Erin and Nick | Engaged | Auckland Engagement Photographer

I had the pleasure of photographing Erin and Nick. They’re engaged, and adorable. We had a fantastic time at the Auckland Domain. Did I say they’re adorable?

 

 

 

An Amanda Weekend

I’ve totally had a ‘me’ weekend, went to the beauty therapist for some papering, went to Milly’s Kitchen to get some cupcake decorating supplies, purchased treats from the supermarket, spent some time with my camera. Bliss.

Yesterday, I made friends with a stranger at a parking meter – apparently I’m too friendly like that. I never stay in contact with people that I meet like that, they’re just the people that you meet briefly in a moment in your life and they pass you by – just like the moments, the minutes, the hours and so on. I guess that’s why I really love photography, an opportunity to capture a moment so you can keep it in a box or in a little space of your own. forever.

Today, my little dog Portia went to the groomers. They gave us back a new version of the same dog.

I just made my new website live!

*does happy dance*

Check it out! www.amandakirk.co.nz

xx Amanda

Day with Steph!

Steph agreed to be a model for me – how could I resist! I’ve been sick for the past couple of days so only got to start editing this afternoon – but here’s a look in to what I captured during my time with the beautiful Steph!

 

Hello spring, I’ve missed you.

Tomorrow I’m planning to shoot a model in the cherry blossoms, she asked me what she should wear and I told her to ‘dress like spring’. Although I love the idea of being snuggled up on the couch with a good book, a hot chocolate and the rain pounding down on the roof. It just doesn’t do it for me. So I have to say, I’m rather excited about spring! So here’s my 5 reasons why spring rocks:

1. Everyone is in a WAY better mood.
   Not sure if you’ve noticed but I certainly have – the weather is getting better, people are getting warmer, people are generally in a better mood.
2. Daylight saving starts.
   I’m all for more daylight hours; it means more time to exercise, walk the dog, SHOOT PHOTOS. Love it.
3. Asparagus and Strawberries.
   It’s the time of year when the seasonal fruit and vegetables start to come out!! I love asparagus and strawberries and mostly all of the summer fruits and vegetables.
4. More opportunities to shoot outside!
   The light in spring is beautiful; crisp and golden.
5. The sky is blue in the morning.
   I love looking out the window next to my bed when I wake up to be greeted by a pretty blue sky!

Speaking of the window next to my bed, this morning when I woke up I found, sitting beneath the window my kitty Floss playing with the power cord for my hair straightners!!

Here’s a picture I snapped of little miss innocent sitting next to the power cord in question, after I told her off.

30 Days Of Me – Day 4

Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have

There are so many things I wish I didn’t do.  I wish I didn’t drink so much coke, rub my eyes, go to bed with my make up on, constantly check my phone.

I wish I didn’t constantly crave meat.

I’m a vegetarian but not by choice – I started developing food allergies and decided to cut a lot of things from my diet. So I don’t eat beef, pork, chicken or lamb. Pretty much if it’s ever had a pulse I won’t eat it. The more I think about meat it repulses me and when I was a meat eater I couldn’t bring myself to make the connection that the piece of meat the tray at the supermarket was slaughtered for my consumption…I thought of it like any other consumer product. I’m not saying that everyone should be a vegetarian, but personally I can no longer eat meat myself.

but I still CRAVE meat….I wish I didn’t. So.  badly.

I want a burger, I want a pie, I want a freaking piece of steak.

I won’t – but that doesn’t stop me wanting it.

30 Days of Me – Day 3

Day 03- A picture of you and your friends

The beauty of generally hanging out behind the camera is that photos of myself and my friends are few and far between. So I’m not going to post a pic of my friends and I, mostly because my friends are a part of me that are special and I don’t want to plaster their pictures all over the internet.

but since this is WAY more interesting with a picture, here’s a pic of two of my really close friends – I see them every day and love them with all my heart.

30 Days of Me – Day 2

Day 02- The meaning behind your Blog name

I’ve tried to type this sentence about five times now. I’ve always loved Alice in Wonderland, and Alice, beautiful as she is attends a rather defining teaparty. My blog is called Teaparty, the address is girl at a teaparty. I guess in my mind I think of myself as Alice – my life is my rather defining teaparty.

