I do part-time photography. It's basically a hobby but I do get the occasional client who wants me to do some proper photos for them. I'm quite good and I don't charge the earth and the odd paying job effectively pays for my hobby.
I have a small studio that I use for indoor work, including a nice green screen at one end. A very useful thing, a green screen, when coupled with a good photo editor. Apart from that my props are rather scanty, a divan and a chair basically. Some people like to sit or recline and if you're taking shots of kids you need somewhere to put them. Stand them on the floor and they'll start running, generally towards the most breakable thing they can see.
I had a rather odd request a short while ago while at school. Nancy, one of the cheerleaders, approached me and cautiously asked if I ever did nude photos. I hadn't, I told her, but I was quite willing to do so as long as the subject was eighteen or older. Under that age and I could find myself in all sorts of legal trouble.
After assuring me that she was eighteen she asked me what my rates were. I confirmed that she did know I wasn't a real professional, just a very good photographer, and then explained to her that I was willing to do some shots for her at cost. As long as she paid for the photographic paper and the ink I used to do the printing, assuming she wanted some printed, I was willing to waive labour costs. The experience would be good for me.
She seemed quite happy with that and explained she wanted a few good photos of herself for her boyfriend. He'd been nagging her to let him have a nude photo but she was reluctant to let him take one. If she stripped for him she knew damn well that he'd take it for sexual consent and she wasn't ready to go that far with him. The photos would be a teaser to help attach him. I was slightly surprised at her no-sex stance as according to rumour she wasn't what one could call a hundred percent virginal, but it was her choice.
"Um, you don't mind if I bring someone with me to act as a chaperone?" she asked.
"Fine by me," I told her, "but only one or two people and not your boyfriend. I don't want him getting jealous in the middle of a session and trying to hang one on me."
"I'm not bringing a male chaperone," she protested, blushing.
"Where do you want me to do the shots?" I inquired. "At your place or at mine? I have a small studio in what was the garage and I have quite good lighting there. Alternatively, if you want them done at your place, in your bedroom, for instance, I can bring a couple of floodlights along. Normal house lighting isn't the best for really good shots."
"You still live at home, don't you?" she asked. "Um, don't you have a large family?"
"If by at home you mean with my parents, then yes, I do. Six isn't that large?"
"Only six? Someone suggested that you had a really big family."
"I'll tell you this, having six brothers and sisters makes me feel that the family is enormous at times."
Her eyes went slightly wide at that. "Geez, hasn't anyone told your mother what causes them?" she muttered.
"They normally stay out of the studio when they know I'm doing some serious work," I assured her.
I could practically see her mind working. Normally doesn't mean always. And if they saw a couple of girls go into the studio, well kids love to snoop.
"Um, it might be smarter to have you do them at my place," she decided. "My parents will be out all day Saturday. Could you come around on Saturday afternoon?"
I assured her that I would do so, and suggested to her that she might want to spend some time making sure whatever room she wanted the photos taken in was immaculate.
"A good photo can be spoiled by a cluttered background. Also, there are some personal items you don't want showing up in photos. You should also allow a couple of hours for the photoshoot if you want good results."
"That's longer than I expected," she said, sounding surprised.
"You can always cut it short if you're happy with the first couple of shots," I told her, "but the later shots tend to come out better. It's a matter of getting used to each other."
Saturday rolled around and I traipsed happily over to Nancy's place. I was going to be doing some photography and I would be working with a naked cheerleader. Some days are just automatic pluses.
Nancy let me in and escorted me through the house to her bedroom. She'd taken my tidy up request to heart and the room was spotless. Of course, it might always be spotless. Not so, it turned out.
"My mother almost had a heart attack when she saw my room," Nancy said, giggling. "She couldn't believe it."
"It looks fine to me," I said. "Ah, your chaperone not here."
"Yes, she's here," I was told. "KAREN!"
Wow. Loud voice. Moments later Karen came bustling into the room.
"What?"
"Gregory is here," said Nancy, smiling sweetly. "You have to chaperone us, remember."
Karen was another cheerleader, just as fine looking as Nancy. Same age, too. I wondered if she'd like a photo or two, seeing I was doing them.
Assuming that Nancy would want the photos taken with her reclining on the bed I set up my floodlights to cover it. I also suggested that they pull the blind down so no extraneous light was there. (And no peeping toms.)
"I'll take some photos with you dressed as you are," I told Nancy. "That way you can see what positions you're most comfortable with. Before we start, can you clean off all your cosmetics? They're not right for a proper photo."
"I'm not having photos taken without any makeup," Nancy flatly stated.
"You won't have to," I said, opening my cosmetics case. "I've had lessons on doing makeup for a photoshoot and I've practised it on my siblings. You'll find I'm quite good at it."
I received dubious looks from both girls but Nancy obediently wiped off her cosmetics and let me apply mine. I hadn't been kidding when I said I was quite good at it.
"I know it's a little heavier than what you prefer but this is for the camera, not you. I'll take a shot in a moment and show you."
Cosmetics done I had Nancy sit on the bed and I took a couple of portraits. I'd brought my laptop with me and now I set it on the dressing table and opened it. As soon as it started up I plugged my camera in and brought up the photos I'd just taken. They weren't half bad either.