Studio 623 Photography {Blog}

LOVE

2012-02-13T14:13:00.001-08:00

Little lunchtime photoshoot with my Hailey Bug in honor of Valentine's Day :)

A Surprise for Nala

2012-02-07T12:53:00.000-08:00

Who is Nala? Nala is the naughty... ok, ok, "Spirited" little puppy shown in the photo below!

Yesterday, Nala received a package in the mail. Yeah, she sleeps on the couch too. Spoiled.

Hmmm... what could it be? It appears to be a present from Aunt Jan!

Indeed! Two beautiful, handmade collars! Nala is sniffing at them in excitement. Collars mean walks!

Aunt Jan (technically Nathan's Aunt, although I'm pretty shameless about claiming his Aunts/Uncles as my own ;) and he claims my Uncle Steve, so we're even)! Anyway, she sent Miss Nala these lovely handmade collars (you can check out more of her creations at http://laughingdogarts.blogspot.com/ ) AND the lovely quilt that Nala is lying on was a wedding gift that she made for us 5 years ago :)

Nala could not sit still enough for the 1/60th of a second shutter speed that the taking of this photo at 9pm necessitated :)

Thank you so much Aunt Jan! I have a little surprise on it's way to you as well :)

Jessica and Brandon - Engaged!

2012-01-28T17:53:00.000-08:00

I am so excited for the 2012 wedding season, it's not even funny! I met Jessica at A Country Bridal Affair and she ended up being the lucky winner of my raffle drawing for half off an engagement session! She quickly booked her August 4th wedding date with me, which will be on her family's private residence in the foothills of Mt. Hood. I can't wait! Enjoy your sneak peek and happy planning!

Portland Love - Hotel Deluxe Engagement

2012-01-12T08:34:00.000-08:00

I met up with Kathryn and Kas last month (at the amazing PastryGirl shop!) before the holiday madness started. They are to be wed this summer at the Hotel DeLuxe, which is pretty much the coolest hotel ever so we opted to do their engagement session there and then walk around Downtown Portland a bit.

I had so much fun with these two! Obviously comfortable with each other and behind the camera, their love for one another showed through nicely. When they look at each other, you can see the adoration in their eyes :) It's so heartwarming to see people so happy and excited to spend their lives together :) I love my job!

A Country Bridal Affair January 14, 2012

2012-01-11T07:48:00.000-08:00

What have I been up to lately? Well, I do have a few sessions that still need posted on my blog (a resolution for 2012; keep the blog/social media current!) but the main thing I've been working on lately is helping to kick off A Country Bridal Affair, the Sandy/Boring/Mt Hood Area's first of it's kind Bridal Event this January 14th at the Boring Grange Hall. What started out as an idea that came out during a coffee meeting has ended up being an exciting event that is bursting with talented local vendors in the wedding industry. We are at capacity for the building and many of the vendors have donated AMAZING gifts that we will raffle off. The proceeds of that raffle will go to Wish Upon a Wedding Foundation as we are working on obtaining our official non-profit status. The show is free admission to brides and the first 25 brides get a Swag Bag! Why not come and get lots of free stuff and good info?

A while back we did a bridal inspiration shoot for the show, whose images I have been waiting to share! The talented vendors who participated are listed below. I hope to see you at the show!

Shoot Coordination/Art Direction: Donna Cole; Pearl and Roses Wedding Planning
Photography: Becky Nerpel; Studio 623 Photography
Venue: David & Yvonne Knoll; Knoll Crest Gardens
Hair & Makeup: Zoie Koznek; ZoieK Designs

Holiday Photos - Cousins

2011-12-20T15:03:00.000-08:00

I've been missing from my blog recently because we have been blessed in the Nerpel Household to host my husband's sister and her cute family who have been working out of state over the past few months. We've missed them A TON so this chance to reunite has been wonderful. I've been itching to get them together for a Christmas photo, which I finally did this morning (part one anyway... MY kids were ready to nap and refused to cooperate- typical!)

Tucker Turns One

2011-12-13T08:11:00.000-08:00

I first met Tucker when he was just 18 days old for his newborn session. He has grown so much in a year! He's on the move now running, climbing and playing :) I highly recommend that parents do the baby's first year packages to ensure that all of these milestones are captured. I got to see Tucker grow from 3 months, 6 months, 9 months (which I just realized missed being blogged... I'll do that now :) and a year :)

Happy birthday Tucker! You are such a sweet little boy!

Family Photos Post Turkey Day

2011-12-11T08:48:00.001-08:00

It's become a tradition at Studio 623 Photography to accommodate a few families around the holidays who are only able to gather together during this busy time of year. I'm always glad when I keep a few appointment open the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas to capture these memories. It's always fun to see the reunion and joy of togetherness. This particular family had a photo on their wall from 10 years prior taken on the same spot on their porch. I was glad to get an updated shot and show how their numbers are growing!

Family Photo Session in The Dalles

2011-12-08T07:37:00.001-08:00

I have been hoping to photograph this family since I first met them about a year ago when they were still a family of four :) They are such a sweet and photogenic group! I was happy when they asked me to meet them closer to their home because that meant new scenery and a mini vacation for me... at least for a few hours! We met at a park in The Dalles yesterday and got some great shots before being overcome with cold! I am loving all the shots we got both posed and playful. Enjoy the sneak peek!

