The Art of Persuasion (Closed for JT & Pipper

[pipper]

The Art of Persuasion (Closed for JT & Pipper)

Amanda Bellingham sat at her elaborate dressing table touching up her make up. She was one of five children of very wealthy parents. As a result she lacked for nothing. She had attended a private school that only catered to the very elite, where she had graduated as a valedictorian.

Taking a couple of years off before heading to university, with her parents’ permission of course, Mandy just wanted to relax for a while, do her own ‘thing’ away from the prying eyes of the ‘establishment’ as she referred to it.

What she loved about this modest home of hers, well to her it was modest, was that there were no servants to deal with. Mandy had put her foot down when her parents insisted that she should! The last thing she needed were members of her staff informing her parents of everything thing she was up to. Being an adult didn’t mean you were exempt from elite rules, especially when an un-married daughter moved into her own place.

Mandy looked at the pendulum clock on the wall, which she had nicknamed, ‘wag-on-the-wa’. Her sister and brother-in-law would be arriving soon to take her to a classical music gala event. Samantha, the oldest of the siblings, had married Charles Barnes when she just turned nineteen. Nineteen! Mandy herself had just become betrothed to Daniel Carruthers on her nineteenth birthday, but on the understanding that they wouldn’t even begin to plan their wedding until after Daniel’s return from Japan, where he and his father’s company’s vice-president were overseeing the restructuring of a group of failing manufacturing plants they had taken over. Much to her relief, the news that it could take up to, at least, six months, allowed her the time to explore new things, before becoming a trophy wife!

She stood up making sure her long black evening gown was smoothed out. The beauty about this outfit was that it had a built in bra, thus saving Mandy from wearing one, and the two inch high heels was enough for her. Anything higher she despised. Slipping on the opera gloves she noticed Daniel’s diamond engagement ring. “A promise to marry,” she muttered before sighing. Mandy couldn’t back out now, if she did her name would be mud, and completely disowned by the ‘establishment’. No, she couldn’t; like it or not she would marry him. Besides, he was loaded with money. That’s the reason she agreed to marry Daniel. Not out of love, but for money.

The doorbell chimed.

“Come on Mandy, let’s go and hear some Tchaikovsky,” she told herself.

 

[JayTee69gmx]

(Two weeks ago) Jensen listened to 'La ci darem la mano', and thought what a genius Mozart was. Not even knowing Italian one sensed the seduction, entrapment. Poor Zerlina he thought. And studied the screen in front of him.

Looking for that Special Gift?

Jensen Photography Studios can give you a professionally produced portrait of yourself, perfect to give the guy who is impossible to buy for. A private session at our studio will give you exactly the image that will tell him just how you feel. Call for an appointment for your free consultation. Totally discreet.

A stock image of a young woman, innocent yet alluring was the background, faint.

And pressed send.

The ad would appear in the programs of four different theaters in town that featured classical music. He would take all the work that came of course. But he was looking for that one special person that would embody innocence with allure. The plan had been in the back of his mind for months now. Finally he had amassed the resources he needed, and was ready to press forward. See if it could work.

At first he planned to green screen the shots and put selected backgrounds in place after. But that would probably only work with a professional model who could call up moods at will. He needed to see those moods in an ingenue. Someone who had never been professionally photographed before. At least not with the intent of alluring a partner.

So he constructed a modern boudoir in his studio complete with king sized bed, designer bed linens, soft lighting, a couple of chairs, one upholstered, the other a classic design with no arms, an upholstered bench, a (fake) polar bear rug, and a high end sound system. Currently playing the aria from Don Giovanni. He imagined her posing, being seduced by the sounds, the atmosphere. Hmm. Should he get some scented candles? No better not. Too many folks nowadays with allergies.

What was he missing? Wine! Yes! He made a note to pick up a wine cooler, and some mid-range whites, toward the sweet side. Some Pinot Noir too, just in case. And proper glasses. Satisfied, he shut off the lights and went to his loft.

Since he placed the ad, Jensen had a few women answer, and he did the shots. Some wore negligees. one wanted tasteful nudes. He did the work, provided the photographs and collected his fee. It was turning out to be a lucrative addition to his practice. He took care to space the appointments widely, only one per day, to avoid any chance of overlap. Once he tried his 'special' music, and it may have worked.

