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thanks for visiting the blog of STUDIO6.23 , a.k.a. ben and mindy peterson.

this is our wall for posting favorite pics from recent weddings or kid sessions. but somehow, a bunch of other randomness finds its way here as well.

we got married in 2000. makes it simple math to remember how long we’ve been married. and we’re crazy about our three kids.

i guess that’s why we shoot weddings and kids. it’s what we know — and love!

to keep up with our work or a bit of the peterson craziness, enter your email below or click the little squares that look familiar to you.

FOLLOW 6.23

maternity photography session with JAKE + KELSEY

we met jake and kelsey though our mutual friends, the zichtermans (you might remember maternity pictures last year of my very SASSY friend, sarah)! :) jake had contacted me to surprise his wife with a maternity session and also a newborn session when their little one is born. how sweet is jake?!!! kelsey… you’ve got a keeper!!! we started out taking some shots in the beautifully put together nursery with all of the details and fun baby stuff. we then headed to an abandoned barn (a new one for us!) and it was amazing! we had so much fun hanging out with jake and kelsey for the day and we cannot WAIT to meet your little one!!! they did not find out the sex, it’s going to be a surprise! so FUN! here are some of our favorites from the day…. isn’t kelsey just gorgeous? and here’s a fun trivia question…. who can tell me which NFL football player jake resembles? leave your guess below and any other comments you want to add! :) enjoy……

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pictures of the nursery

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black and white belly

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and here’s a little ditty we put together for JAKE and KELSEY…click on the image below.

7 Comments on this Post

  • anne overbeek said:

    Beautiful Pictures Jake… you have a beautiful Hoogeboom family! Wishing you well with the birth of your baby! Wonderful photography Mindy & Ben!!

  • Cindy said:

    Dudes- what NFL player DOES he look like – Jason and I couldn’t figure it out……..are you sure it’s football :) ????? Cute pics!

  • Sassy S said:

    Sassy M…you and Ben are the best! I just L-O-V-E the pics of Jake and Kels! I looked at them when I was on the phone with Kels and kept saying “this one is my favorie…oh wait, no this one is my favorite…” :) They were all so beautiful. Thank you for doing what you do best, because of you we are able to cherish these special moments of our lives forever! love ya girl!

  • Sassy S said:

    Sassy M…you and Ben are so awesome. Every picture was beautiful. I was talking to Kels when I looked at them and kept saying “This is my favorite, oh wait, this one is my favorite”!!! Then, the little video at the end…made me cry girl! Thanks for doing what you do, you help us capture these special moments in our lives so that we can remember them forever. Love ya girl!

  • Katie Jo said:

    Fantastical as usual. I just love baby bellies!

  • David D. said:

    Man alive, are you guys sure you don’t hire professional models to make us “normal” people think we could look that good by being photographed by you? I am always AMAZED at how awesome every couple you shoot looks. I sincerely wish we lived closer because I’d be all over you shooting our family – having said that, it’s probably good that you’re not because I might hire you too often and have no money for my mortgage :-) .

    I hope all is well and thanks for sharing your work on the blog. I love the updates and enjoy looking at the pictures and video.

    Take care,
    David

    P.S. I think he looks like Nate Kaeding (the kicker from the San Diego Chargers) but I’m guessing that even close to what the answer is.

  • Regina said:

    What a beautiful maternity session. Love the details.

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imagine a wedding…. in a castle…. in the middle of falling snow. talk about romantic!! erin and amanda chose to marry at castle farms in charlevoix, michigan and it was a beautiful late winter wedding. they did an amazing job with the details and we were eating them up with our cameras! my good friend, lisa kae braved the storm with me and i was thrilled to have her not only help me shoot the wedding, but accompany me in some crazy adventures of our own on the way there and home!!

amanda was a gorgeous bride and made my day when she whipped out a fur-hooded shawl to head outside in the snow for some photos. erin beamed the whole day and his adoration for amanda was so apparent. their wedding party was loads of fun and were also troopers as we hiked it outside for some snow style shots! sooo loving the falling snow in these pictures and soooo loving that it is no longer on the ground! hurry up spring!

