Friday, January 21, 2022
By Xochitl Rodrigue Photography
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Nestled among the greenery of its forests and waterfalls a beautiful country which has become the home to Karan and Sayali, New Zealand a country rich in culture, scenery, history, rolling hills of soft earth with surreal landscapes is where I found myself one February morning living a dream turned into reality. Was this really happening? I had to pinch myself just to make sure what I my eyes were entertained with was real, I did not want to sleep for I only had one day to capture Karan and Sayali's love story. But how did I find myself in a country where dreams are made of? It all happened by luck, chance and destiny all rolled into one. One lead led to the next and before you knew it I was booking my flight to Auckland to meet my editor and his fiancee Sayali. 

The night had come, previously I had caught my flight from Adelaide, Australia into Auckland airport. Upon arrival I found myself surrounded by two people souls who I had met in person for the first time, I was great with warm hugs, smiles and flowers! The delight of meeting my new friends left me in a happy buzz, having have had hardly any sleep my excitement became my drug to keep me awake and alert. People ask me many times how is that I have so much energy? It runs in my veins like a drug, I call it passion. My passion is so strong that it gives me strength and endurance to overcome fatigue. But here I was fighting fatigue led by passion. Passion to know that I would be capturing another love story, one across the world and one I was so eager and ready to photograph.

 
Friday, January 22, 2021
By Xochitl Rodrigue Photography
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I was almost arriving to Kingman, Arizona when I noticed it was time to refuel. My gas tank was running low and was my energy too. Earlier that morning I had spent the morning enjoying the beauty and massive breathe taking jaw dropping glory of one of the Seven Wonders of the World the Grande Canyon.  Who is not swallowed up in awe with a glance of such a marvel?  The crisp air that cuts through your bones like a saw and brought a chill from my finger tips to my toes could not stop that fire I had to capture the Grande Canyons magnificence. One could only find oneself standing still, frozen to such an entrancing sight. Not only did my eyes feast on such glory but they had an opportunity to witness wild elk  fight off weaker males, protect their pride, and demonstrate superiority to attract a more enticing female. I had never witnessed something so close and personal. Within a distance of ten feet I was dumbfounded to observe such thrilling moment which soon came to be the highlight of my day.  Once I captured what I felt was good for my eyes I then proceeded to drive back to Las Vegas as I had jobs waiting for me. Along the way on its open roads that is when I found myself running out of gas once I reached Kingman and where I met my first road traveler.  Stopping to gas up I quickly made my way to the restroom and that is when with the corner of my eye I happened to see a traveler who I soon would find out to be named Austin. I couldn't help but notice his attire from backpack to guitar and wool hat. I know th road could be harsh and challenging and the least I could do was offer him twenty dollars to help him get by. I introduced myself and told him I noticed his unique look and handed him the twenty dollar bill which I am so glad he accepted. As I was also checking out I could help myself and I stopped him one more time and asked if it would be okay to take his picture which he obliged to my request with a smile and a abit of surprise. I then explained to him briefly that I was traveling photographer and capture people, places and things as I travel. Austin was a bit shy and coy but I put him at ease by just talking to him as I clicked my camera until I captured what was what I considered enough for my creative purposes. We exchanged numbers, instagram info and as I continued to capture him I asked him a few questions my mind was curious about so many things. How long had he been on the road, why did he go on the road, where was he going, how hard was it do do what he was doing and much more. He shyly answered the questions one at a time. Austin had been on the road for about 6 years he was originally from Pennsylvania and preciously had spent about 8 months in Hawaii. Austin went to explain to me that before he had challenges in life and the road was something had been doing for sometime.

 


Privately I wanted to shout how much I wanted to do the same, grab a back pack, my camera and laptop and set myself to explore the US like Austin. I went on to share that with him at a later time and he told me how much a brave thing that would be for me. Hey the way I figure if you cant live life bravely fully, fearlessly and without adventure for me it is not living it my potential and max. Thank you Austin for your time, your energy and your journey! Hope our paths cross at some point in the future. Much love and peace. If anyone is curious as to learn more from Austin you can reach him at his Instagram page and if you feel compelled to share your appreciation with a kind donation he would greatly appreciate it.

If you would like to follow Austin's journey you can find him on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/peaceamongworlds1111/

If you would like to contribute to his journey CLICK HERE: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/peaceloveandtravels

To follow my day to day you can find me on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/xochitlphoto/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/xochitl.rodrigue

Are you an artist or up and coming musician and need photography please feel free to check out my services by clicking on the following link.

http://www.thexgallery.com/headshots-models-fitness

 

 

Austin Stewart

Austin a young man ventures to explore the vastness of America in search of self discovery.

