Double K Photography

This weekend! (Warsaw, IN Photographer)

2012-01-28T11:28:00.000-08:00

Busy weekend for Double K! Right now, Sam and I are participating in an online wedding photography workshop, thanks to CreativeLive and Zach & Jody Gray! We've learned a lot and are planning on watching this workshop again and again to help us add some creative lighting to our photos.

We're also getting ready to rock the Warsaw Premier Bridal Expo on Sunday! If you are a bride in the Kosciusko County, this event is NOT TO BE MISSED! Even if you have all your vendors lined up- free food, a runway show, cupcakes, what's not to love?! Sam will be running around with his camera, so be sure to say hi if you see him. Also be sure to stop by our booth, as I'll be handing out a special gift to all brides!

We really hope to see you there! ~Naomi

Johannah & Anthony- Engaged! (Warsaw, IN Engagement Photographer)

2012-01-17T16:48:00.000-08:00

Johannah and Anthony are seriously one of the cutest couples we've had in front of our cameras. Even their shoes are adorable! (You'll see!) We met in a neat little park, tucked away in Mentone, Indiana. We brought cupcakes- they brought the heat!

Johannah & Anthony, We are so excited about your upcoming wedding! Thanks for a great afternoon! ~Naomi

Love is...

2012-01-12T12:04:00.000-08:00

Bigger than us.

What you are looking at is a collage of photos. Photos of my adoption journal, and a quilt my mother made. I haven't talked much on this blog about adoption. My husband and I keep a personal blog for that- which you are welcomed to read, if you wish.

Last week we came to a point that was a bit of a breakthrough. We've been praying for over a year now about using adoption as a way to expand our little family. We actually have always had adoption on the table in our relationship. When Sam and I were courting I already had reproductive issues, and I wanted him to know that I might not be able to have children, and even if it was casual discussion, we did both feel adoption was something we would be interested in. We prayed and prayed last year, but all we heard was "Wait." Even though it might not be the answer we wanted, we obeyed.

Then this year- actually about a little over a week ago, Samuel opened his heart to mine, and we realized that we had figured some things out. (Even though we were waiting, we spent quite a bit of time on adoption research!) We've decided we feel led to pursue an infant adoption, and we feel that we are to spend this year saving and preparing for it. Adoption is not cheap. There are certainly reasons for that (including the vast amount of paperwork involved, and the legalities that must be explained and followed.). We feel that even though we are far from wealthy, if God wants us to find a baby, He will help us find solutions to all problems, including the ones involving money. The average adoption can cost up to $25,000- so even a wealthy person might have a hard time scraping together funds for one!

Anyway, I just wanted to put this out there, because I know many of you didn't know about our personal blog, and well, I'm excited about it!

If you want to help- here are several ways you can:

1. Pray for us! Sounds simple, and while it is, we could really use prayers! We still have many questions that need answered!

2. Watch for our fundraisers (and participate in them!) We're working on setting up a savings account for adoption expenses (our initial application fee alone will be around $1500!), through which we will accept donations. We also are hoping to set up some local fundraisers, such as mini-sessions for photography. Stay tuned!

3. Recommend us to your friends! Also a fairly easy one. Much of our business has been through word-of-mouth and WE REALLY APPRECIATE the support!! It is our hope to eventually have me (Naomi) as a stay-at-home Mom, and we'd really like to see our business grow this year to help accommodate that.

I just want to say that we have been so blessed these past few years- to see our business grow, our friends grow, and we really hope to be able to have our family grow too! ~Naomi

Megan & Scott- 10-15-11 Wedding (Fort Wayne, IN Wedding Photographers)

2012-01-08T11:59:00.000-08:00

You've probably already seen Megan & Scott on our blog- We did their Sneak Peek right after the wedding, of course, and they also had a First Look I blogged. Megan and Scott both come from wonderful families, and we know this because we spent the entire day with them. Even through some tough spots everyone pitched in and made the day amazing.

We were also joined for the day by my friend Mary Bodkin, of Mary Bodkin Photography. Mary helped with 2nd shooting duties, and also provided some helpful feedback.

Grab some popcorn because this post is a whopper! (But totally worth it!)

Ceremony: Forest Park United Methodist Church
Officiant: Brenda Ginder
Ceremony Musicians: Kyrous Music
Hair: Lindsay Larson
Florist: One of A Kind Events
Cake Designer: Hall's Takes The Cake
Reception: Fort Wayne Woman's Club
Caterer: Ceruti's

I adored the flowers! They smelled amazing!

Some of Sam's shots of the men getting ready-

LOVE this one-

I had to include this set because Megan is so close to her mom!

The left is my shot, the right is one Mary captured-

Megan told us she's never had a fight with her mom. I was glad we could capture that hug-

This is what Mary captured-

While I saw it this way-

Not to be out-done, Sam got these two adorable photos-

Sam also got this cute snap of Megan that I say is a totally "Marilyn Moment"-

Two great families-

Just waiting for the ceremony now-

Sam's view, my view-

I know it's a bit nontraditional, but I couldn't resist the looks on the ring bearers' faces here-

They kept me further amused during the ceremony-

The Kiss, and then the Happy Ever After starts!

Mary got the one on the left, mine is the right-

Mary on the left again, this time Sam on the right-

This cake was so gorgeous (and delicious, I heard)! I took too many photos of it-

I love how Sam captured them holding hands here-

Mr and Mrs!

First Dances always make me tear up. No exception here!

This was one wedding this year where I did NOT egg the bride on to rub cake in the groom's face-

Finishing off with some dancing fun-

If you'd like to view the entire album- please go to our website: www.TheKarths.com!

Megan and Scott, thank you for your patience in waiting for this to be put up! You two were a wonderful couple to work with and we loved the trust you gave us! We're so excited for your future and wish you only wonderful things! ~Naomi

Review us! (Warsaw, IN Photographers)

2012-01-04T14:14:00.000-08:00

First of all, I have to send out a little plug for Koscer. It's quite simple to use, and if you are in search of something it really is a great way to find anything in Kosciusko County. If you or someone you know runs a local business, be sure to send them to the website. It's free to sign up & easy! If you work with a volunteer group Koscer also has event listings you can use for free.

If you've used Double K for photography services I'd love for you to recommend us or review us on Koscer! Just click on the link HERE to go to our listing! And be sure to browse through the other listings. Who knows, you may find something you didn't know about!

Megan & Mark- 10-8-2011 Wedding! (Columbia City, IN Wedding Photographers)

2012-01-03T15:47:00.000-08:00

Megan and Mark are one of those couples that are ridiculously meant for each other! No question- this match was made in heaven! We had a ton of fun doing their engagement photos in the rain, back in May. We were very excited to shoot their ceremony in Merriam, and their reception in Columbia City. You may remember their Sneak Peek, but if not, just click the link!

We started out the night before with a small disaster, as our car broke down on the way to their rehearsal. I ended up walking about a mile to get to the church, and we had to borrow a car to make the wedding, but I was determined to get there at any cost!

This was the first wedding that Samuel got to shoot entirely with me, and I have to share a funny story first before we get to photos. Skip ahead if you don't care, but you'll be missing out! Men who shoot weddings need to be more in touch with their feminine side, and I like to remind & tease Sam about that. This was the first time he had gotten to help me shoot the bride's details and as I came out with Megan's wedding dress he gasped, and said "It's so beautiful!!" and I, of course, said "Be a MAN!" Ha ha! I actually love that he could appreciate the uniqueness and delicacy of a wedding dress, and it is part of why he is so good at what he does.

Ceremony- Merriam Christian Chapel
Officiant- Mark Woods
Hair & Makeup- Natalie Bonar of Mirror Image Salon
Florist- Bride & Bridesmaids made their own
Cake Designer- Erma Eash (Groom's Sister)
Reception/Catering- Eagle's Nest Event Center
DJ- Dance N' Sound

The bride & her bridesmaids MADE these bouquets!! Love the creativity!

These were also handmade-

It may have taken time to get that dress laced up, but it was worth it! Megan looked amazing!

Mark's mother is so sweet & I just love this look she flashed me here!

Gotta love when the groom sees his wife for the first time!!

Someone was so excited they used their bubbles during the recessional-

This Unity Cross was made by Megan & Mark during their ceremony. It was a really unique touch-

I love these little girls, waiting to blow bubbles!

These two are just so suited for each other-

I always love watching guys figure out how to bustle the dress-

We made this engagement book for their guests to sign-

Couldn't resist the M&Ms... ;-)

Megan & her mom made this super cute groom's cake-

And Mark's talented sister made the cake-

I love when couples agree to go out for sunset photos-

My First Dance shot, beside Sam's-

Dollar dance fun-

Sometimes it is so hard to leave the party... So we keep on find things to photograph!

