My mother bought my first camera when I was 12. It was a Ricoh. These days, one can find this camera in the museum, but at the time, for me, it was an unending fun game. In the first year, I took pictures of everything from my friends at school to worms in the garden and even the moon at night. In the afternoons, when my classmates were playing ball, I was looking for my next targets. Everything was very amateurish and reflected my fascination with the world of photography.
At the age of 16, my growth spurt started, and with it, I began looking at life differently. I still loved my camera, but I concentrated more on my studies and participated in sports activities. By the age of 18, I was 6'1", 180 pounds, and reasonably muscular.
In my senior year in high school, I did very well and registered at Drexel University in Philadelphia, majoring in photography. It was considered the best photography school in the nation and multiple graduates worked at important magazines and won lucrative awards. I finished my degree at 22 and moved to Brooklyn.
My connection to Brooklyn was related to my favorite uncle whom I visited often growing up. I liked the nice neighborhood near the East River and the beautiful view of Manhattan's high rises from my apartment in the western part of Williamsburg.
I opened a small photo studio in W Mall & Business Center and waited for clients. The beginning was a struggle. The requests were mostly portraits with occasional full body ones, specifically to impress somebody. The latter usually came with a plea to make the subject taller/skinnier/prettier. I never understood the logic of making these photos and sending them to a potential date. If I was successful in making the person look much better and hiding their flaws, the other person would see this person in real life on the first date. Anyway, it was a way to start my business and I expected the first 2-3 years to be tough.
My business peaked up because of Jacky. She was 28 years old and came for a simple portrait. Jacky was very photogenic and I took my time with her. At one point she asked me for the price of 6 photos. When I told her, she asked if it would cost her less to order only 2.
I smiled and said, "I'll make you a deal. Let me take several pictures of you in my studio. The whole thing will take 1 hour. Once I am done, I'll give you for free the 6 portraits you wanted and a copy of each of the other pictures I shot. In return, you allow me to display some of your pictures in the front window. She eyed me to see if I was serious or if there was a trick involved. I reassured her everything was kosher and I'd show her the ones I'd put on display. She agreed.
She showed up the following afternoon wearing a simple blouse, a long skirt, and no cosmetics. I would have selected other clothes and at least a touch of lipstick for the photos, but I was happy for the opportunity to have a model for an hour. In the studio, I arranged the lighting and background and took pictures of her cute face as well as her sitting sideways on a simple chair and standing by the window.
Once I was done with 30 photos, I chose 20 in which her expression and eyes were the way I liked and showed them to her. She inspected each one, and gradually, her face lighted, "Sir, the pictures are beautiful! I see myself in the mirror every day and never looked that good."
"Lady, as I said, you can have them. I'll use copies of 5 of those in my window. If you are interested, we can work together on even better photos. If you bring here different clothes and are willing to put little lipstick with a touch of makeup, the results will be much more impressive."
"How much these will cost me?"
"It will be a similar deal: You get a copy of every good picture and I get permission to display 5 pictures from the new set too. If you agree, it will be for free again."
She gazed at me suspiciously, "Sir, what is the trick? If you work and get no money, why are you doing it?"
I chuckled, "First, my name is Elton and not 'sir.' Second, I just started my business. Customers will show up when they see the photos I take. You are very photogenic. So you get free studio photos and I use you as my model to hang some of your pictures for publicity."
Jacky smiled, "You are very good. I work part time as a receptionist in an office, so I have free time, and we can try to do what you suggested. So what clothes do you wish to shoot me in next time."
"I don't know what else you have at home. Next time, bring with you the best clothes you have and we'll choose together. If you can bring a few pairs of decent shoes and your cosmetic things as well, it will be even better."
"Will tomorrow at 3 pm OK?"
"Certainly. Most of the time, 3 o'clock is a dead hour. Most customers show up in the morning or much later in the afternoon."
...
Jacky arrived carrying 6 full bags. I said, "Sorry you had to carry so much. Later, if you decide to continue our deal, we'll need to be more selective."
She inspected my eyes and mumbled, "That's OK. I wanted to be sure you found what you wished to make me look better."
I chose to start with an off-shoulder long burgundy evening gown and matching 3" stiletto shoes. I stood behind her and combed most of her long blonde hair to one side. She trembled. I attached 2 large ring earrings and asked Jacky to sit on a couch with a dark velvet cover slightly sideway. My last request was for her to look at me with her large green eyes and smile a little. I shot her photos from several angles and then dimmed the lighting somewhat to make it more romantic.
The next set I selected was a short green dress with a generous cleavage, green, high heeled shoes, a long pearl necklace that dropped between her breasts, and ruby-red lipstick. First, I stood her by the door frame, asked her to lean on it mildly, and give me a seductive look. Jacky wasn't a good actress and it took several tries to explain to her how to do it better. Then, I showed Jacky how to pose on a bed that was covered with silk sheets and a few red roses. Some of the photos I took on her side, leaning on one elbow, smiling at me, while in the others, she was on her tummy, leaning on both elbows with the upper part of the dress separated from her body.
The whole session took slightly over an hour. When I was done, I suggested taking her to dinner in the mall. She accepted with a smile but said she was anxious to see the pictures.
"Sorry, Jacky, but unlike the prior photos, I wish to work a little bit on these. I want to play with colors and add hue to some. But tomorrow afternoon, they'll be ready for you.
We ate Chinese, and she told me about herself. She never married. Her last boyfriend loved gambling. She lent him money, and he wasted it all on failed card games. She dumped him, but not before losing most of her savings. The pictures were supposed to give her a fresh new start. I felt sorry for her.
...
The following afternoon, her 28 photos were ready. I waited to see her reaction. We sat side by side on the sofa, and she started inspecting them. After the first 5, Jacky began crying.
I hugged her, "What's wrong?"
"They are so beautiful. You made me look so gorgeous..."
This talk took place when she was still checking the initial series with the long robe. I was curious to see how she'd behave after looking at the more sensual series.
When she eyed the ones with the short, sexy dress, she gasped. Jacky looked into my eyes, "Is this the way you see me? Do I really look that sexy and seductive?..."
"Yes, you do."
"Elton, did you make me look like that for the pictures, or you actually feel that way?"
"As a photographer, I think you are very photogenic and consider myself lucky you agreed to pose for me. However, as a man, I think you are VERY attractive."