The Studio 623 Photography Holiday Shoot

2011-12-07T06:56:00.001-08:00

It's time for the holidays which marks one important occasion at Studio 623 Photography... my annual client appreciation mini sessions! At the beginning of December I open up my studio to as many of my clients as will fit into a day and set up my holiday backdrop (which may or may not have to retire and be replaced next year... kinda getting tattered). This year I had 14 sessions over the course of 2 days and offered standard along with my holiday backgrounds. I also had a few crafts for sale (even put out some of our famous pickles although Nate would only approve of 4 jars being set out)!

THANK YOU to all of my amazing clients, who helped make my dream of staying at home with my kids this year come true :) Building my lifelong passion for photography into a business that can support my family while still allowing me time to be a full time Wife and Mom has been a long but very rewarding process. I can't find the words to express how grateful I am to every family who chooses me over a quick drop in at the mall, for every recommendation of my studio to friends, family, even to strangers, and for every engaged couple who entrusts me to capture their most important day. Thank you all so much!!

Here are a few of my favorites for the day:

A Country Bridal Affair Promotional Shoot

2011-12-06T06:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday a few wonderful wedding professionals from Sandy, Oregon and I got together for an inspirational promo shoot for our upcoming bridal show, A Country Bridal Affair on January 14th 2012!

Donna of Pearl & Roses Wedding Planning put the event together flawlessly (even lent out her house and all of her fun props...again! in the name of great photos). Hair and makeup was by the talented Zoie Koznek of ZoieK Designs, and photography was of course by me, Becky of Studio 623 Photography. We started the shoot at Donna's house, then made a quick drive over to Knoll Crest Gardens, a breathtaking new wedding venue in Sandy, Oregon.

Our bride model Emmily was so awesome (and gorgeous!)!!! It was pretty chilly the day of our shoot but you would never know by looking at her. We had a great time, got tons of great photos, and had yet another excuse to play dress up on a sunny day out in the country.

*Feel free to tag or re-post these images, just please leave the logo in place :) Participating vendors will receive print quality photos for personal/professional use as well.

Kyle - Class of 2012

2011-12-04T08:24:00.000-08:00

This senior is my oldest nephew. And I don't care how annoying it is to say, but I REALLY can't believe he's all grown up. I distinctly remember babysitting him (because it was awful!! Thanks a lot to my big sister for leaving your colicky, sad without his mamma, 6 month old baby with me for 2 days, when I was 13! Pretty sure that was some sort of subliminal birth control message for my teen years. Totally effective, by the way.)

So this is Kyle, all grown up. He wanted a Real Senior Session (just like a regular senior session, but we pick a special location and incorporate your interests)! We went to Timberline, first taking some shots at my studio, then heading up the mountain. We stopped off for burgers and got some shots at a creek too. It was a fun time!

Beautiful Jodi - Class of 2012

2011-12-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

This lovely lady was referred to me by Studio 623 Photography Senior Rep Kendall and was such a pleasure to work with. So sweet, so pretty, and a very talented dancer who recently moved to the Pacific Northwest to pursue a career in dance. I predict success :)

Baby Isla

2011-12-02T05:28:00.000-08:00

Well... not so new anymore. Isla is another 2-3 month old that I'm just now blogging about :) Back in early September, I met up with Isla's parents (I also met up with her handsome cousins a few months prior) to get some shots while little Isla was still cooking:

And then here she is at just 8 days old... what a little sweetie, and such a pretty girl :) I love doing my Belly to Bundle sessions, seeing the anticipation build and then meeting the sweet baby.

FEATURED! On Scoutie Girl

2011-12-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

It's always exciting to see your photos featured on someone else's blog! This time it was Suzannah of AdventuresinDressmaking's beautiful hand made wedding dress that Studio 623 Photography was able to photograph here this past August!

ScoutieGirl.Com

(PS: Since this post we have two other exciting features that I will be blogging about soon!)

Meet Finn! Brand new in Sept 2011

2011-11-30T05:08:00.000-08:00

Have I mentioned I'm behind in my blogging? Baby Finn is like, 8 weeks old now! He's practically crawling! Just kidding. He did get a Facebook album so this little cutie might be familiar :) Meet Finn; my kiddo's 2nd cousin:

Then we also updated at 5 weeks in my studio :)

The Wedding Event by ABC Oregon at The Benson Hotel 10.29.11

2011-11-29T11:00:00.000-08:00

First of all congratulations to all of the engaged couples (or not quite engaged but dreaming) who attended last month's beautiful bridal show at The Benson Hotel in Portland, Oregon. There were so many beautiful displays and a very relaxed, but elegant vibe to the show. I hope everyone was able to gather helpful information to help with their engagement journey! A special thank you to everyone who put the show together, to my fabulous booth assistant Suzannah Stanley, who I met when she became a 2011 Studio 623 Photography Bride.

Some awesome vendors came together to make this show happen and to showcase beautiful options for unique wedding days. It's obvious that everyone in attendance is an artist, and is very skilled in what they do, just waiting for the right brides to come along to whom that style speaks to! This is such a fun process!