Dear Megan & Mark, thank you for being so patient & understanding! Sorry it took me so long to blog your wedding, but I hope you enjoy reliving your magical day again through this post! We're so glad we were able to serve you on your wedding day, and love knowing you already treasure your photos! ~Naomi

Update, Cute Photos and on to the New Year! (Warsaw IN Photographer)

2011-12-30T11:18:00.000-08:00

I'm way behind on things at the moment. So I'm going to distract you first, with these cute photos of my family's dog- Professor at Christmas. He is a Boston Terrier/Pug mix (a Bug!) and thinks he is a human:

None of us have had the heart to really tell him he wasn't born into the family, so he is often found sitting in an empty seat, around the table, listening to conversation & always keeping an eye on any food that might not be missed!

So now that I've hopefully softened your heart a little, I must get down to business. I had really hoped to accomplish a certain amount of things by the end of the year, and anyone who has been following along knows that I'm behind on blogging. Weddings, in particular. Back in October things started to get a little out of hand- Sam's grandfather had passed away, our car died, we were shooting a wedding every weekend, and I wasn't able to maintain my usual pattern of things needed to stay healthy. Once one thing started to unravel, things just kept getting a little worse. In between shooting weddings we had a trip up to Michigan for the memorial service. It meant getting to see family, but it also meant having to say goodbye. Then a few weeks ago one of our elderly cats, Quarter, took a turn for the worse and we had to say goodbye to her as well. We fixed our car, but it cost us more than a down payment for a new car would! (It was a month away from being paid off!) Anyway, I could continue whining, but what happened was I slacked off. I got my editing done, I posted a few photos, I moved on to the next job. I was just floating by, and I hated it.

I got caught up in worrying about a new website, trying to find the time to do things that turned out not to be so important, and I neglected my fans. I'm sorry for that. I realize that life often has a way of getting out of hand, but I need to be more steady in my work, in my blogging, and I need to create goals & fulfill them!

So here's what is in the works for Double K in 2012-

I'm working on a blog schedule. So that sessions get blogged & people can see them! I'm also scheduling in the ones I'm late with, so they get seen too!

Both Sam & I are continuing our educations. We've acquired new skills throughout this year, and while we were surprised as how quickly we learned things, there is still a vast amount of photography knowledge, and business knowledge too, for us to grasp.

We're raising our prices. We've got equipment needing upgrades, insurance premiums that need to be paid, and we've reached a point where we realized we were worth more than we were getting paid. Our pricing is going to be structured a little different- hopefully it'll make a little more sense- and we really feel it will be worth it! (Pricing will be changing in Feb 2012)

On the same vein- we will be offering film sessions. It's a different style that we actually love, and once we've figured out how to package it, we'll be offering sessions where we photograph in film only. Retro, groovy, and totally fun! We will be giving away a few sessions as we work to add this to our business, so keep an eye out!!

Rewards for being a fan! We've offered contests in the past, and hosted giveaways too. We are hoping to create a better plan to reward clients who give us referrals, and we're hoping to do some things just for plain ol' fun!

We want to thank everyone who supported & encouraged us through this year. We've been so touched by how many clients we reached this year, and how much we've grown! It has been especially touching to meet people who felt they knew us through our blog (and a reason I should keep it updated!) and to have brides & grooms who loved us so much they sent their friends to us too! We've loved watching Double K grow, and we have you and God to thank for it all! ~Naomi

Noah & Chrystal- Sneak Peek! (Warsaw IN Wedding Photographer)

2011-12-23T18:44:00.000-08:00

We had the pleasure of shooting a wedding reception tonight in Warsaw, IN, at Mad Anthony's Brewing Company. Here's just a little preview of what we caught while we were there!

Love this cake! Simple, yet so beautiful!

Look who is so handsome!

I love how this...

Turns into this...

Leaving you with a little Christmas smooch! ;-)

Thanks for having us capture your reception, Noah & Chrystal! It was great to see you surrounded by friends and family. We hope you will cherish your photos for years to come! ~Naomi

Holiday Gift from Double K! (Warsaw, IN Photographers)

2011-12-21T12:44:00.000-08:00

Samuel & I truly appreciate all our fans, and so we wanted to offer a little free thing for everyone to enjoy all year long. I made a set of calendars for your computer desktop, using mostly nature photos we've taken through out this year. We hope you enjoy them & they give you a little something beautiful to look at each day! ~Double K

I've got a couple different ways you can get these files- first, you can download a Zip file here: 2012 Computer Desktop Calendar Zip File

You can also just download each photo as below-

Lillian & Peter- Oct 1st 2011 (Lafayette, IN Wedding)

2011-12-15T15:37:00.000-08:00

You know the little candy hearts you can get at Valentine's that say "Made for each other"? Well, I wish I had the foresight to have not eaten my little allotment back in February, because Lily & Pete are one of those couples- totally made for each other! And it would have been perfect to take a photo of their rings with that candy. But I didn't. I did, however, take plenty of other photos at their wedding in West Lafayette, some which you will see here!

Ceremony Location- Upper Christian Fellowship

Reception Location- Thomas Duncan Hall

Florist- Bride & friends

Hair & Makeup- Bride & friends

Videographer- DeEtte Star

Caterer & Cake Designer- Barb Kershner

Officiant- Delmar Broersma

I love the teamwork here-

Lucy was a reluctant flower girl, but she was adorable and loved for just being herself too-

My view-

Sam's view (and you can see just a little of me too)-

Great group for the bridal party-

Another example of Lucy's personality shining-

I love this shot of Dad, then Mom with Lily's brothers-

Lily & Pete chose to have a worship service before their vows. I honestly would love to see more weddings do this- very moving & a wonderful way to start your marriage-

The sand ceremony, symbolizing two lives becoming one-

Before the new couple was presented, they had a group of close friends & family come and pray over them-

I really love a kiss where they go for it!

The reception hall-

Toasts are so much fun to photograph-

I will leave you with kids, new & old, hitting the dance floor-

To view their complete gallery on our website, go here!

Lily & Pete, we were very blessed to be present during your day! We hope you will always treasure these photos and especially cherish those tender moments during your ceremony that made it so unique! ~Naomi

Andrew & Kaylah- Sept 12 2011 (Fort Wayne IN Wedding Photographer)

2011-12-08T15:02:00.000-08:00

It's so hard to blog weddings because there are usually around 1200 selected images to chose from. We really love our couples, and Andy & Kaylah are no exception! We have a kinship now too, as we share our anniversary date! I hope the 24th will be as lucky for them as it is for us! ~Naomi

Hair stylist- Megan Dullaghan, friend of bride
Florist- Julia Croucher (Bride’s aunt)
Caterer- Wedding Dreams by Linda Grant
Cake Designer- Cindy Mory, friend of family
DJ- Fort Wayne Pro DJ’s (Denny Cook)
Officiant- Father Ed Erpleding
Reception- Dean V. Kruse Foundation

Can you say gorgeous?!!

This church was particularly beautiful inside.

Mr & Mrs Clifford, arriving in style!

This kid had the MOVES! (And it always helps to have a wonderful DJ!)

There goes the bouquet!

And then it was time to P-A-R-T-Y!

I'm going to finish with this shot Sam caught- it really doesn't fit anywhere, but it makes me laugh, and I think you'll enjoy it too! This was taken while the groomsmen were killing time!

Cheryl & Bryan- Engagement! (Warsaw IN Wedding Photographer)

2011-11-27T14:04:00.000-08:00

We have been so blessed to have the most adorable couples to photograph this year! This engagement session we shot was no exception! Cheryl and Bryan had me "Awwwww"ing behind the camera all night! Can't wait for their wedding!!

I was THRILLED that we got to use the sunflower field!!

I also LOVE her shoes!

Seriously... aren't they the cutest?!!

And for more of the sweetness, you can check out their slideshow:

Love Is...

2011-11-27T11:48:00.000-08:00

...taking a walk with your best friend...

...whom you happen to be married to!

Small Business Saturday- DEALS!!

2011-11-26T03:43:00.000-08:00

First time client deal- Purchase a $30.00 gift certificate to Double K, receive a $5.00 gift card free!*

Client deals- Purchase a $50.00 gift certificate to Double K, receive a $10.00 gift card free!*

-or-

Purchase a $100.00 gift certificate to Double K, receive a $25.00 gift card free!*

*free gift card is your choice of Staples, Starbucks or Subway!

Boudoir client deal- Book a party for ONLY $25! (Save $50!)

Small print- One deal per person. You must pay your Paypal invoice by Monday Nov 28th, midnight.

Email the following info to lizykarth@gmail.com

Name:

Address:

Deal wanted:

Paypal email address:

Gift card wanted:

Love Is...

2011-11-18T10:10:00.000-08:00

... letting your 11 year old Lab mix go swimming...

... in October!

Megan & Scott- First Look! (Fort Wayne IN Wedding Photographer)

2011-11-16T12:04:00.000-08:00

Megan and Scott ended up having a wonderful wedding day, and even though we had to move the First Look location twice, I think we ended up in the perfect spot for the day, and I love the intimacy we were able to capture for them.

Love this as her dad & Scott sneak up on her!

I loved the light in here, but they were seriously glowing too!

Cute set Sam got:

I love the details too-

These two are just so gorgeous!

Another Sam/Naomi view for you!

I had to include this- Megan had so many handmade details in her wedding- she actually made all the hair jewelry for her girls! I love this!

