Self Care Tips for RIGHT NOW

2020… wow, I don’t even know what to say. Things are changing in big ways and we are being tested in what is truly important. For me, the anxiety and worries of the world have been getting a little bit much so I’ve stepped up the self care which made me realise just how IMPORTANT this is as we navigate these unprecedented and challenging times.

Here goes… If these are new to you I hope they help bring some solace and time out from the uncertainty.

1. GO OUTSIDE. Get your bare feet onto the Earth. Take a deep breath. Close your eyes and listen to the sounds of nature. Soak up sunshine. Hug a tree. (I’m not kidding) It WILL make you feel better.

2. BREATHE. So many of us are not breathing deeply enough. Our stressed lives make for shallow breathing. Stop now and take three slow DEEP breaths. Feel your body start to uncoil. Your nervous system will thank you.

3. MOVE. My favourite is to put on a banging playlist and dance around like an idiot. The endorphins (and giggles) are immediate. This works especially well with young kids at home - it may mean you’re dancing to Frozen or the Wiggles (god help you) but it’s movement all the same. If running is your thing, do a quick lap around the block. If the kids are at home and you can’t get away pull out the yoga mat and just do a few stretches. You will feel better I promise.

4. GRATITUDE. Gratitude fixes bloody everything in my book. ‘No matter how bad things are they could always be worse’ my Great Grandma used to tell me. She taught me to always look for the good. Before you go to bed (or anytime for that matter) pull out a piece of paper and write everything you are grateful for. There are a lot of blessings to count and sometimes we forget just how lucky we are when we get caught up in fear.

5. SWITCH OFF. We have never been more connected to the rest of the world as much as we are now. Our 24 hour news channels + apps, social media scrolling, Facebook rants and group chats all make for a LOT of noise. We are not just feeling our own worries but taking on the stress and emotional load of everyone and everything we consume online. I’ve taken 48 hours off from the social media world and already my mind is so much clearer. The benefits of being so connected are immense as we can help support each other but it’s also good to give yourself some distance sometimes to reset. You can then return with a much more positive state of mind and spread some love instead of adding to the fear.

These are my main go-to’s to feel better… Have I missed something that works for you? Please feel free to add below in the comments. Would love to hear! We’ve gotta pull together and support each other through, sending SO much love.

Jodi x

Dreams That Exist Right Here

A few images from a recent shoot with beautiful Yasmin on Tallow Beach, Byron Bay.

I don’t ever crave extraordinary moments anymore.

Just small, gentle hums of beauty streaming from below, above, and beyond simply from paying attention.

Sound. Light. Shadow.

Art. Warmth. The night.

The morning.

Dreams that are not faraway but exist right here - already in my days, hands and heart.

Victoria Erikson

Unleash Your Inner Sex Kitten - Boudoir Photoshoot Tips from Covergirl Emily Scott

One of the most nerve wracking things about a boudoir photoshoot can be knowing what to do in front of the camera… Sure we use music, a glass of champagne and some tried and tested tricks to help you loosen up and get in the mood but a few tips from a famous covergirl wouldn’t go astray am I right?!

Emily Scott has graced the covers and pages of magazines around the world from Playboy to FHM to MAXIM. I couldn’t think of anyone better to ask about how to bring your A-game to a boudoir photo shoot and unleash your inner sex kitten…

Gorgeous Em has graciously shared these tips with us… Teamed up with some shots we took on my last trip to Sydney. Enjoy! x

“Be silly and have fun, be curious and play with your hair, your curves…”

“Act as if you are the sexiest actress/pop star/writer/whoever, in the world... it works!”

“How? Think about sex. Think sexy thoughts and your body will follow ;)”

“Bend your body and keep moving, stretch, dance a round a bit, use the room, remember you’ll edit out the ones that don’t work later and keep only the best pictures so you may as well express and experiment…”

“Discuss what you’re looking for and feeling with Jodi! Because a simple conversation
can put the mind at ease.”

“Dream big for yourself. Affirm that you will allow yourself to enjoy the focus and time
on the shoot being about you.”

“Be brave and bare the booty!
Why?
Because it feels good to go beyond our natural inhibition and create something,
even if nobody else is going to see it but you. 

Happy shooting!
Emily x”

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A huge thank you to Emily Scott for her warmth, fun and generosity in sharing these tips! Are you feeling inspired?! There is no time like the present, #YOLO after all! These photos were shot at the incredible Old Clare Hotel in Sydney where I often host hotel mini-shoots - the perfect introduction to boudoir!

See you soon,

Jodi x

Into the Storm

Storm season is here... I can hear the rumbling! I loved this shoot with beautiful Holly at The Spit on the Gold Coast - the black clouds were rolling in but we braved it anyway. We got absolutely saturated but had so much fun and ended up with these moody, raw and powerful shots. Enjoy x

And then the storm actually hit! I love the blurred focus and mood of shooting in the torrential rain!

