Chapter 1: Introduction
CLICK!
That's another photo session complete thought April.
“What is this stuff that I've just spent the last hour photographing April,” Cathy said jadedly. “I mean,” she paused momentarily, picking the small plastic container up and giving it a little shake. “'U-Go!', come on!”
April looked up at Cathy.
Catherine Smithton was her boss and her best friend, they'd known each other for as long as they both could remember, and April hated to see her best friend so down in the dumps.
“Um...it's a...” She looked embarrassed as she spoke. “It's a laxative supplement!”
“Crap!” Cathy blurted out. “Our career has certainly taken a turn for the worse!”
April looked on as Cathy sighed and then began to pack her camera away, her shoulder's slumped. “Well, that's about it for today Cathy.” April said dejectedly as her fingers absently fiddled with a strand of her long blonde hair.
April Saunderson, Cathy's photographic assistant, continued to flick through the booking's ledger as if expecting that a new booking would magically appear.
“Nothing on the book's till next Tuesday I'm afraid.”
Having finished packing away her camera, Cathy walked over and slumped down in the old green lounge that sat to one side of the studio, crossing her slender arms across her ample breast's.
“Damn!”
April looked on in sympathy and thought that she felt about the same. If more work didn't didn't come in shortly then they'd both be out of a job.
“Don't worry Cath,” April piped up, trying to sound hopeful. “I'm sure there's something right around the corner.”
“Yeah,” Cathy said eventually, as she begun to undo the braid in her long red hair. “Right around the corner.”
The pair of them sat there in the studio, letting the open room erupt into silence. April knew she had to cheer her friend up. At last, she got up out from her chair and slammed her soft hands down on the sturdy old timber desk.
“Let's go and get a coffee at Sonya's shop!” April said breaking the silence.
“Coffee sounds good to me,” Cathy said, while standing up, stretching her arms above her head, shaking off the malaise.
April grabbed her handbag and headed for the door, making sure to turn off the studio lights on her way out. Cathy gathered up the last of her things and locked the studio for the day.
Cathy's Photography Studio's was once a grand idea, but now, it felt slightly tired.
The old brick building, where Cathy and April spent countless hours every day, housed a darkroom upstairs that was damp and dreary. Downstairs, the office was cluttered with unpaid bills. April sometimes wondered just how long they could keep the business afloat, but she kept those thoughts to herself. She knew that Cathy was working as hard as she could to make the studio a success, and she didn't want to add to her stress.
Sonya's coffee shop, Heaven's Scent, was only a block away from the studio.
The walk was short, but it was just enough to clear Cathy's head. Sonya had always been a good friend to both of them, and her coffee shop was a popular spot in town. It was where all the locals went to catch up on the latest gossip, including the latest developments at Cathy's Photography Studio's.
The two women walked into the coffee shop, which was bustling as usual. Sonya looked up from behind the counter and waved when she saw them. She was a petite woman with dark brown hair and warm brown eyes.
Her bubbly personality had a way of lifting everyone's spirits, even on the gloomiest of days. Sonya had a knack for making customers feel welcome and appreciated, and her coffee was some of the best in town.
As Cathy and April made their way to the counter, they couldn't help but notice a group of girls huddled together in the corner, giggling and laughing. They were all looking at something on a phone, and they seemed to be quite animated about it.
"What do you think they're looking at?" April asked as she ordered her coffee.
"Students from the university," Sonya replied with a shrug and a smile. "God knows what their giggling about."
Sonya, ever the observant one, noticed that Cathy and April were distracted. "Don't mind those girls over there," she said with a chuckle. "They're always up to something. I think they just like being the centre of attention, sort of makes themselves feel important."
Cathy and April paid for their drinks and moved towards the empty table closest to the girls in the corner. They couldn't help but continue to steal glances in their direction.
Sonya wiped down the counter and then made her way over to Cathy and April's table, carrying a tray with three steaming mugs of coffee. She sat down and looked at her friends, who still seemed preoccupied with the group in the corner.
"So, what's going on with you two?" she asked. "You both look so serious."
Cathy sighed and took a sip of her coffee before speaking.
"We're just worried about the business, Sonya. We've been having a hard time getting new clients, and business is slowing down."
Sonya looked thoughtful for a moment before her face brightened.
"I might have an idea that could help you out," she said. "One of Nicky's boyfriends has a... well, let's just say that he's well-endowed. I think he could make for a great model for one of your photo shoots."
Cathy raised her eyebrows in surprise and exchanged a quick look with April. "Are you suggesting what I think your suggesting?"
Sonya smiled, a wicked glint in her eye. "I'm just saying that you shouldn't limit your options when it comes to doing something a little.......um,.....off the books shall we say."