Love all the little ones too-

And then the most beautiful gathering of people-

Megan & Scott, I know you two are off exploring Hawaii together! We loved sharing in your wedding, and look forward to handing over your completed photos when you get back! Hope you're having a blast! ~Naomi

Lily & Pete- First Look! (Lafayette IN Wedding Photographer)

2011-11-16T06:27:00.000-08:00

I've got so many weddings to blog, and so I decided to cheat a bit and do the First Looks, because, well, they are my favorites. And this one is absolutely AH-Dor-AH-ble!

Lily and Pete are one of those couples that just fit together like pieces of a puzzle- a really really cute puzzle! We LOVED being a part of their day & I think the highlight was getting to witness Pete's reaction to seeing Lily for the first time on their wedding day!

Sam had the better view so we start with what he saw-

Love the mischievous look on her face here-

This was my view- and he actually said "WOW!!!!!" when he saw her!

Love these portraits so much- these two are gonna have a fun marriage!

This is just one example of why I love working with Sam- what we both saw in a moment!

This was just TOO adorable not to include-

Family showing up on time- the shock of it all! ;-)

Had to include this one of Lily with all her sisters- love the back shot!

And the wedding party- a gorgeous group of people!

Lily & Pete, may you treasure your reactions forever. There is nothing quite like a husband who wows when he sees his wife! ~Naomi

An Empty Table = A Full Heart

2011-11-11T12:38:00.000-08:00

The other day, while on our break at work, I sat down and Sam knew what was coming. He saw my "I've been thinking" smile and braced himself!

Me: "How much do you think we'd spend on Thanksgiving dinner, if we did a dinner?"

Sam: *slightly puzzled* "I dunno. Why?"

Me: "Well, I was just thinking... I heard on the radio that a local group can feed one child in Haiti for a year on $30. If we were going to spend that money, I'd rather donate it to them than get food for us."

Sam: "Okay."

And that's it. Instead of a mini-feast for ourselves for Thanksgiving, we decided we'd share our thankfulness and send that money to a child in Haiti that doesn't even have food. Because we can.

If you are interested in learning more about donating to Haiti- check out this local organization: Allowing Christ To Shine

Duke- Pet Photos (Warsaw, IN Pet Photographer)

2011-11-09T08:49:00.000-08:00

Duke was the winner of our Doggie Photo Contest! We had a lot of fun taking his photos, because he is definitely cute, and has a ton of personality!

I love this one where he is sneaking Mommy a kiss!

And because Melissa & Zech are expecting, we took a few snaps of just them! Congratulations, you guys! We are so excited to meet Sadie in a couple months!!

Congratulations, Dukie! We had a blast meeting you and hope your "parents" love your photos! ~Naomi

Love Is...

2011-11-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

...Being silly...

... even when you know it might land you on your sis-in-love's photography blog! (Thanks, guys!)

Jeanne & Steve- Sneak Peek (Warsaw IN Wedding Photographer)

2011-10-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful day yesterday, witnessing another family coming together in marriage. Steve is a fellow photographer, so what a vote of confidence to be hired to shoot his own wedding!

I love doing Sneaks, and this one is no different! Very hard to pick!!

You're looking at these flowers, and thinking "Wow!", I'll bet?

The bride MADE them!! I just blew your mind, right?!

Shots of courage, before going out to meet the groom.

Love this one of the girls watching the guests arrive.

Waiting to go down the aisle! (Total Sam Shot!)

And here's Steve seeing his bride come down the aisle.

Since Steve is a photographer, he knew how important using the sunset is, and I hope I don't disappoint!

A cute cake for a cute couple!

Only my husband can create a First Dance shot like this... LOVE it!

This is Jeanne and her daughter, doing a special dance together. Very touching!

And then it was time to PARTY!

I'm ending with this shot of the ring bearer being tossed in the air by his dad. Just one of my favorites from the reception!

Steve & Jeanne, I hope you two can continue the party through your lives together! Having fun together as a couple is an important part of married life! And we had a blast together at your wedding! ~Naomi

A Little Country Wedding... (Avilla Wedding Photography)

2011-10-20T03:00:00.000-07:00

When I met Kaylah & Andrew to discuss photographing their wedding, I might have drooled a little when Kaylah told me the tale of her rescuing an abandoned piano, and wanting to set it out in a field for wedding portraits! I could just see these photos in my head- and I'm thrilled that they turned out the way we wanted!

So without further ado, here is the First Look & piano portraits from Kaylah & Andrew's country wedding in Avilla IN!

This one might be a personal favorite of mine... credit goes to Sam, and these creative groomsmen!

I have to give a shout-out to Kaylah, for envisioning all this, and thank all the wedding party for being such troopers! If you look closely in some of these shots you can see raindrops! We worked it & got it done! ~Naomi

Love is...

2011-10-19T11:55:00.000-07:00

... sometimes saying goodbye. But knowing it isn't forever.

This Friday Samuel & I will be traveling up to Michigan, to join his family in saying our fondest farewells to Grandpa Waldron at his memorial and burial. Grandpa passed away on Sept 29th, just about 12 hours after we had left his daughter's house, after saying our goodbyes in person. I don't think there are words to describe how important that trip was, and how grateful we are that we were able to make it.

It is difficult to explain just how important and amazing Grandpa was, but I'm going to attempt to tell you, because I need to...

The first time I met Grandpa, he made me feel like I was a part of the family. He was my Grandpa too. He was a very talented carpenter, which is amusing as one of my own grandpas is as well. Grandpa Waldron made 18 dulcimers in his life. I'm very blessed to say that Sam owns one, and is learning to play it. Here is Grandpa with his grandson Levi, and his son Bob, playing at our wedding reception in MI.

And this is my grandpa, on the left, talking with Sam's grandpa. Even though these were snapped with just a little pocket camera, I am so grateful we have these memories.

In addition to being a creative person, he truly encouraged creativity in others. He loved seeing our photos, and he never judged me when he went through the entire roll of film I had taken of one particular pregnant rhino we met at a zoo on our honeymoon. He even invested in our business when we started it up, and he was always eager to see what new things we were photographing.

Grandpa was a Sea Bee in the Navy, on the Pacific Islands, and I can't remember him not wearing this hat after it was given to him! This remains one of my two favorite photos of him & Sam!

A couple springs ago we took him to see the butterflies in "bloom" at the Frederick Mejier Gardens, in Grand Rapids.

He was so fascinated by them!

Here is a snap of him & Sam waiting patiently on me...

And here is what some of what they were waiting patiently for:

I hope I didn't disappoint!

When the time came for assisted living, Grandpa was very blessed to be able to move in with his daughter. We visited him a couple times, and during one visit Sam and Grandpa watched old home movies together.

We were able to journey with him to kidney dialysis the following morning, and it was amazing to see the love his nurses had for him. I'm including these photos because I love the shot of the Louis L'Amour book in his lap. Sam definitely gets his love of westerns from Grandpa!

The following is my personal favorite. Grandpa visiting us at the lake cabins while we were on vacation last year. He and Sam got to spend some quiet moments together.

I don't think there was a person he met that he didn't touch in some way. And he will truly be missed. The upside is we know we will see him again. And for that, we are rejoicing through our tears. ~Naomi

Megan & Scott- Sneak Peek! (Fort Wayne, IN Wedding Photographer)

2011-10-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

Megan, Scott and their families are truly special people. They are warm, caring and kind, and it really shows in the amount of friends who gathered to help make their day truly worthy of them! We loved being a part of every moment of happiness yesterday! I'm so excited to share this with you!

Roxie was so involved with the wedding preparations, I'm inclined to think she WAS part of the wedding party. At least in her heart! This shot was captured by Mary Bodkin, of Mary Bodkin Photography. Mary is a long-time friend & came to help us out this weekend.

You'll understand what the flower girl is staring at when you see this next shot!

Are they not STUNNING?!

Love these two together:

They did it!

This is another shot from Mary:

And this really is the way to travel in style:

Rather than share the first dance of the couple, I'm going to share the Father/Daughter dance, and the Mother/Son dance, because I just love both these moments so much:

Megan and Scott- you two are an amazing couple! You can consider us as just two more friends rooting for you two to succeed in everything! ~Naomi

Heidi & Paul- Winona Lake Wedding! (Winona Lake IN Wedding Photographer)

2011-10-12T09:43:00.000-07:00

There is a saying among certain wedding photographers- "Happy weddings shoot themselves." That doesn't mean you don't need a solid wedding photographer, but rather that you make their job that much better by enjoying the day & events! Heidi and Paul did just that, in their very personal outdoor wedding in Winona Lake, IN.

I LOVE the look on his face as he finally sees her!

Heidi's dad surprised them with the car- super awesome!

Had to add this sequence from the Mother/Son dance- Oops!

Let the party begin!

This guy is known as the Duck Whisper at our house!

While everyone else was partying, Heidi & Paul opted to get a little fresh air and quiet time as newlyweds along the beach.

A beautiful ending, to a beautiful day.

Congratulations, Heidi and Paul! May the party never stop for you two!