here are some favorites from the day…. i wish i could post them ALL! and have i mentioned lately that we LOVE comments….. it’s the little box below. please fill it!! :)

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michigan wedding

7 Comments on this Post

  • Castle Farms Girls said:

    All I can say is WOW and we are SO excited to see these! They are amazing Mindy! I am completely in LOVE with the first one and I want to see them all!!!! Great job and we really hope we can see you again, maybe with some sunshine and warm weather next time :) -Janelle @ the Castle

  • Katie Jo said:

    I absolutely adore Castle Farms!! This winter wedding is beautiful!

  • Becky Gurk said:

    You take the most beautiful pictures! I want to get married
    again just so you can be my photographer! I love your attention
    to the details like the shoes, rings, dresses, etc…You have such creative shots!

  • Amanda Evans said:

    It was a bit cold for sure, but it was definitely unbeatable! I would trade a summer wedding for my winter wedding any day! We had an amazing time and Mindy & Lisa were amazing photographers – as you can see!!

  • Don Stowe said:

    Lots of great and unusual shots. I like the young Bridesmaid standing in front of the lighted window-real impact.

    Also the 3 in a row small pictures two shots above the young girl by the window. The one on the far right I liked with the strands of yarn holding the metal pieces. The one in the middle of the three in a row, i wish could be all in focus but I understand that lighting may have been a problem. The bride and groom were a very handsome couple.

  • Kelly Braman said:

    ooh~what a winter wonderland!! You two Rock! I am loving all of the yummy details! Love it!!

  • Casey Figlewicz said:

    These are all beautiful! Looks a little cold though:)

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aletha-blog-header

we have experienced some serious blog lovin’ and we decided that we’d like to spread some around ourselves! so once or twice a month, we will be featuring one of our favorite vendors, planners, design ideas or blogs. why? just to spice things up and because it’s our blog… we can do what we want!!! our first fabulous feature is no other than the wonderful aletha of pearls events. she has great taste, an eye for details and loves what she does! we had fun asking the questions this time and putting someone else on the spot. you can check our her hotness in the picture above, courtesy of our friend kelly of kelly braman photography. now without further ado…. meet aletha!

* name three fantabulous color combos that you have seen used in weddings or would like to see used in weddings.

  • 1. Black, gray, white & yellow – modern, simple and hip.
  • 2. Teal, chocolate, ivory with touches of magenta – love this fun take on the chocolate brown trend.
  • 3. Plum, taupe, and gold with hints of ivory & grass green – classic, traditional and a bit hip.
  • * what is your favorite part of the planning process, besides the awesome couples you work with!?
    My favorite part of the planning process is the relationships. I’m a people person and these connections mean more to me than the perfect cake flavor. I always hope the connection that forms with the bride & groom makes the couple feel comfortable with me and in turn, makes their day stress-free for them & their family & friends.

    * name your ideal venue for a ceremony and reception…. anywhere, anything goes!
    If I had to do it again, I’d forgo the church & ballroom reception we did for our own wedding.
    We’d get married under the huge oak tree in the field behind my parents home, then have a huge reception with family & tons of friends – right in the field. Greg wanted to do this in the first place, but I always wanted to get married at our church and having the traditional formalities. Now, after seeing it done SO many times, I’d do something that better reflected us as a couple.

    * describe your own personal style (vintage, shabby chic, modern, etc….)
    I would have to say I’m a classic & preppy. But, I also like a touch of vintage thrown in.
    As far as what I wear – I’m a total Gap girl, with a slight addiction to Banana Republic and Target – jeans, cardigans, t-shirts. And nothing over a 2″ heel, please. Add a vintage brooch or pearls and call it a classic Aletha outfit.
    And our home? I love color on the walls – not beige for me! We live in a 1950’s bungalow and the style is all our own. A mix of Pottery Barn, IKEA, Crate & Barrell and did I mention my love for Target?

