His photography business had moved from the ranks of fledgling to that of a very busy, part-time job. He had a nice office in his home and a 400 square foot building that was his studio. He often had his new clients in his office to talk of the things they wanted in a picture. Some senior pictures, some glamour shots, some boudoir photography, and even a little sexy calendar work were all on his resume'. The clients would look at the finest examples of his work that adorned his office. Several shots of models, some amateur and some pro, posing with various cars and motorcycles, some waterfall shots of a silhouetted nude, some shots of young models trying to make it big....but one photo on the wall always caught everyone's attention. It was a large sixteen by twenty photo of....well.....no one was really sure what it was. No one really had the courage to ask. Was it abstract art? Some sort of highly intellectual thing that no one really liked except other photographers? What was it? It looked to be a picture of a room taken at night. Moonlight poured through a bay window onto a large bed covered in twisted sheets. The contrast of darkness and perfect white sheets was certainly beautiful...but what was the point. He noticed people stealing glances at the picture, but never asking, just glancing with curiosity. He always smiled at this. Sometimes when the room was quiet, and the clients had all been taken care of, he would look at the picture and be covered with a calm. A feeling of total solace and peace. Because he knew the story behind the picture.....
*****
It was a year earlier. He had been in his studio working diligently on a shoot for the next day. An aspiring model was having several pictures taken for a comp card, and he has working on very large set that had been in construction for several weeks. The large four-poster bed was on loan from a friend who owned an antique shop. He had tried different fabric, different angles, but it had yet to come together. He settled on a purple window treatment and white sheets, hoping for a high contrast look. He tried to picture it in his mind...but his mind's eye was failing him this time.
He spoke of the process and difficulties at his "real job". He talked to his friends, particularly his female colleague with whom he carried on many conversations, some more personal than others. Circumstances had conspired that she have a free evening that night, and she wondered if she might come over and see his studio for the first time. He quickly accepted the offer, not just because he loved to show his studio any time, but because he had special feelings for her, and he wanted to spend more time with her.
He went home that evening and cleaned up his studio as best he could, laughing at himself for acting like a teenager having over his first date. The thought of having her over made his heart race, so much so that he was afraid he might seem less than at ease with having her around. He sat down to calm himself. He sat in his director's chair facing the new set. His thoughts wandered to tomorrow, and what would he come up with. His thoughts consumed him, so much so that he didn't hear her drive up, or get out of her car. He startled when she opened the door at the other end of the studio. His hear raced to see her. She said she would help him set up, and true to her word she wore her sweatpants and sweatshirt with her hair pulled back, ready to work. Even dressed down she looked fantastic. Her hair pulled back left her beautiful long neck on display. The photographer in him recognized the uncommon beauty in her neck and eyes, and the obvious attraction of her long legs that was obvious to anyone. Her gray sweatsuit fit loosely, concealing the beauty underneath that she was oblivious to. They adjusted the window treatment and ruffled the sheets perfectly. The finishing touch was the arrangement of oversized pillows that added the air of luxury and arrogant beauty. She climbed all over the large bed, adjusting this and that, while he arranged the camera, taking light readings and such. He was looking through his lens when she stopped for a moment to rest, leaning over on one of the pillows and lying her head down. She was oblivious to his actions, and only the sound of the shutter on the camera got her attention.
"Oh my..tell me you did NOT take my picture!"
He laughed and adjusted the telephoto lens to frame her face. She rolled her eyes, but reluctantly gave him a wry smile. The shutter clicked again. He stood up from behind the camera. The look on his face said more than words ever could. He gave her the look she had seen from time to time in their moments alone. Moments were she wondered if they would be able to maintain their agreed upon rules of engagement. Several times they had been alone, and when he kissed her neck and pulled at her nipples, she wondered if she would be able to tell him to stop if he asked for more. He would get a look that burned from her heart to between her legs making her week. The look was serious, almost like he was trying to read her soul by staring deep enough in her eyes. This was the look he had now, only for once they were in a place it could flourish. She always tried to rebuff him and stay in control. This time she was tired from the struggle and just wanted to finally be taken. When he looked at her like that she felt beautiful.
He said nothing. He walked to a corner of the set and turned on an array of tungsten lights. The gold light shown down on her shoulder and legs and the length of her body. He walked to the other side and turned on another set of tungsten lights, these smaller ones shining above onto her hair and shoulders. Finally, he turned on a small light at the base of the camera which filled in the light on her face. All the lights made her the center of his attention. She remembered all the times he told her she was beautiful and that she should appreciate herself more. She decided to take the leap of faith and trust him. She met his intense gaze with one of her own. Their eyes locked, a look that told him he was both trusted and appreciated.
No one spoke. This was significant because both loved talking to the other and words flowed freely between them. They spoke to each other all day and when they weren't together they were writing stories to each other. Words were huge in their interaction...but not this time. They had spoken all they needed to, and what they both felt right now didn't need words to communicate.