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it was quite the year indeed...amazing all the things this past year held! looking back on a few of the images from this year leaves me grateful. grateful for the clients, friends, family and strangers who let me point a camera in their direction...and grateful, that 2014 has adventures unknown, just waiting to be experienced! here is to the year we had, and the year to come...nathan english photography is excited!!
-npe
what a beautiful way to say goodbye to 2013! despite the cold and snow, al and anita traveled up from sunny florida for their wedding this past december. being close to family here in michigan was simply a big priority for them, and i was fortunate enough to be a part of the celebration...a gloriously sunny day at spring lake country club, with the flair of the 'sunshine state' everywhere you looked.
i could not have been happier for the union of these two families and for the opportunity say farewell to my 2013 wedding season with anita and al. and crazy little bit of trivia...al, yeah - he builds rockets for NASA. doesn't get much cooler than that!
thank you again a & a! it was a wonderful day and my privilege to spend it with you, capturing these moments that will hopefully bring a smile of warm recollection when you think back on your wedding day!
blessings,
npe
nearly two months since the last blog entry...and although i sometimes feel the need to remain more consistent in my posting, i have to remind myself that for the most part...this is the off season, and sometimes my family really just needs me 'off.' and so a few weeks out west to unplug and spend time with my parents was rejuvenating for the whole english clan. growing up out west, i can distinctly remember the times i would see my grandparents here in michigan - and how exciting those visits always were. and now, my kids have the opportunity to experience something similar and it certainly brings me joy to see them run to their papa and grandma in the airport, ready for new adventures and vacation memories!
benjamin the photographer
a true roast beast...
we headed up north to wine country, with the hopes of finding our way through napa to the inviting town of sanoma.
yeah...this bakery...all sorts of goodness
wide-eyed ben...with treats galore!
when wine tasting with parents who are club members...you must pace yourself!
benja is a good sport...i try my best to follow along on his adventures with as little direction as possible...but sometimes, just sometimes he gets a 'hey bud, stand there...look up at the clouds'
grandpa and komali girl
just workin' on my lorax stance
'we're going buddy!!'
sanoma details
ravenswood...yeah, i think i've heard of them*
dad and i are working on a new brand / website / logo for his custom woodworking business. we snapped some shots to help tell his story..
ben wants to be just like grandpa!
in grandpa's classroom
dad did some work for concannon and we wanted to catch some of the details of his work there...so we decided to stop off for a bit of the afternoon. this place is awesome!
dapper jonathan, of english craftsman woodworking
the ladies of my life!
a table in the tasting room made by english craftsman woodworking
out past the skyscrapers of SF is land's end...we arrived in time for a spectacular sunset hike!
#bensadventures
somebody seemed to be pretty comfortable around people..
a few days later we headed down the coast to monterey, stopping along the way near santa cruz for a little beach exploration..
destination station
i couldn't take enough of these silhouette photos in the aquarium...spellbound..
the look of surprise!
truly mesmerizing*
ben and his love of sharks..
when nick and katie first met, they told me they both shared a common vision of their own respective futures. marriage was not in the forecast. and yet, for these two...it seemed as though there was little either could do to steer away from the gift that stood before them...each other. i was moved to tears as nick read his vows to his stunning bride. truly a man of strength, stricken to the heart with an overwhelming love for the woman that walked down the aisle to meet him. and katie, with her honest joy, beautiful smile, and uplifting spirit...it was a gift to witness her take in every moment of her wedding day...from the sleet and downpours of the morning, to the magnificent golden sky at sunset.
i don't think i could work through this preview fast enough. every image jumped out at me and helped cement in my mind two great truths. One, Petoskey is a remarkable place. And two, Nick and Katie are the type of clients that win my heart every time.
Blessings to you n&k...it was a privilege!
