Chapter 2 : Linda
The first few month's business was slow; I sold some cameras and stuff but I didn't get the opportunity to take anyone's portrait. I started to dig into my old files and came upon the photos of Catharina I took during our first afternoon walk in Rome.
I contacted her and asked if I could display them in the shop window to advertise my capabilities as a portrait photographer. Of course she agreed; it was years ago I had taken them and nobody knew her in my home country anyway.
So I made a nice display in the window and believe it or not; beauty attracts beauty, just like money attracts money.
I can still remember, like it was yesterday, the moment when my first portrait customer, Linda walked into my shop.
Totally different from Catharina, she was a blonde with long thick wavy hair falling all the way down to her buttocks. She was the embodiment of the Tom Jones song where he sings about hair of gold and lips like cherries. There were also piercing blue eyes and a cute little nose with a slight upturn and just a hint of lovely freckles.
A pretty, flowing summer dress reaching to mid-thigh showed a pair of legs to dream about. The dress was cut low so as to give a pretty good idea of her bosom.
At first look, her slim frame seemed well endowed in the chest area - I guessed a B-cup, but learned later when I got to know her a bit better, it was actually somewhere between a B-and C-cup, sorry for the spoiler.
"I understand from your window display that you do portraits," she said in a timid voice?
"Yes my dear, I do all kinds of portraits in all kinds of settings. Would it be for yourself, or someone from your family, or a loved one?"
"For myself," she said with a smile, "I would like some sort of portfolio as I aspire to a career in modeling and beauty pageants."
"So you are looking for a full portfolio in all kinds of attire and settings, indoor and maybe also outdoor?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I am looking for, but I must say I don't have a big budget."
"No worries," I replied, "I've done portfolios for other girls with the same interest as yourself and with low budgets. I have local sponsors who are willing to help someone like you and who are always looking for fresh faces to promote their products."
"One of them is the perfumery on the corner who will probably do your make-up for free - provided you have no problem seeing your face later in their window display promoting their products or the services of their beauty salon."
"I have a similar agreement with a clothing store in the main street, so dresses and bathing suits won't tax your budget, again provided you would be willing to help them out during their fashion shows. Since modeling is one of your goals you could get firsthand experience that way and it would largely pay for your portfolio."
"Oh, that sounds perfect, and I have no problem returning the favor if the shops would be willing to do all that for me."
"OK," I said, "so let's start by drawing up an agreement whereby you allow me to take photos of you, for an upfront agreed fee."
"I am glad to see you do it properly," she said. "I'm a law student and believe the correct paperwork avoids difficult discussions later"..
"Great, I like the way you look at life. So to begin, what's your name?"
"Linda," she said.
"OK Linda, and what's your age, if I may ask?"
"I'm twenty."
"Great, you're legal: I don't want any trouble with the law afterwards. You'll see the agreement gives you ownership of any photos, so nobody can publish them without your express consent. I get to keep a copy for personal use but am not allowed to publish them or make the images public in any way or via any medium."
We both signed the agreement and I gave her a copy.
"So when would you like to do this? If you have time, I have some availability now. We could do some quick shots so I can study your face and figure on the photos. Someone can look very good in the flesh, but when you take pictures of them they look awful. Not that I think this will be the case with you as I do have a bit of experience judging people. However it also helps me to find out the best angles when I take your pictures later on".
"OK," Linda said, but I look a fright."
"No, no absolutely not," I replied, "you have a natural beautiful look just as you are now."
"So let me close the shop and please join me in the studio."
My studio was built in a huge extension I had constructed behind the shop.
I was rather proud of it.
Aside from the general studio area where the actual photos were taken, I had included two changing/dressing rooms each with a makeup table and mirror with lighting like in a theatre. Both rooms had a shower and toilet, ample space, with cupboards, a fridge, easy chairs and a sofa bed to relax if required.
Part of the roof of the studio's main room was made of glass so I could work with natural light if I wanted to, it could also be closed off if artificial lighting was required. The ceiling was at least three meters high with many different backdrops that could be lowered on three of the four sides in all the colors of the rainbow or with antique views to pose models in a 1900s setting.
Under the studio was also a cellar with a three meter high ceiling, but I'll explain that part later in the story.
After giving Linda the grand tour, except for the cellar, a bit to impress her of course but mainly to show her that I was not a two bit amateur in the business, I asked her to take a seat while I adjusted the lighting and loaded my camera.
I pointed to a high stool in front of a white background and switched on the strobe lights and my light organ, as I like to call it. This control panel allowed me to activate different fixed lights attached to the ceiling and all over the floor in all kinds of colors you can imagine.
The electronics allowed me to point them exactly where I wanted and in what color I wanted it to be, and all of that with low energy LEDs.
First however I opened up the ceiling as I wanted to start with natural light.
After a few moments I was ready; pointing the camera at Linda I started clicking away, moving around her so I could capture her face and fantastic body from all different angles.
After a few minutes I asked Linda to stand and moved the high stool away.
"Turn your back to me and look over your shoulder. OK now look at me as if you want to devour me."