposal. I ended photographing it with my iPhone. He immediately asked to see the photos afterward and with great humiliation had to tell him my camera died, he thought it was a joke at first. I, of course, gave him the iPhone photos, which though he was upset my camera died he was thankful I at least captured it with my phone. Understandably, he chose not to hire me to shoot his wedding.

This was a huge huge lesson for me in learning to be prepared for equipment failure at any time. I always have two cameras with me now when I photograph time-sensitive moments.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Cherish Love’s Story is my slogan. It is what weddings and my photography is all about. As each beautiful couple celebrates Love’s story within their lives and families, I document the unfolding of that love on their wedding day.

Cherish Love’s Story also defines how I capture each wedding by focusing on moments that are authentic and beautiful. It also means that I do not have a singular style that I impose onto your wedding. Instead, I integrate the colors, themes, and environment of your wedding into your photographs and how I edit each photo. When you look at your wedding photos for the first time, you are going to feel like you are experiencing your special day all over agin.

Cherish Love’s Story is my encouragement to couples as they embark on a new journey together of the rest of their lives. The photographs I give them are for them to do just that, to cherish Love’s story each and every day.

Cherish Love’s Story is how I see weddings, they are much more than just ceremonies, I see them as a celebration of life and love. A wonderful gift from God. The coming together of not only two people, but two entire families. They are the beginning of new generations to come.

I bring these perspectives and attitudes to each wedding I photograph. I approach weddings with a photojournalistic style, focusing on candid moments that capture the emotion and beauty of the day.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Several years ago, I heard so many horror stories about people hiring their “photographer” friend or family member to shoot their wedding and being so disappointed with their photos. Lately, it seems like I’ve been hearing less and less of these kinds of stories. I think the newness of digital photography is wearing off and many people are starting to realize again the importance of a hiring a professional photographer for extremely special moments. I think in 5-10 years the job of a professional photographer will be really viewed as really important again. I also expect to see a lot more different approaching to photographing wedding other than DSLR’s. I’ve seen professional wedding photos by GoPros, drones, film, etc. I think there will be a more new way to capture weddings in the years to come.

Pricing:

  • Wedding Packages start at $2,500
  • Engagement Photo Shoots start at $350
  • Bridal Shoots start at $400

Contact Info:

Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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