Random Shoot

Since I was little, I have been approached by various random people wanting me to model for them. I thought they were lunatics - not for me getting into modelling, but that they were really insane because who would really scout in the mall, right? As I began to get older, some of my family members always thought that I could be a model because I had that "all-american" look and straight, hanger like shoulders. I truly never believed that I could do it and I was afraid of the camera feeling like I wasn't pretty enough. I know - coming from the girl who was always in front of the camera, always had a mic in her hand, was always on stage performing, the girl who had so much energy, and the girl who was always doing the craziest things for a laugh. Me afraid of the camera, right?! My mom would laugh at that comment. But I truly was and still am. When I walk onto a photo-shoot it's time to work. It's time to focus and time to rock it. I have to get my mind in the right creative drive. I am very happy how some pictures turn out and there are some that I'm like "Okay....don't do that next time!" It's a learning experience and something that I need to constantly work at and hone in on my skill. I was born a performer. I was born to be fearless and confident. I was born to be a total wild child. :) I have to be confident and believe that I can do it, otherwise it shows in my pictures - through my eyes, through my body language and through my energy.

So here's to it girls! Here's to being beautiful the way God created us! Being unique, beautiful and down right gorgeous! Don't be afraid to strut your stuff :) l! Allow your heart to shine through and don't be afraid to be the individual that makes you so special!

About a month ago, Matt and I decided to take out the camera and take some pictures just so I could get some practice! It was fun. :) This was actually more of a test shoot to see if I had the stuff to really rock it and if I could take some good images. I've heard people say that modelling isn't just about being a pretty face. And it's so true! I have to say that it's a lot easier to work the camera when your husbands behind it. I hurried and did my make-up and threw on an outfit that I probably won't use for a real shoot. It's not the most flattering for the camera. :) But hey - another learning experience. The following pics are good but not great. Loved it. Learned from it. Launched my passion for it. Check. :)

Yes. I look like I'm going to eat you alive in this picture. :)

This would have looked so much better if I relaxed my mouth!

Cheese.

Definitely learned to have "relaxed & delicate" hands. No claw hands. Not so feminine. Check.

Have a great night!!!

Xoxo's

Jodi

@~>~~

Avant Garde Hairstyle Shoot 2.28.10

I was contacted by a very talented hair stylist, Jessie Kenney,http://jmkhairdesign.shutterfly.com/, http://www.wix.com/jmarie003/jmkhair, who is also a photographer http://www.wix.com/jmarie003/Juneberry-Photo to do an avant garde hairstyle photo-shoot. She works at the Rylin Ashlee Salon in Old Town Temecula, Ca. She is a super sweetheart and we had a lot of fun together! She seriously did my hair in like twenty minutes - while also changing it in the middle. I look forward to working with her again! Jessie is a very talented hair stylist!!

I ♥ The Veronicas!!!

Modeling - My New Adventure

Modeling: my new adventure! I am seriously having *so*much*fun*! I'm in love with modeling. I'm so excited to see where this goes. Modeling is definitely becoming a passion of mine: mainly because it's an art! You need to be creative, artistic and you have to be comfortable in your own skin: enough to take risks. The mood, the lighting, the model, the photographer, the make-up artist, the hair stylist, the wardrobe stylist, all come together to create a beautiful picture that is frozen in time. It's as if I'm in a painting that comes alive with the brush strokes of the creative elements. It is hard work and you definitely have to push yourself to see what works and what doesn't. I'm still learning and I hope to learn so much more. I want to know how to rock it and get the best images. :) I truly hope that I become successful with this. My only fear is that I am 27 and a lot of fashion agencies, etc, want the young-ens. But honestly, I'm not going to let that stop me. I'm going to try my hardest to be the best model that I'm capable of and push it! And if they say that I can't, then I say to them, "then watch me!" :) I'm trusting in the Lord with this new desire and passion. He is in control and is sovereign, whom my faith is firmly placed and rested upon. The whole world is filled with careers that reflects the depraved mind. You can not escape it. Modeling can reflect that as well. But not every aspect of it! What a great way to be a shining light of Christ in a world that is so dark. People notice that I am joyful, full of love and fearlessness, seeing and noticing that something is different about me. I don't have to do certain things or act a certain way, the fruits of the Spirit will shine forth in me and naturally set me a part from the world because of Christ.

