blake+katie engagement {delight.in.the.morning.light}

an absolutely beautiful morning for photos - blake and katie met me with smiles on their faces, and a whole lot of trust in my ideas! 'hey, lets get back in those woods, the lighting is amazing' followed by 'do either of you know what poison ivy looks like?'

if that doesn't prove trust in your 'throw caution to the wind' photographer, i don't know what does! but then again, these two are no strangers to the adventurous lifestyle! blake dawns his skis to shred up slopes with backflips and 360s...and katie, well, with a fiance like blake, she is one brave woman ;)

all in all, these two are so much fun - they go together so very well, and their love for each shows without effort.  thank you friends for inviting me into your story!

-npe

drew+katie engagement {rain.rain.you.can.stay}

i think we went back and forth three times...trying to decide if we should reschedule our shoot.  drew and katie had the week off, but of course, michigan decided to send along a week of unpredictable weather and keep us guessing. i met up with these two for the session just as rain began to dance on our windshields...and looking up at the sky, we decided to go for it. and boy am i glad we did!

we split the session in two, so katie didn't have to worry as much about her hair for the rain shots, and made up for the grey skies a few days later.  all in all, i can say that these two outdoors adventurers, who got engaged in the wilds of northern michigan, got their fair share of nature for an engagement session that, truthfully, i think suited them just right!

thanks for being great sports and for your flexibility d&k...i hope you agree with me that it was well worth it*

- npe

jay+jennie wedding {a.final.tour.of.duty}

i met jennie almost two years ago at a bridal show in grand rapids. it is always a humbling moment to have someone ask you to photograph their wedding, especially in such a spontaneous fashion! she walked away from my booth that day with us both planning on a wedding that seemed still a long way off. jay served four tours of duty for his country. it was acknowledged at the reception - his bravery, commitment, dedication, and strength. and as his new father in law raised a glass to honor his service, i watched the eyes of his new bride.  no one else in that whole room was more overjoyed to have him home. for good. and now, the tour of duty is no longer on foreign soil, but at home, in dedication to her.

the day finally arrived, and a man who had given his all to his country, stood, promising his life to his beautiful bride.  and that girl i met at the bridal show, so many months before, was dressed in white and living her moment, a wedding day that finally came, and came with much splendor.

congratulations j&j - blessings to you both

-npe

mike+kathleen engagement {forever.found.sweethearts}

i'll tell you what, it is certainly going to be exciting to witness the wedding day of kathleen and mike! these two met in the halls of middle school, passing notes back and forth, meeting up at their lockers between classes, the whole thing! so, naturally...thats where we went, back to where it all started!

i love it when clients come to me with their own stories woven into our creative ideas for engagement and weddings sessions - so when kathleen mentioned using the halls of the Greenville middle school and high school to tell their love story, i was excited to bring the idea to life!

and with the beginning of the story captured in storybook form, we ended the session where the next chapter of their lives had begun, at the very spot in grand rapids where mike asked kathleen to marry him.  these two can't wait for 2014, i can tell you that!

- npe

tim+jess engagement {lovely.soda.sun.fun}

tim and jess hit the ground running.  they came to our engagement session with their game faces on, and by game faces, i mean...truly in love, full of joy, loving the moment faces! these two have a wonderful story of redemption and pursuit, and as we chatted while walking from location to location, i could tell that they were perfect for each other.  both funny, witty, alive, and trusting. they gave me an awesome opportunity to take their inspiration and creative ideas, and run with it. what an honor as an artist!  so here is a snapshot of our evening.  hope you enjoy!

ciao,

npe

nick+katie {from.never.to.forever}

so here is the story....nick and katie, they never planned on getting married. to each other, or to anyone else really for that matter. great minds, and kindred hearts think alike.  and what began in conversation as a shared lack of desire to one day be married, turned into two best friends wanting to share the rest of their lives with no one else but each other.

we started our session where they first met, on the porch of 416 Stoddard Ave. i think we all have those places and moments in time that stay with us forever, and for katie and nick, this less than glamourous porch held the memories of where it all began.  what an honor to spend the afternoon with these two in all the glory that a sunny saturday afternoon in east lansing has to offer*

