"Hello, Mark's Studio," I replied as I answered the phone. The female voice on the other end asked about a promotion that I was running.
"Yes, the ad is correct. The session runs about two and a half hours. We take our time because I want you to be happy with the finished product. You will have every negative we take or you can have them destroyed. I keep none of them unless you tell me to and I print only the pictures that you like. I can frame certain ones if you want or package them in a binder. Whatever you decide. It usually takes me a day or two to process all of the negatives so you will have to come back later and order your pictures. How does that sound?"
She hesitated for a second and said it would be fine. Another moment of silence.
"Well, when would you like to schedule the shoot?" I asked. I could tell she was kind of struggling with her decision. Finally, she asked if I had any time tomorrow.
"Sure. How does tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 sound?" She said that would work for her as well.
"Great. I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."
A soft, slow voice replied, "Just use Anita."
"Fine Anita. Nice to meet you. I'm Mark by the way. I'll be the one doing the shoot. Now, just so you know, it will just be the two of us in the studio. Most clients tend to be nervous and I find that the less people in the room the better. Is that alright with you?"
Again silence for a moment and I heard Anita say "That will be ok."
"Also, remember that these are boudoir photos. You might want to pack a bag with some of your sexiest outfits. Do you mind me asking who these photos are for?"
Anita demurely replied they were for her husband Jim. It's to be a 20th wedding anniversary present.
"Well then, you might want to bring some of his favorites. Dresses as well. Don't forget heels. And please, no pantyhose. They really don't work well in this type of environment. Bring as much or as little as you like. Anything that makes you feel sexy is best. Do you have any questions Anita?"
She said no. "Ok. Anita, I will see you tomorrow at 2:00. Until then," and I hung up the phone. I wrote 'Anita' in the reservation book for 2:00 tomorrow afternoon and drew an arrow down to 5:00.
Closing the book, I grimaced slightly. "God, not another housefrau wanting a boudoir shoot," I said to myself. It's been my experience that these tend not to go very well. Most women shouldn't get them. Ever. They're under the impression they are much more attractive than they really are or that I'm some kind of miracle worker. After all, the camera doesn't lie no matter how much Vasoline I coat the lens with or how little light I shoot in.
But, what can I do? With the economy being what it is and all, I had to expand my services. Normally, I'm a portrait photographer but with discretionary income down, most people are not spending what little money they have on portraits. So, I decided to offer boudoir photos. The response has been good, it's just the outcome that's lacking.
Not a lot of repeat business but I have high hopes. I've learned after Mrs. Carlington to get paid in advance of showing the pictures, so that's why we always schedule a follow up appointment. And No Personal Checks! Experience has taught me well even though I may be only 30.
That's the other problem with boudoir photos. I get propositioned, a lot! Now I'm not Brad Pitt or anything but, being younger and reasonably attractive, these women get turned on and hit on me. Yes I'm single, tall and in fairly good shape. Yes, most of my friends think I ought to be hitting every offer that comes my way. But, in all honesty, I find it a bit sad the way these women throw themselves at me. It seems desperate. Maybe that's why they never seem to like my pictures?
Like I said, the camera doesn't lie. I can't make these women look sensual when they're not. That's what brought me back to Anita. Something about her, her voice, how she sounded, intrigued me. I smiled and thought 'We'll find out tomorrow.' I closed the studio door, locked it and walked toward my car, thinking about the session for tomorrow afternoon with Anita.
It was a fairly uneventful evening as well as morning that next day. Nothing really scheduled except for my afternoon shoot. Mrs. Thompson had canceled her morning shoot with the kids because one of them had tripped last night and scraped his chin. I guess the Thompson twins will have to wait until later.
I spent the morning working on the background for my shoot with Anita. I set up a chair with a dressing table and mirror on one wall, a soft, velvet sofa with a potted fern and fake fire place against another, and a large bed with a fluffy comforter and pillows against another. That seemed to be every clients idea of what the backdrop should be so I tried to give them at least one thing they wanted.
I was setting a pillow here, flowers there, candles everywhere, when I heard the bell ring as someone entered the foyer of my studio. Looking up at the clock, I had lost track of time. Daydreaming I guess, going over the shoot in my mind. Walking through the curtains, I got my first glimpse of Anita.
Standing at the counter, Anita was nothing like I had pictured. In my mind, I saw her to be overweight, short, frumpy, dowdy. She spoke so softly and hesitantly on the phone. Really shy about the whole thing. I was mistaken.
She stood maybe 5-6, 5-7. Her jacket covered her blouse but it was obvious she was in great shape. Her auburn hair was shoulder length and expertly coiffed. She had just the perfect amount of make-up on and her shy smile seemed to fill the room. Her perfume was unique yet subdued, a scent all her own.
But what really struck me about Anita were her eyes. Blue enough to be different sure, but it was the depth of those eyes. A myriad of emotions were in those eyes, more than I could fathom. Shyness of course, probably accentuated by a bit of embarrassment for what she was about to do, but I also detected more. A smoldering passion perhaps? Suppressed sensuality? All that in just a blink of an eye.
"Hi, I'm Anita. I had an appointment today at 2:00 for some photos." She held a garment bag over her shoulder and an overnight bag in the other as she smiled up at me.
"Hi Anita. I'm Mark," I held out my hand to shake hers. She slipped her soft, narrow hand into my much bigger one as I gently squeezed. Her skin felt soft, warm, smoldering, like her eyes.
"I've been expecting you. I was just in the studio back there getting ready for you. I see you've brought some things for this afternoon. Great! Come on back and I'll show you what I've got planned." I opened the curtain and let her pass in front of me, her perfume leaving a fragrant trail for me to follow.