Not every vendor got a photo... and I apologize for that. I didn't get to spend as much time "playing" as working that day but that's a good thing!

Event hosted by: The Benson Hotel

Here are a few of the vendors in attendance:

Asparro Video

Take Shape for Life

Lucinda Clare's Floral Design

(Not pictured)

Five Gables Photography

Angel the Wedding Coordinator

Coco's Mobil Spa

Evergreen Wedding & Event Décor

(Not pictured) Bravo

Paul J. Garcia Studios

Stylish Covers

(Not pictured)

A Sound Choice

Rock Creek Country Club

Black Label Films

West Coast Event Productions

Mary Kay

Decadent Creations

(Not pictured) Espresso Volere'

Portland Bride and Groom

(Not pictured) Exquistie Weddings

Nota Bene Stationery

Notes of Celebration

Sandals

Purple Iris Weddings & Events

The Villa at Little Cape Horn

Studio 623 Photography

Please contact me at Studio623Photo@gmail.com or visit Studio623Photography.com if you have any questions! Please feel free to use any of these images so long as my logo is clear; if you want any printable images I am happy to help with that, just give me a shout. I hope to meet and work with all of you in the future!

Sweet Fall Session

2011-11-28T12:00:00.000-08:00

Here is another session from last month, taken on Studio 623 Photography property! Have I mentioned how much I love my new home and studio? I do. Very much :) I've been loving the fall colors and splendor that our trees have to offer. It's only going to get better! This session was for old friends of ours and I got to meet their youngest daughter for the first time. She is such a sweetie. Big sister loves her very much, I could tell!

Riley - Class of 2012

2011-11-28T05:49:00.001-08:00

I was pleased and surprised when I got an email from my my husbands Aunt and Uncle about taking their son Riley's senior photos. Surprised only because it surprises me each time someone from the "kid" generation of our family... i.e. those who were little kids 10 years ago and now they're adults :) needs senior photos taken. WHAT? He or She is a senior already? What's even funnier about it is that it seems like time is flying for me, but I remember very well what it was like to be 16-18 and how I thought it was ridiculous when adults said stuff like that.

We did this session at a couple of private residences in Sherwood and I even got to sneak in some family photos too! Riley was a blast, had lots of good ideas and lent very cool personal touches to the shoot. I hope you have a great senior year and it was nice getting to spend some time with your family!

Brian & Renee ~ Engaged!

2011-11-27T19:07:00.001-08:00

It was recently brought to my attention that I forgot to blog this sweet couple who's engagement I photographed 2 months ago! Upon closer examination the issue was simply that my blog post didn't publish, so while the photos were featured on Facebook (and in my Bridal Show engagement album)! We need some blog love too.

Without further ado:
Brian & Renee - September 2012
Venue: Skamania Lodge
Photographer: Becky Nerpel - Studio 623 Photography
Flowers: Geranium Lake Flowers

Renee requested Cathedral Park for their engagement session months ago, and we ended up getting a perfect early Fall day for the shoot. We wanted this to be Real Engagement Shoot, so common interests like skate boarding, reading, and even a reference to Twilight; a movie the couple went to on their first date :) At Studio 623 Photography we like to make things meaningful. Mission accomplished!

Drew & Beth - Engaged!

2011-11-27T06:59:00.001-08:00

Oh where should I begin? First of all... beautiful couple, hearts of gold, great chemistry... so happy, and so in love! I met Drew and Beth a couple of weeks ago with one of my favorite wedding planners; Donna Cole of Pearl and Roses Wedding Planning. After chatting over coffee and my 2011 wedding albums, they made the decision to go with Studio 623 Photography for their March 2012 Downtown Portland Wedding! I am thrilled... so many ideas! Here's what we have to look forward to so far:

Wedding Planning/Event Coordination: Donna Cole - Pearl & Roses Wedding Planning
Venue: The West End Ballroom
Bridal Preparations & First Reveal: Hotel DeLuxe
Photography: Becky Nerpel - Studio 623 Photography

Needless to say, I had a great time meeting up with Drew and Beth again yesterday, at a location scouted by them (I try not to impose locations on people... please pick what you love!) and was so happy with how the day turned out. Beautiful weather, oddly not a single other photographer at this oh so popular park, and this sweet couple to warm up the chill in the air. Meet Beth and Drew... whose engagement will turn into Forever this spring :)

Fall Tree-Farm Engagement Session

2011-11-21T12:24:00.001-08:00

I met up with Meghan & Travis over the summer to discuss their 2012 wedding at one of my favorite Sandy, Oregon venues, Mt View Weddings. We battled the notorious Oregon rain to book this session... in fact, we somehow made it happen in between a night of early snowfall, hail about half an hour before we started and a little shower right before we wrapped things up. Thank you Mother Nature! We decided to shoot at a nursery in the nearby town of Boring, Oregon (home of the first annual Country Bridal Affair, this January 14, 2012 which was co-founded by Studio 623 Photography) I love personalized REAL Engagement sessions and this was truly an authentic afternoon in the country with their pup. A reflection of what life is like for them right now :) on to the Engagement Session...