April leaned forward, her interest piqued. "Sounds interesting," she turned to Cathy. "Could be the boost we need?"
"Really?" Cathy looked back at her friends still looking a little wary. "And, just speaking hypothetically here, say we did this, do you think he'd be interested?"
Sonya nodded.
"I can ask Nicky to have a word with him," she said. "I'm sure he'd be up for it. He's not working at the moment and is always looking for ways to make a little extra cash."
"I reckon that's a great idea Sonya," April nodded. "And our revenue could definitely do with a bit of encouragement at the moment."
Cathy nodded in agreement, but her expression was hesitant. "I don't know, girls. I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with the idea of doing a nude shoot."
Sonya placed a hand on Cathy's shoulder. "Hey, it's just a suggestion. I understand if it's not your thing. But, I'll tell you this much, it's a surefire way to get people to start taking notice of your little photography studio. And right now, people taking notice is what you need."
Cathy was quiet for a moment, considering Sonya's words. She knew that her friend was right - they needed something to generate buzz about the studio, something that would get their name out there and bring in new clients. She took another sip of her coffee and sighed.
"I suppose you're right, Sonya. It couldn't hurt to consider it." Cathy finally replied, breaking the silence. "But I'm still not totally convinced."
Sonya smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "Well, even if you don't want to do a full on nude shoot, there might be a way for you to bring in some extra cash by doing some soft-core sexy shoots. Maybe a themed photo shoot, or something that's been popular on social media recently?"
Cathy thought for a moment then her eyes lit up with excitement. "I've got it! I know just the thing."
She turned to April and Sonya.
"We'll do it!" she exclaimed. "We'll do the nude shoot!"
April's eyes widened with surprise, but Sonya just grinned and gave Cathy a thumbs up. "That's the spirit, Cathy! I knew you could come up with something great."
"But there's a catch," Cathy added, holding up a finger. "We'll only do it if we can make it tasteful, classy, and artistic. No sleaze or vulgarity."
April and Sonya nodded in agreement. They knew that Cathy had a point - if they were going to do a nude shoot, they needed to make sure it was tastefully done. There was a shadowy line between erotic and explicit, and they didn't want to drift it.
Both Sonya and April readily agreed both smiling back at Cathy.
Cathy looked relieved and grateful.
The three women sat at the coffee shop for a few more hours, brainstorming ideas for the nude photoshoot and discussing the details. They talked about potential locations, props, and lighting, making sure that every aspect of the shoot would be perfect.
April took notes furiously, trying to keep up with the flurry of ideas flying back and forth between Cathy and Sonya.
Cathy's mind was racing, her heart pounding with excitement. She knew that this was a risky move, but she also knew that it could be exactly what they needed to turn their struggling photography business around.
Cathy was a creative soul, and she was willing to push boundaries to achieve success.
And so, the plan was set in motion. Sonya would reach out to Nicky and see if her boyfriend would be interested in modelling for their photoshoot. Cathy and April would start gathering props and planning the logistics of the shoot, and Sonya would act as the liaison between them and the model.
As they sat in the coffee shop, sipping their coffee and making plans, the energy between the three friends was electric.
They knew they were about to embark on a daring and exciting journey, one that would push boundaries and challenge conventions.
Cathy couldn't help but feel a little nervous, but she was also exhilarated by the prospect of this new venture. She had always been an artist at heart, and she saw this as an opportunity to create something truly beautiful and unique.
Sonya, too, was brimming with excitement. She had always been a bold and confident woman, unafraid to take risks and push the envelope.
April, on the other hand, was more reserved than Cathy. She was practical and down-to-earth, with a keen eye for detail and a no-nonsense attitude. She had always been Cathy's rock, her sounding board, and her voice of reason. And she knew that if anyone could help Cathy pull off this risky venture, it was her.
The three women left the coffee shop together, their heads full of ideas and their hearts racing with excitement. They knew they were on the verge of something big, something that could change the course of their lives and their business.
As they walked back to Cathy's Photography Studio's, they couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. They were about to embark on a journey that would challenge them in ways they never thought possible.
And yet, as they entered the quiet studio once again, the doubt and anxiety began to creep in.
Cathy looked around the dimly-lit space, realizing just how much work needed to be done to transform this place into a setting suitable for their daring photoshoot. April, on the other hand, was calm and collected, her mind running through the logistical checklist of what needed to be done and acquired.
Sonya, never one to back down from a challenge, stood in the center of the fray, her eyes sparkling with excitement and determination.
"Alright, ladies, let's get to work," she said, her voice cutting through the palpable tension in the room.
