Today we’d like to introduce you to Yeni Matie.
Yeni , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story really begins 32 years ago when myself, my mom, and family members immigrated from Cuba, in 1994 with no personal belongings and pulled into the port of Miami with a dream that was more theirs than mine. At 6 years old, I couldn’t fathom the incredible opportunity that my moms brave endeavors brought me, but as a 39 year old woman, I am forever grateful of that choice.
My infatuation with photos manifested from the reality that all photos of myself from birth to 6 years old resided in a foreign country. Eventually some of those photos made their way to us but it was a collection of 20 physical film printed photos in black and white and they became my most prized possession.
As a child I was fascinated with art of every nature, and while photography didn’t become an outlet until my adult life it was always ever present in my life throughout the years. Like the collection of disposable cameras I used to document my life as a teen, or the polaroid camera I insisted I needed in 6th grade, the obsession with brides and dressing like a bride on halloween for the perfect picture, or needing to have a digital camera as an extension of my hand as a young adult. The list goes on, and a camera was always in the forefront of my priorities at every stage in my life.
This is something I noticed much later in life because hindsight is in fact 20/20, but photography was always lurking in the background of my life.
My cousin who is an incredible digital artist and my “crossing the ocean as a helpless child buddy” ends up going to the Miami School of Design for photography in 2007 when I was 19 and to say that I was a little jealous was an understatement because at that time in my life, I felt defeated and maybe a little lost, I didn’t know that my passion to editorially direct all of the photoshoots we set up, was another way photography would lurk in the background of my life just waiting for me to listen to the swan song if you will. I was happy for him, loved hearing about all of the different classes he was taking, and chalked it up to this is a dream that without a degree, or support would be unattainable for me. but as his biggest cheerleader, we would have photography as a bond and we would set up photoshoots and I would boss him around until the vision came to life.
I met my now husband of 15 years when I was 20 and fully dove into the complexities of life as a young wife and step-mom of a little girl who I would grow to love as my own. The extensive documentation of her life and our dogs life was also another little fortuitous photography moment in my early to late 20’s, that would eventually bring this career full circle when I turn 30 and photography becomes the thing that saves me in more ways than one.
At the beginning of 2017 I purchased a big girl camera, a rebel T6 and with the recommendation of a photographer friend immediately upgraded the lens to a 50mm 1.4 for portraits. I was so excited to learn more, and to travel with my new camera and at that time had every intention of continuing this as a hobby, but just a hobby.
July comes around and I turn 30, and I remember on that trip and taking my camera, and documenting in the woods and thinking things are about to change!
What I didn’t have in mind was a Category 4 Hurricane (Irma) and a cancer diagnosis.
To say I had big plans before cancer would be a lie, I was sort of feeling at crossroads in life, where I knew I wanted more but I didn’t know what that more was.
December 18th 2017 was an earth shattering day when I had surgery for large cysts I had in my ovaries to finding out that it’s cancer and that I needed 6 rounds of chemotherapy and eventually lose all of my hair.
So starts my cancer journey, and a second surgery a month after , into 6 long drive, long day chemotherapy appointments in Miami.
In the middle of that, in between my 4 & 5 chemo I took my then teenage daughter and friend to take pictures and those photos really were so great and the experience was SO FUN that I went home and conceptualized Matie Photography into existence. I made a Facebook page, didn’t think too long about a name as my husband’s last name & mine MATIE is a sort of nautical theme and it made sense marketing wise for a Florida Keys photographer. After that, I shot free sessions for friends, very under priced sessions for some of my first clients, all while wearing a wig and in between chemo sessions after my recovery. My last chemotherapy treatment was 5/25/18 and the possibility of getting to shoot and learn more photography was starting to feel exciting and something I could work towards.
At the time I worked full time as a bartender in Marathon, FL (my hometown) and shot sessions as a side hustle or side job if you will. I was also learning from other photographers, taking online classes, self teaching, upgrading my gear, teaching myself through trial and error, and while I knew that I was at the beginning of my career, I finally gained a glimmer of confidence that this dream could become a reality after all.
At the time in 2018,2019,2020 photography and wedding photography were making a transition into as a shared experience for all. Social media was active at the time, but I do believe covid brought an era of online connection like ever before. In those years there was also an influx of online photography educators and coaches. All of this information of how to thrive as a photographer in an often saturated business with a wide range of hobbyists to professionals.