-npe

matt+andrea engagement {the.golfer.&.his.girl}

  i am often amazed at the providence surrounding the couples i have the privilege to work with, and andrea and matt are no exception.  andrea stopped by my booth at the Grand Affair wedding expo a few months ago, and i could tell right away that having the opportunity to shoot her wedding would be a delight! with both her and matt living out state and planning a wedding for here in west michigan, it was so great to be in the right place at the right time to meet andrea and begin a conversation about wedding photography.

she gave snippets of the story of how her and matt met, and described how the wedding would be at a local country club that matt used to work as the golf pro.  talk about a wonderful couple - the engagement session was a chance to spend some time with these two and really witness their chemistry, joy, and willingness to follow my lead...no small task!

and in the end, matt was a great sport, even had fun i think! and andrea graciously thanked me for their 'first professional photo shoot.' don't worry you two, i think modeling is in the blood*

cheers,

npe

california kids {family.vacation.destination}

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!

mark+lauren {in.love.&.white.wonder}

2013 marks the start of my sixth year photographing weddings.  six years of experiencing a learning curve that truly is never ending and endlessly rewarding.  i had the great privilege of shooting the wedding of david and mindi haskin a few years ago...and low and behold..david's brother mark, along with his fiancée lauren, asked if i might also come along for their wedding day celebration and take a few pictures.   february in michigan is about as unpredictable as they come, and on saturday, michigan delivered a captivating and beautiful winter day for these two best friends.  mark and lauren were a true blessing to me.  their joy and appreciation for each other was an inspiration and a testament to a love built on the foundation of Jesus. 

you two are beautiful, inside and out, and make my job perhaps a little too easy, haha.  

blessings to you mark and lauren, it was my honor*

san francisco {and.the.golden.gate.grandparents}

dreaming of warmer, western days.... last year my folks moved up the coast from san diego to the greater san francisco area - my father took a new job teaching in the town of brentwood, and jana and i figured it was a great reason to take the kids out west.  any excuse to see the grandma and papa, and explore the city by the bay!

we were blessed with a week of great wine, amazing landscapes, beautiful city skylines, california sun, and the very best company of my dad and mom (who may i say, are stepping into their roles as grandparents brilliantly!)

oh west coast, you are always an adventure!

-npe

- norah enjoying the pool!- perfecting the leap- taking advantage of the skin his momma gave him- it ain't portland, but we'll still put a bird on it- why hello- swingin singing ladies- yes ben, you can be loud here- into the city we go- bay bridge- embarcadero- flats with a view- from coit tower- let's take the stairs!- we found jana!- yeah...i bet i could swim from there....said me, never- skyline totally photobombing- crookedest street- where one chapter of my life meets another...- you sell rice-a-roni in your gift shop?- it was very hard to pull ben from this view- there's fresh...and then there is fresh!- to be a fisherman- a san francisco staple- 'so ehhh..you gonna draw me or what?'- street eats- a beckoning shadow cast upon the park- 'oh papa!'- 'your scratchy face reminds me of daddy's!'- some fine sign design- beauty in the details- ben digging the trains and working on expressing his enjoyment - nice thumbs up bud!- riding in style- a fixture on the wharf....i guess- into the mist- a lone bird, paying his respect- goodnight sf- signing the guestbook- my personal wine teacher- yep..i am in love- still in love!- someday this very tradition will be enjoyed amid the rolling hills of bordeaux- dapper indeed benjamin- sweet komali girl- working on form...and fun- want to watch them for a week?- total.hot.babe.- thankful- english ladies..now we just need eve!- these two put up with a lot from me...and they are still smiling*- harvest time- big ol' tree- grandma & grandson- discovery and wonder- oh the joys of youth- redwoods- photo dueling...- in the house of giants- golden gate bridge...as the fog rolls in- burnin' some calories- a new generation of goonie- ♬ 'everywhere you look, everywhere you go...' ♬- entrance to chinatown