a good friend described my style
"where landscape meets vogue'
Matlai is the name of the easterly winds that sweep in off the Indian Ocean in Kenya, carrying the rains that the land depends on. I was born on one of those mornings — which is either a beautiful coincidence, or the reason I've spent my whole life chasing the feeling of somewhere new.
I'm a nostalgic person by nature, which probably explains a lot about how I work. I believe in showing up fully present, in letting a wedding day unfold honestly rather than directing it into something it isn't, and in the idea that love doesn't need to look any one particular way to be worth celebrating.
When I started my business in 2020, I built it around these same values. Because to me, photography was never just documentation — it's moments as art. Not staged, not performed. Observed, and held onto, so you can return to them for the rest of your life.
This is the story I try to tell in every wedding I shoot.
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and i think its just about perfect
Places I’ve called home:
Nairobi, Kenya
Mexico City, Mexico
Temple, Texas
Basel, Switzerland
Brussels, Belgium
Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina
Denver, Colorado
Changwon, South Korea
Washington, D.C.
Bucket List Destinations:
Patagonia
New Zealand
Norway
Namibia
Thailand
Matlai /mat-lie/
: the name of the easterly winds that come off the Indian Ocean in Kenya.
Matlai is deeply personal to me — a nod to my birthplace in Kenya, where the easterly winds carry in the rains the land depends on. I was born on one such morning in December. Over time, the name has come to mean more than where I'm from. It reflects how I try to move through the world: paying close attention to what's around me, and living with both adventure and intention.
Her thoughtful planning and connections with other supporting vendors provided us with a stress-free wedding.
Rose was absolutely amazing to work with! Her thoughtful planning and connections with other supporting vendors provided us with a stress-free elopement. Planning with her helped us identify exactly what we wanted. We loved her artistic eye - we took all of her suggestions, which turned out better than we imagined. Thank you again, Rose, for everything you did to make our day so special and memorable.
ROSA VERA
PHOTOGRAPHY
With “connection” at its core
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ONE TRUE CALLING
IS MY
For a long time, I did what I thought I was supposed to do. A Masters in Economics, a job to match — and somewhere in there, I realized I felt nothing at all. Then a trip overseas with Photographers Without Borders changed that. I saw firsthand how much this work mattered, and felt something I hadn't in a long time: fulfilled. Looking back, it makes sense — I'd spent my teens and twenties taking photos of the people and places around me, and that passion had never really gone anywhere. It just needed somewhere to land.
What I love about photography is what it lets me do: make real connections, and hold onto moments that matter. Every couple I work with becomes more than a client — I pour myself into the work, and more often than not, walk away with a friendship that outlasts the wedding day itself. To me, that's the whole point. Not just documentation, but moments as art — held onto, so you can return to them for the rest of your life.
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
01.
Morning is for hot coffee.
Afternoon is for iced coffee.
Happy hour starts at 4.
02.
Family is everything.
Im a mom to two great littles. The ultimate adventure. I also live in the same neighborhood as my parents and sister - which is incredible.
03.
In 2022 my husband and I drove from Denver CO to the Arctic Ocean in Alaska. After rooftop tent camping that entire way, we invested in a tear drop trailer at the end. Needless to say the mosquitoes in Alaska are the size of birds.
04.
Learning new things is really important to me.
Whether its a new recipe, sport, restaurant or hairstyle. Change is constant.
She got adorable candid photos of us but was also able to capture the beauty of the background, too.
What an absolutely incredible experience we had with Rose. I searched far and wide trying to find a photographer for our wedding celebrations in Colorado, and we hit the jackpot finding Matlai Photography. She got adorable candid photos of us but was also able to capture the beauty of the background, too. Rose is simply the best and you’d be silly to pass on the opportunity to work with her.
CAMERON PAYNE
I BELIEVE IN...
IF YOU KNOW ME, YOU KNOW
QUALITY TIME SPENT
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LOVE IS LOVE
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FINDING JOY
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BEGIN YOUR EXPERIENCE
I prioritize spending time getting to know all of my couples throughout the planning process leading up to their wedding. I want to build a real connection, rather than just exchange a few emails here and there. That way, on your wedding day, you’ll feel comfortable knowing that I’m here for you – not just to take pretty photos, but to give you the best experience possible.
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QUALITY TIME SPENT
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LOVE IS LOVE
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FINDING JOY
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BEGIN YOUR EXPERIENCE
Your love is yours, and it’s worthy of celebration no matter what it looks like. I’m here to support you and remind you that you can do whatever the hell you want and encourage you to always show up as your authentic self. All I want is for you to have the wedding day that feels exciting, right, and honors your unique love story.
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QUALITY TIME SPENT
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LOVE IS LOVE
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FINDING JOY
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BEGIN YOUR EXPERIENCE
There are no rules when it comes to planning your wedding, so why not create a day that makes you happy? I’m here to help you explore all of the possibilities and make plans that put a smile on your face. You and your partner deserve a joyful experience that you’ll always remember, and I’ll be there to capture it all on camera.
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From the minute we made contact, Rose helped us create the most perfect day!
Rose was probably one of our best decisions ever (besides eloping in Iceland, of course). From the minute we made contact she helped us create the most perfect day! Her response time is incredible, she is the sweetest person, and we really feel like we got to know her. Our social media blew up when we posted our sneak peeks and we have had so many people compliment us on the photos. They are absolutely breathtaking and we are over the moon with them!
CHARLIE EDMONDS