The research was there and the information was there to learn and to apply to trial and error, my editing style evolved simply in those years by seeing what I wanted the end product to look like, and to try to tweak every aspect of ratios to match and accomplish that expectation I had for myself.
I taught myself how to read light by trial and error, I also made a lot of mistakes in those years and learned from all of those mistakes to better the overall experience and have that match the end result, which is a beautiful gallery that tells your story.
In those years I shot a lot of family and portrait sessions, I think that’s an important hurdle for photographers who are trying to break into the professional field of wedding photography. Learning the human connection via family and portrait photography taught me that photographing pretty things is a bonus not the priority. When you work with families, especially extended families you learn very quickly how precious these moments are. It does not go unnoticed for me the fact that I have probably captured some family members last photos together, in fact there has been many times that our formal family photos or candid photos at weddings are some of the last photos of that family member, and I am incredibly humbled by that notion every single day of my life, and I cherish that sentiment the most.
While working with families allowed me to gain lot of experience on how to direct a large group of people, how to conceptualize this shoot to feel less like a chore and more like a fun family event was a stepping stone in what the end game was for me, to be a wedding photography.
I mentioned my obsession with brides, flowers, and anything wedding related when I was a child, that eventually manifested itself into the millions of weddings and color combinations I would think about constantly. It actually sounds a little crazy how wedding obsessed I have always been until this is my full time job and it makes perfect sense now. But again hind sight is the general theme of my life.
In 2020 I started working with a local photographer as a second shooter and eventually a lead photographer. At that time I was continuing my online education, and diving into investing and upgrading my gear into a full frame camera geared more for wedding professionals. I would spend hours researching and understanding the basics of building a wedding photography business and all of the insides that comes with this job. Learning to navigate all of the information shared online, and in some of these classes, is a learning curve on its own. I didn’t want to replicate what I saw a lot of professionals were doing I wanted to pioneer my own way of approaching how a wedding day should be approached as a professional but also as a human being who is there to document a monumental chapter of your life.
I mentioned how Covid was a pivotal leap into the way we connect online but I saw a huge shift in the industry after the covid shutdowns. That time was scary for all, there was a lot of uncertainty. For me, as a cancer survivor it had only been 2 years since I survived this horrible life event and now a lot of unknowns are very real and scary for immune compromised humans, not to mention the Florida Keys like a lot of places shut down to the general public, but only residents were allowed past the 18 mile stretch so both of my jobs halted in a very unknown way. However, I grounded myself even further into education of photography, I took the extra time I had, because I was jobless to shoot nature photography, mostly birds, and mostly for myself. I used that time to put together a business plan that consisted of updating contacts, our client management service, and filing articles of incorporation for this “side hustle” that was feeling more like a business day by day.
I did most of the research on how to become a legitimate business in the state of Florida online, and then hired a CPA to help guide me in the best way possible, acquired business insurance, and set the foundation of what would be my business Matie Photography INC.
The covid shut down was detrimental for big weddings, causing cancelations, rescheduling of dates and just overall uncertainty. I shot a lot of weddings with a mask on in the Florida Keys heat because while it was for my own protection, it was for the protection of the ofter elderly guests at these weddings. There was a lot of uncertainties during this time, but marriage still prevailed. The micro wedding came into fruition and couples were opting for smaller events in a more intimate setting. Elopements with family was the new norm, but we kept documenting those lives, because human connection will never be stifled.
In 2021 I left my job of 15 years to pursue a full time career as a photographer, at the time I was shooting small events for our company, second shooting for another company and soon I would get a big jolt and kick into the world of wedding photography because we saw an increase in weddings.
There were 2,065,905 marriages in the United States in 2022, according to data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. This figure marked a significant rebound to pre-pandemic levels. (I googled this statistic)
In that year alone I was a part of at least 100 events, shot alongside and often times leading, as well as my events and all of the family sessions I continued to shoot at golden hour in the Florida Keys. It was a defining moment in my career because I was able to have this huge influx of training and hands on learning. I learned a lot of lessons on how I want to move forward as a boss, on the intent I want to set when I am your wedding photographer, and often times learning lessons on what not to do as business owner. All necessary life lessons in the next and most monumental part of my career.