Happy Birthday Kenzie

2011-11-21T11:12:00.001-08:00

This little lady was featured here about a year ago for her newborn session and I've been lucky enough to watch her grow ever since... she is walking and saying a few words since I saw her at her 6 month session. I love doing Baby's First Year sessions, watching the little ones grow and making new friends with the parents in the process!

Family Photos in the Pearl

2011-11-07T21:03:00.000-08:00

It was a chilly but sunny Fall day when we headed to Tanner Springs Park in the Pearl District of Portland... honestly, a teeeeny bit outside my element after having spent the past 5-6 months in Sandy! I think the little guys were a little overwhelmed by the sights and sounds too... but we still captured some great smiles and had fun playing in the leaves. It was great to meet you guys!

Fall Bridal Inspiration Shoot

2011-10-04T12:52:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Today is the perfect fall day to present photos from a recent project!

A warm, sunny September afternoon provided the perfect backdrop for our recent rustic and Fall Inspired Bridal Shoot at Carson Ridge Luxury Cabins, a secluded, wind protected venue tucked into the Columbia River Gorge. The photography for the shoot, provided by Becky Nerpel of Studio 623 Photography began in a luxury rustic cabin, where Bride Amy’s elegant lace wedding gown contrasted perfectly with wood and stone textures of the furniture and details inside. With a bright splash of fall flowers from Trellis Fresh Flowers in hand, Amy made her way down winding paths that cut through tall dry grass speckled with apple trees bearing ripe red fruit, on a hillside overlooking the jagged cliffs of the Columbia River Gorge in the distance. The contrasting textures of the pale grass, the dark green trees behind it and the blue hills in the distance made for stunning backdrops. We stopped in the woods to capture some shots just at the edge of a meadow at the base of a ridge. We then found ourselves in a Forest Sitting Room designed by Donna Cole, of Pearl and Roses Wedding Planning using her own chair, mirror, and table accented with a lamp, pillars, and hanging lanterns courtesy of Barclay Event Rentals. We wandered back towards the cabins for some shots at the ceremony site, and in the beautifully landscaped gardens. The sun went down, but Amy, Donna and I headed back to the cabin for some relaxed, bridal boudoir shots inside a tub made of river rocks and by candlelight on a four poster pine bed. At the end of the shoot, Amy kicked off her boots and we hung the dress from the top of the bed frame for one last shot before tucking it away.

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who came together to make this shoot a success!

·         Amy Stuchlik – Our bride and model, thank you so much! You are lovely inside and out! Your REAL wedding day was 4 years and 2 babies ago and you still look just as amazing! Your dress, cowboy boots, and jewelry made this shoot come to life, but you being you really put the finishing touch on it. From a professional standpoint, Amy is an awesome model. She’s relaxed, real, and knows how to work with a theme and provide lots of shots with lots of variety. Perfection! Amy also provided the jewelry for this shoot; I love the weathered turquoise and silver with Peacock Feather earrings… LOVE! Amy Stuchlik Designs.
·         Donna Cole – Pearl and Roses Wedding Planning – It wouldn’t have happened without you! Touching base with the vendors, securing the venue, getting awesome props, and the concept behind this day was all you in your element! Donna is on top of EVERYTHING (in a totally fun, good, lets-others-relax type of way). Working with Donna and knowing she had my back, had talked to everyone involved allowed me to do one thing: be creative and capture what was happening. I am a good multi-tasker but it’s just a simple equation of mathematics that the less auxiliary STUFF I have to think about, the more focused I can be on my job, which is shooting and coming up with unique ideas on the fly based on changes in light, weather etc. Donna facilities everything and allows things to flow. Looking forward to shooting many weddings with her at the helm!
·         Photography by Becky Nerpel, Studio 623 Photography an Pacific Northwest based wedding and portrait photographer featuring meaningful, real, and timeless photographic art sessions.
·         Flowers were provided by Trellis Fresh Flowers located in White Salmon, Washington and I can’t say enough about how beautiful and perfect this Fall themed bouquet and centerpiece was. It smelled… like fall- so rich and beautiful. The colors were vibrant, the petals were supple. I loved the texture of the tree trunk vase and the shimmer of rhinestones inside of a few flowers. A couple of additional bonuses- they brought the flowers to the venue so that we could get right to shooting (in best light :) I was fortunate enough that Amy declined my offer to take the bouquet home, so I kept it. DAY FOUR and it was still going strong, didn’t even think about wilting until this morning, day five. A bride who may be enjoying a local honeymoon certainly appreciates having a fresh bouquet for as long as possible after the wedding.
·         Accessories such as the antique lamp, candles, and hanging lanterns in the amazing outdoor living room and finishing touches to the bridal suite were provided by Barclay Rentals. I was in heaven when I walked into their showroom, located along HWY212 in Clackamas, Oregon. So. Many. Ideas. Seriously, I can shop for photo props for weddings??? For any photo shoot? This is very good news indeed.
·         Last but certainly not least, the venue which served as a beautiful backdrop to this shoot, Carson Ridge Luxury Cabins. Pete and Latisha Steadman were so gracious to loan us the Mt. Hood Cabin for the day and to also spend time showing us around the property during a scouting trip a few weeks before the shoot. The rooms are amazing… beautiful places to be both before and after a wedding with lots of rustic, yet elegant touches and finery. During a recent remodel, the owners designed beautiful backdrops using the landscape with a photographer’s eye in mind. This intimate spot in the mountains would be truly a special place to exchange wedding vows, spend a honeymoon, or relax with friends before your big day. It is truly amazing.