Still, the 'right' person had not yet answered the ad. He had no idea what she would look like, but he knew when he saw her he would know she was the one.

 

[pipper]

The next morning found Mandy in the reading room, where along with the rows of book cabinets were the computer and television. As far as she was concerned, the living room was strictly used for entertaining guests.

Mandy had enjoyed the gala event, especially Tchaikovsky’s ‘Pathétique’ Symphony. In fact it was an enjoyable evening out. The only blemish was Samantha’s occasional ‘speech’ where she extolled the merits of marriage. That was last thing Mandy needed to hear. Since Daniel had left one week ago, all she had from him was a quick phone call to say that they had arrived in Japan safely and that he missed her. Since then; nothing! Was this a foretelling of what she was to expect as his wife?

She looked up at her portrait that was hanging over the fire place. The one she posed for on her eighteenth birthday. There she was, sitting in an old-fashion chair, while dressed in a royal blue flowing gown, with matching opera gloves, and high heels. Though her hair flowed downwards, her diamond earrings were visible, along with the matching necklace. Her hair was topped off with a matching tiara.

The ‘establishment’ rules required that the butler to be in the same room when a ‘lady’ of the house was having her portrait done, to make sure that there was no impropriety on behalf of the artist. However, for some reason, Daniel, had volunteered his services, and it was from that moment their friendship blossomed. Something, Mandy was now beginning to think was a mistake. But she had committed herself into becoming Mrs. Carruthers.

Having read the newspaper, Mandy spotted the program from last night’s gala event, where it was open to the page with an advert for a photo studio. “Hmm…to give the guy…” Could she have a small number of photos done, so she could email some to Daniel to grab his attention, as in; ‘this is your fiancée; how about getting in touch with her!’

Though the ad required a phone call, Mandy fired up the computer for the studio’s address. She wanted to see for herself what this ‘Jensen’ was like before deciding to use his services.

After a glass of water, and dressed in a black jogging suit, something she wore when she jogged around the parent’s vast estate, Mandy drove to the address in question. Parking the BMW in the studio’s small car park, she made sure her appearance was all in order. Hair up, no jewellery; minimal make up; perfect! Her green eyes, and hour glass figure, she had inherited from her mother; the blonde hair from her aunty on her mother’s side!

With mixed feelings she entered the studio to find no one. “Hello? Excuse me, but is there anyone here?”

 

[JayTee69gmx]

Jensen was gradually erasing small skin blemishes on the nearly naked photo he had taken of a client, for her boyfriend. She was wearing tiny white lace panties, and a pale blue top that matched her eyes. The top had been lifted to show her latest acquisitions, matching, fake breasts. At least the nipples were real, and she had teased them upright for the shot. Despite careful lighting, remnants of the surgery scar were still an angry red. He was still troubled how to deal with that, and had diverted his mind to erasing small zits on her bottom hoping for inspiration on retouching the scar. Although her hair was blonde, a dark shadow under the lace revealed the hair color was fake, too. One thing for sure, this one was not the person for his project.

When he heard the studio entrance door open. "Be right there." He pressed [CTRL], and then [ALT][RIGHT SHIFT][K]. The first one saved his work, the second put a stock photo of a tiger on the screen, and locked his laptop to his finger print.

He had furnished a small reception area in his studio. Normally the door was open for deliveries, and courier pickups. Every once in a while someone would come in trying to sell chocolates or flowers or rare diamonds, apparently unable to read the 'NO SOLICITING' sign. He would remind them that he only did business with people who could read and understand what they read. Pointing to the sign he would say 'Clearly you are excluded.' and return to his work. There was nothing in the reception area apart from a couple of chairs, a couple of his landscapes, and a counter. Doors to the studio proper and his editing area were kept locked.

Jensen was about 5-10, 175, short brown hair and beard starting to show flecks of grey, clear blue eyes. and dressed in jeans, plain tan cotton tee worn out. He was fit, and enjoyed swimming at his gym after cardio and weights. Helped clear his mind. He had tried running, but didn't like being beholden to the weather.

