Stock photo

Karen put down the laundry basket as the photographer checked his pictures. He nodded, giving a thumbs up. When she had decided to get into modelling being a stock photo model had not been quite the career she had envisioned. Posing in weird "everyday" situations like doing the laundry, talking on a cell phone and waving at someone might not have seemed like it would net big money but she had been able to make a career doing it. It paid the rent, and gave her enough time to try to book more glamorous gigs.

"Last one is 'hypnosis'," the photographer Michelle said. She glanced at James the other model who had just finished being in a photo of someone angry at a soda vending machine. 

"What?" Karen said, some of the prompts that the agency wanted photos of were rather vague.

"Oh I know this," James said. Like Karen he was a stock photo model by day as he tried to get a performing career going. He grinned, "I'm a stage hypnotist. I've even got a suit I can wear."

"It's only going to be your arm in the photo, and Karen will be sort of out of focus," Michelle said.

James waved a hand dismissively, "Realism sells."

The photographer sighed, but did not argue. She just wanted to get the shot done and go home to upload these images to the site and see which ones sold to the agency. Then she'd pay the models, and book them for the next round.

Karen shook her head, but didn't protest and James ran off to his car to get out his stage hypnotist suit. 

"He's cute when he's excited," Michelle said.

Karen shrugged, "I guess. You two still a thing?"

"We went for dinner once, no we're not. But he's a good worker and the two of you are my best models. I'm not going to screw that up when we're all doing well," the photographer said.

When James came back changed Karen had to admit that he looked good, better than he did as 'frustrated dad' or 'baseball fan'. 

"You could be a fancy businessman in that," she teased.

"Next week I can yell at a fax machine," he joked back.

Karen sat down in a chair while the photographer got everything in focus, or rather got her out of focus using depth of field to hone in on the gold pocket watch that they were using as a prop. James began to swing it back and forth.

"Look at the watch Karen, and relax," James said.

"I give directions here," Michelle said, "but he's right. Look more relaxed, less like you're constipated."

Karen stuck out her tongue, then settled down to pretend to let her eyes track the pocket watch. She ignored James and instead focused on looking calm and peaceful as if she was falling into trance.

Michelle also ignored him, focusing on capturing the watch mid-arc. With movement the photo was more difficult than most and took careful timing and focusing to get the right image. She slowed her breathing, and relaxed. Waiting for the perfect shot.

"With each swing notice your eyes growing heavy, your body relaxing and your mind clearing as you just focus on the watch. See nothing but the watch, and focus on the watch now," James said in a low soothing voice.

Karen let her gaze become unfocused as she relaxed. Her head felt heavy, but she held it still for the photo.

Michelle focused on the viewfinder, watching the watch swing back and forth. She pressed the button, capturing an image but then the watch swung back and forth again and she just watched it for another moment.

"So relaxed, so calm and tired. Letting yourself sink now, sink with my voice down and sleep," James said snapping his fingers. He watched in triumph as both women closed their eyes, their bodies relaxing. Karen's head fell forward and hit her chest, as she slumped down in the chair. Michelle sank backwards, falling on the ground but not waking up.

"Listening to my voice, you want to relax more, feeling so good. So deeply sinking, down. More deeply now," James said, deepening them. He had driven so he let them deepen as he packed the car and drove them all to his place where Michelle had her car and Karen had planned to take the bus.

Instead both women came inside his apartment, along with Michelle's photo equipment. 

"So relaxed, so open and comfortable. You'd feel so much better without those tight, heavy clothes. So much better," James said turning the recording function on Michelle's camera on and capturing them entranced and stripping.

"Now sink, more deeply and follow me to the bedroom," he said smiling. It was time for a totally different kind of photoshoot.