To view more photos from this session, please visit: Studio 623 Photography, there is also a link to purchase prints and gifts if enlargements of any of the shots are desired.

Thanks for looking!

Family Photos in the Gorge

2011-09-21T18:08:00.000-07:00

I love meeting up with these pretty ladies each year and seeing the little ones grow up! Definitely one of the best parts of my job :) They've already received their CD too, but here's a sneak peek just for fun!

Roses and Tatts

2011-09-21T17:43:00.000-07:00

My sister has been working on a tattoo... a large rose vine that wraps around her back that took several sessions to complete. Last year we decided that when it was finished, we'd photograph it in the Portland Rose Garden. Roses are an heirloom for our family; our Grandmother's maiden name is Rose and Allie as well as my daugter share Rose as a middle name. Allie went to a Tattoo artist named Alena Chun who she raves about; you can visit her at: https://www.facebook.com/alenachuntattoo, she did a marvelous job creating Allie's rose. Most of these were taken at the Rose Garden, the nudy-ish (lol) ones were in my backyard.

Family Photos - Grandchildren

2011-09-21T16:47:00.000-07:00

I recently met up with this family on a warm weekend on the Sandy River to take photos for these children's grandparents. The session was a little warm and the river was crowded with people trying to beat the heat but we got some great shots nonetheless. Enjoy your sneak peek!

Class of 2012 - Kristen

2011-09-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

Kristen was Kendall's (from the previous post) rep referral! I think it's always nicer to bring a friend along on senior pics and hey, you both get $25 off for combining a session so why not!? You automatically have a buddy to consult on hair, outfits, just-the-right-smile and get cute photos together celebrating your friendship. Kristen was such a sweetie and so photogenic. Enjoy your sneak peek and have a wonderful senior year!

Class of 2012 - Kendall

2011-09-21T16:08:00.000-07:00

Kendall was a class rep for me last spring and we did her fall follow up a couple of weeks ago. I LOVE this girl's spunk and style. I know she's going to go far! Congrats and enjoy your senior year!

PS: This is Kendall's Mama, Beth. Beth has a wine tasting business called Wine Shop at Home. That's right, you can have a wine tasting right in your living room! Look for Beth and her wine at Studio 623 Photograhpy's January Boudoir Event and possibly at my Holiday Bazaar (she hasn't heard about that one yet ;)

Lesley & Blake - Engaged!

2011-09-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

On a warm Saturday evening in August, under a full moon, I was able to capture Lesley and Blake's engagement photos in preparation for their 2012 wedding at Mountain View Weddings in Sandy, Oregon! They were engaged last December, during a trip to Mexico to celebrate Lesley's birthday. A truley awesome engagement story involving a private table on a beach in Mexico... with family members staged in the bushes waiting to jump out and congratulate! This couple has a fun and exciting love story and to be near them is to feel their love. They are friendly, goofy, kind, and very in love. We wanted to create a warm, beachy feel for their engagement photos as well as incorporate some of the exciting activities they enjoy. The closest place to Mexico here in Oregon is Central Oregon so to Lake Billy Chinook we went! First we shot some formal photos in the park, then boarded the boat for some water and wave runner shots. After that, we hopped into Blake's truck and headed up to the canyon rim for some sunset shots. I. Love. This. Session. Amazing color, mountains, light. And especially an amazing young couple about to embark on a lifetime of adventure. Congratulations Lesley and Blake! Enjoy your sneak peek and definitely enjoy your engagement!

Wedding Info:
Date: August 11, 2012
Photography: Studio 623 Photography
Venue: Mountain View Weddings, Sandy, Oregon
Wedding Planning: Pearl and Roses Wedding Planning

Additional wedding vendors to be announced in later posts :)

Class of 2012 - Ali

2011-09-21T15:02:00.000-07:00

Ali has waited way too long for her sneak peek (although I did post some images to FB). I am waaaay behind with my blog though. Ali's session was a fun one in the Gorge on a warm(ish) windy day. The wildfires on Mt Hood made for some interesting color temperature and lighting and I loved the result. We were able to get some shots of the whole family including Grampa who was visiting from out of town. Enjoy your sneak peek and have a great senior year Ali!

Sweet Baby Brandon

2011-09-12T22:05:00.000-07:00

This little guy was sooo cute and had the cutest little expressions and really gorgeous eyes. We got a wide variety of sleep and awake shots, although he was a little too old and wise to be smushed and cuddled into newborn positions :) He was a very good sport about being stuck into an apple basket, resulting in one of my new favorite photos. Enjoy your sneak peek! Feel free to share these images with your logo, your CD will do in the mail in the morning :)

Senior Photo Time!