He frowned when he saw who had come in. She was young, casually well dressed, and quite pretty once you got past the look of entitlement. She had made some attempt at dressing down, but that jogging suit had not come from a volume chain. He had never seen shoes like that. Blonde with vivid green eyes. Pupils a little small, but it was a sunny day. By the eyebrows, she was either a natural blonde or had a very thorough re-coloring. Her skin was near perfect. 'Good bones', he thought. Unlikely she was selling cookies.

"I'm sorry, do we have an appointment?"

 

[pipper]

Mandy watched him approach her; definitely older than her. In a way that was a good thing. The last thing she wanted was to be photographed by a novice who was trying to make a success of his business at her expense.

“No, we do not. I came here for some information.” She wanted to take in a more detailed look at her surroundings, but etiquette dictated that one should look at the person one was talking to.

“My fiancé is away on business, and I would like to send him some photos of myself. My outfits will be business like in nature. A trouser suit, I don’t like the word ‘pants’, and one with a long skirt in place of the trousers. I will provide the outfits myself, but – I will not sign a release, as they are for my private use. However to make up for that, I'm willing to pay more than you normally charge your clients.”

Mandy was taking a risk coming here, as the ‘establishment’ always provided the photographer; hence she couldn’t risk the photos becoming public. She needed a break from such rules; rules that she would be under once again, the moment she got married.

“And if I like the photos, I will consider coming back for another session. Do we have a deal, Mr…?” She cocked an eyebrow.

 

[JayTee69gmx]

"Jensen, Robert Jensen."

He extended his hand, held it firm when she took it, but did not squeeze her hand.

"I provide absolute discretion for the photographs. There is no model release, you have control of all of the images. I use a new memory card for your sessions. I do not keep any copies of the images. They are yours to do with as you wish. Once my account for services is settled you will take possession of the memory card. We can discuss the selection and editing of the images. If we disagree, I will not do the edits, but I will give you the images. The fee is determined by how long it takes me. This is all set out in my retainer, here is a copy for you to peruse. If you agree, sign it, I will sign it and date it, and run a copy for myself. You keep the original of the agreement.

"It is entirely up to you what you wear, and how you want to present yourself. I might make suggestions, or I might not, depending. But the onus is on you to decide.

"The dress you mentioned seems to me to suggest a semi-formal approach in perhaps an upholstered chair with a plain off white background.

"If you will just give me a moment . . ."

He left her to read the agreement and printed a sheet from his laptop.

"Here is a list of times I have available for a photography session. You can choose now if you like, or call later. If it is later, perhaps suggest a couple of times that are suitable in case someone else has booked times before you."

Jensen studied her all the time he was talking. This was the one! Underlying the bravado was exactly the ingenue innocence he wanted for his project. But he had to go slowly, very slowly.

"So, tell me, how did you hear about me? A friend perhaps? Or an advertisement? I like to know how prospective clients find out about this service."

 

[pipper]

As he offered her his hand Mandy wondered if he knew anything about etiquette, especially the one where a man never shook a woman’s hand unless she offered hers first! However, when meeting someone who was from outside of the ‘establishment’ one was expected to witness and deal with such things, so while smiling she accepted his hand.

At least he had the decency not to squeeze the life out of it.

Over the next few minutes, Mandy listened intently as Jensen gave his selling spiel, soaking up his every word hoping to catch any inconsistencies. She was a bit surprised that he didn’t require a release and would even give her the memory card.

She carefully read the agreement and then read it again. All seemed to be in order. Jensen had returned with a list of times available for a shoot. Again Mandy studied it. Now she needed to make a decision. Would she sign the agreement? If she did; what time slot would she go for; the earliest one to get it over and done with? Maybe a later one which would give her time to reconsider if she really needed to do this? After all, she had plenty back home she could send to Daniel.

The option to sign the agreement was in her eyes, the deciding factor. The ‘establishment’ and her parents had instilled in her that she shouldn’t sign any agreement if there was any chance of not abiding by it. In other words if she signed the agreement that lay before her on the counter top, she was obligated to do the shoot.

“I’ll take the earliest one,” she finally said while grabbing a pen from her over the shoulder handbag. Proceeding to sign the agreement, Mandy answered his question. “Actually it was an advertisement that was in the program for last night’s classical music gala event that caught my attention.”

