April 19, 2007 - New York, NY - "I was taken to spending many afternoons with fashion magazines from age 7 on, I would spread them on the floor and stare at them for hours. In the early 90's I moved to New York to study acting", reminisces ZUMA Press NYC fashion photojournalist extraordinary Jodi Jones. "My roommate was a photographer and trusted friend. He did a few shoots with me as a model and suggested I get an agent to get work to help pay for school. I went on castings, won a few competitions, and got a good sense of fashion and modeling in general. At the same time I assisted him and then began to art direct some shoots for him. I met a prominent casting director who advised me to get out to Los Angeles to pursue mainstream roles. I got walk on parts on Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place and Chicago Hope...

Through a strange turn of events I ended up shooting the runways of New York, I got a call from two of my mentors in New York. They were on assignment shooting New York Fashion Week and needed an assistant. I flew back and decided to move to New York to pursue photography as a career. I just shot my 16th consecutive season of New York Fashion Week."

"When Jodi first came to be to cover the fashion scene, she was green but full of passion and vision. It has been exciting to see her mature into a good solid professional photographer and she is still growing. Keep an eye on her, much more to come!" quips Scott Mc Kiernan, Director ZUMA Press.

"I was sponsored by Hasselblad this year to shoot New York Fashion Week and Couture Fashion Week. Shooting with the new Hasselblad H3D system during fashion week and in the studio has been an amazing experience. My workflow in the studio with the system has never been better, and ironically, never been easier. I recently did a look-book shoot for a fashion designer where I shot 53 looks in 6 hours tethered and had the first edit done for the client via the web by 10pm that evening. Hasselblad and I are in conversation right now to decide how we will proceed to work together in the future."

Jodi is as beautiful with her words as she is with a camera:

Why I shoot the Runways...

I love...

the movement of the model's hair as she walks toward me
the sway of her hips to the rhythm of the music
the march of long legs in her stiletto heels
the confidence in her stare
her graceful movements even as the dress slips off her
shoulder to reveal a breast
her cheeks become fresh with life
for a second, she is a little girl in a women's body
her bold attitude when she lifts her chin and the light
hits her cheekbones just right
her stance when she stops and glances down at her gown;
she lifts the fabric like flowing water
and the turn, oh the turn
her lips part to take in a breath
when time stands still and she is a goddess
then she looks back to us, over her shoulder
the elongated nape of her neck
the hand on her hip as she not-so-subtly arches her back
for one last moment to capture her beauty
and then she is gone
a moment that lives
forever
in my heart.