The air was growing colder and the first hints of snow were starting to linger on the ground. Yes, Julia thought, the time was coming again when she would have the challenge of finding something special for her husband for Christmas.
While James was easy to please in most regards, as with most men, it was difficult to find just the right gift. This year in particular Julia was going to have to be creative. James had recently changed jobs, accepting a lucrative position in the private sector after a long and rewarding career in the Public Service. As a result, most of his temporal needs were met and James was not a man that liked to indulge consumerism to excess.
In her search for inspiration, Julia studied the December issues of the various magazines that she reads monthly. In the Holiday issue of Cosmo, she found her answer. Deep in the pages of Cosmo, under the heading "Intimate Christmas Gifts", was a suggestion that readers should reward their lovers with Boudoir photos taken at a professional studio. With James's love of photography, THIS, Julia thought, would be the answer.
The next day at the office, Julia flipped through the Yellow Pages looking for a studio that would offer such a service in, hopefully, a tasteful and professional fashion that would allow her to model in comfort while still portraying her seductive side. Julia truly wanted to vamp in her photos but wanted the experience to be personal and something that, to the greatest extent possible, only she and James shared.
About half way through the "Photographers" section of the Yellow Pages, Julia found the ad she thought she was looking for. The ad read:
"Diane's Studio - Specializing in Boudoir Photography: photos taken of women, by a woman, for men. Taste, comfort and quality guaranteed."
Although a little apprehensive, Julia phoned the number advertised. "Good Morning" answered the cheery female voice at the end of the line, "Diane speaking, how may I help you". " Well", Julia replied, "Christmas is coming and I thought that I would like to give my husband some boudoir photos for a sort of personal present". "I haven't done this before, but I think he would really appreciate something like this and he is very difficult to find gifts for". "I know what you mean", Diane said. "I have that problem with my partner, every year is a challenge".
"If you haven't tried this before, you must have a number of questions about the nature of the studio, the backdrops we use and suggestions we have for wardrobe". "Well, yes I do. I 'm sure that your work is very professional and tasteful Diane, but I can't help being a little nervous". "That's understandable, what I recommend is that a potential client drop by the studio and check it out. You know, look at the props, the lighting and sets; and ask any questions you might have. We're located in the Golden Triangle downtown, and many of our clients come by at lunch to look us over and book a session". "Actually", Julia offered, "my office is downtown, if it's convenient I could come by today at about 12:30". That was fine with Diane and after exchanging information and addresses; they agreed to meet during the lunch hour.
As Julia walked down Elgin Street, she wondered whether she would be able to pose for intimate photos taken by a stranger. On a number of occasions she posed for James in lingerie that he had given to her for various occasions, and on New Year's she had actually made an "adult movie" with James. That was very exciting, and she enjoyed taken his hardness deep in her mouth in front on the Camcorder. This however would not be a private viewing and someone else would be behind the lens as she primped in her push up bras and thong panties (Julia had a number of outfits in mind). This thought was a little unsettling for her, but was strangely exciting as well. As she walked along the back streets of the Golden Triangle, Julia felt a familiar dampness between her legs.
When Julia arrived at the studio she was greeted by an attractive woman in her mid to late thirties. Diane was of medium height and appeared to be fit. There was no question that she was attractive, but in a wholesome way with no particular feature that would overwhelm an observer. "Good afternoon, you must be Julia", she said. "Let me show you my studio". With professional pride, Diane gave Julia a tour of her studio, spending quite a lot of time showing how the numerous couches, brass beds, hammocks, plants and faux fireplaces could be used with her studio lamps to create the right mood for intimate boudoir photos.
After receiving more than satisfactory answers to her numerous questions, Julia was almost ready to make an appointment, but still had a lingering reservation. No one other than James had seen her pose seductively before and she was not sure that, for a stranger, she would be comfortable making love to the lens. That is the image she wanted the photos to project, so that in their long absences from one another James could look to these photos to remind him of her firm compliant body and those rich full lips that he loved to feel exploring the fullness of his erection.
Sensing a continuing reluctance, Diane offered, " Julia, if it's not important that the photos be a surprise, perhaps you and James can come together. Actually, many of my customers like their partners to come, so that they each can have photos taken for the other". This removed Julia's last concern and an appointment was made for an evening early in the New Year.
On Christmas morning James had a number of brightly wrapped packages to open. The most intriguing, however, was one he found in his underwear drawer. That package held a variety of silk boxers, Joe Boxers and bikini shorts. As well, the package included an invitation to join Julia for some boudoir photography at Studio Diane.
On a Friday evening in January, Julia and James went to the studio as scheduled. They each had an overnight bag containing the various outfits that they had selected for the photo session.
After greeting her guests warmly, Diane was right down to business. "The first thing", she said, "is for each of you to remove all of your clothes and put on these loose fitting robes. Your street clothes and underwear make lines that we don't want showing up in my photos. You change in those rooms near the exit sign. Once you've changed, look around and have some wine while I check the exposures I want to use. After we done that, the lines will be gone and I'll be ready.
After a few minutes, Diane returned asking, "Who's first". No one volunteered. "So it's going to be like that", Diane said. "I guess I better decide for you". "James, you seem a little more comfortable, you first". Following Diane's orders and Julia's suggestions James withdrew and changed into a pair of black Joe Boxers and a black silk robe. After leaving the change room, James moved to a couch the ladies had selected and sat inclined with his legs lying across the couch.
Following Diane's instructions and Julia's encouragement, as Diane clicked off the exposures, James opened the robe showing more of his chest and legs. Julia couldn't help but think that James's exercise regimen over the summer and fall had done a nice job of firming him up. With much pride and a hint of annoyance she noticed that Diane also was admiring her husband's physique. For his part, James was thoroughly enjoying the experience of having the ladies sip wine and coax him to pose more suggestively with each exposure.
After posing for at least twenty shots, James announced, " We have enough pictures of me, I think it's time that Julia pose". Diane agreed and sent Julia to change into the first of many outfits that she had selected. After sampling the wine and watching James pose, Julia was more than ready and was looking forward to showing what she had to offer. She was very proud of her body, which was firm from the aerobic program she was following and still was tan from a December holiday she had taken in Cuba.
Julia's first outfit was a crushed velvet robe with a matching velvet pushup bra and thong, all in deep Christmas red. In turn, Diane made Julia cross and uncross her legs, bring her shoulders forward to accentuate her cleavage and hold her legs in the air while reclining to give that long-legged look.
After taking a number of pictures on the hammock and roman style couch wearing various pieces from her collection of intimate apparel, Julia asked if she could move to the brass bed. Evidently she had a particular outfit in mind, because as soon as Diane agreed Julia went to the change room, leaving James and Diane to exchange tips on photography. During the evening, Julia had mentioned James's interest, and relative success in taking pictures.