2011-09-07T22:57:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick sneak peek of some senior photos taken over the weekend! It's not too late to book your session if you haven't already. Talk to one of my reps to receive free wallet prints.

(Feel free to snag these images to share or post on your Facebook, just please leave my logo there in the lower right corner :) Thank you!)

Aiden is 10 Months!

2011-09-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

Oh Aiden. Could you get any cuter? Seriously. His eyes. HIS EYES!!! Always smiling and happy (except for last month's session when I tried to get him to sit in some grass. Grass can be very scary when you're 9 months old. But when you're 10 months old, it's ok. On to the adorable Mr. Aiden ;)

Sweet Sisters

2011-09-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

This was my third year getting to catch up with this adorable family. It's hard to believe that the littlest sister was only a baby when we started taking family portraits. This year we met up in the Gorge and took advantage of a warm summer morning (well, the wind made it not seem very warm) and some pretty September light. Enjoy your sneak peek!

Andy & Becca 8.20.11. Sneak Peek!

2011-09-05T22:49:00.000-07:00

I was contacted by Andy and Becca last fall soon after their engagement about scheduling wedding photos so I feel like I've waited a long time for their day to come! Originally, we had hoped to shoot their engagement session at Trillium Lake, where Andy popped the question but we were snowed out a few days before our shoot (we had a great time at Edgefield instead ;). Their wedding day, August 20th, 2011 was a HOT one in the Pacific Northwest, but everyone remained in happy spirits as friends and family gathered to celebrate two highschool sweethearts tying the knot. Becca was so sweet and bubbly and Andy was all smiles the entire day. As they made their rounds at the reception, I kept overhearing guests comment about how happy and in love the two are. Their friends were hilarious, and had wonderfully funny, heartfelt toasts for the couple. After a touching slideshow tribute to the couple, the dancefloor opened up! I must have heard Andy say a half dozen times before the ceremony that he absolutely would not be dancing. Well sir, I have proof to the contrary ;)

Enjoy your sneak peek and feel free to share! More photos are in the portfolio section of www.Studio623Photography.com

Venue: Cedar Springs Country Estate, Sandy, Oregon
Photography: Studio 623 Photography
Flowers: Nancy's Floral
Catering: Famous Dave's BBQ
Cake: Sweet Cakes

Amy Lynn -- 6 Months

2011-08-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

Last time I saw little Amy she was only a few days old so she has changed quite a bit! It was a nice, balmy summer evening for her 6 month session. It was good to catch up with Amy's sweet family! Enjoy your sneak peek!

Elaine & Rob 8-14-2011

2011-08-21T11:33:00.000-07:00

One week ago today, on a perfect summer morning in the West Hills of Portland, Oregon Elaine and Rob wed after nearly a lifetime of togetherness (they met in 5th grade)! Their traditional Jewish ceremony was one of love, family, and celebration. It was obvious that this sweet couple is loved by many! Congratulations on your marriage!

Suzannah & Jason --- Just Married! 8-6-11

2011-08-10T00:15:00.000-07:00

I have been looking forward to Jason & Suzannah's wedding day for a long time... in fact I've been looking forward to a bride like Suzannah for a long time! She is a true DIY Bride and made everything from her GORGEOUS DRESS, to the fabric flags that lent a pop of color to the centerpieces. The creativity and the planning that went into this wedding day was really second to none.
Suzannah keeps a very inspiring and informative blog called Adventures in Dressmaking where she publishes tutorials and lots of other useful information (I've tried some!) Honestly, I am still in awe of everything that was accomplished to add finishing touches to this day... her hand made veil, the beautiful garden picked flowers, the dress, the bunting, the fabric flags... the chalkboard seating chart made from a repurposed picture frame. It was all just amazingly perfect. When Suzannah first contacted me in May, I learned about her desire to design her whole wedding with Do It Yourself touches and that it was very important that her hard work be memorialized in timeless and artistic photographs. This struck a chord with me because I put a LOT of work into my own wedding decorations, but the fine details weren't captured on film. Because of this, my goal with every wedding I shoot is to collect every last detail of the day to help create a lasting memory. Pulling out all the stops to ensure this goal was met, I got my friend Kim Cullins from Jitterbuggin' Clothing Company involved as Art Director/Second Shooter (we have collaborated previously on projects and this is a add on I am excited to now offer my brides!)
This blog post is going to be much longer than usual but I wanted to leave no stones unturned in telling the story of Jason & Suzannah's wedding day... it is evident when looking through their photos that this is a love built to last. Congratulations on your beautiful day!

Venue: McMenamins Edgefield: Administrator's House
Catering: Provided by Edgefield
Photography: Becky Nerpel studio623photography.com with
Art Direction: by Kim Cullins of Jitterbuggin.com
Decorations: Suzannah adventuresindressmaking.com
Dress: Suzannah adventuresindressmaking.com
Veil: Suzannah adventuresindressmaking.com
Shoes: Nina with pouf shoe clips by Suzannah adventuresindressmaking.com
Groom's Suit: Claiborne
Hair and Makeup: Suzannah & Maid of Honor
Invitations: Vista Print
Flowers: Kay Hamlin

Baby Wyatt - 2 weeks new!

