jungle and ocean goddess photoshoot

jungle goddess photoshoot

Sometimes one word can change everything.

It was the case with this photoshoot. We were going to photograph on the beach next to a park with banyan tees next to it. But it all changed with one message.

I usually ask my clients to send me photos of their outfits because it helps me to visualize their photos better. I knew that one of the outfits she wanted to wear was a bikini. When she sent the photos though, she wrote, “here is my jungle bikini.”

Jungle?

Jungle.

JUNGLE!!!

The bikini was gorgeous but I immediately knew that it didn’t belong next to banyan trees. It could have worked for the beach, but she planted a seed in my head. I had to find a real jungle for her. And I knew just of a perfect place.

I texted her the video from that location to show what I had in mind. She was totally open and loved the idea (working with clients who trust my creative vision is so much fun!)

The problem with Florida weather is that it is sunny one minute and starts storming five minutes later. On the day of the photoshoot, as we were driving to the park, dark clouds started gathering in a very suspicious way.

“I secretly had hoped for a photoshoot in the rain, will I manifest rain for myself this time?”, went through my head.

Whatever the outcome would be, I had a good feeling about this one. Possibly because I am a delusional chronic optimist.

The weather was holding out for us when we got there as we literally jogged to our spot. I loaded all my stuff onto a kids stroller. Most really professional photographers use a special wagon to lug their stuff. They look so organized and put together and here I am, pushing a stroller with no kid in it but a giant soft box on top.

“Get oiled up” I said, as I started setting up the soft box and the flash. I wanted her body to glisten as she was running around in the “wild” jungle. She had brought coconut oil specifically for that. We took some photos against the backdrop of green leaves. My model was amazing at posing, I gave her very few posing prompts.

The lobster claw plant was in bloom and I knew I wanted to create photos with it. After a few shots I thought it would look really cool if she was topless next to the plant.

We heard thunder. Uh oh.

My biggest fear is to be struck by lightning, I don’t really mind the water. And, of course, I needed to protect my equipment. I had envisioned photographing her in the rain and Mother Nature gave us exactly what we needed.

Large droplets started falling from the sky, my gorgeous goddess topless in front of me, started dancing in the rain, soaking up the magic of this moment. These are some of my most favorite photos from her photoshoot. Dancing in the rain, almost nude, feeling rain drops touch her skin, elated by the sight of lush greenery around her, it must have been exhilarating. It was for me, to witness that.

In a matter of minutes it started raining harder and we had to grab out things and find shelter before my flash and camera got completely soaked. We rain to a gazebo nearby. A couple was smoking and playing cards there. My model joined them, as I ran back to get the rest of the stuff. If the photoshoot had ended right at that moment, I would have already felt complete.

The rain slowed down, we regrouped and were ready to continue photographing again.

After we photographed on the large rocks, we saw these flowers that we could not pass so we played there. And she did some dancing in the freshly washed by the rain forest.

She said, “There were some really cool-looking leaves there, can we photograph there?” A Goddess Photoshoot is a way to express yourself creatively while playing in nature. If your intuition calls you to play next to a certain tree or plant, it is ALWAYS A YES for me! And we created one of my favorite shots during that play!

I love everything about this photo. Everything. She is divine. ABSOLUTELY DIVINE.

Ocean Goddess Photoshoot

Our original plan to photograph at the beach was still on. Someone who has a tendency to get carried away in the creative process, I was glad my model felt complete and was ready to go to the beach. We still had three more outfits we wanted to photograph in so we had to work fast!

When we got to the ocean, there was not a soul there. The thunderstorm scared them off, I guess, and now the entire beach belonged to us. We started out by playing on the dunes with wild sea oats, and I absolutely love the images we created there:

And here are some black and white photographs from this series:

She changed into a pearly white bikini and we headed closer to the water. Honestly, if I looked like her, I would just walk around naked everywhere and would have my photos taken all over the place!

My favorite shots are of her lying on the sand, where her feet crossed at the ankles look so much like a mermaid’s tail! :)

And a little change of perspective for you:

It was getting dark. We could have called it a night, and a very successful one at that, but we had one more outfit, and I said, “ok, 5 more minutes”. If I say that, I will probably get carried away for at least 20 more :)

I quickly set up the soft box and we created these photos. We did it fast, very imperfectly, if you will, but I am very happy with how some of these shots came out.

And that was it. A perfect photoshoot with the perfect rain and the perfect weather after that with a perfect goddess. Needless to say, she LOVED the photos. I love them too. I only kick myself for not having filmed the behind-the-scenes of it so I could make a YouTube video about it. But maybe if I had, the photos wouldn’t have come out as good because I would have had to split my attention into two processes. So NO. No regrets here. NEXT TIME she and I will photograph, I will get an assistant who will film us and then I will make an epic movie about our photoshoot too.

Speaking of video, when I sent her the link to THIS video (because her photos are in it), this is what she said:

So definitely check out this video if you want to get an idea of what a Goddess Photoshoot with me looks and feels like.

Thanks for reading! Please leave a comment if you enjoyed these photos and the story.

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