Vendor Details:
Wedding Coordinator: Konda Koorey (Sister of the bride)
Photography: Samuel & Naomi of Double K Photography
Ceremony Venue: Hillside Amphitheater
Bride's Hairstyle: J3 Salon
Florist: Pam at Maple Avenue Florist
Officiant: Bryan Bartow (Brother-in-law of the bride)
Reception Venue: Winona Lake Senior Center
Cake Designer: Lauren Grey
Catering: Jose at Warsaw IN Golden Corral
DJ: Charly Butcher Wedding Receptions

Love Is...

2011-10-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

taking the path less traveled...

... and trusting you will find your way back together...

Kyla- Class of 2012

2011-10-10T10:51:00.000-07:00

We recently had a senior photography session with this future graduate of Wawasee High School! Thought I'd share a few images with you. Kyla did a fantastic job!

Don't you just love her eyes!! Stunning!

Thanks for a great afternoon, Kyla! Congratulations on being a Senior!! ~Naomi

Megan and Mark- Sneak Peek! (Indiana Wedding Photographer)

2011-10-09T04:21:00.000-07:00

Megan and Mark are so perfect for each other... and anyone and everyone can see it! We feel like we've been so blessed to have such amazing, and adorable, couples to photograph!! So here is a tiny glimpse of how their fairytale day went down!

I couldn't resist this shot- since both their initials are now M.M.!

Trading up for a little walk down the aisle!

Sam got this one- they are just so cute together!

Sam caught this one too, and it is so cute (and random, I'll admit), but I felt it belonged:

Ok, seriously loving this one (also by Sam) Megan looks like she stepped out of a bridal magazine, and those fall colors are awesome!

This is a good example of why you should listen to your wedding photographer, if she suggests leaving the reception to get more photos *grin*-

And I cannot ever resist adding a First Dance photo, because they are magic:

This little one had the moves:

I'm ending with this one, because it says what we all feel- Happy Trails, you two!

Lillian & Peter- Sneak Peek! (Indiana Wedding Photographer)

2011-10-02T11:03:00.000-07:00

From the very first email, I knew I was going to like Lily! Even though we had a pretty full schedule for the month of October, I was compelled to convince Sam we should take on Lily & Pete's wedding. I couldn't quite put my finger on it until this morning, when I heard a sermon about blessing others with our blessings- and I knew that was it! We have been so blessed, and we wanted to share that with others. We really hope you enjoy this sneak peek of Lily & Pete's special day. It was beautiful, it was precious, and we were blessed to be there!

With such an early start, it was a Tall kind of day!

Lily & Pete chose to have a First Look... and this is all I'm going to show of it, because I like to share those photos with the couple before anyone else gets to see!

Sam got this, and I love the warm fall colors, and the clasped hands...

This is so adorable! I just had to include it!

It's rough being three... and tough being a flower girl, to boot!

Perhaps one of the most unique touches to a wedding ceremony- a worship service, with the couples' favorite songs.

I love toasts, and the reactions they provide!

And one of the sweetest moments of the day- the groom "cutting in" on the Father/Daughter Dance, to dance with his wife!

Lillian and Peter, it was so wonderful to meet you, and be present at your amazing wedding! We look forward to seeing what is in store for you in the future as a couple! ~Naomi

Kaylah & Andrew- Sneak Peek! (Indiana Wedding Photography)

2011-09-25T03:55:00.000-07:00

We had the greatest pleasure to observe Kaylah and Andy becoming husband and wife today. It was an extra special day for us, as it was our 4 year anniversary! Couldn't think of a more romantic way to spend the day, than watching two special people come together in love. Enjoy this little peek into their special day!

Gotta love a couple who doesn't let a little rain get in the way!

The Trekkie in me had to include this one- like father, like son!

You've got to give the audience what they want!

After the traditional dances, Andy had the DJ play his parents' wedding dance song- and I was able to capture all three sets of parents, plus the newlyweds on the dance floor.

Kaylah & Andy, we had a blast capturing your day! Hope you have a wonderful honeymoon! ~Naomi

Finding your passion

2011-09-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

This post is going to seem a little random in some ways. A couple weeks ago we had a bride ask us if she could see some of our own wedding photos. Since our wedding anniversary is on Saturday, I thought that this might be appropriate to share, but mostly because this post is actually about film- and our precious day was captured (mostly by us) on film. We obviously didn't take the following sequence- it was snapped by our best man, Johnny, to whom we will be FOREVER grateful!

And if you want to know more about the tennis ball (Wilson), you really should ask me in person! The story is just too good to tell on a blog!

So, back to film, last week I entered a Twitter contest put on by Jonathon Canlas and to my surprise, I actually won! I won a copy of his FIND (Film Is Not Dead) guide and a pack of film! To win, he had asked followers to Tweet how they find and refine their vision.

My Tweet was: "I'm finding myself stepping away from what I thought I liked, and pursuing what I LOVE."

And, to follow up on that, we are looking at changing some of the ways that we do our photography, and how we offer our services. 2012 is going to see some changes for Double K, but they will be great & awesome changes! We hope you'll stick around to see what is in store! ~Naomi

Love Is...

2011-09-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

being a pair...

...forever.

Rock The Shot- Backlighting

2011-09-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

Rock The Shot is having another contest I wanted to join... this time it is backlighting, and this time Sam just caught this really sweet shot last Saturday, during an engagement session! I knew it was the perfect one to use!

www.rocktheshotforum.com

Purdy & Bucher Families (Warsaw IN Family Photographer)

2011-09-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

We've really been blessed to work with some wonderful families this year! Especially being able to watch little ones grow, and capture those special times with their family. We had a lovely beach day outing with the Purdy & Bucher families, and here is some of what we saw!

After the more traditional poses, we worked on getting some classic Karth views!

Since Miss A was celebrating her 6 months, we had to get some special smiles from her!

And while I was getting this, Sam noticed that I had a little help from behind, in getting those smiles!

Love is...

2011-09-14T13:48:00.000-07:00

having a home that loves you...

Despite your faults...

Jenelle- Senior Class of 2011 (Warsaw IN Senior Photographer)

2011-09-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

I just gotta say- I love shooting Seniors! And Jenelle really rocked this session out! It was hard to slim down to what I showed her, because I was so loving everything we got! ~Naomi

Then we switched up for her guitar portion-

Since she's such a Twilight fan (just keep scrolling) I made sure to do some processing in that manner-

This shot was just magic- Her dog, "Jake" is reading the book he was named after! AWESOME!

Finishing off with two of my favorites-

Love is...

2011-09-07T07:20:00.000-07:00

Sharing your chocolate...

Even when you don't want to...

Heidi & Paul- Sneak Peek (Winona Lake IN Wedding Photographer)

2011-09-03T20:00:00.000-07:00

When we love those whom we serve, it is no longer a job, but a pleasure.

The pleasure was all ours today, in capturing Heidi and Paul's special wedding. Hope you enjoy this little sliver of the tasty cake that was their day!

I could not resist this smile! I mean, who could?!

The paper flowers are a tribute to Heidi's mother, who was definitely watching from heaven, and I'm sure she had just as great of a time as we did!

Cotton Candy is for kids of ALL ages!

Don't you just L-O-V-E her dress?! The trail was a bit of a hassle, and weighed a ton, but so worth it to make photos like this!

See, everyone thought she wanted the knife to cut the cake... Ha ha!

I'm going to finish off with this super-sweet one of them in their first dance... (I hope no one was counting that I went a few over 10 with this sneak *coughsevencough*, but I couldn't help myself!)

Heidi and Paul, you two are an amazing couple! We hope you have a blast on the honeymoon! I'll bet there are rubies just waiting for you two!! Thanks for all the fun! ~Naomi

The Patient Patient

2011-09-03T06:22:00.000-07:00

It's honestly a bit difficult to post this- mostly because I don't want people to see me as less than able to do my job, or to think I'm fishing for sympathy. I decided to post anyway, because this is who I am, take me or leave me. And as one friend pointed out, my story is inspiring in some ways. I have taken the lemons life gave me, and not just made lemonade, but lemon sorbet, lemon chiffon pie & lemon poppy seed muffins too!

I am not your normal thirty-one year old. I take 5 prescription medications, 23 different supplements and spend my first & last 20 minutes of the day doing physical therapy exercises. I walk 2-3 miles almost every single day. I eat a diet with literally no preservatives, additives, dyes or artificial sweeteners in it, plus follow a mostly vegan plan. I work 2 part-time jobs, plus run a business, not because I'm a workaholic, but because we have major medical bills.

I am an IC patient.

Interstitial Cystitis (IC, also known as Painful Bladder Syndrome/PBS) is listed as a rare disease, but there is a possibility that upwards of 6-12 million people in the USA alone suffer from symptoms. Currently it takes an average of 7 years to obtain an accurate diagnosis. (That is down from the 20 years it was in 2007!) It took me a year to be diagnosed, and I had to see 4 different doctors to finally find out what was wrong! I am a very blessed patient, as even though it took so long, it was incredibly short for averages! And I'm also very responsive to the medication I was finally given.