2011-08-03T14:24:00.000-07:00

Such a sweet sweet guy! He did so great and got to be my first NEWBORN in the sunroom studio. It was pretty awesome, nice and warm... nice hard floors to clean up any, er, spills... :) Enjoy your sneak peek!

Tucker is 6 Months Old!

2011-07-16T02:23:00.000-07:00

Finally getting a sneak peek up of this little cutie after which... I will FINALLY be caught up! Until my bridal shoot on Sunday that is :)

Aiden is 8 Months Old!

2011-07-16T01:30:00.000-07:00

And just as sweet as ever :)

Carson & Brandon

2011-07-15T23:55:00.000-07:00

Love these two! These little guys are so full of life, energy, and personality. I was happy that they could explore my new outdoor studio location in Sandy and get their 2011 portraits done! Carson is just 1 week younger than my daughter Hailey and those two share a very special bond. We were able to get some shots of the little buddies together. Enjoy your sneak peek! I just finished the last of the edits so the CD will ship soon :)

Sarah & Greg - Beautiful Timberline Wedding 7-1-11

2011-07-15T14:37:00.000-07:00

The week of Sarah and Greg's wedding was a little cloudy and wet... they were traveling up from Arizona to get married at Timberline and were really hoping for an outdoor ceremony. Therefore, I was THRILLED to wake up on July 1st, their wedding day, after a week of rain and drizzle, to sunny blue skies with a few puffy white clouds. It was the most beautiful day and so much fun! Sarah and Greg are very fun, laid back people and their guests share that same spirit. They were up for anything and when Sarah informed me she had brought sparklers for the wedding party to use for some post-reception photos, I was pretty excited.

Sarah and Greg- Thank you for choosing Studio 623 Photography! I am so glad to have met you guys and captured your special day!

*Dear Readers, Please feel free to use/post/email any of these images as long as my studio logo remains in tact. Thank you! :) There are additional photos in an album titled Sarah and Greg on my main website: http://www.studio623photography.com/

Vendors:

Venue: Timberline Lodge

Event Coordination: Chandra with Timberline

Flowers: Link Needed

Cake: Jaciva's

Music: River City Band PS: This band was AWESOME! I highly recommend them!

Hair & Makeup: Josh- friend of Maid of Honor (Link Needed :)

Bridal Dresses: David's Bridal

Brothers

2011-06-20T22:10:00.000-07:00

I have to confess, I keep a wish list. It contains ideas I have for kids and families who I know about but haven't yet photographed. These two bundles of sweetness have been on "the list" for several months now. Happily, not only was I chosen to be their photographer, but when their Mom described her vision for their session, it was more or less what I had in mind all along! I love it when that happens. Needless to say I was pretty excited to capture some images of these guys playing at a wooded park where they explored trails, ran through the playground, climbed onto tree stumps and examined a caterpiller (er... millipede, as one of these scholarly fellows informed me :) and I was able to follow along and snap some wonderful, natural, pure photos of just what little boys are made of. I think they had fun too. That's always very important :) Enjoy your sneak peek!

Aiden is 7 Months Old!

2011-06-20T17:33:00.000-07:00

Little Aiden had his 7 month photo shoot recently! As usual, he was a perfect angel. He moved from set to set flawlessly, grinning and gurgling at me the entire time. He is so adorable :) This may be our best session yet.

About Our New Home

2011-06-20T11:37:00.000-07:00

Moving. To Sandy, Oregon. To a home with acreage. It's always been one of those things that we discussed and dreamed about, but it seemed completely out of reach. Sometimes it felt like the time would never come, but we kept trying to plan and save for it. We purchased our first home (pre kids ;) back in November of 2005 and had planned on it being our starter home; putting some sweat equity in it, then selling it for a profit and moving to the country. Unfortunately, when home values started dropping a couple of years ago, we were one of many who found ourselves owing more than our home was worth and were therefore unable to sell it. We thought we were stuck. Even so, we would occasionally browse http://www.rmls.com/ to see what homes were selling for and what kind of deals were out there. Lately, more and more listings seemed to be coming up and beautiful homes with property were more affordable. On a particular day in late March of this year, I contacted Senior Mortgage Consultant Kendra Coverdale (http://www.financeyournwhome.com/) to see what, if anything our family would qualify for. We had spoke a few months before and Kendra had given us a few things to work on in order to qualify for a loan. Kendra was diligent, knowlegable, and talked us through all of our options in a way that I could understand. Immediately we felt like she was on our side and we were very comfortable with her guidance. In early April we qualified for a loan and with our awesome realtor Denise Greisen with Oregon Realty Company (who works closely with and referred us to Kendra) started our home search. Anything rural (an acre or more) in Sandy, Oregon City, Corbett, and other outlying areas was checked out. We took day trips to check out areas we liked, researched schools, researched home values, asked lots and lots of questions (I made spreadsheets - hehe... I just can't help myself!). Then the first day before we were officially going out to look at homes, Denise sent us a listing that we'd seen on RMLS but for some reason hadn't flagged to look at. (Same thing happened with our first home; we overlooked it and Denise convinced us to take a look and it ended up being the one... she's 2 for 2 :). We found ourselves just outside of Sandy looking at a 2000+ 5bd, 3bth home on THREE acres. Sometimes you just know when you find the house. This place was sort of messy, (it just needed some Nerpel love :), and the property was overgrown and choked out by weeds, blackberries, ivy, and just stuff everywhere. It didn't matter. Nate and I were running through those woods making all kinds of plans for what we would like to do. We looked at others that day, but could hardly focus on anything else but the house. At the end of the day we didn't even need to discuss our next move or which house topped our list. It was unanimous. We made an offer, Denise quickly submitted it, and it was accepted just hours later. The home was a short sale and we knew that meant a longer process but we wanted to find a renter for our first house and she needed to be able to move in before July which meant we had to move fast. Denise and Kendra got right to work and together with the selling agent and the great people at First American Title (specifically Sheila Engle) made this deal happen in 46 days; HALF the time I was told a short sale would take. We navigated some obstacles and throughout the process our questions were answered quickly and competantly. We were always updated with the status of the process and given different scenarios to prepare for. Our little dream team of home purchase experts were on top of everything. Talking with banks and lawyers to expedite payoff amounts on the short sale, working late, working odd hours, and on holidays to make this happen; they were always anticipating and being proactive about preparing documents and gathering info that might be requested. Throughout the process we knew it was more than just these ladies working hard to make a sale. They were working hard to help us make a good investment and to help our dreams come to fruition. I always felt like I had a friend in my corner. To be completely honest, I miss emailing and talking with them each day like we did throughout the purchase process!

