Cycles + Seasons
Since starting my business, I and it, have evolved. We are all constantly changing and my shoots and offerings continue to reflect that.
I want to help women connect back into themselves and their power to remember how truly magnificent we are. The creatrixes of the universe. Oh you know, no biggie. Like everything in nature we are cyclical. In a constant state of death and rebirth. Our menstrual cycles being the most obvious example of this.
Having your own business is one of the biggest challenges and I’m finally understanding that everything works in much better flow if I am led by my seasons.
The best introduction I received to this concept was a podcast episode of Gina Torres’ This Is Womanhood with Jess Sawyer. She spoke of our cyclical nature and associating each stage of cycle with the weather seasons. (CLICK HERE if you want to listen)
Why I am telling you all this? Because it is the perfect thing to take into account when planning your boudoir shoot! I have always been pretty upbeat and nice to myself but I would often find myself crying and tantruming in my wardrobe having “nothing to wear” and “looking disgusting in everything”. It was my darling partner Grant that gently suggested to me this was happening at the same time every month and did I think it could be PMT? What?! I hadn’t even made the connection!! Once I knew, it was like I’d been given the key to my moods! I knew there was nothing wrong - it was just my pre-menstrual hormones talking smack.
Have you noticed how you change over the course of the month? Your moods, body, feelings?
Do you take this into account when you’re planning things?
Relating our menstrual cycle to the seasons is one of the easiest ways to acknowledge and understand how to honour and be gentle with ourselves…
For a thorough and eloquent explanation I recommend listening to the podcast linked above however if you just want my Cliffs Notes here they are!
Winter - bleeding. What do you normally want to do in winter? Snuggle up, rest, eat warm, nourishing foods, hot baths etc. Not really in the mood to do much.
Spring - woo hoo! Winter is over! The flowers are starting to bloom, days are getting longer - starting to feel lighter and brighter.
Summer - ovulation. It’s hot, tunes are playing, beach is calling. Feeling fabulous and sexy af.
Autumn - ah crap. Summer is over and winter is on its way again. I’m not ready for summer to end! This is when your progesterone levels peak and you get all those awesome pre-menstrual symptoms.
So, of course, I write this as it relates to me and my cycle and my interpretation. The best way for to know your body best is to start taking notice and tracking changes in your body over the course of the month. I use an app called Clue and monitored my changes for 3 months until I saw all the patterns emerge. I now feel I have a much kinder acceptance of my mood swings knowing they are coming from normal body functions rather than me thinking I’m a drama queen.
If you’d like more information on your cycle and what is happening Clue has a great article HERE
So, back to planning your boudoir shoot - if it was me I would be planning mine for my Spring or Summer phase as that is when I’m feeling my best. Do you track your cycle? Has it helped you navigate your life a little easier? I’d love to know and your comments might help others.
Until next time,
Jodi xo
Images from my shoot with Kirilly Dawn for Paradiso Magazine
The Beauty of Letting Go
Perhaps the biggest part of my shoots is setting your intention… Why are you doing this shoot? How do you want to feel? How do you want to feel when you LOOK BACK on the photos? What parts of your personality are you bringing out or wanting to breathe life into?
I think getting clear on why you are doing this for yourself brings so much more meaning and potential growth from the shoot. This is more than getting pretty pictures taken. It’s a celebration of you and being a beautifully imperfect woman.
We work on this leading up to your shoot and connect into that intention on the day… Then it’s a process of trust and letting go. The shoots then take on a magic of their own, I find this happens especially when shooting out in nature. Here are some of my favourites from a recent shoot with gorgeous Sarah from Hearts of Wild. I was inspired to get creative with some effects and she gave me her trust to play. All these and more were captured in about 5 minutes of her one hour long Untamed shoot out in the hinterland of Byron Bay. You can imagine how many photos she ended up with in her gallery!
This year has been full of inspiration to capture more creatively… Blur, motion, light play.
If you’re curious to find out what might come out in your shoot give me a holler here. All these and more were captured in about 5 minutes of her one hour long Untamed shoot out in the hinterland of Byron Bay. You can imagine how many photos she ended up with in her gallery!
Hope you’re having a beautiful day wherever you are.
Jodi x
Creating the Perfect Boudoir Space
They say you teach what you need to learn yourself… Ha, this is definitely it! If you come into my bedroom you would think I’m still a teenager. You are lucky to find the floor between clothes, pillows and unpacked suitcases. We’re not even travelling any more and I still have unpacked suitcases… What the?!
