M o n d a y ' s M u s i n g .

Oh Monday! We meet once again. You seem to come by quicker than any other day.....!

Todays musing's are all about the old D.I.Y. Something I wish I do more of.

1) Numero Uno on the list is this cool 'I Love You' Garland. The two G's - Glitter and Garlands!
2) I bet you cant guess what this next Pom Pom Garland is made of.... A little bit of crepe paper and also Coffee filters! Love love Vintage feel.
3) The last garland - I promise! Love the bright colours and patterns on this love heart garland.
4) This next DIY project is a very cute idea for Valentines Day.
5) Party hats are adorable and I love these ruffled Party hats! Can just imagine a gorgeous wee styled shoot with these as a prop.
6) I have been looking for something like this for ages for engagement shoots. Something a little bit different and a little bit cute.
7) I love the colour Orange in photos. Especially against crisp, clear backgrounds. When I saw this cool tutorial for decorating glassware, I couldn't believe my eyes.
Especially love the bunting. So easy but effective!!!

A.x

Ambrosia, Ukeleles and Mud.

Hi Lovelies.

As I mentioned in my last post, I was looking forward to a Family dinner that was happening on Saturday night and I was going to make a dessert to take along. Well after looking over recipes and agonizing over what people would like etc etc, We decided to go for the never fail dessert that is Ambrosia. We weren't disappointed!! It was delicious.

Mixed summer berries were enough to excite me. YUM!

Chocolate to sprinkle on top.

We chose to use passionfruit yoghurt which of course you mix with cream. In go the fruits, marshmallows and Pineapple lumps :)

Once everything is mixed together, sprinkle the Ambrosia with chocolate and garnish with a few berries.

And there you have a dessert which everyone is sure to enjoy! Possibly the most easiest dessert on the planet. So good!!!

Went off roading with my Brother, his Girlfriend, my Partner and my Dad on Sunday, which was a lot of fun!! We went to Wairoa Gorge and had a drive around and then came across a Mountain Bike comp so we stopped and watched that for a while. Was a beautiful day. I also started learning the ukelele on Saturday. I have always wanted to learn and my Mum's partner plays, so he sat down with me and taught me a few notes etc. I think I picked it up pretty well for a first go.


Here's a video of a majority of the photos off my camera from the weekend. It was a great weekend!!


A.x

Fridays Favourite Things.

Hi Lovelies.

As I am writing this, I am listening to Demi Lovato's new song, Skyscraper. Girls got talent! It has been a good week for me :) Had a couple of photos in two separate local Newspapers and also Photographed at an event last night. Always a great way to meet new people and create new connections.

Looking forward to the weekend and hopefully the lovely sunshine sticks around!!

My Favourite things this week:

1) My lover will tell you that I have a slightly concerning attraction to all things ribbon....and I swooned when I saw this adorable handmade ribbon. Super cute!!!
2) One day I will own a house with prints like these throughout it. I have been a fan for so long and one day I will have them all!!
3) The creative creatures from Sass&Peril have made a collection of handmade Pillows. I couldn't resist the Foxy Fox.
4) Valentines Day has been and gone for the year but I always seem to find cute ideas when Im not looking for an Idea!! Always the way.... Anyway I thought this Valentines Lightbulb was something so different and if I presented my boyfriend this, I think he would definitely get a wee chuckle out of it. Also its always nicer when the other half makes you something rather than get all materialistic....Well thats how I feel anyway. I would love to give or receive something like this.
5) The thing I am most looking forward to this weekend, is a Family dinner we are having on Saturday night. A get together for my beautiful Mother and Grandmother for their birthdays. I thought of making a dessert to take along and have been looking for scrummy ideas and I came across this gorgeous Custard Tart. Gosh it looks good! I doubt my dessert will look this good....but I will let you know!!

Those are my favourite things for the week :) I hope you all have had a great week and have a nice, relaxing weekend.

Im looking forward to a few quiet ones with the Fam.

Take care.
A.x

B e l a t e d M o n d a y ' s M u s i n g .

Monday has been and gone and I didn't get the chance to do my Monday's Musing!
So this weeks musing has been influenced by my obsession with Etsy and online shopping/browsing...... Every item today is from the Etsy website and they are all props that are on my never ending wish list.