Nobody asked me to write this and I'm not being compensated in any way for doing so. I just know that Denise and Kendra made this process a smooth and fun one, and worked REALLY HARD to get it done for us. We always felt like we were the first priority and there was always time for us. Nothing says thank you like a referral so I hope this testimonal of my very positive experience sends clients their way! Please feel free to share this story, I would love for it to empower others to follow their dreams!

*All images are copyright of Studio 623 Photography/Becky Nerpel 2011 may be reposted with photo credit

Road leading to our house

I was excited to put our name on the mailbox :)

Front Porch

Slightly wider view of the front back when we first looked at it

Part of the "backyard"

Looking out to the field: 14 plum trees, 10 apples, a fig, 4 cherries, blueberries, huckleberries, raspberries and many many MANY blackberries are found here. There are a lot of awesome plants, flowers, trees, shrubs etc that just need rescued from blackberries. The neighbors say not much has been done to the property in 15 years so we're excited to roll up our sleeves and remedy that :)

Cousins

2011-06-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

This session got interrupted by that unmentionable something that begins with an "R." We had planned for months to get together with our cousins on the Nerpel side and do some family photos of everyone. The weather got more ominous the closer we got to go-time and about 5 minutes into the session it started raining. So, we had to reschedule but still enjoyed a nice bbq dinner and some good conversation :) Here are a few photos I got from a very brief, pre-rain session :) It makes me so happy for my kids to have cousins their age to play with. Most of my cousins were in their 20's when I was a kid so I didn't have that "almost like siblings" bond. So special!

Kenzie is 6 Months Old!

2011-06-17T13:39:00.000-07:00

Here is the 2nd sneak peek for my very patient clients who had to wait out my relocation and lack of internet service :) I was so excited to see Pretty Miss Kenzie for her 6 month session. Last time I saw her she was only 3 days old! She is just SO Adorable and sweet. Enjoy your sneak peek! There are many more to come with your CD :)

Presenting my first {Maternity} sunroom studio session!

2011-06-17T10:03:00.000-07:00

I am really behind on my blogging. It can be summed up with the following: boughtnewhouse-quitdayjob-movedtocountry-fixednewhouse-rentedoldhouse all of which are still in progress (except the buying the house and quitting the job part. Those are done deals :) Like I said, I have a LOT of updating to do!

Two weeks ago, I was spending 14-16 hour days at the new house, painting all of the mismatched woodwork white and repairing/repainting the entire first floor. I have been itching to try out the sunroom turned studio and the 3 acres that this new house offers as photo backdrops and was lucky enough to have TWO sets of clients willing to come out for their sessions (and subsequently, wait nearly FOREVER for their photos, due to 16 hour painting days that followed :)

Congrats to this sweet family who will be expanding to four next month. Such a beautiful Mama :) Miss K is going to be a wonderful big sister, it will be fun to watch that relationship develop. Enjoy your sneak peek and thank you for being the first to try out Studio 623 Photography's new indoor studio!

Miss Larken is 3 {and 3 months}

2011-05-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

Rain rain rain... Larken was born a week after my Hailey which means her 3rd birthday was way back in March. Thanks to a seemingly endless amount of rainfall this year we are JUST NOW getting to her 3 Year session. The good news is, I LOVE how these photos turned out. They really show Larken's spunky, fun, outgoing personality mixed with a little feminine flair in her beaded necklace from Auntie Peggy. That's right, Larken's Mom and I share a Best Friend (Peggy) which means our girls share an honorary Auntie... who is never too busy to dress up with them, let them play with her hair and mess with her accessories. Anyway, I'm getting off track: On to the cuteness!