 
Monday, July 30, 2018
By Xochitl Rodrigue Photography
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Interview with Coach Ayana O Entreprenuer/Business Consultant

 

What does Coach Ayana O do for businesses?

As a result of what I do people move from having a dream to having a 4, 5 or even 6 figure business doing what they love. I help novice and seasoned entrepreneurs overcome their fears about the complexities of the adminitrative an legal tasks involved in starting a business and create the roadmap to bring forth that desire to reality.

Who uses your business consulting services?

My most recent client is a beautiful being who has had a desire to own her own business but she was too fearful and confused to take action, she thought she needed a formal education to start a business! With my guidance she has successful overcome her fear and is in the process of opening her first physical location and has the road map and on track to open up 5 other locations by year 3. People who use my services include those with  big dreams and limited resources either financially or the know how. Others that use my services are existing business owners looking to launch or scale their business.

What makes you stand out?

I could go into details about my processes but no one is interested in that, what I will say is that my process is a holistic approach which other programs lack, I speak to the results I produce, the results speaks for themselves. Also I provide truly individualized services, tailored to my clients' needs, someone to communicate with & not a "frequently asked" document.

Why do you love doing what you do?

I believe and feel this is my dharma in life as it nurtures me and in turn I nurture society, doing this I am fulfilled, I am fulfilling a life's purpose that only I can do as I was created to do so.

What are you passionate about?

I have been passionate about many things in life, as I evolve, so does the tings I am passionate about. Something I am passionate about is standing in my own truth and being kind to myself & others in thoughts and deeds. What I mean by that is even it means being unpopular, I am ok with that, at least at the end of each day I am at peace because I did not cheat myself I was true to me. I am passionate about being your authentic self boldly no matter what stage or phase you are in life.

Advice for any entrepreneur?

Dare to be different, dare to soar!

If you are looking for "easy" don't be an entrepreneur, if you are in it just to make money, look elsewhere. Most of all be the solution to someone's problem and don't believe anyone who tells you it can't be done or discourages you. You have already come up with all the ways it won't work in your head, find & surround yourself with those that will help you find the way in which it will work!

Schedule your complimentary session today! 

CLICK ON LINK

Coach Ayana O

FIND COACH AYAN O AT

FACEBOOK: Coach Ayana O

WEBSITE: www.ayanao.com

PHONE: (702) 881-0552


Thank you for reading my blog. As a thank you I would love to extend the following opportunity for you. How would you like to travel to locations starting as low as *$59 for 4 days and 3 nights? How you like to get savings to the following desitnations?

 

Orlando, FL

Cocoa Beach, FL

Gatlinburg, TN

Las Vegas, NV

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Branson, MO

 

Click on the link below and SAVE!

