If you've read the first three episodes of this series you can be excused for thinking my life as a photographer is all one improbable fuck-fest, feeding into the worst possible rumours and beliefs about photographers and models. Let me tell you right here and now, that is
really
not the case, but would you really want to read about the other ninety five percent of photo shoots where absolutely nothing happened? Nothing that is, apart from myself and a hard-working model, whether amateur or professional, working together to create beautiful pictures of a beautiful woman. These stories I've written about are the exception to the rule, and I stress, they are very few and far between. Although they may be great fun for myself and my 'companion' in the heat of the moment, they aren't conducive to producing good photographs, and inevitably leads to a re-shoot to finish the job.
Another thing: some of you may be getting the idea that I'm bragging, or thinking, of myself as god's gift to women. Let me assure you that I have no such false notions about myself at all. I'm Mr Average, plain and ordinary and believe me, I don't think of myself as good looking. I'm six feet tall, with a decent average, but not wonderful physique, dark hair, blue eyes, good teeth, and a clean shaven face I would call 'passable.' Personality wise, I'm calm and easy going. Why am I reasonably successful with women? I have no idea, but I had a thought about it and came up with this list. I'm a good listener, I talk to women as equals, I genuinely 'like' women as people, I don't look at their tits while I'm talking to them, I listen to what they are saying, I know I'm not always right, I think I'm kind, caring and considerate, and if there's any more I can't think of it apart from I have a good sense of humour and have a natural ability to make women laugh. Mostly self-deprecating humour aimed at myself. If any of my lady friends think otherwise be sure to tell me - I'm always willing to learn.
One unusual thing about working as a glamour photographer is that you are never, 'off duty.' An office worker or a bus driver has set hours, and when they are working, they are working, but when they finish work, they leave and go home. They probably don't think too much about their job when they aren't there, but a model's photographer is always on duty. Even though he, or she, (there are a lot of great female photographers,) don't have a camera in their hands, they are still 'looking,' for prospective new models. They are always alert, eyes scanning the crowd, whether it's a bar, night club, a beach, a bus queue, the supermarket, wherever they are. Looking, assessing, instantaneously deciding whether to make an approach, or dismiss the woman as a possible model. One of the greatest glamour models of the 1980's and 90's, Linda Lusardi, was, 'spotted,' standing in a bus queue. Someone was 'looking,' spoke to her about modelling, and the rest is history. After a while, 'looking,' becomes second nature and you do it all the time without thinking about it.
I was out on the town one night, just floating from bar to bar, familiarising myself with the night life and just generally seeing what was going on, and that's how I met Amy. She was a 'holiday rep,' working for one of the major package holiday companies, and I was lucky to meet her on a rare night off, although she was still, 'on call,' in case of emergencies. She was a lovely looking young woman, (of course) about five foot five inches tall, very slim, with a lovely smile, brown eyes, long brown hair, a full-lipped sensual mouth, and fabulous legs. I saw her at the bar with a few friends, and spoke to her. We struck up a conversation, and got on a like the proverbial, 'house on fire,' she was very outgoing and friendly, but she was quite surprised when I handed her my business card, and told her I thought she'd make a great model, provided she was interested of course. Well, she didn't say no, so I pressed on, knowing how poor holiday, 'reps,' wages were. Most of them have to try and sell, 'extras,' things such as guided tours, car hire, etc, to earn a commission and make a decent wage. Naturally, she was interested when she heard what I was paying for a photo shoot, and asked me all about it, so I told her. She didn't seem shocked in the slightest, and given the almost obligatory outgoing, friendly persona of a typical travel, 'rep,' it was almost to be expected.
'Yeah, I'd be interested, and it sounds like it might be fun,' was her eventual summing up of the idea, and so we arranged a photo shoot for her next day off, and I put it down in the pocket diary I carried with me. I continued to hand out cards and fliers, and spoke to quite a few women that night, as I made my way between various nightclubs and entertainment venues. Barmaids, club hostesses, the promotion girls on the street handing out flyers advertising various clubs. Basically, anyone who looked like a potential model got a friendly chat, a card, and a flyer advertising my services. Even if I only got one suitable model out of it, then it was a job well done, but with Amy already booked, I was in my opinion on a winner.
On the day of the shoot, I went into town and picked her up. She was wearing a loose-fitting dress, and carrying a small suitcase with her clothes, which I put in the rear seat of the car.
'I was getting a bit worried there,' she said, laughing. 'I remember you said not to wear anything tight because it leaves marks on the skin which takes ages to go, and shows up on the photos, so I took your advice. I'm not wearing anything under this dress, but that, as it happens, is a particularly draughty street corner, and my dress blew up at the back a couple of times. Anybody walking past would have seen my bare arse,' and she laughed again, and I laughed too.
'Well, lucky them, getting to see your beautiful naked bum,' I said. 'I'm rather looking forward to seeing it myself.' She laughed again.