She arrived at my studio clutching a few bags. They did not look bulky, no surprise I suppose. When we had discussed what she wanted on the phone it was your regular lingerie shoot, some somewhat revealing shots wearing various sexy items, that type of thing. We said our hellos and she was a little nervous explaining as she had on the phone that this was her first time doing anything like this. I told her I would try to make everything as comfortable as possible and handed her a glass of wine with the remark, "this helps to settle the nerves a little."
She smiled as she took the glass and said, "well I have no idea how we should start?"
"Don't worry about that. That's why you're employing me ma'am. I'll take care of it. Just relax for a few minutes." She smiled once again and took a sip of the Chardonnay.
I picked up my camera and started to take some shots. She sat on the small chair just to the side of the white backdrop. "Have we started already?" she asked nervously.
"No not really. It's just a few test shots for the lighting and stuff and to help you get used to the camera." She giggled and took one more sip. Her face softened as I attempted to put her at her ease. "Do you have an order you would like to do the shots in?" I asked, "Generally I would start with the less revealing items and then move onto the more revealing lingerie as we progress," I continued before she could answer. "Would you like me to look through what you have and pick what we should start with?"
She nodded enthusiastically at this suggestion and I placed the camera on its tripod and topped up her wine. I picked up her bags and took them off to the small tables I had. I had a sheet rigged up to pull across this area. A poor dressing room really but it helped a little when the clients were changing. I placed the bags on the table and began to look through the contents.
She strolled over and her pretty face had blushed some, her cheeks gently softened in the studio lights and her ponytail bouncing as she walked. I wished I'd had my camera right at that moment but alas, no and I knew it was useless to try and recreate these spontaneous moments. Another missed opportunity I thought as I proceeded to empty the contents of the first bag.
"Wow, this is some pretty hot stuff," I said as I placed the red and black corset on the table.
She blushed a little more and grabbed the garment nervously from me. "It's one of my favorites," she said, "Where should I change?" I took this as a cue to get back to the camera instead if rifling through this ladies underwear. She was blushing quite profusely by now her nerves getting the best of her.
"Oh right," I said, "there is a stool and a hanging rod behind the curtain. Go ahead and get ready. Take all the time you need and we'll begin. Would you like some more wine?"
She nodded and then giggled, "I don't usually knock it back this quick."
I smiled and as I bought the wine bottle to refill her glass. "Oh don't worry, once we start the shoot you'll begin to feel much more comfortable. These initial moments are always the most nerve-wracking but I think it will be a wonderful shoot and a great experience for you. We can't fail to get some beautiful shots, after all look at the model I'm getting to work with." A quizzical look floated over her face for the briefest moment and then a wide smile as she realized the compliment.
"Well thank you, Sir."
This time I had grabbed the camera when I retrieved the bottle of wine and quickly swung the viewfinder to my eye and clicked. I showed her the beautiful natural smile that filled the large preview window. "There," I said, "we are already of to a wonderful start. Absolutely beautiful." And it was. The unexpectedness of the shot had her at her most relaxed since she had come through the door. It was always good when these impromptu shots turned out so well and particularly helpful in showing the client that I was more than just a 'dirty pic' photographer.
She picked up the corset, the black stockings and tiny black panties from the bag, hesitated momentarily and with her spare hand grabbed the whole bag and marched behind the curtain saying as she went, "well I had best get changed so we can start the real thing then."
I went to do some attending of the set. Well set might be overstating the grandeur a little because to most it would appear to be a white sheet draped over a bar. The sheet was long and pulled out along the floor about twenty feet. To the side just behind the bright lights focused on the center was an old wooden chair. It was battered in all the right places and always looked good against skin, a useful prop for some sultry shots.
By the side of the chair was a mattress wrapped in a clean white sheet. It wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world, you would have a lousy night's sleep on it but it was clean and certainly better than the floor for those shots where laying in some way was the best pose. It was large enough that it usually didn't need any post editing and just looked a part of the overall scene. I was always careful to wash the backdrop and the sheet together so when used in a shot they blended into one seamless unit.
Occasionally there would be a shadow cast but if it couldn't be cropped a few minutes retouching took care of it. A few pillows lay beside in various shades of off-white to give some contrast of color for those shots where this prop was a nice feature especially when combined with the fluffy duvet I had also. A furry rug completed the rest of my props. Corny but a lot of them like a few shots with it wrapped around them and hey they were paying.
"Erm," she called from behind the screen, "I think I am going to need a hand." Her voice sounded a little different from our call on the phone as voices usually did but there was something more than just the phone voice normal voice thing, a hint of nervousness, a little trepidation was there. No surprise really I suppose as she had never really done anything like this before and this could be a good thing, made them more vulnerable which always made for better shots.