Matt, my handsome man, is so supportive and is my #1 cheerleader/encourager! I'm so thankful for him! He helps push me, teach me, and guides me. I have been super busy with everything but I'm enjoying it. I'm going to the gym at least 5 days a week which is helping me become more fit (need more work to get where I want to be) and healthier. I do suffer from really low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) and it is helping me that I am counting calories and am exercising regularly. I'm feeling so much better about myself and I'm beginning to love the way I look and feel.

Hopefully you will see an ad in a renown fashion magazine and say "I know her!" :)

Xoxoxox's

jodi

Some Quick Make-Up Tips

Okay - if you are in a hurry and have no time whatsoever to put any make-up on, here are a few tips for you to put it on quickly and still look fab! *Remember that God has given women a beauty that is unique and absolutely gorgeous ~ so put some make-up on to accentuate it and enhance it, even if you have only minutes to spare!

1. First, you want to apply a layer of foundation all over your face, including on and around your eyes (evening out your skin tone & hiding any redness). I recommend "True Match" by Loreal. It's not too light and not too heavy but it covers really well and gives you amazing results. I also highly recommend MAC and Artistry.

2. Second, put some powder one: using either loose powder or a compact. This will set your foundation and give you a matte finish.

3. Next, take your blush brush and put a light layer of blush on the apples of your cheeks in a circular motion upwards in a straight line to the top of your ears (quickly bringing out a glow & your cheek bones). *You can add a layer of highlighter (anything some-what shimmery) to the top of your cheeks bones and up around to the side of your eyebrow.

4. Next we want to bring out your eyes. Take any eyeshadow color that you would like to use, brown, black, blue, etc and smudge the color into your bottom lash line - however light or dark you would like. You can do this to the top layer as well - maybe even doing just the corners to give you that sexy pin-up look quickly. You can blend the color gently by using the tip of your finger.

5. Apply mascara to the top lashes to make your eyes pop!

6. And lastly - put on some lip gloss to bring out your lips! Making them "oh so" kissable.

Voila! You spent about 4-5 minutes and you will look fabulous and ready for the day!

xoxoxo's

Jodi

Jennifer Brotchie Photography

One of the photographers that took part in the Jasmine Star's Workshop created the most special tribute to Matt and I using her pictures from that shoot. I befriended her on Facebook and she is such a special and sweet lady! I'm so blessed to have met her and to have her as a new friend. Jennifer emailed me wanting me to give her a couple of songs that remind me of my love with Matt. I emailed her about 7 songs - I love music, I couldn't help it and she wanted options so... :) She put together this A*M*A*Z*I*N*G slide show to one of my favorites songs that remind me so much of when Matt and I began dating. Jennifer's pictures are some of my favorites from that photo shoot - her lighting and exposures are exquisite! She then emailed me wanting to know our love story and how we met. It is now posted for the whole world to read! It is so wonderful and so neat that Matt and I have a whole post to our love - in both story and pictures. Thank you Jennifer so very much! For everything! For the print that you are going to send us our way! For the beautiful pictures! And for the special on our love!! We appreciate you so very much!!

http://www.jenniferbrotchieblog.com/?p=315

Pictures from Jasmine Star’s Workshop

Again, I can't even explain how much FUN it was yesterday! Jasmine has this audacious personality and you can't help but just love her to pieces. As we were modeling for all of the photographers as Jasmine was giving them direction and teaching them, she gave Matt and I direction as to how she wanted us to model. She helped me learn, place, "smeyes" (Tyra…lol) and just to relax and have fun! Thank you Jasmine for a wonderful experience, a chance to work with you, and to learn from you! Absolutely a beautiful experience!