Part 1:

1) A gorgeous idea for not only an engagement shoot but also a wee prop for a Wedding. Personalized Embroidery. Could also make a sweet Wedding present for that person that has everything!
2)I got so excited when I found these! Retro soda bottles would be a super cute prop for an engagement shoot. The cool red colour along with some funky straws would be perfect.
3) Not your typical chalk board. I think it would make a nice wall decor as well as being an awesome prop.
4) Possibly my favorite find lately. Map Paper Ornaments. I think theres something romantic about maps.... Good for those couples who live or have lived long distance or those couple from different countries.
5) The little kid coming out in me here. Through some colorful feathers in the kids hair and you have a quirky and different styled shoot.
6) Love birds. Cute. Enough said.


Props are the perfect way to become comfortable in front of the camera and also good to make your photos unique. I love coming up with ideas for clients and also love hearing what people have thought for themselves. When a portrait session has been a creative collaboration between myself and the clients, it's the most satisfying!!!

7) Getting Hitched Bunting Flags. Little pop of yellow is so pleasing to the eye.
8) This headband is do die for. You must look at her other work. Its hard to believe that the yummy treats arent real....I would still be tempted to give them a wee nibble just to make sure!
9) Monkey ears hat. Perfect prop and perfect expression on that adorable face! Love it.
10) and lastly.....some Retro Popcorn bags. Would actually probably go quite nicely with the soda bottles I mentioned earlier.

So there you have it. Feel free to donate any funky props you find or have to me! :)

A. x

One of my Favourite Faces.

Hi Lovelies.

Hope everyone had a great weekend! I had an awesome weekend. I attended the Upper South Island Regional One act play festival Final. Was a great night and the play that my little brother was in got overall winner of that round and best youth play. So they are are now in the final, against other plays from all over NZ! Very exciting and I cant wait to Photograph them performing in the Theatre Royal.

I had to share this wee girl with you all. She is by far one of my favorite people to photograph.
When I was studying - I used her as my model for my final exhibition pieces and she was amazing! I dont know what it is about her......She's such a crazy, full of energy type of girl and yet when I photograph her, I get such calm and serene looks from her. She is always a pleasure to Photograph. SHe was also performing in the One act Festival in the weekend and thats a photograph I took just after she had her make up and hair done. Those eyes get me every time!!

Part of my final exhibition. I did a piece inspired by "I never saw another Butterfly" - Which is a collection of art and poetry done by Jewish children in concentration camps during the war. I did the play once and it stuck in my head from then on. I was so happy with how my pieces ended up. She was the perfect model!

A.x

Fridays Favourite Things.

Hello!

Been a little slack on the blog front this week but here are my favourite things this week :)

1) These licourice allsort wall decor are almost good enough to take a bite!

2) Gorgeous Orange Parasouls are putting me in the mood for summer time.

3) A friend of mine showed me this awesome website that make the coolest temporary tattoos.

4) Number four is my favourite of the favourite things and you will need to click on the link HERE to see the amazing work of Jaime Beck and Kevin Berg in full force. Its called 'cinemagraphs'- moving photography. Now these arent your usual GIFs.....These are elegant and perfectly done. A must see.

5) Never can resist a cute camera necklace! They make something for everyone though. From city-scape pendants to little Kitten pendants. They are adorable!

6) and the last one for the day filled me with little bubbles of excitement and I may have even let out a little "eeepppp!" when I came across these little log cushions. If only the little child was included.......He kind of completes the whole image.

I hope you have all had a great week and enjoy your weekend. Im house sitting with my partner for a few weeks and I have an action packed weekend planned. Bit of Photographing on Saturday night and gift making and buying for my dearest Mummy, whos birthday is on Monday :)

A. x

Weekend Adventures!

Hi Lovelies!

Well Winter has well and truly arrived and it is magical. A Friend of mine organised a Photo expedition in the weekend to Cobb Valley. I had never been there before and wasn't to sure what to expect. Its a part of the Kahurangi National Park and it is Beautiful!!!! There was a good amount of snow around and the views when we got to the top of the hill were breathtaking.

LOVE the colouring within the Photos. I had a Blast. Found a super cute location also for a photos shoot I have up my sleeve, so watch this space. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend,
A. x

Message Booth - The new Photo Booth??