    * name 3 details that couples should not skimp on… EVER!

  • 1. Programs at the ceremony – even if it’s just a little page, people like to know who the bridesmaids & groomsmen are and the order of the ceremony. Keep it short and simple.
  • 2. Assigned seating – there is nothing worse than arriving a little late to the reception to find out that your family cannot sit together because it was “open seating” and there are no spots large enough to sit together.
  • 3. Personalized thank you notes – although the wedding is over, I do think a nice thank you note that either coordinates with your invitation suite, or something with a wedding photo on it is a great detail that should not be missed.
  • * what is one thing that not many people know about aletha? please, do tell!!
    I get nervous when talking in front of large groups of people. Although I often run rehearsals, I get anxious each time. And I put on a front that I’m completely comfortable in front of these groups, I sometimes want to vomit! Or have a margarita :) Usually the latter…

    12 Comments on this Post

    • Uncenionemo said:

      cooooolest domain name)))
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      my blog: http://xabul.ru/

    • Aletha | Pearls Events said:

      Thank you for the comment love, everyone! Ben & Mindy are awesome :)

    • christina said:

      I love Aletha! She rocks :) Such a cute interview.

    • Bree said:

      Aletha Rocks!!!

    • Kristin {bridal buzz} said:

      Awesome interview! Of course, we all know that Aletha is a rock star at wedding planning, but it’s nice to get to know her more personal side too! :)

    • Karrn said:

      AWESOME! I LOVE that you guys did an interview with my girl Aletha, what a great idea! More, More, I want More!! PS. I used to want to vomit in front of large groups too…you will get used to it (the groups, not the vomit)

    • Topics about Capones » Blog Archive » @ALETHA!! said:

      [...] welcome to the addiverse added an interesting post today on @ALETHA!!Here’s a small reading…she has great taste, an eye for details and loves what she does! we had fun asking the questions this time and putting someone else on the spot. [...]

    • Sondra said:

      Great Q&A!! Love it! I get stage fright myself and hate talking in front of groups of people I don’t know. Love the color combos and I totally agree with having programs. It’s a who’s who and a great way to keep up with what is going on in the ceremony- especially when the sound system is not great!

    • Kelly Braman said:

      This is a fab idea, Mindy & Ben! I bet it was fun being on the other side and actually getting to ask the questions:) Aletha is really making a name for herself in this industry~so fun to feature her on your blog! I have to also say THANKS for the shout~out! You both ROCK!

    • Aaron-CP Wedding Films said:

      Yaaaaa! Aletha… she has spotlighted so many great wedding professionals over the past several years, it is great to see the tables turn. Aletha I am often reminded of Seinfelds bit about peoples worst fears is 1. Public speaking 2. Death. In other words people at a funeral would rather be in the box than be up front speaking.

      I’m with you on the public speaking part. I “fake it til I make it”, I’m just waiting for the “make it” part :-)

    • Don Stowe said:

      Interesting!

    • Katie Jo said:

      Great interview! I just love Aletha!

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    we just love henry and megan!!! fun, genuine, solid character, stylish and madly in love! does it get better than that?!! we’d like to point out that this blog post is way overdue, but we wanted to remind everyone what kind of winter we had here in michigan. henry and megan got married the day after a massive snow storm, so the roads were not in the best conditions for driving. then there was mindy’s trip to the ER, just two nights before the wedding with the worst case of strep throat EVER. of course, she told them…. i have a wedding to shoot, so load me up on some steroids and get me out of here! talk about some mindy drama! to make sure all bases were covered, we asked the fabulous, ryan prins to join us for the first half of the day in case mindy had a relapse and he graciously agreed to help us out. having 3 photographers was actually lots of fun! thanks, ryan!!

    henry and megan wanted to see each other for the first time before the wedding, which is something we think is incredible. there is still the anticipation and butterflies of seeing each other, but then the couple can enjoy a calm, yet amazing moment together before the frenzy of the day begins. it is also a plus to help with the flow of the day since all of the pictures can be done before the wedding. after that…. the rest of the day is yours to just ENJOY and revel in all of the spectacular moments! and of course, we are there to capture it all.