-npe
for a photographer shooting a wedding...i have to say, there is no better feeling that to have your clients just as excited to see you, as you are to see them! when i opened up the door of elizabeth's suite at the hotel this past saturday, her infectious smile and joyful hug reminded me why i do what i do...its all about the people. i felt like i had my own little cheering squad all day, and that cheer section was the bride and groom themselves. i could not have imagined a better compliment than pj telling me that if elizabeth got stressed out about the planning process for her wedding, she would go to my blog and remind herself - 'at least the photos will be great!'
are you kidding me! i am so very honored and humbled to have the chance to do what i do*
and trust me elizabeth, if these photos are beautiful, it is because and and pj are beautiful, and your wedding day was one for the books. st. joseph hosted quite the celebration on saturday..and yes...i got to be there!
- npe
it was an absolutely perfect september day. crisp morning. clear blue skies. the ceremony on the edge of the lake. it was one of those days that has the ability to stop you just admire it's beauty and serenity. and the funny thing was, it rained for their engagement session. but that didn't stop drew and katie then. we used the rain as a character in their story...but that character was far from returning as saturday showed not a cloud in sight!
i cannot say enough about these two friends and their incredible trust in me as an artist. i felt like just another member of the wedding party, with drew and katie up for any of my sometimes crazy ideas. and for that, I am truly grateful! once again, it was an honor to be a part of this incredible chapter in a couple's life.
from our meetings at vivant and engagement session in the rain, to the last dance on the rocking dance floor - it has been a privilege d&k. thank you. rich blessings to you two.
- npe
this past march, andrea and her mom were in west michigan for a brief stay, and just happened to stop by the Amway Grand Hotel for the annual bridal show...and boy, am i so very glad they did! it was at this show that i had the fortunate privilege of running into them and starting a conversation that would eventually lead to the amazing opportunity of photographing their wedding! this past saturday at blythefield country club could not have been a more beautiful day* the clouds hung on in the morning long enough to keep it from getting too hot, and the sun peaked out in the midst of the ceremony to shine down on two incredible people.
both andrea and matt were a blessing to spend the day with. They were grateful and aware of the moments happening around them, fully immersed in the joys and love surrounding them on their wedding day...and it was a breath of fresh air for me to witness it.
m&a, thank you for choosing me. i don't believe it was just by chance that we met, and i truly hope these images capture all the beauty you remember from such a wonderful day!
-npe
i often feel my relationships that blossom out of shooting couple's wedding days easily step into deeper levels of friendship right off the bat...even if for the only reason of sharing a single day, vibrant and bursting with life-changing moments. add to that the fact that for some of my clients, we are dear friends even before the thoughts of wedding bells or photography are even on the horizon....and you have a uniquely profound intimacy and camaraderie hard to match.
this is the very story of my day this past friday in rural rockton, illinois. john and kelsey, beloved by many and cherished friends at our church in grand rapids, were surrounded by their family and loved ones, preparing to embark on a brand new journey together. and my role as photographer was an honored gift i was given. these two are beautiful, inside and out, and it was far from work to spend the day with them, their wedding party, family, and friends. i hope you enjoy these moments from their day as much as i did...
j&k, jana and i love you, and are so very excited for the work God is doing in your lives. may He bless you in this new chapter. and the great news? it just keeps getting better!
-npe
i was thinking it right from the beginning....these two are models right? rob and kristen described it probably the best - 'we can be weird together, and we love it!' it was a true honor to spend this past saturday with kristen and rob, and watch the joy and excitement they both shared in becoming husband and wife.
for me, there is nothing more powerful on a wedding day, than watching a groom's eyes tear up as he watches his bride walk down that long aisle to him, and for rob, it was no different!
and it has been a while since i have laughed that much on a wedding day - r&k, thanks for keeping me on my toes, for letting me join the party, and giving j-crew a run for their money, love you guys!
-npe
with my parents being out in san francisco, there is always a good excuse to hop on a plane for the golden state. and with wedding season just around the corner, two weeks in the california sun with grandparents was a perfect prelude to summer!
its the simple, and yet, vibrant pastimes that tend to make up our time out west, and this trip was no exception. wineries, fresh markets, poolside sunshine, city sights, and just plain relaxing! this land will always hold a special place in our hearts!