IC is a bladder pain condition that is almost like having a bladder infection- but it never goes away. It can be extremely painful. Severe cases rate their pain up there with what end stage cancer patients go through. Except, there is no tried & true treatment for every case, and there most certainly is no cure.

For basic patients diet changes can be enough to pursue a normal(ish) course of life. Diet changes helped me some, but not enough. I was still going to the bathroom every 20-30 minutes on a "normal" day, and getting up 7-15 times a night. No sleep, plus pain, and you have a very grouchy Naomi on your hands. Samuel was a blessing through this all because he believed me, and he cared for me. He went to every doctor's appointment & held me through the pain. He still does!

I was finally prescribed Elmiron, the only medication approved by the FDA for treatment of IC. It only helps 1 out of 4 patients. Luckily, I was that one! However, it costs between $100-400 a month! So maybe I wasn't so lucky... this is why our medical bills pile up. Between diagnosis, prescriptions, supplements (which aren't covered by insurance, but often effective) and finally physical therapy, we've racked up quite a large sum to pay off.

My day-to-day life isn't very painful anymore (mostly because pain is now a way of life), but one of the worst parts of IC is that you can do everything "right" and still the condition will flare up & remind you that you aren't invincible. My Urologist knows I'm a photographer, and she has helped me craft a medication plan that I can use in times of extreme pain, to continue to do what I love. I've never had a "sick day" while being a photographer, and I hope I never do. Photography gives me a reason to keep on keeping on... and when I'm behind the camera I forget about everything else.

I'm being so open because September is International Interstitial Cystitis Awareness month. If you suspect you might have IC, or know someone who does, here are some places to go for more information:

I also welcome questions or even encouragement. You can find me on Facebook or even just by leaving a comment here. And if you live in Warsaw- you might see me about town. I'm the one with this ribbon on the back of my little red car:

Thanks for reading! And thanks for your continued encouragement & support! ~Naomi

Getting Lost... (Indiana Photographer)

2011-08-28T17:32:00.000-07:00

Some days, you must get lost to find yourself...

The Cole Family- 1 year! (Indiana Family Photographer)

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

I was having a bad day when I got the text. My brother, my Sister-In-Love (a phrase she coined, but we all use) and their adorable daughter all live too far away on the west coast. Can't blame them though, Washington state is gorgeous and appealing. I have often felt like my own journey may one day lead there.

Anyway, back to the text message. "Guess who is doing S's 1 year photos?!!"

Me, in a bad mood: "I dunno. Who?"

My Sis-In-Love: "YOU!!!!"

Ok, and bad mood is gone!!!!! Their little family were able to visit Indiana a few weeks ago, and while here I got to capture S growing up again! (If you remember, we were able to do photos when they were here for Christmas- Link!)

Here's just a sample of my precious niece:

Love this one of her showing Daddy how to "smell" the flowers:

Chris & Chanti, we love taking photos of your little family. You are so blessed! ~Naomi

Hot Dogs Contest Winners! (Indiana Pet Photographer)

2011-08-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

Drumroll please, for the winners of our dog photography contest!!!

First Place- Duke!

2nd place- Remy!

The Cutest Award goes to Cash!

Thanks to everyone who voted & especially those who entered! Winners will be contacted shortly!

Samuel & Quarter (Indiana Pet Photographer)

2011-08-12T16:29:00.000-07:00

This is a bittersweet post. My husband and I have a lot of cats. In some ways, as Sam describes it, it is like two "cat ladies" married each other! Yes, it is weird, but we cannot seem to say "NO!" to a needy cat. We have two gangs in our household- the Oldies, and the Kittens. Four in each group. One of our oldest is Quarter. Quarter is fourteen this year, and I have had her in my life since she was less than a week old.

I can still remember it like yesterday- the neighbor boy knocked on our door, and asked if we had kittens. In the chill of October he had found 4 baby cats, crawling across our lawn! So we didn't have kittens, and then we did! I took all four in, and bottle fed them. Unfortunately, kittens can be incredibly fragile, and being left outside in the cold for who knows how long took its toll. Quarter was the only one to survive, and that was how she earned her name!

Fast forward ten years, and a man enters my life too. A man I can't live without. A man that Quarter has attached herself to, in a way I'd not seen before. She will sit on his chest if he is sitting down. If he stands up, she wraps arms around his neck, and just goes where he goes. A friend introduced us to the possibility of her having Burmese in her, and after reading about the breed, we have no doubt! They are known as the "monkeys" of the cat world, and since then Sam has called her "His Monkey".

Fourteen alone is a decent life for a cat, but about two years ago another complication was added to Quarter's life. She was diagnosed with gingivastomatitis (which is not like gingivastomatitis in humans). In cats, it is not cureable, and treatments are often short-lived options. Basically, it is like her gums are allergic to the tartar on her teeth. We've got her on steriods to help with the inflammation and pain, but it often feels like we're just slapping a band-aid on it. Her latest flare-up was bad. She developed an ulcer in her mouth & we didn't know it until she yawned one day while sitting on Sam's lap! Her vet recommended a steriod injection, which has helped, but we worry about how long this can continue. So at my suggestion, Sam let me do a little photo session with him & His Monkey. Here are some of the results. ~Naomi

Rock the shot- Silhouette! (Indiana Wedding Photographer)

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

I sometimes hesitate to enter contests. Self-doubt, and rejection, never things anyone enjoys. However, when I saw this contest I KNEW we had to enter this photo!

Rock The Shot (www.rocktheshot.com), a photography forum, is having a contest this month for silhouette shots.

Below is Samuel's entry, a capture that made my jaw drop. While I was busy on this wedding day, worrying about portraits & close-ups, my husband, in his quiet way, made this photo. Aside from sharpening & converting to Black & White, there was no processing needed. I hope you love it as much as I do! ~Naomi

Heidi & Paul- Engagement! (Warsaw IN Wedding Photographer)

2011-08-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

I love this couple. LOVE them! I don't think I have ever smiled so much for a session, and I was behind the camera!!

From the moment I met Heidi, who is the sweetest person, I was in love with her, her fiancé, and her wedding! However, I don't like to feel as though I've rushed people into hiring us, so I usually leave them the decision to contact us with the good news. While I waited for her email, I was secretly plotting ways to some how meet her & Paul again, or maybe stalk their wedding. See, from the moment I met Heidi she was positively beaming, or so I thought. When I asked her about Paul, she went super-nova! The girl is IN LOVE!

Well, lucky for me, a few days later I got the email that made me jump out of my chair & do a little dance!! (Yes, I'm a nerd!) I'm doing the wedding, and I get to do an engagement session too! (Note to future brides, we do your engagement session for no charge if you hire us for the wedding- and our engagement sessions are awesome- as you will see!)

Our first date for an e-session was rained out... and I told them it was probably for the best. I believe everything happens for a reason! We were finally able to get a date where Paul was in town, and the sun wasn't playing hide-and-seek too much- and boy did we have fun!

I've been trying to do some new and different things this year, and one is that we shoot massive engagement sessions, and now I'm going to try to blog what I feel is enough to give you a sufficient taste of our evening together! Additionally, I asked both the bride & groom to give me a reason why they love each other, and it made me positively melt:

Heidi:

"His gigantic smile

He loves God

The way he looks at me with those green eyes

He really listens to me"

Paul:

"Her smile pulled me in and is never letting go"

See what I mean? I LOVE these two!! And now, on to the magic we found between them:

Ok, so I actually just found this, but HAD to use it!

See what I mean about smiling?!

And now a location & outfit change, because we can!

And then we changed locations again, because Paul had proposed at Center Lake!

You gotta shoot the bling!

And then they came up with the ideal of "Taking the plunge" for real!!!

If you haven't got enough of them, you are welcomed to view their gallery on our website... or take a peek at their slide show!

Heidi Smith & Paul Roberts- Engagement from Naomi & Samuel Karth on Vimeo.

Photography by Double K

Heidi & Paul, Sam and I are thrilled to be shooting your wedding! We can't wait until next month!! ~Naomi

Dog Days of Summer Contest! (Warsaw, IN Pet Photographer)

2011-08-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

Running a little contest to keep the summer momentum going! Rules are simple- prizes are awesome!

How to enter: Either email your dog's photo to me or post it on our Facebook wall. Include dog's name, age, breed, and why he/she is the coolest dog ever! (Please note, if you post to our FB page I will remove the photo & be putting it in our Contest album. So be sure everyone "likes" the one in the album!)

How to win: Get your friends, parents, relatives, enemies, coworkers to "like" your photo! We'll be counting up all the likes on Sun Aug 21 at noon, then announcing the winners! Two prizes will be awarded to the photos with the most "likes", then we will also be having a prize for the "Cutest Dog Award" which will be selected by two judges (not me)!

What you could win:

Grand Prize:

Doggie & Me Photography Session from Double K!

1 hour session, just you & your canine friend,

All photos released to you on disc!

Valued at $75, must be scheduled within 2011, and take place in Kosc Co.

2nd Prize:

Puppy Prize Package from Pooch Panache Mobile Grooming!