If you’re keen to shoot outdoors rest assured I will not make you brave cyclonic weather if you’re not up for it! We always check the weather leading up to the day and set a time to make a call on whether to proceed or not (this depends on if you have hair and make up booked, how far you’re travelling etc)

Shooting in nature definitely adds another raw dimension to the final photos and I love how unpredictable it can be!

If you’re keen to chat about ideas for your own shoot give me a shout!

Until next time,
Jodi x

Why I Love Shooting Boudoir in Hotels...

1. It’s an escape! An escape from the every day, an escape from your usual surroundings. Getting out of your comfort zone (literally) can help you tap into the mood of a shoot.

2. You don’t have to worry about tidying up! Need I say more?!

3. It turns the boudoir shoot experience into an indulgent treat for yourself or fun getaway for the girls. either way, win win!

4. You can match the decor to the mood you are going for. Luxe? Versace. Minimalist? Alila. Trendy? QT. Cosy? Spicers. Sexy? Capella.

5. Robe life.

And of course, now that international travel seems a while off now is the perfect time to enjoy staycations in your own town or city. Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Byron Bay… so many gorgeous getaway options!

Get the girls together and set a date. If this year has taught us anything it’s that you have to make the most of things while you can!

I will be releasing my Hotel Mini-Shoot dates soon for Sydney, Brisbane and Gold Coast. They are the perfect introduction to boudoir photography and a gorgeous treat for yourself. Make sure you are on my mailing list to be the first to hear the dates!

Jodi x

Between the Sheets...

When inspiration strikes you gotta roll with it… A minute between the sheets came up with this fun little series… Thank you beautiful Eden for bringing your joy!

I love how much fun we have on shoots! If you’re nervous about doing a boudoir shoot I totally get it… It’s out of most people’s comfort zones but I am yet to meet anyone who hasn’t thoroughly enjoyed the experience!

Check out the FAQ page for more information or reach out for a chat, I’d love to connect and capture beautiful images for you to treasure forever.

These were shot at my home studio in Byron Bay, Australia but shoots are available world wide depending on availability. To get on my mailing list to learn about upcoming travel dates click here!

And whatever you’re up to today, make sure you bring in some joy!

Lots of love x

Wild and Willing Heart

Beautiful Iselin contacted me with her idea… taking our boudoir shoot out into nature and shooting with a horse. Would I be keen? OMG yes! I had always wanted to do a shoot with horses. I had flashbacks to Barbie and her equestrian outfits so on the day I donned my black jodhpurs and black leather boots. Camera bag on. Ready.

Iselin and I arrived at the site to meet two majestic creatures - Banjo and Kona. They were big. It had been a while since I’d been around horses… I’d forgotten just how magnificent they were. And tall.

Haley from White Horse Lodge suggested we take them to the river and shoot there. It would be a bath and a photoshoot in one. She looked at my outfit. Turns out Haley runs re-wilding retreats. I looked down at my outfit - I felt like a city slicker.

We led the horses down to the river. The sun had passed over and was now behind the trees. We were the only ones there and it was magic. I took off my boots. And pants. And proceeded to do the shoot in my G-banger. It was a challenge shooting in water up to these incredibly tall creatures but it was amazing… I loved every second.

Iselin was the picture of calm in leading them and guiding them through… holding tranquil poses while Banjo and Kona had other ideas - playing in the water, splashing around, walking off. Can you tell? I think she did an incredible job!

A HUGE thank you to Haley from White Horse Lodge for allowing us to shoot with her beautiful boys and for my own little re-wilding afternoon. I hope you enjoy the photos! Scroll down to learn more of Iselin and read one of her beautiful poems…

Iselin is a yoga teacher, raw cake maker and poet… I can’t post this without sharing one of her beautiful pieces…

“I want to be that person who looks you in the eye and that really meets you. I hope to be the girl who keeps her feet firmly planted on the ground beneath her, and that when you think of me, you think of softness and peace. That you feel contentment; not suppressed emotions or pain that has been stored in dark corners of my being, because it never got my undivided attention.

I want to be her who remembers to meet herself in the mirror before she runs out the door in the morning, and who welcomes herself back every evening. Who knows when it is time to pause. Who has learnt to breathe deeply.

I want to be the woman with a warm embrace and a willing heart; who speaks of truth with her actions, who feels like truth.
I hope I always find it in me to appreciate the sunlight as it flickers through the window in the early morning hours, even during times there’s a storm raging outside. Especially then.

I hope that when I wake up alone, I will feel content; and when I don’t, remember the ways in which I can come back to myself; because I love being in my own company; because I know who I am.
I want to be her who creates time to sit in silence. The one who always always listens.

I want to hold my friends close, to kiss their faces as often as I can, and tell them “I love you”, as I feel how my body is filled with so much love. And perhaps most of all that is what I wish for; I wish for love to flood my veins and for my entire being to be the wild, wonderful and powerful embodiment of love.”