There’s more to the story – I typed it up and read it. twice.

But internet – I can’t tell you. It’s like opening up a piece of my soul that I can’t take back again.

So for now, we’ll leave it at that.

30 Days of Me – Day 1

Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

Picture by Pauline Stockhausen

The recent picture of me was taken today at a run down house, abandoned and unloved. North of Auckland. In my wedding dress because I’ve been dying to ‘trash the dress’ since before my wedding day.

15 “Interesting” facts about me

1. My hair is almost black but I dye it blonde because my skin is so pastey and I look like some kind of weird vampire lover if it’s my natural colour.
2. I got married when I was 22.
3. I am an only child. Trust me, it explains a lot.
4. I moved away from my hometown, but I still miss my friends.
5. Every now and then I cut off all my long hair and then let it grow again.
6. I have a Maltese/ Papillion dog, and I love her.
7. I have always wanted a pony.
8. Most of my favorite foods I can’t eat.
9. I grew up in the countryside.
10. I want to be a professional photographer.
11. I love to turn the radio up and sing at the top of my lungs in my car. It’s the ultimate expression of cool.
12. I watch too much TV.
13. I like to bake, mostly cupcakes but I like to bake in general. I’m not as in to cooking as I am into baking.
14. I have food allergies – the only meat I can eat right now is chicken and even that’s pushing it so I’m almost vegan, not quite but almost.
15. I hate shows like Family Guy and Jackass – I don’t think glorifying stupidity is necessary in society.

30 days of me

I’ve noticed this keeps popping up on my twitter account, people I’m following keep posting with the hashtag #30daysofme. So this is my me too post, because I don’t want to miss out.

So here’s what my 30 days of me will consist of:

Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
Day 02- The meaning behind your Blog name
Day 03- A picture of you and your friends
Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have
Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to
Day 06- Favorite super hero and why
Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why
Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days
Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad
Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends
Day 12- How you found out about Blogger and why you made one
Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Day 14- A picture of you and your family
Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play
Day 16- Another picture of yourself
Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have
Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them
Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future
Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else
Day 23- Something you crave for a lot
Day 24- A letter to your parents
Day 25- What I would find in your bag
Day 26- What you think about your friends
Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned
Day 30- Your favorite song.

All the pretty girls

My good friends kindly let me shoot their two beautiful girls at a local beach. Not only did I have the best time hanging out with them we got some great shots.

 

Home is where the heart is.

I’m not 100 percent sure why but I hate being sick, or remotely under the weather. It’s not that bad but I don’t like the fact that I can’t go to work, don’t have the energy to do my hair or make-up or walk the dog.

Today, I’ve been stuck in bed with some kind of illness – I’m not sure what and it doesn’t seem bad enough for me to go to a medical professional and pay for the privilege of being told  ‘get lots of rest’, something I knew myself. On days like this I have two companions who don’t leave my side

Portia – a beautiful Maltese / Papillion who is now 2 years old. She hasn’t left my side since we went and picked her out and drove home with her on my lap, she wasn’t much bigger than my hand. She’s cured my loneliness at times and for that I’m truly grateful.

And

Floss – a beautiful grey cat that we rescued from the SPCA, she’s beautiful, enjoys cuddles and takes a while to warm to new people.

Here’s Portia she’s very eager and looks at me like this whenever I move with Floss in the background sleeping and purring on my bed while I try to rest.

Technorati Tags: Personal Portia Floss

New Lens and Portrait Shoot

Photography is revealing parts of me I didn't know existed. Not only am I turning my hobby into a skill and (hopefully and eventually) a profession, it's giving me the ability to connect with myself and my family. It's like having something inside that comes out under perfect circumstances like a blooming flower that looks neutral as a bud but suddenly reveals stunning colour and shape. That's photography for me.

Today I was fortunate enough to photograph my Sister-in-law and Brother-in-law, I've known them since before they got married and they haven't had any photos as a couple since their beautiful wedding. I was particularly excited because yesterday I purchased a new lens for my kit, a Nikkor 50mm 1.4D, I was incredibly keen to try it and it didn't disappoint. I can't share the images but I took a few random shots on low aperture while we were kicking around North Head.

Becoming

Like the seasons change, Teaparty is now my photoblog.