peter + angela | anniversary | holland, mi

before my evening with peter and angela, i think i had only shot one other anniversary session...and after our time together, i couldn't help but ask myself why! why haven't i done more of these!?

 perhaps the style of photography has changed dramatically from when you got married. maybe family photos always celebrate the joy of the family, but the relationship that started it all could use a little celebration of its own, or it could be that you never had a chance to have engagement photos and want to capture the love between you two! whatever the reason, anniversary sessions are fantastic, and peter and angela proved it!

i was honored that angela contacted me, mentioning that she had seem some photos from her friends that i had done, and wanted something similar for her and peter...the light was wonderful, weather held up nicely, and in the end, these two showed me see that their marriage is something to be celebrated, even long after the fact!

i hope you enjoy*

-npe

tyler+alia | engagement | manistee, michigan

joining tyler and alia in manistee for their engagement session was such a perfect partner to the splendid weather that unfolded for us. its always best to learn a new town by means of a local..and i had that such privilege with tyler and alia.

among the locations that we shot at, we went back to the very beach that tyler proposed and were quite glad that we didn't have to contend with the wind and snow this time around!

spending the afternoon with these two was so much fun, and just another reminder why engagement sessions are such a blast for me...having the chance to just spend some time with my couples outside the schedule and business of the wedding day...all with the goal of getting some gorgeous images...and i think we did just that!

your beautiful smiles shown through t&a...thanks for trusting me for an afternoon - can't wait for the wedding!

- npe

adjusting the rear view mirror | here's to you, 2013

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

nick + katie | wedding | perry hotel | petoskey, mi

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

patrick + lizzie | wedding | the homestead | glen arbor, mi

it is certainly a privilege to journey with couples...to have the opportunity to join in the adventure of a 'destination' wedding and witness vows beneath new breathtaking sky tapestries. saturday led me to the homestead resort in glen arbor, mi. with stunning views of lake michigan and the warm invitation of a charming resort village, the homestead offered the perfect backdrop for patrick and lizzie. from their home among the skyscrapers of chicago, these two ventured around the lake to northern michigan to promise their lives to each other. it was a day full of vibrant joy and honest emotion...as pat and liz did an amazing job of living completely in the moment and taking in their wedding day, for all the beauty that it was.

and there was i, a humble but thankful guest at the table of a jubilant celebration. i have so much sincere gratitude for the work i am given.

p&l, you were beyond gracious and generous, offering me the very best compliment i could have asked for. blessings to you two. always strive to love each other more than yourselves. you have reminded me once again why i love what i do.

-npe

wes + alex | wedding | birchwood farms golf & country club | harbor springs, mi

harbor springs was showing off. this past weekend, i had the privilege of spending the day in northern michigan with two wonderful, and incredibly generous people.

wes, a tennessee man and crazy talented musician, and alex, a beautiful native to michigan with an infectious smile...with these two, there were a few things that were bound to happen. southern hospitality. stunning portraits from a couple who light up the camera. and the best set of mash-up dj creations you have ever heard at a wedding.

what an awesome day! thank you w&a for inviting me along. even with the wind that wanted to join the wedding day fun, it was a perfect day. blessings my friends!

-npe

andrew + nichole | engagement | holland, michigan

i graduated with my undergraduate degree from a small bible school in west michigan - grace bible college...a whole lot of memories there, thats for sure! the love story of my wife and i began there, and we share that same beginning with with andrew and nichole, two grace grads who met and fell in love on the humble grounds of a small school with great vision* certainly, it was a great way to connect with these two, have something so profound in common right off the bat.  we knew many of the same faces from school and so it was great to finally meet them in person and hear their story.

with their wedding not far away, we wanted to squeeze in an engagement session, and I am so very glad we did. beautiful morning light. the serene beauty of lake michigan in the morning. the subtle charm of holland's streets.

i can't wait for their wedding in traverse soon - how splendid a day it will be! blessings, my friends...

- npe

john + kelsey | engagement | ludington, michigan

what a privilege to be a part of john and kelsey's wedding story! these two are dear friends and our engagement session was certainly a blast because of it. it didn't take long for these two good lookin' folk to get their 'model' on and give me some amazing things to work with.  again, you two...i cannot thank you enough for the chance to capture these moments in your life together. 

and yes...it rained a lot. and it was wonderful.

peace and blessings my friends!

- npe

parker+lindsay engagement {love.on.the.lakeshore}

i first met lindsay when she was a bridesmaid in a friend's wedding last winter. it was a beautiful february day in michigan with a wedding party that was kind enough to brave the cold for some outdoor shots. well...i have to say, for me it is a really special compliment when a former bridesmaid or groomsman in a wedding i shot asks me to be a part of their very own wedding. i was thrilled when lindsay first contacted me and it was great to hear how her and parker's love story has played out. parker just graduated from the naval academy...yeah, talk about awesome! and even though he didn't bring along a uniform for our engagement session, i could tell that this was a guy who could command a room. my hope was that by the end of our session, his smiles might start to come naturally - parker, you'll have to tell me if i succeeded, haha!

thanks for a great morning on the lakeshore my friends - trust me, this coming year will fly by! can't wait for your wedding day*

- npe

chad+amy engagement {on.top.of.the.world}

meet amy and chad. they are best friends. they are doctors. they are goofy. they are in love. and they are getting married on saturday! i would have to say that most of the time, engagement sessions happen quite a ways out from the wedding date. but for chad and amy, who are both starting their residency soon, time was quite limited up until this week, the very week of their wedding. but wow, what a great opportunity to meet them and have us all get used to this whole 'strike your model pose' thing before saturday and all the joy that will unfold!

from the top of the JW, to madcap coffee...we featured grand rapids fully for their session, and i am excited for the weekend - bring on saturday!

-npe