moses + laura | wedding | grand rapids, mi

when lives collide in the midst of beautifully unique cultures*

the story of moses and laura has some personal elements to it for me, as we all attended the same small bible college here in michigan.  knowing moses from school and getting to know laura through her family and our meetings before the wedding helped me see so many similarities between their relationship and the relationship my wife and i have.

moses traces his heritage back the hmong people of asia and laura grew up in the wilds of africa, so you can imagine the amazing diversity this home will always hold...and if you know anything about me, you know i'm a big fan of interracial marriages, just ask jana - haha! these two were radiant this past friday. from the emotional first look moment that even took my breath away, to the dance floor full till the end of the night, it was an incredible day.

m&l, may God richly bless you two - jana and i love you and are so excited for your future! thank you for allowing us to spend the day with you, it was absolutely wonderful!

all the best,

- npe

john + jessie | wedding | leland, mi

last year i started traveling for weddings in the state of michigan and chicago without charging a travel fee.  there is something about offering couples a single all-inclusive price that i just love! it simplifies the process and takes me to new venues and locations, which is always a welcomed adventure!

well, john and jessie did just that...inviting me along to join them this past weekend in the harbor village of leland, just north of traverse city and the sleeping bear dunes. something about this town gets me every time i visit. and saturday was no different! jessie and john lived every moment of that day fully invested, taking in the love that surrounded them on a gorgeous june day.

here is just a snippet of what i had the honor to witness!

love you guys j&j - thank you for your trust and joy. it was so much fun to work with you!

peace and blessings,

-npe

michael + marci | wedding | the homestead | glen arbor, mi

sometimes there is a little distance between my clients and i, and as much as meeting in person is something that i love to do as often as i can...sometimes a skpye chat with my couples is the next best thing.

such was the start of my relationship with mike and marci, getting to know each other a bit via the wonder of technology. and when the day came, the physical distance we had shared before their wedding seemed to fade away instantly. i felt like an old friend, reunited for the privilege of witnessing a new chapter in their lives.

marci looked absolutely stunning in her dress, and mike wore his suit like a pro, channeling his inner model to make one gorgeous couple, inside and out. every detail in the day sung...stretching views of the lake...vibrant shades of green and blue...rolling hills of northern michigan splendor...a perfect day!

thank you again m+m...so very happy for you two. love each other well, as i know you will...always putting the other first, in everything. blessings!

- npe

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

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

matt + andrea | wedding | blythefield country club | belmont, mi

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

john + kelsey | wedding | orchard ridge farms | rockton, il

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

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!

benja {epic.backyard.summer.shenanigans}

at nearly three, ben is full of energy, excitement, mischief, and all around high-spirited craziness! can you tell? how fun these memories are to make!

-npe

an english summer {fun.thus.far}

sometimes, when your work is holding a camera, it is nice to set the lens down and just be a part of the action...especially when that action is happening with children who seem to grow up right before my eyes.

but even with plenty of time without a camera in my hands..i seem to find myself reaching for one to capture those moments of joy, family, blessing, and all around fun!

here are a few shots from our family summer so far, amid weddings and engagements!

jana, ben, and norah are truly an undeserved gift from God, and for me, half the joy of taking pictures, is the forever reminder to remain humble in light of our faithful Father's blessings*

- npe