Hi Lovelies.

I came across this today and loved it! The creative creatures from Hello Supper 8 have done a video where the guests expressed their well wishes by writing on chalkboards, speaking and dancing. Instead of the final product being a bunch of photos, the couple were left with this hilarious video!
I loved it and think that its a great idea!!!

Ashley & Drew's Message Booth from Hello Super 8 on Vimeo.

Sit back and have a look. I love seeing people of all ages getting up and getting into the spirit of things.

A. x

M o n d a y ' s M u s i n g .

Hi Lovelies.

"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck." - Emma Goldman.

Gosh, I love Flowers! I love both receiving and giving (but mainly receiving!) Flowers. I have been doing a lot of research as always and I am always taken over by the feeling of romance when I see a beautiful bunch of flowers. I swear if I wasn't a Photographer, my next occupation would be a Florist! Here are just a few of my favs that I have seen lately...

1) Beautiful Pastel Pinks -

2) Rich, Deep colouring, that contrasts so nicely again a crisp, white gown -

3) Yummy Pinks & Purples -

4) Not only did I love the Flowers but also the Gorgeous style of the Bride & Groom -

5) Purple, Pink, Yellow, Peach, Blue & Green -

6) Colours so Yummy , I want to take a bite! -

7) Simple and Romantic -

8) I love the soft touch of the dark coloring in this bunch -

9) Whats not to like! Love the colour and the love heart shape -

I have a wee shout out also! If you are ever needing a bunch of flowers for a loved one or for any special occasion, you should defnitely go see the lovely Ladies at Earthbloom Florists. They will make sure your needs are met. I got flowers for my Mummy from them for Mothers day and the bunch was Devine and also my little Brother got his Girlfriends Ball corsage from them also. They really do a wonderful job and are lovely people. Check out their Website here.
I hope the Monday-itis is wearing off!!

A. x

Dreaming Weddings.

Hi Lovelies.

So Dreaming Weddings. Usually means dreaming of happy, blissful, romantic days where you cry tears of joy and happiness. Not in my case. Recently I have been having what i can only describe as Wedding Nightmares. I literally wake up in sweats.

So far the dreams have consisted of:

a) Turning up late to a Wedding, extremely un prepared and wearing the most sluty dress ever known to man kind...
b) Having a Wedding party that were a bunch of rebels, who wont listen to a word I say, which resultes in me getting no photos at all and instead spending my time arguing with them all.
c) Trying to get to a location before the sun sets and never being able to get there. Resulting in a very un happy bride. Its kind of the same kind of feeling where you are trying to run in a dream but ya legs wont work....
d) and finally the worst ever situation......Taking a whole days worth of Wedding Photos and being really happy with my efforts, only to get home to find that my memory card is empty....

Crazy, Crazy situations! I wake up covered in sweat and feeling sick to my stomach. Now I can asure you all that I am nothing like this in real life. I am extremely punctual and organised. I am always early. I think it is a little part of my subconscious freaking out for me as Wedding season readily approaches.

I am so looking forward to what lies a head of me and am ready for any sort of challenge. I think the dreams are preparing me for the ultimate "worst Case Scenario.'

I am happy to put up with these Nightmares because the satisfaction when I wake up and realise its all a dream is so worth all the stress :)

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend + Nightmare free nights.

A. x

Onesies, murder and a dancing fish....

Hi Lovelies.

Last Friday I attended the New Zealand Theatre Federation's One Act play Festival. It was held at The Playhouse Theatre, which if you ever get the chance, you should definitely go and check it out. Amazing atmosphere and scrummy pizza! Here's the link to their website: http://www.playhousecafe.co.nz/

Anyway it was a fantastic night and the competition was tight. Coming from a Theatre background I love photographing the behind the curtain moments, the anticipation and also the action. There is nothing like the feeling of adrenaline that builds up right before a performance.

There were three plays that got through to the Regionals and they were all put together by Dramatix Theatre company. My little Brother was in one of the plays that got through.

It was such an awesome night and I cant wait for the Upper South Island Regional Finals which are happening on the 23rd of July. I will be there once again with my Camera, capturing all that I can. One of the photos I took ended up in my local paper which is always cool :)

I will leave you with some of the photos from the night.

A. x