If you would like to find more of Iselin’s heartfelt prose you can check out her website - www.dharmatales.com or her instagram HERE

If you’d like to give me my next photo shoot challenge get in touch!

Jodi x

From Her to Eternity

I hadn’t brought music to the shoot like I normally would.

It didn’t feel right to make noise on this sacred land.

This morning all we had was stillness.

I would like to acknowledge the Arakwal people who are the traditional custodians of this land.

I would also like to pay my respects to Elders past and present of the Bundjalung nation.

A huge thank you to Birralee for trusting me with this shoot. You, my dear, are magic!

If you want to create magic of your own and have beautiful memories to capture your feminine essence get in touch here x

Fast Cars + Faux Fur with Burlesque Star Nicole Melrose

I've been lucky enough to work with beautiful Nicole on two occasions now...  We first met at the great Peter Coulson's photography workshop in Melbourne where I got to learn studio lighting and shoot some lingerie glamour with Nicole. 

On her last trip to the Gold Coast Nicole contacted me to shoot, the universe aligned and we squeezed in an afternoon of fun! 

Being a short notice shoot we didn't have a location in mind... I wanted to try something different and I know Nicole is always up for a challenge so we ended up on a rooftop carpark with a brand new E-Class Mercedes Benz - something different indeed! 

Nicole Melrose works as an actress, model, jazz singer and burlesque performer. She has a studied background in dance (ballet, jazz, hip-hop and contemporary) and performing arts (film, theatre and television) which she has acquired through local and international training. Nicole Melrose has been modelling since 2004 and has appeared in various magazines so I thought who better to ask for some advice on how to bring your A-game to a photoshoot?! 

I love Nicole’s advice and her take on performing for the camera…

“When I’m in front of a camera I feel as if I am being given permission to do or behave in any way or role I desire. Depending on the attire and direction I am given, my performance will sway. To me it’s a freedom that I rarely get to indulge in, in daily life. I’m able to become the child again that used to play games and fantasize about being a princess, warrior, animal or anything, it’s limitless. It is excruciatingly nerve-racking (for me) before I am made up and playing but I keep in mind that the playground isn’t far away. Your mind goes to a magical place which leaks through your eyes and into the photograph. I think that is a step to creating a beautiful picture. Working with Jodi was wonderful too. Working with any photographer that you are at ease with and can communicate openly with I think is another key step to creating an encapsulating photograph.”

Hope you like our pics from the shoot! Have you always wanted to do a photoshoot in a car? This was such a great learning experience for me and I’m so keen to do it again! Get in touch if you are keen! All jackets and boots from this shoot are part of my complimentary wardrobe selection.

If you want to check out Nicole’s amazing performances you can follow her on Instagram HERE or you can find her at www.nicolemelrose.com

Until next time,

Jodi x

Self Love with Sigrid Tasies

Do you struggle with self love? Did you know there are people who can help you with your self love journey? To teach you techniques to transform your inner dialogue & self-talk, develop skills to increase self-awareness and self-love, implement healthier habits and let go of self-limiting beliefs, victim states and fear! 

Well this, ladies and gentlemen, is one those lovely people - Sigrid Tasies. Sigrid is a Self-Empowerment Coach, Author and Yoga Instructor.  I loved meeting Sigrid, creating these gorgeous images for her new program and talking all things SELF LOVE and EMPOWERMENT! 

"I feel deep passion about advocating the practice of unapologetic self-love as a way to increasing happiness, health and success, to create a life that we LOVE.

My work supports thousands of people while I travel the world facilitating transformational workshops and retreats, creating powerful coaching programs and conscious media content, and working one on one with people that seek to be the most empowered and happy version of themselves, like I imagine you might be."

We’ve all heard of “self-love” but what does that really mean?

How can we understand, accept and honour ourselves to the highest of our capacity? And how can this help us transform all areas of our life?

“…As many psychology studies attest, self-love and compassion are key for mental health and well-being, keeping depression and anxiety at bay.” – Medical News Today

We live in a society where insecurity is encouraged more than self confidence, we are pressured to be perfect and to think of all the things we need to “fix” as opposed to all the ones we can embrace, it seems normal to suffer from low self-esteem, self-doubt, lack of confidence, anxiety, depression…

Also often, we are taught to seek approval and comfort in others instead of within ourselves, creating unhealthy attachments and very little self-awareness.

But we didn’t come into this world to play small and second-guess ourselves… We deserve to live the life we dream of.

Sigrid's SELF-LOVE LIKE A BOSS program is a course for women like you, who are ready to let go of all of that and to start feeling fully empowered.

If you're curious to find out more check out Sigrid's website HERE - you can even book an introductory call to find out more about her coaching. For daily inspiration you can follow this beautiful soul at @sigridtasies

Here's to more self love all around... x