Contains 1 dog collar cover, 3 treat samples,

3 poop bag capsules, a pair of "petal" bows, and a dog "sucker" treat!

Valued at $10, donated by Pooch Panache!

Cutest Dog Award:

Customized Organic Bloom Photo Frame,

Olive in color, 5x7 sized!

Valued at $25!

Winner will be selected by two judges!

So upload that photo & get going on those "LIKES"!!

It IS personal! (Warsaw, IN Photographer)

2011-07-31T18:04:00.000-07:00

There is a quote from The Godfather that goes "It's not personal. It's business." Now, I'll admit I've never actually seen The Godfather, and I only know about the quote from another movie, You've Got Mail, which happens to be a movie that frequents my (ever changing) Top Ten movies list. In the movie, it makes sense as advice. In real life, things get a little more complicated.

See, our business... what we do... is deeply personal. Yes, you are hiring us to capture your family, your wedding, your life, but you are also asking us to take tiny pieces of ourselves in those photos. As artists, we aren't just making photos, but creating art... and it can be a painful, and personal process!

Additionally, when we say "Investment" we aren't just using it as a buzz word. You truly are investing in Double K when you support us. You're investing in our business, you're investing in our lives. And we truly appreciate it!

Last but not least, I'd like to thank the people who didn't think we'd make it. Your doubt only made us prove ourselves! Yes, we have a long way to go, but, baby, look how far we've come!!

Melissa + Zech = LOVE! (Warsaw, IN Wedding Photographer)

2011-07-27T16:05:00.000-07:00

So hard to blog about weddings... so many wonderful photos to show, and yet I don't want to make your eyes cross!

One of the best parts of Melissa & Zech's day was the dress. Not just the dress because it was gorgeous and perfectly "Melissa", but because it was a secret!

I'll never forget her slinking up to me at the rehearsal, and going "Guess what?!" Before I could answer, with a sparkle in her eyes, she told me- "Mom and I found a new dress! And it is PERFECT! And nobody has seen it, but me and Mom! Zech has no idea!! It's going to be a complete surprise!" So I was already in love with the entire idea of the secret dress, and then I saw it, and it WAS perfect! And it was so much fun to capture the looks she got revealing her surprise to everyone!

Melissa and Zech, we love you guys and loved being a part of your special day! Looking forward to the future addition in your family, and being able to capture you grow! ~Naomi

PS~ They did a seriously adorable First Look, and the Sneak Peek I put up really is cute too, so be sure to check the links out! And, if you do like your eyes crossing, feel free to check out their gallery on our website!

Happy Monthiversary!

2011-07-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

Today is 3 years and 10 months since I married my best friend. We celebrate every month because the 24th is a special day, not just our official anniversary, but also the date we were engaged. Even our wedding license cost $24!

I love this man with a heart that burns for him. He is so amazing and I sometimes feel I will never live to deserve the love he gives me- and then I realize that is the whole point of true love. It's nothing deserved, but a gift freely given.

Dearest Samuel,

     You are my one and my only. You showed me love when my world was crumbling, and you have supported me through some of the hardest times in my life.

     Thank you for believing that my unique view of the world would be cherished by more than just you. Without you, there would be no Double K. More importantly, without you... there would be no me.

                                                                                        I love you so much! ~Naomi

Backup your backups!

2011-07-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

Did you know that on average, only 7% of computer users make daily backups*? I'm afraid that until today, we fell in with the other 93%! Now don't freak out- we have a solid backup plan in place, but I was certain I wanted more!

Before today we backed up all files (personal & business) to an external hard-drive. We then backed up all business files to disc, in their original format. Additionally, we back up the business edits to disc, and they are uploaded to galleries on our website. Even private photos end up on the website, via private galleries, with password protection.

As you can see, it makes for a bit of work... and if Sam is doing the backups, a bit of mess!

After seeing several photographers whom I follow post warnings via their blogs or Facebook pages, I came to realize that what we were doing just wasn't enough for me to sleep at night! Nightmares of hard-drives crashing, discs melting, houses burning down were enough for me to say ENOUGH! So as of today we started doing a daily backup sweep that stores our information & files online. I've done through research and not only is this secure, but according to other photographers, this is the best (and easiest) way to backup photos.

Since I'm old-school, and always will be a little, I'm still doing the backups to our hard-drive, and burning the original & edited files to disc, but I love the peace of mind I just bought! And I hope you do too! ~Naomi

*Backblaze Survey Info

Izzy- 3 years (Warsaw, IN Child Photographer)

2011-07-20T08:05:00.000-07:00

There are times when certain sessions are more challenging than others. I note this not to complain, but to affirm! I love challenges, be it weird lighting or extreme heat or an active child. Add them all up and you get Izzy's session! In retrospect, we should have rescheduled, but we soldiered on with our snapping on The Hottest Day of June! And I'm glad we did because I think we really nailed it! They might not be your perfect portraits, but I think we really captured this little gal as she truly exists!

Heather & Keith Sneak Peek- Warsaw IN Wedding Photography

2011-07-10T04:52:00.000-07:00

I called this a "Pop-up wedding" because like a pop-up storm, it wasn't on our radar! Luckily we had the weekend open and were able to capture this special wedding- not just a wedding of two people, but a family coming together.

And what could be more romantic than wanting to get married under the willow tree in your parents' lawn?

This is the groom seeing his bride for this first time, and Heather's son seeing his mom come down the aisle.

In addition to very touching vows to each other, Keith said vows to Heather's son. Definitely some tears from the audience!

The happy, gorgeous couple!

I don't suppose you can be a mom and have your first dance completely uninterrupted!

Mom and son dance, so adorable!

Heather & Keith, thanks for letting us capture your special day! We hope you continue to grow together as a family and that your love is always shining as bright as we saw yesterday!

Daphne The Spider

2011-07-06T16:56:00.000-07:00

This blog post is about a spider. Yep. So you've been warned. I understand that there are many people who don't like spiders, and won't even be the least bit interested in this. There are people wondering what the heck a spider has to do with a wedding photographer anyway! Well, read on, and you will find out.

Few things to know about me- when I say I love all animals, I mean ALL animals! Also, I like rooting for the underdog, be it the Cubs or a misunderstood creature of God. And I also take photos of everything.

I also have several chronic pain conditions that from time to time flare up and make my life a lot harder to live! One is a disease called Interstitial Cystitis (also know as Painful Bladder Syndrome). Some doctors will tell you it isn't even a real disease, but I will tell you that as a patient, it can make your life not worth living. I also have several other medical conditions related to the IC, such as Endometriosis, and another disease so painful & private most people won't even talk about it. I've come a very long way as a patient- exercise, diet, physical therapy, drugs, supplements, short of voo-doo, I've been through the ringer. Many days it works, and I count my blessings and pray for all my fellow patients who are having bad days (months, years, etc).

This past month I kinda hit a dark spot. And along came a spider...

I first noticed the web late one evening as we were coming home. It stood out in my mind because it isn't every day that you find a spider web on the top of your car! I just assumed the spider had made the web, then decided a moving home really wasn't her thing.

Next morning, I almost get into my car when I see this-

She's there, alive & kicking! And enjoying all the bugs we caught the night before from driving through the country!

I told my husband, Sam, her name is "Daphne" and she is allowed to stay as long as she likes!

Not only was I inspired by her ingenuity, but every time I drove somewhere her web was eventually destroyed, and every morning I would go out to my car to find she had spun another one overnight.

In addition to making a web, she came up with this neat little "cave" at the base of the antenna, where she would go while I drove! It was even waterproof!

Sadly, this past week she disappeared. There is still a wisp of her web atop my car, and I've left it there as a reminder that you can still create beauty, even in unlikely circumstances.

Thanks, God, for the reminder!

Put a little love in your heart...

2011-07-05T10:31:00.000-07:00

As a photographer, even one who makes photos every day, I often find myself missing pieces of my own life. Forgetting to catch the photos that we will value forever of our own family.

I love my husband dearly. Part of why I love him is how he unconditionally loved all the animals living under my roof, because they were my little family.

Even though Duke is (and always will be) MY dog, he has learned to love my husband as his own "Daddy". This photo captures what I feel.

A heart for Peru

2011-06-25T09:32:00.000-07:00

"There are none so impoverished as those who do not acknowledge the abundance of their lives." ~Richard Paul Evans, The Sunflower

This is going to be a very short version of a long story- a story that will be continuing to write itself as life goes on.

My husband and I, through various health issues & medications, cannot have children by natural means. We have tried that route and it didn't end well. This past Christmas we really felt a tugging on our hearts to pursue adoption. So far, it hasn't gone very well either. Basically, we don't make enough money to be able to go through the entire adoption process right now, and we also found that because our dog Duke is a Pitbull Terrier our home study would not be approved. God isn't saying "No!", but He sure is saying "Wait!".