*See website to see which ones start at $59

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Use CODE: 2150267621

 
Thursday, July 19, 2018
By Xochitl Rodrigue Photography
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Not many know my story with how I got to Vegas and why I came to Vegas, I was looking for hope searching for that light at the end of the tunnel. That light came to me in form of an angel by the name of Anna Smith. Back in February 2016 I found myself depressed, living right on Las Vegas Boulevard searching for hope. I was about to give up on working for a company that I loved when I got a phone call from one of my coworkers wondering where I had been and why I was not at work. During that time I was going through the loss of my older sister who lost her battle to cancer, that sadness swallowed me up whole and was taking me into a dark abyss that I had a hard time crawling out of. I was falling deeper and deeper into this darkness to add to the despair one night my friend called me to invite me to dinner, he was desperately trying to help me out, I accepted his invitation and we went out to dinner. He picked me up and off we went. While at dinner he told me that a new position had come up with my company and he knew I was perfect for the job. I was just ready to  go back and head back to California, he was  kind and talked me through my troubles and told me to give this new position a chance. I agreed and told him the next day I would go give it a shot as a last resort, unbeknownst upon returning back to my apartment I came back to a shocking surprise, I could not find my car! Did someone steal it, did someone take it? I knew in the back of my head what had happened, it had not been stolen it had been what we all fear when we fall behind on our car payments, yes the scary word, REPOED! I just did not know what to do. Depressed and now without a car I felt helpless. My friend encouraged to still give it a go and call the next day for the new position, he told me I know you are perfect for this job so I did hesitantly. When I called I remember hearing this different accent I did not recognize, it was an accent of a beautiful Armenian woman that without me knowing would soon change my life and not just mine but my children's as well, her name was Anna Smith. Anna asked me to come in that day if I could, but how could I right away? I did not have a car, was low on money and was walking everywhere. I told Anna my car was currently at the shop but I could be there the next day. She agreed to my interview for the next day. I remember thinking to myself how in the world was I going to do this without a car? But I soon changed my focus and told myself to give it a chance. So I walked into the deeding department for Westgate, I did not have fancy clothes, did not have fancy nails, did not have fancy hair, did not have fancy shoes but what I did have was hunger. I was hungry to succeed, I was hungry to make that sacrifice I had made to leave my children back in California worth something. There must have been something that Anna saw in me that day, she overlooked my clothes, shoes, nails, hair what she saw was me! She saw something that she found of value, she saw my conviction, dedication, persistence and passion. She gave me chance that changed my life in ways I could never imagine. I will never forget the time she would take out of her day to find out about me and my story to know who I really was and why I was there.  Angel's come in many forms and when you least expect them. I will forever be grateful for my angel on earth who changed my life forever and kept my hope alive. So Anna Smith please know that you made a  difference in not just one life but four others by the name of Kyla, Silas, Daisy and Rhea and for that I am forever grateful to you and your kindness and ability to see beyond the physical (clothes, shoes, nails, hair) but beyond that a woman who was doing everything within her power to make a difference in the most important people in her life, her children. You are our guardian Angel. My children were proud of what I began to do and the places we were going, I worked had day after day without hesitation or complaint because what was behind was hunger, depression, loneliness, despair but what was ahead of me was hope, living a life to the fullest and the making of dreams come true. So Anna if you ever feel down just remember you have the power to change one persons life and you can do it over and over and the greatest joys come from giving. Thank you for giving me a chance to be who I was meant to be... someone who has hope even during the darkest hours.

Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.

Misty Copeland

With my gaurdian Angel Anna Smith working for Westgate Resorts 2016

Thank you for reading my blog. As a thank you I would love to extend the following opportunity for you. How would you like to travel to locations starting as low as *$59 for 4 days and 3 nights? How you like to get savings to the following desitnations?

Orlando, FL

Cocoa Beach, FL

Gatlinburg, TN

Las Vegas, NV

Myrtle Beach, SC

Williamsburg, VA

Branson, MO

Click on the link below and SAVE!

*See website to see which ones start at $59

BOOK YOUR RESERVATION HERE

Use CODE: 2150267621

 
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
By Xochitl Rodrigue Photography
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Ladies have you ever wondered what courage looks like? Have you ever wondered what facing fears head on looks like? Let me introduce you to none other than Gissell a peruvian beauty who lightened my day with her presence, joy, laughter, humor and resilience.  When I do a photo session I do not just take a picture, I talk to my clients walk them through the process so they do not feel like the camera is looking at them right in the eye. I did this with this Peruvian beauty I talked to Gissell and together we took a journey of self love and acceptance. Women come to me from all sorts of backgrounds with all sorts of experiences, at times they open their hearts like a blooming flower and feel at ease to share with me their stories and struggles, when I listen I think to myself how can I make this session so meaningful that who ever is in front of the camera will forget the camera and connect with their very soul, its actually a lot easier than it seems, I just talk to women like Gissell and in the process of talking to them I start to see the unfolding of that blossom, the flower that opens up so the rest of the world can see the beauty within. Gissell shared her beauty, opened up and embraced that moment feeling empowered confident and strong that in that moment she was the most beautiful woman in the that world and the attitude that would be shining would be that one of self love. Love that accepts all the flaws, imperfections and humanity of the imperfect human being, the attitude of feeling and BELIEVING in her own beauty is what keeps me doing what I continue to do 17 years after I started working with people. It is moments like this that I get a sense of empowerment when I see flowers blossom like Gissell.

A smile starts on the lips, a grin spreads to the eyes, a chuckle comes from the belly; but a good laugh bursts forth from the soul, overflows, and bubbles all around. — Carolyn Birmingham

Thank you for reading my blog. As a thank you I would love to extend the following opportunity for you. How would you like to travel to locations starting as low as *$59 for 4 days and 3 nights? How you like to get savings to the following desitnations?

Orlando, FL

Cocoa Beach, FL

Gatlinburg, TN

Las Vegas, NV

Myrtle Beach, SC

Williamsburg, VA

Branson, MO

Click on the link below and SAVE!

*See website to see which ones start at $59 BOOK

YOUR RESERVATION HERE

Use CODE: 2150267621