If you look at Jasmine's work on her blog and on her website - she is so extremely talented and takes the most beautiful pictures! We are so very blessed to have her camera pointed at us for just a little while!! Hopefully we will have the opportunity again. :)

http://jasminestarblog.com/index.cfm

Some of the photographers that had a seat in yesterday's workshop! I found their blogs and saw their amazingness. Seriously….they were so much fun! I loved how we laughed, worked it, and saw their awesome personalities! I am so excited for them and I wish them the best in this industry! With those wonderful smiles and personalities – it should be pretty far! Thank you everyone for such a wonderful experience!!!! Below is just a few of the blogs that I found with some of their pics. I can't wait to see the other wonderful shots that they took!

http://www.angelamaephotography.blogspot.com/

http://www.mollywilliamsphotography.blogspot.com/

http://www.diandraann.blogspot.com/

One of my favorite pictures of Matt and I from yesterday!!!

http://www.jenniferbrotchieblog.com/

http://www.lararios.com/blog/

Xoxo's!!!!!!

Jodi

Jasmine Star's Photography Workshop 2.16.10

Hi Friends & Family!

I'm so excited to tell you about a wonderful experience that Matt and I had yesterday! We were asked to be a couple model for a FANTASTIC international wedding photographer based in Orange County - Jasmine Star. She hosts these photography workshops (all around the world I might add) - where she teaches you (the photographer) everything about the business, how to work with your bridal parties, using natural lighting instead of equipment, etc. She's PHENOMENAL! Jasmine has the best personality - you feel like you are best friends and have been since childhood. So.....Matt and I were all dolled up and posed for about 25 cameras. It felt like the paparazzi! It was very intimidating at first - so not used to that - but it definitely became so much fun! All of the photographers there that took a seat in her workshop were SO NICE and I hope that we will see each other some day! I feel like I made some wonderful friends yesterday. :)

Jasmine Star: http://jasmine-star.com/

http://www.jasminestarblog.com/

I was all dolled up- make-up and hair: by All Made Up Team -Vivian Tran. Oh my goodness are they TALENTED! It was so nice to be the one getting all treated and not the other way around. So fun to be a girl! :) http://www.allmadeupteam.com/ I can't wait until Jasmine posts her blog about yesterday (I will share a link as soon as it's posted) so you can see my Audrey Hepburn inspired look. So epic!

I wore a FABULOUS hand-made, exquisite, couture wedding dress designed and made by Joan Shum. She was so interesting and I'm so thankful that I was able to talk to her and get to know her and wear her amazing work! The dress made me feel so spectacular and super glamorous. http://www.joanshum.com/Welcome.html http://www.etsy.com/shop/joanshum

I also was able to wear these gorgeous jewelry pieces that are designed and handmade by Naoki. I felt so special and so beautiful being able to wear her pieces. She is so creative and super nice! I'm very blessed to have met her! http://www.noakijewelry.com/ http://www.etsy.com/shop/noaki

And lastly, I got to hold the most beautiful bouquet (sitting right in front of me as I type this - intoxicating me with it's beautiful aromas) made by the talented Kristin Brancaleone, owner of The Treasured Petal. The flowers were seriously amazing and so unique that it was absolutely stunning. She is super talented! And I just love her to pieces!!! http://www.thetreasuredpetal.com/ http://thetreasuredpetal.wordpress.com/

If any of you out there that are photographers, I would highly suggest that you try to attend one of these workshops. I can't imagine how much you can learn from Jasmine and the possibilities that come from it! It would definitely be worth it.

I hope your day is filled with smiles & wonderful blessings!

Jodi

My Business Cards

Make-Up Pics!

All the pictures were taken by Chad Martin! http://chadmartinphotography.com/

New Make-Up Looks to Come!

I'm going to be working on a few looks for you guys! I will take pictures as I'm doing it so it will be a step by step tutorial. I really want to start making videos but our camera needs a cable in order to upload our videos to the computer so once we get that I will start making tutorial videos for ya'all! But for now I will take pictures and then I will explain what I'm doing so you can try it yourself at home. It should be fun and easy!