    back to our fabulous couple!!! megan really wanted pictures downtown, outside, in the snow, so ben was our sexy shovel boy (so HOT!) and did an amazing job of clearing paths to places we wanted to shoot. the girls all threw on their ugg boots, but the poor guys just had their fancy shoes on to traipse through the crazy amounts of snow! did i mention yet how much i love, love, LOVE this wedding party! this was my second wedding with these girls and they have all become very special to me. i told them that they are my professional bridesmaids. they knew just know how to work it as soon as we start shooting… oh yeah, girls, show me that sassiness! thank you for the honor of being part of your day…. much love to you both!!! and now, for some 6.23 favorites….. enjoy!

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    4 Comments on this Post

    • Don Stowe said:

      A lot of nice shots.

    • The Wedding Times » HENRY + MEGAN said:

      [...] we just love henry and megan!!! fun, genuine, solid character, stylish and madly in love! does it get better than that?!! we’d like to point out that this blog post is way overdue, but we wanted to remind everyone what kind of winter we had here in michigan. henry and megan got married the day after a massive snow storm, so the roads were not in the best conditions for driving. then there was mindy’s trip to the ER, just two nights before the wedding with the worst case of strep throat EVER. Source: http://www.studio6-23.com/blog/?p=595 [...]

    • Best Wedding Photographers » Blog Archive » HENRY + MEGAN said:

      [...] we just love henry and megan!!! fun, genuine, solid character, stylish and madly in love! does it get better than that?!! we’d like to point out that this blog post is way overdue, but we wanted to remind everyone what kind of winter we had here in michigan. henry and megan got married the day after a massive snow storm, so the roads were not in the best conditions for driving. then there was mindy’s trip to the ER, just two nights before the wedding with the worst case of strep throat EVER. Source: http://www.studio6-23.com/blog/?p=595 [...]

    • Aletha | Pearls Events said:

      Gorgeous!!! Love the ones Megan in her fur coat – totally fun.

    coolest shoes EVER

    [sorry for the week away from the blog. 2 birthdays in the family, so we just had to take a mini vacation to chicago and LEGOLAND! but we're back to it now]

    this winter we did a trash the dress, ’snow style’ and it was a BLAST!! shannon, jessie and denise were our smokin’ hot models and braved the cold without flinching. katie scarth came from detroit to apply the fabulous MAC make-up on the girls and she was amazing! if you need someone who is a true make-up artist, her digits are 248.941.5144. for the girls’ hair, ashlee keller did a phenomenal job! we wanted bold and a bit unconventional and she did just that! let me know if you need a hair stylist who is incredibly gifted and i’ll send you her info!!!

    we started out at one of our favorite places, the richard app gallery in the cherry district. mindy’s rented it out for boudoir sessions, trash the dress and we shot a wedding reception there as well. talk about some crazy cool ambience without having to “decorate”…. this is the spot! and last, but not least, ryan prins was with us for the day behind the video camera – representing coastline studios – and captured all of the madness!!! john pottenger worked his magic and put together a sweet video of the day. if you haven’t seen it…. scroll down a bit and take a look! and if you haven’t yet booked a videographer…. john’s the man!

    we will be offering 4 trash the dress sessions a year. you guessed it, one for each season! our next adventure will be announced soon and we will only have 4 to 5 spots available, so contact me if you are interested in our spring session! and it is not just for the trashers… we also love the “accessorizers!” and now for a few of our favs to get you in the mood to trash it……

    trash the dress

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    wedding photography isn't what it was back when we got married

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    michigan trash the dress

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    gotta love grand rapids

    2 Comments on this Post

    • Jenny Duffy said:

      Hey guys! I just stumbled on to your blog. Are y’all in GR?? Great stuff! Love your style!

    • Katie Jo said:

      You guys rocked it out! Stunning as usual! Plus I love that song =)