Then she handed Jensen the agreement. “Of course, all of this is of no consequence if you don’t sign it as well, along with me receiving this original.”

She put her pen back into the handbag, making sure Jensen used one of his own.

 

[JayTee69gmx]

Jensen counter-signed the agreement, disappeared for a moment, and came back with his copy in hand and gave her the original.

"10:30 tomorrow morning. There is a private changing room."

No doubt this was the one he was looking for. But it seemed it would take some time to achieve his goal. So the first problem was to get her to return for more intimate photographs. Well, since she told him when she had seen his ad, he could find out what was playing, get a version and then try the subliminal hypnosis he had been practicing. Supposedly one can only get people to do things they want to do with hypnosis. He hoped she harbored some secret desires, suppressed by her upbringing. Seduction of an innocent was his plan, but this was much much better, an innocent who felt entitled to have her way with everything. Much better.

He looked in her eyes, openly. "I will see you tomorrow then. Do you have any questions?"

 

[pipper]

“No, I have all the information that I require, Mr. Jensen.” Then Mandy offered her hand, as was required by the ‘establishment’ when a formal agreement was reached.

After shaking hands, she went to her car. Once behind the wheel, Mandy wondered if she had just made a terrible mistake. Despite her hatred for the ‘establishment’, it did offer complete security. If she had to call on them to get her out of any potential mess with this Jensen fellow, she would be subject to the wrath of her parents along with either moving back to the manor or having servants in her own home.

Just as she was about to pull out of the studio’s car park her cell phone rang. The display said it was Daniel. “Hello?”

“Hello Darling, how are you?”

Mandy had to refrain herself from asking him why he had waited a week to call her. “Oh, doing great. How’s the business over there?”

“We’re still putting the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together.”

Mandy smirked at his description of what he and his father’s vice-president were up against. “I’m going to send you some photos of me; something to remember me by, till you’re home!”

Her fiancé’s response was…not what she expected. “No need for that. I’ve got plenty of them to show the Japanese big wigs who I’m going to marry.”

Mandy was stunned. She was indeed going to be a trophy wife. Getting her senses back she responded. “You’re showing them around! What were you thinking?”

“Er…I’m sorry. I just wanted to show just how beautiful you were.”

She sighed. “It must be night there. So go and get some sleep. E-mail me when you can. Bye.” Then she ended the call, before Daniel could say anything more. “That should give him something to think about,” muttered Mandy as she pulled out onto the main road and headed for home.

 

[JayTee69gmx]

Jensen returned to editing the nudes he had been working on before she had walked in, no appointment, typical of her class of people. Expect everyone to drop everything to look after them.

Well he had plans. She would be well and thoroughly looked after. Done with the edits he checked the program she had attended when she saw his ad. Tchaikovsky. Quickly he downloaded a solo violin version of the love theme from Romeo and Juliet. Then recorded his own voice, pitch lowered and slowed.

"You need to look sexy."
"You might lose him."
"He wants lots of photos."
"Show him how sexy you are"

Then he mixed the two streams together repeating the words hypnotically. But at such a low level that the voice could not he heard. Just sensed. Subliminally.

Then he set up his projector, hooked it to his laptop. Chose an idyllic countryside scene with a stream, puffy clouds. And inserted the same messages so they played with the loop. Subliminally, so quickly the conscious mind would not realize it was there.

Finally he set up a plain backdrop and an upholstered chair. Very soft lighting and at a very low level with reflector cards. He expected the would need no more than 30 mins to get the final adjustments for the lighting. And all that time the subliminal messages would be playing in the music and on the screen. By her reactions he would know how far he could push her.

 

[pipper]

The following morning Mandy began to think about cancelling the appointment with Jensen. Keeping it would serve no purpose, now that Daniel claimed that he had plenty of photos of her with him in Japan.

She sighed while looking down into her bowl of Weetabix. What a mess!

Signing the agreement meant she either had to keep it per ‘establishment’ rules, or take a hit, monetary wise and hope the ‘establishment’ didn’t find out. “Damn the ‘establishment’!” Mandy exclaimed while she dug a spoon into what was now becoming a mushy block of wheat.

She wasn’t known for using ‘vulgar’ language, but wanting to let off steam and with no servants around, she went ahead and did it! It felt so good!

