I’d thought about finding a new model and trying to capture the same feeling in the photographs, but I knew that wouldn’t work. With a client, I could talk to them about their husband or boyfriend, or hell, even the guy they wanted to meet someday. But with a model who wasn’t into the lifestyle and was just there to have his picture taken, I didn’t think it would work.
I needed pictures of someone who would draw people in, and who would make them want to have the same experience. Eli was hot, but not so incredible he looked like some unattainable model, and he radiated a sensuality in the photos that people would envy.
Finding another way to go about it had taken days, but in the end, I’d kept coming back to Eli. I’d searched through photos I’d taken over the years, but none were quite right. Most of the shots were too vanilla and too obviously staged.
As I’d gone through countless boudoir-style photos online, the ones that looked more natural were the best. Like the photos with Eli, they needed to be well planned out, but not look awkward and fake. Eli’s were perfect because his response held nothing artificial. Nothing acted or disingenuous, just Eli lost in passion.
I wasn’t sure I could recreate that magic with a stranger.
Sure, I knew the photos of customers would turn out good, and the more I thought about it, the more confident I became about how it would work. But the pictures that pulled them in and convinced them to trust me had to be perfect.
Perfect meant Eli.
Doing my best to resist the urge to curse him under my breath, I stopped pacing in my small apartment and went for the stack of papers on the table. Digging through copies of schedules and new hire paperwork that had never gotten put away, I found the list of phone numbers I’d been given.
There it was.
Just after lunch on a Sunday probably wasn’t a bad time to call. Pushing aside the angry voice about what he might have been doing late the previous night, I picked up my phone and started dialing. It rang long enough that I thought it would go to voicemail, but right before I was ready to hang up, I heard him answer.
His voice was a little out of breath and tired. “Hello?”
One quick mental shove and I spoke, trying to keep my voice as businesslike as possible. “This is Roman Landry. I have a quick question for you about the photos that we took.”
There was a long pause before Eli finally spoke. “Yes, what about them?”
The fact that he hadn’t hung up screaming at me gave me a boost of confidence. We could handle it like adults. “Some of the photos we shot were not suitable for the site, so I didn’t send those to the company. However, I would like to get permission from you to use them in another project I’m working on.”
“I’m not—” His angry voice cut off abruptly. “I apologize, please continue.”
Unsure about what he’d been starting to say, I ignored it and continued in the blandest tone I could muster. “I am going to be taking boudoir-style photos of individuals and couples in the lifestyle, and I would like to use some of your photos in my portfolio. But considering the nature of the pictures, I wanted to obtain your permission first.”
There was another long pause before Eli finally began talking. “How would you be using them? I have my reasons for not putting my face all over the internet, and it’s not because I’m ashamed of what I’m doing, if that’s what you think.”
Biting back an angry retort that wouldn’t get me what I wanted, I took a deep breath. “I realize that. There are a lot of people who have similar concerns. Some, where your face is obscured or could be easily cropped out, would be put on the main page of my website, but any photos that show your identity would be strictly for private clients who are trying to decide what kind of shoot they’re comfortable doing.”
“So the anonymous pictures go on the site and the more personal stuff where I could be recognized would be, what…on there too, just behind a password?” Eli clearly didn’t like that idea, but I was just shocked he hadn’t hung up.
“There are a few options. Having the photos behind a password is one, but if you’d be more comfortable, I could have them strictly available to see in person where there wouldn’t be the chance of someone copying them and posting them other places.” I’d thought of several different options, but that one seemed like the best idea.
“So like one of those coffee table books?”
“Something like that, once I get more photos to include in a collection. For now, I’d probably just have prints for them to see when they come in.” I liked the idea of the book, but when the only photos I had were of Eli in those panties, an entire book wasn’t an option.
He was quiet, but it wasn’t an awkward silence. I could almost hear him thinking through the idea. When he spoke it was calm and almost businesslike. “I know a few guys who’d like to have something like that done of their subs. Sexy pictures for their playrooms and stuff.”
“Yes, it’s hard finding photographers in the area that do anything like it, at least, from what I’ve seen.” I’d been researching different avenues for acquiring new customers and looking for competition for the last couple of days, and I hadn’t found anything that looked remotely close to what I was doing.
“Yeah, I bet. Sam finally took photos of his sub himself, but he isn’t really pleased with how they turned out.” Eli seemed to like the business concept, but he still hadn’t responded to the initial question.
“Would you be comfortable with me showing the photos in that kind of setting to lifestyle couples and individuals who wouldn’t have access to copying them?” I held my breath as he considered the question.
Several times I looked down at the phone to make sure we were still connected. We were, but he was so quiet I couldn’t even hear his breathing. Finally, he started to talk. “Now, the only reason I’m even offering this is because I feel a little bit responsible about how everything went down.”
That wasn’t the answer I was looking for, but it wasn’t no, so I tried not to fuck it up. “Alright.”
If I kept my mouth shut, maybe he wouldn’t lose his marbles.
Eli took a deep breath and continued while I waited on eggshells for his response. “The pictures might have turned out great, but with just the one shoot and look, it won’t be enough.”
