"So, you must be Jon and Sara. Unusual in this business, but you're here right on time," they heard Karen's light praise as they were whisked past the empty reception desk and straight into a large studio.
"This is amazing meeting you, Karen." Sara greeted their hostess. Her instant impression of Karen was that she looked more like a kindly, trustworthy school teacher in her late 40s than a renowned artist. "We are just so thrilled to be here. Jon and I have been to three of your recent exhibitions and loved them all." Jon quietly nodded his concurrence beside her.
Thrilled couldn't adequately describe how Sara really felt. Her eyes took in the professionally equipped studio set in awe. She and Jon had both become big fans of Karen's still-life photography since seeing their first exhibition of her work together six months ago. They both enjoyed Karen's work which specialised in shooting vastly different aspects of people framed within selected themes.
After the first, Sara was virtually camped on her website for news of forthcoming exhibitions. She was especially intrigued when she saw the recent advertisement on it asking for amateur husband and wife couples to send photos of themselves in a few natural settings ("no nude shots, please"). The offer was to vet models for a possible assignment.
Crossing her fingers, Sara had made a decision to send some shots of Jon and her together without even asking him, assuming it was likely they would miss out. She had been delighted when they had immediately been invited to turn up for some test shots and if okay, an immediate session. Jon though had been very hard to convince. It had taken an expensive lunch out with a good hour of pleading until he had agreed to be dragged along. Viewing Karen's work was enjoyable for him, he argued, but he wasn't sure that meant he wanted to appear in any of them. But Sara's desperation for a unique chance to actually be part of a work by Karen had finally worn his protests down.
Over an offered cup of coffee, the trio strolled along a studio wall and examined some shots yet to be displayed. Karen explained the subtleties behind them. They were all raw shots of homeless street people taken outdoors. They found her stories of the difficulties of shooting these subjects, with their quirks and erratic behaviour, funny at times yet quite poignant as well.
"Can I get you two to keep on moving around with one another for a second," Karen excused herself. As they strolled about and animatedly shared opinions and viewpoints, Sara on Jon's arm, the woman picked up a camera and followed their movements intently through it.
"The camera really likes you. Both of you. You're really a very good looking couple." Karen complimented them.
Sara took Jon's hand and gave it a little squeeze, knowing him well enough to know that he would be a bit embarrassed by the part of the compliment aimed at him.
"Oh, there is the usual legal necessity," Karen said apologetically. "Sorry, but at your ages, I'll need some proof of age?"
Jon and Sara both fumbled for their drivers' licences by way of answer.
"Twenty four, Jon," Karen calculated as she took his off him, filling details onto a form. "Kowalski?" She handed his back and took Sara's. "And Sara. Kowalski too, of course. You're twenty I see, Sara. Jon, are you of Polish origin?" she added.
"Certainly am. So is Sara," the well-built young man brightened as he responded.
"Well. I'm having enough trouble here spelling Kowalski Sara, so I'm not going to ask you your maiden name," Karen directed at Sara, her friendly face beaming at the young brunette as she secretly squeezed Jon's hand so determinedly he was almost wincing. "To me at forty seven, you two make me feel almost old. I might say your licence photos are excellent ones compared to most I see. Especially mine," Karen mused as she handed Sara's back.
"So, let me explain what I'm trying to achieve," Karen went on, deciding to get started. "As I stated over the phone, I want some shots of a really close couple. I want to shoot them in an indoor scenario that shows them sensually and affectionately enjoying each others' youth and touch. You two are so well suited to express what I have in mind. Rather than taking this hour to just shoot test shots, I'm inclined to shoot this whole thing immediately. I hope I asked you both not to wear any jewellery or tight undergarments here today. They leave marks on the skin that take ages to disappear. I also assume you realise by now that both of you will be naked. Doing this now will get rid of the fright factor that may well occur if I ask you to come back another day."
Sara glanced at Jon. This was something she hadn't realised at all. God, she really wanted to be in an exhibition. She felt game. But the signs were bad. Jon rarely showed any emotion, but right now he was looking a little uncomfortable.
"Now, since the exhibition is a local one, I can take steps in the editing to mask your faces and preserve your anonymity if you wish," Karen proposed. "Does all this sound acceptable to you both so far? Please feel free to say so and leave if this isn't your thing."
Nodding enthusiastically, Sara was concerned by Jon's seeming reluctance. "Jon hates being overly affectionate with me in the company of others, that's all" she offered without being asked. "He'll be okay, but I may need to coax him along at times."