Add a million sighs to the last sentence. *wry smile*

We've really been praying about how to continue, as we don't want to just give up on adoption, but we also feel a deep need to help others- and suddenly an idea fell into our laps! I sat down on the couch, and the book Samuel was reading literally fell in my lap. I picked it up, and saw it was one of my favorite Richard Paul Evan's novels- The Sunflower. The book is a novel, but the orphanage (The Sunflower) is a real place, and is based on Evan's own experiences traveling with his daughter to Peru.

Samuel & I had been talking about using our photography work to support a charitable project- and we found one! After some research we decided to "adopt" an orphaned child from Peru, through the Eagle-Condor Humanitarian Organization. We are going to start donating $5 from every photo session we do (and $50 from each wedding) to a little fund we've set up called "Project Peru". Our first goal is to adopt an orphan by the end of this year. Any extra we have will be saved towards our goal of joining a humanitarian trek to Peru.

We are continuing to pray about our own personal adoption story, and we would love if it you would too! In the mean time, if you know someone who is in need of photography services, be sure to tell them about Naomi & Samuel Karth, of Double K Photography!

Megan & Scott- Engagment (Fort Wayne, IN Wedding Photographer)

2011-06-08T11:55:00.000-07:00

She's a painter. He's a musician. They met in a bar. (Don't believe everything your mom tells you! Love finds you were you are- not where she'd like you to be!)

They're ridiculously good looking. They're happy with each other, and oh so adorable together! And we were so blessed to meet them!

Since they are both artists, we felt unleashed with our creativity. To get that yummy image on the right (below), I actually sat in duck poop. TOTALLY worth it.

See what I mean by adorable?!

And we had a ton of fun in the process!

We love these photos, they love these photos & I cannot wait to see what magic we make in October, on their wedding day! ~Naomi

If you didn't get enough, here's their slideshow:

Megan Dullaghan & Scott Barefield- Engagement from Naomi & Samuel Karth on Vimeo.
Photography by Double K
Naomi & Samuel Karth
www.TheKarths.com

Music by Wilco
"Sky Blue Sky"

Melissa & Zech- First Look (Warsaw, IN Wedding Photographer)

2011-06-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

I love it when couples chose to do a first look before their wedding! (I equally love the ones who just have to wait til she's comin' down the aisle! I understand!!) Some reasons to consider a first look are intimacy, your time frame and nervousness.

Melissa and Zech wanted to see each other before the wedding so we could get family photos done. (And it is a good thing, as it started raining after the ceremony!)

Melissa, being the sneaky, fabulous person that she is, had shown Zech her first wedding gown, but had actually switched dresses on him, when she accidentally found the dress of her dreams! His reaction was genuine and priceless:

The Candy Bar (Warsaw, IN Wedding Photographer)

2011-06-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

If this doesn't give you a toothache, I don't know what will! This is a collage I made of Sam's detail shots from the wedding two weeks ago. Melissa, the bride, decided to do a Candy Bar, and it was AWESOME! So I simply had to share! ~Naomi

Melissa & Zech- Wedding Sneak Peek! (Warsaw IN Wedding Photographer)

2011-05-22T04:36:00.000-07:00

It is such a joy to be able to share in wedding days, and I love being able to do a sneak peek of wedding photos right away so that the couple, and their fans, can see what we saw!

Melissa & Zech are such a fun couple, and I hope this little sneak peek gives you a taste of just how much personality they put into their wedding!! (Be sure to check back in a couple weeks for more photos!)

We love you guys and hope you have a fabulous honeymoon! Can't wait to show you what we've captured when you get back! ~Naomi

Megan & Mark- Engagement Session (Fort Wayne, IN Wedding Photographer)

2011-05-21T04:39:00.000-07:00

Two horses, one dog and a whole lotta love!

I have to say this before we start- my husband is the best assistant ever. Not only does he get me my water bottle, carry my camera(s) & bag, give brilliant suggestions and capture moments of pure emotion... but he also lets me take his hands in mine, and say completely crazy things like "Let's shoot this next engagement session like it's a wedding!" So we did!

Mark is one very blessed man, and he knows it. Megan's entire face lights up when she's talking about him. I noticed that from the moment we met her and started talking wedding. These two met while working on a roping team, and I can just imagine him noticing her right from the start! I don't see how anyone could miss her! In addition to being gorgeous, she's sweet, fun & smiles so easily. Since horses had a hand in their matchmaking, it wouldn't have been a fitting engagement session without them! Add in one adorable miniature Australian Shepherd named Spur and we've got ourselves a party!

It's so wonderful to work with couples who are gorgeous, fun and trust us to do our job! We really enjoy our job, and I think it shows!

I love the shot above where he is carrying her- he didn't want her to get her shoes muddy! How cute is that?!

Have I mentioned how adorable they are?! Ha ha! And it was so nice to meet a couple who doesn't argue or fight either! (Sometimes Sam & I wonder if something is wrong with us because we get on so well- so it was good to meet a couple who hasn't had much more than a little arguement in 3 years! Just like us!)

Kissing in the rain can be so much fun! (Did I mention it rained for the better half of this session, but we still rocked it anyway! I love how you can just see it in these photos, a tiny bit!)

Can't wait for the wedding, you two! It is going to be one amazing day!! ~Naomi

Feel free to watch their slideshow too! There are plenty more photos on our website as well!

Megan Martin & Mark Miller- Engagement from Naomi & Samuel Karth on Vimeo.
Photography by Double K

Naomi & Samuel Karth

www.TheKarths.com

Music by Bret Michaels

"All I Ever Needed"

Mr Mulaidh (Warsaw, IN Pet Photographer)

2011-05-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a blog post from when we took a trip up to see Sam's grandpa a few weeks back. I finished this diptych of Mulaidh (pronounced "Moo-lee") and just had to share! He really is a handsome beast- though he does have this odd penchant for Kleenex, and he will snatch them from your hand if given the chance!

MULAIDH, means "darling" in Scottish Gaelic; the breed originated in the Scottish Highlands.

Taylor- Class of 2011 (Warsaw IN Senior Photographer)

2011-05-11T05:12:00.000-07:00

I love photographing seniors.

I love photographing laid-back seniors even more, and Taylor was just that! A fun, easy-going guy, who was great to work with. If only the weather had been as easy! It was sunny, then cloudy, then even sunnier, etc! Of course, my husband Samuel quickly brought me back to reality by reminding me that was why I was getting paid! Thanks, Honey. Ha ha!

This wasn't what I had intended to get, but between my flash not cooperating & the lighting changing so much- I kinda like it:

Sam usually just assists me during senior session- he helps with lighting & carries the extra camera. He caught this shot when I wasn't needing him & I liked it so much it made the final cut!

This was captured with my tiny little pocket camera- LOVE it!

Another pocket camera shot. They aren't perfect, but I love the effect!

All in all, we got some great shots. Best wishes for your future, Taylor! ~Naomi

Mother's Day Giveaway!

2011-04-25T16:54:00.000-07:00

Not sure what to get your Mom for Mother's Day this year? How bout a totally awesome Organic Bloom photo frame? I've got a really cute one, and it doesn't have a home yet, so Samuel & I decided to do a little giveaway!

Here's what the frame looks like- the size is for an 8x10 photo, the color is called Lilypad:

How to win:

Email me a photo of your mother (or if you are a mom, yourself) along with one reason your mom (or you) should win! You may want to check with your mom first- I'm not liable if she doesn't want her photo of FB! Deadline for entries is Friday April 29th 2011, 11:59pm.

Once the photo is uploaded to our Facebook page, suggest our page to your friends & have them "like" our page, then "like" your photo! You have until Friday May 6th 2011 1pm to get votes. The winner will be announced Friday evening!

The photo with the most "likes" wins!

Rules:

Because you gotta have some rules! Only one entry per household please. Ok, so that's only one rule... I think that's enough!

Baby Corie- 3 weeks new! (Fort Wayne, IN Newborn Photographer)

2011-04-24T11:56:00.000-07:00

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this session, as little Miss Corie was older than any newborn I've photographed before. She did such a fabulous job! I still am amused when I look back on the session. Up til now I've had babies that hated being naked, even with a space heater running! Corie seemed to love being naked. She gave us her biggest smiles when she was all cuddled up on the fur, seeming to have the time of her life! Thanks for being such a good sport, Corie, and we hope your family loves these photos! ~Naomi

Naked, and lovin' it!

Does she not have the most gorgeous eyes?!

For all of Corie's photos, please visit our website: www.thekarths.com

31 Blessings

2011-04-23T17:59:00.000-07:00

I turned 31 on Wednesday. I've never been one to hide my age. If there is a slight pause when someone asks me how old I am, it is simply because I am trying to recall my age, not because I have anything to hide! Last year, as I approached 30, I told Samuel I didn't want to see the day in with dread, and we proposed the project of coming up with 30 things to be grateful for. It worked so well, I eagerly made my list this week. Not just blessings, but wisdom I'm glad I have, and little mottos I live by. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed coming up with them. ~Naomi

31 blessings...