Cathy and April exchanged a glance before turning to Sonya, ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead. They knew they were in for a wild ride, but with Sonya by their side, they felt ready to face whatever obstacles came their way.
"First things first," Sonya continued, ticking off items on her checklist with an air of authority. "We need to beautiful and stunning location for the shoot."
April smiled. "I have a friend who has the most heaven scented coffee shop that anyone has ever seen....it would be perfect!" April said, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she revealed her idea.
"I know the place you're talking about." Cathy replied also smiling. "It's a quaint little coffee shop in the heart of the city only a short walk from here. Sonya, have you ever been to Heaven's Scent?"
Sonya shook her head, causing her long brown hair to cascade around her shoulders. "No, I haven't." she mockingly replied. "Are you sure the owner would let us do the shoot there?
"I mean, it's a respectable place," April began to reconsider, furrowing her brow as she weighed the risks against the potential rewards of Sonya letting them do the shoot there at her coffee shop..
Sonya waved off April's concerns with a flick of her wrist. "Don't you worry about that, I would be honoured to have the shoot take place there, it is after all, Heaven's Scent." She flashed a confident smile that exuded an air of cockiness.
April couldn't help but admire her best friend's moxie. Sonya always knew how to take charge and get what she wanted.
"Alright then, let's start by giving your friend Nicky a call and see if her boyfriend is up for earning some cash from doing a modestly erotic photo shoot." Sonya said, her eyes fixed intently on Cathy who was nervously shuffling her feet.
Cathy took a deep breath and pulled out her phone. She quickly dialed Nicky's number and waited for her to answer.
"Nicky? Hi, it's Cathy. I'm here with Sonya and April," she hesitated for a moment, realizing that she needed to spit it out before she lost her nerve.
"We're thinking of doing a nude photoshoot, and we were wondering if your boyfriend would be interested in modeling for us."
There was a pause on the other end of the line before Nicky let out a loud laugh. "Oh my god, Cathy, are you serious? You want to do a nude shoot? That's... that's crazy!"
Cathy could feel her cheeks flushing with embarrassment, but she pressed on. "I know it sounds a bit out there, but we're really struggling to get new clients, and we thought this could be a way to generate some buzz and bring in some new business."
Nicky was quiet for a moment, considering Cathy's words.
"Well, I don't know if he would want to do that," she said eventually, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "But I may have a way to talk him into it. And, you never know, once he gets into it, he may just enjoy it...I know we certainly will! And even though he's never been much of an exhibitionist. I'm sure he might be up for it given the right persuasion. "
Cathy let out a sigh of relief. "That would be amazing, Nicky. Thank you so much."
"No problem, Cathy. And even though he may be a bit reluctant I think I have a sure fire way for him to be be up for it." The sound of keys jingling, could be heard on the other end of the line. "I'll let you know how I get on."
Cathy hung up the phone and turned to Sonya and April, who were both looking at her expectantly.
"Well?" April asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.
"She reckons she can talk him into it," Cathy said, a smile spreading across her face. "She says she has a way to persuade him."
Sonya raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? What's her secret weapon?"
April chuckled. "I don't know, but I'm sure we'll find out soon enough." Cathy replied, trying to hide her nervousness. She knew that this photoshoot was going to be unlike any other they had done before, and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety about it.
"Alright, so now that we have our model, let's start planning the shoot." Sonya said, taking charge once again. "We need to make sure that everything is perfect - the lighting, the props, the location. We can't afford to have any slip-ups."
Cathy and April nodded in agreement, their minds already racing with ideas. They knew that this shoot was going to be a challenge, but they were determined to make it a success.
The next few days were a whirlwind of preparation. Cathy and April spent hours scouting the location, gathering props, and testing lighting equipment. Sonya, meanwhile, was busy checking with Nicky to see if her boyfriend had agreed to the shoot.
On the day of the shoot, they all arrived at Heaven's Scent early in the morning. The coffee shop was closed to the public, and the girls had transformed it into their makeshift studio. The usually bustling café was now filled with tripods, cameras, and softboxes.
Cathy was pacing back and forth, her nerves getting the better of her. April watched her friend with concern, knowing that Cathy was feeling the pressure.
She walked over to her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, it's going to be okay," she said softly. "We've got this."
Cathy took a deep breath and nodded, trying to calm her nerves. She looked around the coffee shop, taking in the transformed space. The air was thick with anticipation.
Sonya was busy checking her camera settings, her eyes scanning the room with a critical eye. She looked up and caught Cathy's gaze.
"You good?" she asked, a smirk playing on her lips.
Cathy nodded, trying to muster up some confidence.