A day after moving to Venice Beach a neighbor sauntered over and said, “You know the best thing about living at the beach? Jogging! You should go run in the soft sand. It’s a great workout!”

So next morning I went jogging in the soft sand. Let me tell you, it’s hard! Soon I had to stop to catch my breath. There I was, stooped over, resting my hands on my knees, gulping in air. 

A tall, athletic blonde woman came jogging down the beach. She pulled up next to me and assumed the same position, gasping for air. In between breaths she turned to me and said, “My neighbor told me to come run in the soft sand. Said it was a great workout. Damn, it’s hard!”

I nodded in agreement. Once I caught my breath I introduced myself, “Heartily agree! By the way, I’m Jasper. What’s your name?”

“Jenni,” she replied. “Wait, Jasper? Are you the photographer?” 

Turns out she was a yoga teacher. For the past month she had been teaching at a yoga studio in Santa Monica. The owner of that studio, a friend of mine, had decorated the walls of the studio with framed prints from my Body as Temple art nude series. 

“I’ve been looking at your photographs for a month. Love them! I have never shot nudes before, but I’m trying to get in shape so I can come shoot with you. Part of why I decided to run in the sand today.”

“Are you kidding me? Jenni, you’re in awesome shape already,” I said.

We decided we had both had enough of running in the soft sand. So we walked to a cafe nearby to share some breakfast. Later that afternoon she came to my studio and we did the session that you see here.