Have a great Friday night and an even better three day weekend!

With Love,

Jodi Rae

A Poem I Wrote For Matt's B-Day '07

The touch from the breath of love

Allures my thoughts and begins to dance

Shooting stars and cascading petals

Creates in my mind a long lasting romance

&

Kisses from lips of which adoration begins

Caressing my devotion’s deepening bliss

Entrancing me with whispering lullabies

And time’s pure essence that never forgets

&

Sing to my heart, oh love of my life

With melodies that entangles my anticipation

Passionately weaving lyrics in sync with mine

Captivating forever’s soft twinkle in motion

&

My hand is yours to forever hold

Enrapturing my heart to collide with joy

I’m giving you my life to compose

The great symphony as girl and boy

Burn.....

Burn

5-29-2004

I am standing next to the burning fire

Feeling the heat of defeated recollections

Finally ready to unleash the broken flames

That has bruised my shattered heart

I am willing to burn my memories to life

Flickering my tears to an unstable plateau

Concentrating on the wick of destruction

That forces my soul to subside inevitably

I want to play each broken record

As the blaze begins to shine hysterically

Watching every moment on a blank screen

Until every tear tied to my heart is felt passionately

It is easier to pretend that nothing has happened

With the past disappearing into a false sense of reality

Just as is it was dancing into an erratic inferno

Creating it hard to breathe without the oxygen it requires

But I believe that I have created enough strength

To conquer all of the giants that stand in my way

And I believe that I have enough courage

To face all the demons that dance behind my solitude

I am finally able to aim and fire

Targeting the center of the heavy weights

That push my containable spirit down

Down in to the shadows of begotten happenings

I yearn to fall on my knees in prayer

While reality presently becomes the truth

And crashes into the firestorm’s center

Overwhelming me with emotions ignored

I will stand and fight the urge to tremble

I will walk and overcome this hell hole

And I will be set free…

-Jodi

I LOVE MUSIC!

Below is a sample of what I am currently blasting in my house

right now! :o) Enjoy!! Please ignore any of the videos if there

is any hoochie-mama-ness happening.

Rain Drops

I am so enjoying this RAIN!!!!! Right now the rain is inspiring me to totally blast music that I'm getting so lost in and dancing when I feel inspired too. I feel so free and can totally just be artistic when I have nights like this. Especially when there is no one around. I just wish that I could actually dance beautifully. Nights like this create a fire in me to write poems by the candlelight while listening to: emotional lyrics, beautiful symphonies, the rain glistening the skies. I have had writers block for a couple of years. I've had some ideas for some but I never sit down and finish them. At the end of this post I will copy one, maybe two, that I wrote awhile ago.....just for my few readers who actually read my blog. :o)

Today I met an old high school friend, Anya, to do her make-up for her family's semi-formal party. She wanted to be a little bit more dolled-up and glamorized. I didn't bring my camera to take pictures, I should have, but I didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable. But Anya looked absolutely gorgeous!!! It was so nice to see her. She has the cutest home and the most precious little family. One thing that I remember most about her was her gentle and kind spirit. And today her wonderful attributes shone through as if they have only grown. Thank you Anya for a lovely rainy afternoon!

A Poem by Me, Jodi Newton, for your reading enjoyment (hopefully :p ):

Another tear drops behind my memory

Spinning into the core inside my heart

The tear is obscured by passion from hopes

Swept across my dreams like a silent whisper

Dancing around the depths of my soul

Where secrets before were never discovered

Taking deep breaths toward the star light

Uncovering my despair from grieving my love

That disappeared into the false hopes of my affection

Feeling forsaken I gently close my eyes

Tears begin to drench my sun-kissed cheeks

And the pain is too hard to endure

Memories float around the rose’s heart

Challenging the petals to unfold

The thorns are hidden from my tear’s anguish

Not recognizing the blood that drips from my suffering

The sensation of absence is throbbing

And controlling my weakness to relinquish

Without faith I slowly open my eyes

Returning to the hopes that I dare to dream