When I am occasionally struck by the tidy-up stick I REAP the benefits… I sleep better, I feel more organised and generally love life just that little bit more.
The tips below are what I was sending to a client to set up for her Boudoir In Isolation shoot and I thought what great tips to create a sanctuary for our every day… Why don’t we make every day that little bit more special with ritual and intention. (By the way I am MAKING myself do this when I get home!)
1 - CLEAR THE CLUTTER
Ugh, can someone else do this part?! It is SO rewarding once done though! Clearing your room from junk under the bed, piles of random things on your bedside tables, clothes everywhere, makes for a clear energy flow and just generally gives a feeling of calm.
If you can limit the objects in your bedroom to the essentials and things that bring you joy you will notice such a difference to the way it feels!
2 - TREAT YO SELF
Make your bed like you mean it. Get some sheets that make you so happy it’s bed time. You know that feeling when you get in and a rush of the warm + fuzzies takes over your soul because you’re so cosy? If you don’t know that feeling then that’s what you’re chasing here!
3 - BE A BUZZ KILL
By this I mean remove any electronic devices that don’t need to be in your room. It took me a few years to convince my partner but we have been happily TV free in the bedroom for a long time now. Removing TV’s and limiting your screen time before bed actually helps you sleep better.
4 - INTENTIONAL SPACE
You want your boudoir to be a place for rest, recharge and love making. Keep it a work free zone. It makes for a much calmer environment when it is time to go to sleep. Be sure the items in your space are things you love or what bring you joy…
5 - CREATE A RITUAL
Every night before I hop into bed I light a sage wand (my beautiful friend Bhony makes the most amazing ones! www.bhonbhonblossom.com) and I walk the perimeter of my room - I thank my ancestors and ancestors of the land for their love and guidance throughout that day and I then set the intention for a restful sleep. I ask anything that is not in alignment with our highest good to leave the room - it is not welcome there. I ask anything that no longer serves me to fall away. I put out the sage and hop into bed. Have you never saged (aka smudged) and think I sound weird? Don’t take my word for it - Oprah does it too - read about the benefits here.
Here’s to serene, clutter-free, sexy boudoirs and restful nights sleep!
Oh and if you’re curious about my “Boudoir in Isolation” shoots - you can find out more here. They are the perfect way to pass the time in lockdown whether you’re in Melbourne, Sydney, New York, London, Tokyo, Madagascar, anywhere in the world that has wi-fi basically!
Sweet dreams,
Jodi xo
Return of the Disco
A boudoir photography session doesn’t have to be your ‘typical’ lingerie on a bed or naked on the beach (although clearly I LOVE and encourage both those options!) A photoshoot can be a chance to indulge in your own creative expression… Playing with props, light and music to create a total VIBE.
Teddi Emerald is a women’s empowerment healer and runs incredible in-person and online programs including ‘Confidence of a Queen’ and ‘Body Bang Bang’. Teddi is such an inspiration for reprogramming your subconscious beliefs, living your truth, and accepting and celebrating your body as it is!!
Teddi is also the owner of the funky second-hand retro fashion store in Byron Bay called ‘Trash Vintage’ so I knew she would be the perfect muse to channel some retro disco vibes!!
Teddi and I have worked together on a few shoots over the years but I think this is my favourite… 70’s disco music was playing, the sun was beating down and we created this fun nude disco shoot in the creative explosion of ISO life!
If you would like to check out Teddi’s online programs check out her website HERE or for daily doses of awesomeness follow her on Instagram
Teddi is also offering a FREE Body Confidence Master Class this Wednesday! I cannot recommend Teddi highly enough and this course is FREEEEEE!!! You’d be mad to miss it! You can save your spot here… FREE BODY CONFIDENCE MASTER CLASS
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”
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...
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.
You don’t have to worry about tidying up! Need I say more?!
It turns the boudoir shoot experience into an indulgent treat for yourself or fun getaway for the girls. either way, win win!
You can match the decor to the mood you are going for. Luxe? Versace. Minimalist? Alila. Trendy? QT. Cosy? Spicers. Sexy? Capella.
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
JP's Journal:
Recent shoots, travels, adventures and musings... Also sharing the things that make my heart sing...