In fall of 2022, my cancer came back in the form of a small nodule, that was set to be removed by surgery without any further treatments but it would reset my cancer journey back to square one, and my upcoming 5 year cancer anniversary would be re-written with a new one. I knew in that moment that every single time I left the house to shoot a wedding, an event, a session, that it had to be for myself and for the betterment of my company. I cut back on second shooting and being the lead for other companies and truly dove my whole life and soul into Matie Photography.
10 days after that surgery I shot a wedding locally, 7 days after that wedding, I shot another one, and 7 days after that I shot one more, and it has felt like this since then to now almost 4 years later of fulfilling my dream of being an entrepreneur, pouring into my own cup, and championing to make sure that the legacy I leave on this planet is in the shape of memories.
While it’s important to recognize those shaping years of education, and learning and shifting the last four years of business have been the most fulfilling because I feel so incredibly empowered in knowing that my dreams are coming true and thats all thanks to sheer determination to live life to the fullest with whatever time I am given on this planet.
Wedding photography and Matie Photography is so much more than just a business for me, while it’s incredibly empowering to be self employed, it is the notion that through images, we make everlasting connections that stand the test of time.
At Matie Photography, we specialize in capturing weddings with an elevated, story driven approach, where every image feels as intentional as emotional. A wedding day is a day that is rooted in community and connections, and thats is our general approach for the day, to lead but observe and to guide moments but never create them because memories are already given the opportunity to flourish on a wedding day, you just have to pay attention.
Based in Florida and available for all destination celebrations, near to south florida but extending to all of Florida. We blend timeless elegance with a modern, editorial edge to document a wedding day in a way that feels refined and deeply personal .
Our philosophy is simple, your wedding isn’t just an event, it’s an experience and we take the documentation of that experience, as our main priority.
From quiet, intimate moments to the energy of the celebration, we focus on preserving the feeling behind every detail.
We guide when needed, step back when it matters, and create space for genuine connection to unfold naturally. Known for our clean aesthetic, true-to-life tones, and attention to composition, our work is designed to stand the test of time while still feeling current. We pride ourselves on delivering not just photographs, but a seamless and thoughtful experience from start to finish. For couples who value artistry, intention, and storytelling,
Matie Photography is where your memories are transformed into something lasting.
In all of these years of building that motto and that approach to wedding photography we let our images and our story telling abilities lead the day. I know how valuable and how important it is to be remembered and seen.
I want to thank you for reading all of this, I never intended for it to be so thorough or detailed but I am proud of my accomplishments and I work very hard every day to continue to grow and learn, and be inspired, and let my couples and their stories an their families take the front row seat to the way I capture their day and they are all very precious to me and the connections I have made here are everlasting.
We have recently branched out to further the connections with our Sister company SeasPerspectiveCO. a focus on content creation of your day, rooted in candid and the slow in-between moments of the day. It’s new just launched last month, but a continued pursuit into entrepreneurism as a woman.
For the girl on the boat with no pictures, to the woman who lives by the sea and documents it all, I hope one day in hind sight it all looks just as beautiful as it does in this moment.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I know I thoroughly touched on this in my story, but there have been a lot of struggles in my life as an immigrant, as a woman, as a survivor, as an entrepreneur. It has not been an easy road, but I wouldn’t change it because I could never change where I am right now.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I also included this is our story but message is simple. CONNECTION,
At Matie Photography, we specialize in capturing weddings with an elevated, story driven approach, where every image feels as intentional as emotional. Based in Florida and available for all destination celebrations, we blend timeless elegance with a modern, editorial edge to document a wedding day in a way that feels refined and deeply personal . Our philosophy is simple, your wedding isn’t just an event, it’s an experience. From quiet, intimate moments to the energy of the celebration, we focus on preserving the feeling behind every detail. We guide when needed, step back when it matters, and create space for genuine connection to unfold naturally. Known for our clean aesthetic, true-to-life tones, and attention to composition, our work is designed to stand the test of time while still feeling current. We pride ourselves on delivering not just photographs, but a seamless and thoughtful experience from start to finish. For couples who value artistry, intention, and storytelling, Matie Photography is where your memories are transformed into something lasting.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I truly don’t have one, I had a hard childhood, coming from Cuba at 6, learning English in a year, to living in a 2 bedroom apartment with 8 people, to moving around, a divorce, tough years as a teenager, and always feeling too colorful and often having to dull myself to fit in. I truly don’t have good core memories until I meet my now husband at 20 and beyond.
Pricing:
- $3600-$8000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.matiephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matiephotographypage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matiephotography
