 Short Story Press presents Photoshy Written by Short Story Press Sarah Zachary Narrated by Ella Lynch There's a lot to consider when you're a photographer. It's not a bad career choice if you're willing to eat ramen noodles a few nights a week while waiting for the odd wedding or graduation party to pay your bills. They teach you all the technical things you need to know in photography classes. Lighting, composition, angling, point of view and saturation. However, there's only so much they can teach about the subject. The wisdom to choose the right subject is part of the inherent gift that defines a talented photographer into an artist. You must be able to see the beauty that can be framed and sense how to express a story in a single instant of time. Subject defines what you're photographing. For example, whether you are attempting to capture an inanimate object or the essence of something alive. I've worked with both living and abstract subjects, but I prefer live ones. They are more expressive, often more of a challenge to work with and usually more expensive to shoot. I guess that's why I agreed to the model shoot in the first place. I was running low on money and the due date for my rent loomed ever closer. I arrived at the address, noting that it was a very posh neighbourhood where my clients had rented a studio for the shoot. I carried my equipment in a backpack I had owned since high school because I had deemed it lucky then and it seemed like I would need some luck in pleasing this client. They had set up a background looking something like a dark secluded alley to promote a mysterious new perfume named Alley. The director spotted me as soon as I arrived on scene and immediately came barreling impatiently towards me practically knocking over some of the lighting and props. Glancing quickly at my watch, I affirmed that I was actually a few minutes early but she gave the air she had been pacing back and forth waiting for hours. She was far older than I was, at least in her forties, with dark eyes behind Gucci glasses, a predatory air and seductive full lips that I suspected liked to gossip too much. I got the impression immediately that she was in charge and everyone feared to cross this woman. Still, she jumped right into conversation which was probably meant to make me feel welcomed. I discussed the mechanics of the shoot with her and surreptitiously sampled some refreshments laid out on a buffet table while we waited for the model to make her appearance. Every time the double doors opened all eyes turned towards what might be her figure but every time there were barely audible sighs of disappointment all around. I figured she might be good looking to merit so much attention but when she finally appeared I found out I was wrong. She wasn't good looking. She was gorgeous. She had just the kind of body you'd expect from the typical model. Full.