1. I'm conscious of my health.

2. I understand love on a level my 18 or even 27 year old self couldn't.

3. I don't take that love for granted.

4. Food is no longer my friend.

5. I've learned to actually like exercise.

6. I can finally use massage as a medical necessity.

7. Josh Groban and Michael Buble have got it wrong- real love is way better than a song!

8. I appreciate chocolate on a whole new level.

9. I wake up in the middle of the night, and my best friend is holding me.

10. I don't know a ton about marriage, but I do know enough about Sam to know we're always going to be one of those couples!

11. Never take oranges for granted either.

12. If you don't like something, change it!

13. You're never too old to change!

14. Sexy is totally in your mind.

15. Remission is a wonderful, beautiful word.

16. Going to the theatre is overrated.

17. My in-laws are wonderful, supportive family, and I'm glad they are in my life.

18. The soundtrack of my life is more beautiful than that of any movie.

19. I know the difference between good friends and great friends.

20. Fear of a task is usually much greater than the actual task.

21. Worry gets you nowhere.

22. Real heroes, like my brothers, are way better than intangible ones.

23. Dreams are necessary to grow.

24. I love what I do.

25. You can never read Jane Eyre too many times.

26. There are many reasons for a good cup of tea.

27. I see the world differently than any one else, and it's a very good thing.

28. The outtakes are sometimes the best moments in life.

29. Practice doesn't always make perfect, but it sure can be fun!

30. My husband is my soul mate, and we have something that is precious and rare.

31. God is real, and He is good.

PS- If you'd like to read about my actual birthday, I wrote about it here.

Laura & Ben- Feb 26th 2011 (Warsaw IN Wedding Photographer)

2011-04-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

Weddings are hard to blog.... simply because I cannot just pick 10 photos! I did that for the Sneak Peek, remember?! And believe me, that was hard! So anyway, here goes!

Laura was born to be a bride. She is so gorgeous, and not even a little tiny flurry of snow was going to ruin the perfect day reserved to be Her's! I don't think I've had a bride so calm and collected, at least on the outside. She was so ready to become Mrs Laborde!

A little note of encouragement from her sisters & bridesmaids. Even as she was walking down the aisle I had the chant of "Go Go, Go Laura!" in my head.

As we were getting ready to head for the first look, I made her stop here because the light and the dress just were perfect for this shot.

Ben and Laura opted to see each other prior to the ceremony, and in her enthusiasm to see Ben, well, she left us in the dust! Ha ha!

Sometimes I don't get to see how good my husband is until after the wedding, when we're sorting and uploading photos. While I was capturing this...

Samuel totally nailed this shot...

I love Moms with cameras!

I love this cute shot Samuel got of the Mannings waiting their turn for family photos.

The flower girls were sisters, and such sweet girls. I can see why they are considered family.

Between the photos and the actual ceremony there was some down time, where some definite "chilling out" took place. This shoe shot from Sam captures that pretty well.

And then it was TIME....

Ben's father is a pastor, so he performed the ceremony. In addition to being a pastor, he is a genuinely funny guy! Gotta love someone who can make an entire room laugh.

Sometimes a photo really does say it all, ha ha, and here is my proof-

I love the mingling of family after a wedding. Nothing quite shows what a wedding is truly about like two families being brought together and caring for the new couple.

Let's keep the receiving line moooooooving!

Laura trying to sneak her shoes back on before the reception. I couldn't stay in high heels for that long either, so I can hardly blame a bride for ditching them! Besides, it always makes for interesting photos.

Making it official...

A hug for a new mom and daughter...

Love, love, love this! Think of each of those bubbles as a blessing or hope from your friends and family. You two are so loved, and I hope every time you look at this photo, you remember that!

I probably wasn't the only one, but I was delighted to see that the Getaway Car was purple too! It was a fitting end!

Enjoy your life together- encourage and pray with each other, and don't forget to play as well! Have fun, be well, and always carry that love in your heart. The love that made you stand at the altar and take each other, never to be apart again. ~Naomi

PS~ For all of their photos, go to their gallery on our website! Thanks!

The Shoe Tree

2011-04-14T16:11:00.000-07:00

Samuel and I learned the value of sometimes getting lost on our honeymoon. We were traveling through Cincinnati, and we needed to be ON the interstate, but instead we were UNDERNEATH it! And we just couldn't seem to find a way to get on... as we wandered around lost, in our little shiny red car, we came upon an incredible selection of art, smack dab underneath the interstate- murals, sculptures and the like! We stopped, and as cars whizzed by above us, we wandered around with our cameras, and promised ourselves we'd never stress out about "getting lost" again.

Almost four years later, and we're still ok with sometime falling off the beaten path. An example would be Tuesday, when we missed our turn to go to his aunt's house.

No big deal, we'll just turn down this random country road & turn around....

and then....

we saw this....

And this is why we don't mind getting lost every once in a while! You just never know what you will find! ~Naomi

Investing in myself

2011-04-08T09:58:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I was able to watch a great web conference about wedding photography by a fairly famous wedding photographer, Jasmine Star. What I took away from it was- to make my business personal... and to invest in myself.

(Getting personal has been happening just this week, with more blog posts & with me trying to get more people involved & invested in our photography.)

So, today I am investing in myself. I cleared my schedule for today & tomorrow, and I am going to spend both of those days in front of the computer. (Sounds like a lot of fun, I know... but!) Jasmine Star is doing a live wedding photography workshop this weekend, and since I couldn't afford her last workshop near us, and this one is right in our budget (F-R-E-E!!!), I'm going to take the time to learn some more.

I have really been wanting to learn more & I am hoping this will be worth the black-out of my weekend. ~Naomi

And, in case you don't really know what I look like, here's a fabulous catch my husband Samuel got the other day of yours truly:

Learning as we go...

2011-04-06T15:46:00.000-07:00

As a baby & child photographer you really have to learn to go with the flow! The most recent session we did was a 3 month session for Justin, and I had this super cute hat my mom had knitted to try out. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that putting a hat on usually meant having to go in the baby carrier, which he really doesn't like! So we ended up with this first:

Mean, evil photographer, trying to make me go bye-bye!

After Mommy calmed him down, we had her put the hat on (much better move!) and soon he was all smiles again!

I have to say though... I love both of these photos! What a slice of life! ~Naomi

To boudie, or not to boudie...

2011-04-06T07:58:00.000-07:00

I (Naomi) shoot boudoir & pin-up style photography. It took me a little while to build up the nerve to talk about this. For some people, this style of photography is completely unacceptable to them. I realize that I might even lose potential clients because of this, but I wanted to feel honest with myself and you. I also wanted to give my current clients and fans the opportunity to see just how diverse our photography interests are. My husband loves photographing birds... I love helping women get in touch with their sexy side. We each of our own little niche!

For the past couple years I have been working very hard to lose weight. I rewarded myself with a boudoir photo shoot when I reached a certain weight goal- and I LOVED it! It was so much fun, and it was also so very liberating! So, with a deep breath, I told my husband I wanted to start offering that style of photography myself. He didn't think I was crazy- in fact, he is so supportive of my ideas I sometimes think he might be the crazy one!

I put the word out for some models, did a couple shoots & we were in business. I have to tell you- I have more fun at a boudoir photo session than I do almost any other! We laugh, we giggle, we get to be women & enjoy ourselves.

I did want to keep our Double K site PG, and respect those who don't wish to view boudoir photography, so I created a different website, and I even use a separate studio name. I offer privacy options for my models & I only use photos that they approve on the site. You are under no obligation to check out my website, but if you are interested, you can find it here www.simplysexystudio.com. (Please note, I'd rate this site PG-13. I don't want to show too much, and many of my models appreciate that less is more anyway.)

I use a female assistant & Sam actually is in NO WAY involved with this side of our business. He didn't want to be, and that just makes one more reason I love him! He does, however, help me design lighting & shoots me when I want to do personal sessions. The following photo is from a pinup style shoot I did for myself.

I completely understand if this isn't your type of photography, but if you are interested, and you've been on the fence about doing it- let me say this: Do. It. Definitely! You won't regret it! ~Naomi

Game... Set... MATCH!

2011-04-05T17:35:00.000-07:00

My husband, Samuel, and I met because of a tennis ball. Yep.

It's a story that can't really be shortened much, but it started with Samuel carrying a tennis ball ("Wilson") around with him. He ended up being known in his neighborhood as "The Tennis Ball Kid". He used the moniker for his online user-name. We met online, and as a result, became pretty good friends. Best of friends, actually. We had so many things in common, but one thing I had and he didn't, was digital cameras. So, one day, I mailed him one of mine. He had need for a creative outlet, and I didn't really NEED two!

Soon he started taking photos of his tennis ball friend. I picked up (or rescued, if you prefer) a stray tennis ball or two in the process and started taking photos of my version of "Wilson" also.

One day we decided that the two tennis balls needed to meet........... you see where I'm going, right?!

Best friends turned into more than just friends, and on our wedding day, "Wilson" was definitely a guest! He even took his place in photos of us!

I could not be happier for deciding to pick up a stray ball or two... for I ended up meeting my soul mate as a result! I love you so much, Sweetie! ~Naomi

In the photos above, the first is Samuel's current camera, focusing on a Christmas ornament I painted for him- of Wilson, of course! The second shot is a detail of the ornament.