"Sorry about that," Jon shrugged, shuffling about. "By now, you've probably guessed that Sara's a lot more outgoing and adventurous than me."
"Then coax away if you need to, Sara. You may be surprised to learn a lot of the professionals need encouragement from me at times. But if it's the usual sort of session, both of you should find yourselves becoming more and more relaxed as we progress. Just take your time, and be your natural selves as we go," Karen said. "I'd like to start by getting straight into it and doing some initial shots, with you dressed as you are.
She aimed the camera. "Just lean in to one another. Perfect. Jon, do put an arm around Sara. Act as though you really do love her. Fine. That wasn't too hard now, was it?"
Sara put her arms around his waist and looked up into the somber brown eyes looking down at her seeking reassurance. The attractive young woman grinned and touched the end of his nose. A half-smile flicked across his face. All the while, the camera kept up a constant clicking.
Sara was quickly at ease, and the more photographs that Karen took, the more relaxed Jon started to become. He began to smile and interact with Sara after some initial discomfort and allowed her to run her fingers through his hair then up and down the front of his T-shirt.
"You Kowalskis both look just great," Karen enthused. "Hold her as though you're going to waltz with her, Jon. Now look at him and move your face close to Jon's, Sara. As a couple, you look utterly fabulous. Like all married folk, you share a lot of the same expressions."
"What sort of naked poses are you after?" Jon hesitatingly asked.
"I think I may have a non-threatening idea you'll like," Karen offered. "I asked all potential models in the website ad to nominate a brand new experience they might want to try. Sara's email was simple. She said she fancied giving her husband a good all-over massage one day. Am I right there?"
"Yes, I remember I did," Sarah quietly recollected, giving Jon a small pinch when she felt him stiffen in surprise.
"Well Jon," Karen announced. "I've planned this to be your lucky day. Behind that screen, you two should find a robe and a towel."
"We're wearing them?" Jon enquired.
"To begin with," Karen clarified. "Sara, you of course will put on the robe. Nothing at all underneath please, both of you. Come out when you're both ready. Jon, relax will you. Oh, as far as sprucing up goes, tidy your hair by all means, but please don't put on any further lipstick or makeup."
Sarah took Jon's hand and led him behind the screen. He modestly turned his back to her, deep in thought. Grabbing a robe and turning her own back to him, she quickly began noisily undressing to stop him thinking too much and perhaps calling this off.
Finally, naked, she breathed a sigh of relief when she heard him unzipping his trousers. As she loosely tied the robe sash loosely about her waist, she turned to face him as he finished undressing. Her eyes ran up and down the back of his naked body, dwelling on his behind and sturdy legs. Unaware of her appraisal, he wrapped the small thin towel around his waist.
That was when it hit her. They really could both be posing naked in front of a stranger in five minutes. Touching one another. Suddenly she was also feeling a bit panicky.
"Ready when you are," they heard Karen's quiet advice. Sara calmed herself by taking Jon's hand. Blushing, she put on a bold face and led him out.
Karen ushered them to a large massage table that was already set up. "Hop up and lie on your back, Jon," Karen instructed. He complied by rolling up onto the table then slowly stretching himself out.
"Again, both of you, just relax," Karen added. "I know that you're probably nervous. I've been doing this for a long time, and I assure you that once we get into this, the butterflies will go pretty soon. This session will be perfect for you Jon because you're largely passive throughout. After all, this is something that Sara wanted to try. Frankly though, once it's under way, I'm not expecting too many objections from you at all!"
Jon nervously smiled. "It's something any man really wouldn't mind getting. I just didn't think it would be under these circumstances when that day came."
"It will be fine. We'll get straight into it. If it goes all right, I'll just let it flow and take my snaps as things naturally progress?" Karen explained. "But trust me if I do prod for things to go a certain way. Off we go then! Ready when you are, Sara."
Sara moved behind Jon's head and just quietly started kneading his shoulders as the last calming words echoed in their ears. "Now, both of you get started in your own time and just concentrate on enjoying this. Ignore whatever I do. Jon, can you just unknot your towel but otherwise leave it exactly as it is?"
Jon hesitated, but complied as Sara moved to his side. With both hands, she began to rub his chest. As she settled into a routine, she became less aware of Karen's bobbing and moving around on the other side of the massage table and the sound of clicking.
"Lovely," she heard Karen. "Keep going."
