For the wedding picture:
Ilea was my photographer of choice for capturing my special day. I hand picked her for her artistic style and for her non-traditional approach. Having a female photographer allowed me to feel comfortable, and be myself especially when we were getting ready before the ceremony. As a woman she has an eye for detail and captured those special candid moments that many would have missed. I was so excited when I got my pictures back, they were everything that we could ask for and more.
Thanks again Ilea!
For the head shots:
Someone who can capture the “real you” is hard to find. Ilea has the ability to bring the “real you” to life. She is honest with her approach, and sensitive to your needs. Her artistic ability shines through, with out compromise.
You will not be disappointed!
- Cierra Montes
Miss Ilea Matthews is one of those photographers you think you will never find. She has an eye for beauty and uniqueness that is truly a gift. She has done everything from head shots for a modeling shoot for me to capturing my baby girl smile for the first time on camera. Being a makeup artist for 15 years, i have had to work with countless photographers and I always go back to her. Working with her puts you at ease – which in turn, naturally makes your photos come out much better. She is extremely versatile and knows what works and what doesn’t- but she is not afraid to push the envelope. I recommend Ilea to every one I know — and that’s the truth.
–Jayna DeSoiza
I had the great pleasure of having Ilea as my photographer for my wedding in October of 2007. I could not have asked for a better experience. She was there from beginning to end, always keeping my interests at the forefront and made the whole thing completely stress-free. I have since referred several friends to her, and have never heard one whisper of dissatisfaction. She provides the best quality service, and produces the absolute best results!
-Katie Chapman
My husband and I went through several interviews before finding Ilea Matthews as our wedding photographer. Our initial meeting went very well as she was real, straight to the point, and had very reasonable pricing on her packages. Our wedding lasted longer than anticipated and she and her assistant were very receptive and patient to stay and take last minute family shots. I was very pleased with their professionalism, down to earth personality, and willingness to work with our cultured wedding. They made it a point to stay at arm’s length from me and the bridal party, and at the same time got amazing shots. Love love love the detail pictures taken! Definitely a great job!
- T & E
We were extremely pleased with Ilea Matthews as our wedding photographer. We were fortunate to meet her at a bridal show in Sacramento and enjoyed her friendly demeanor. Throughout our time working with Ilea, we found that she was professional, creative, and fun. On the day of our wedding she found an artistic way to capture all the special moments we wanted to remember forever! Our pictures are absolutely lovely and we are grateful for Ilea’s efforts.
-Jennie and Davin Norene
Ilea’s images are beautiful because she works her butt off. She is a perfectionist with an eye for stunning imagery and is not afraid to run around like the energizer bunny or crawl on all fours to get the perfect shot. Even though I felt really insecure about doing the No on 8 calendar project because of my own body image issues, Ilea took the time to help me feel really comfortable in my own skin. I look forward to working with her again and recommend her work as a photographer highly!
-Giovannie Espiritu
I highly recommend Ilea Matthews as a photographer. What I enjoyed the most was the way she was able to assist me with bringing out different emotions which really showed in the final product. She is very positive, thoughtful, intelligent and artistic. She approaches her work as a photographer in a very professional manner. I was extremely pleased and at the same time, I also had the most enjoyable experience working with her. She is delightful to work with.
-Candace Wells
I have never liked getting my pictures taken. Ilea made it a breeze. She knew exactly how to make me feel comfortable while getting the shots needed. I ended up with so many great pictures and have received a ton of positive feedback. I have worked with Ilea twice and I will definitely work with her again. She’s great!
-Christina
Our wedding experience with Ilea was outstanding. We had a really good time working with her. She is very professional and has a great personality. She makes you feel relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera. She takes exceptional photos and she captured our emotions on our wedding day perfectly. We loved how our wedding photos turned out. She really went above and beyond for us.
We highly recommend Ilea for any photography needs. Not only did we use her on our special day but also for family portraits. We look forward to using her again. Thank you so much!
-Camilo and Crystal Jimenez
Ilea did a fantastic job on our wedding photography, and my husband and I continue to highly recommend her to family and friends. Her creativity, skill, and wonderful sense of humor instantly put us at ease, and we ended up with more high-quality photos than we knew what to do with! Ilea and her assistant captured our wedding day perfectly – from the classic poses and quiet moments to the spontaneous and quirky details that made our day unique. Our wedding album was truly a work of art, and the most frequent comment we received from friends and family was, “how did they get so many good shots?” I wondered the same thing. I can’t recommend Ilea enough. Her photography speaks for itself, and you will end up with not only gorgeous pictures, but wonderful memories of taking them.
Thanks again Ilea,
-D and J
June 2006, my husband Gil and I were married and Ilea Matthews was our photographer. Upon our preliminary viewing of photos and albums she designed for other bride and grooms, we knew instinctively that our photos and our album would be wonderful.
Ilea did not disappoint us. She captured the atmosphere of the day seamlessly. She took hundreds of pictures and although we barely recall seeing her there, she orchestrated all the important moments with pictures that told a story, our story.
Her photos of our wedding are brilliant. We have had countless comments from family and friends, “these are the most amazing wedding photos and truly uniquely designed Magazine style wedding album”. Our wedding album is a remarkable and fantastic record of the day, more than we ever could have hoped for.
Ilea is charming, professional, always poised and ready with graceful authority. Her artistic talent is clearly defined in the picturesque wedding albums she designs. We have recommended Ilea to our family, friends, and associates and we promise you will not be disappointed.
-Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert M. Hernandez
Miss Ilea Matthews is one of those photographers you think you will never find. She has an eye for beauty and uniqueness that is truly a gift. She has done everything from head shots for a modeling shoot for me to capturing my baby girl smile for the first time on camera. Being a makeup artist for 15 years, i have had to work with countless photographers and I always go back to her. Working with her puts you at ease – which in turn, naturally makes your photos come out much better. She is extremely versatile and knows what works and what doesn’t- but she is not afraid to push the envelope. I recommend Ilea to every one I know — and that’s the truth.
-Jayna DeSoiza
Ilea is very generous with her knowledge – expertly helping me pick wardrobe based on my needs and market, and correcting make-up so that it was the best for print.
The shoot was extremely efficient. Usually I take forever to warm up to still photography, but Ilea had me laughing from the start!
She could see when I started to ‘freeze up’, and would coach me back into natural and engaging expressions – again – I’m so not a print model! But my headshots alone have booked me print gigs!
I had a large selection of solid, usable images from our shoot.
I’ve sent other actors to her will continue to do so.
Ilea Matthews took my first set of professional headshots. She was a lot of fun to work with and I will definitely be going back to her whenever I need new prints. Part of being a good photographer is being a director as well as an artist and Ilea’s talent and skill truly shine in her work. She was professional and knowledgeable during the shoot and when I got my retouched prints, they were better than I anticipated. When you’re in the business your headshot is your calling card and if you go with Ilea, you’re in good hands. Thanks, Ilea! I can’t wait to work with you again!
-K.D.