After breakfast, she took her regular morning shower. It was during that time that Mandy decided to keep the appointment. After all, posing in trousers, let alone wear them, wasn’t heard of in elite circles. Females were expected to wear skirts or dresses, except in very cold weather. Even then, they had to get permission from husbands or fathers.

So why did she want to be photographed while wearing trousers? Was it because, for just once her subconscious wanted to rebel against elitist rules? Mandy grinned. After all, she hadn’t planned on sending those to Daniel, just the ones in the skirt.

She carefully packed a clothes carrying case, while she had decided to wear a burgundy short-sleeve blouse and a long grey skirt for the trip to Jensen’s studio. White socks and modest matching grey pumps finished off her attire.

The trip to the studio didn’t take long, and soon Mandy entered Jensen’s with case in hand. “Good morning, Mr. Jensen.”

 

[JayTee69gmx]

"Good morning Miss Bellingham."

Jensen produced a new 2G SD card, still in original packaging. He opened it with a small pocket knife in front of he, and passed it to her with a sharp tipped black felt pen.

"Could you initial this please? Then we both know it is yours."

With that formality done, he led her to the studio / workshop. A large chair with dark green faint plaid pattern sat in front of a large off white back drop. The lights were low, very low, it took a moment to adjust one's eyes. Soft music was playing, orchestral version of the introduction to Romeo and Juliet. He wondered if she would recognize Tchaikovsky straight away.

"I use low level ambient lighting in the studio. The lighting for the photographs comes from those units with the silver umbrellas, and I do not want room lighting to interfere."

Also it would make her pupils enlarge. And that gave a special look to his photographs. Subliminally we notice when a person's pupils enlarge. Our subconscious translates that to interest, excitement. One of his trade secrets. Clients saw that in their photograph and got a sense of intimacy from it.

She was so perfect for this. Pretty but with that haughtiness that came with the territory in her social circles. He imagined her naked sucking on a wooden dildo.

Several flashes were on stands with umbrellas and diffusers. A camera with a very large diameter lens sat on a tripod, facing.

Jensen took the now initialed card and put it in the camera, in front of her.

"I see you brought some things. The green door there leads to the dressing room. Take your time, then come back in here and sit in that chair please."

He checked all the settings on his camera, and did some test shots of the empty chair to confirm the light levels on the chair and backdrop. As soon as she entered the dressing room, he used a remote control to initiate the music program he had prepared. Soon she would have a feeling insecurity about her boyfriend, and a strong urge to look sexy for him.

 

[pipper]

Mandy locked the door behind her. She had no intention of letting Jensen casually walk in ‘by accident’.

As she began to undo the top two buttons of her burgundy blouse, her ears picked up the familiar sounds of one of her favourite pieces of music. Then she unbuttoned two more followed by another pair, and yet another pair. All that remained were three and they were soon dealt with.

Now it was the skirt’s time. She pushed the zip down and then Mandy began to wriggle her way out of the grey skirt, as she pushed it past her hips. After several wiggles, the skirt pooled around her feet and then bent forward at the waist to pick it up as she stepped out of it.

The pumps and the socks followed.

Opening the clothes case Mandy pulled out a white long sleeved blouse. Putting it on, her eyes spotted a soliatary pencil skirt hanging from a rack. “Probably for another client,” she muttered. Those type of skirts were frowned upon by the ‘establishment’ as they appeared to cling to the female’s hips and legs, thus making their walk look like a vulgar ‘sexy strut’.

Next were the black trousers. Soon they pulled up her legs and secured around her. Extracting a pair of black pumps from the case, Mandy at first thought about using the white socks, something the ‘establishment’, would prefer for her to wear stockings instead. Of course those were meant to be worn with skirts and dresses not with trousers! Actually, she detested stockings!

Socks did come in handy when she wore trousers, but even those were on the ‘hit’ list! As Daniel wasn’t going to these, Mandy threw caution to the wind, and tossed the socks aside. With her pumps now on her feet along with a matching black jacket over her blouse, Mandy looked in the mirror and made sure her hair was up perfectly.

Exiting the dressing room, she went straight to the chair and sat. All that was left to do was to see if Jensen was good at his job.

 

[JayTee69gmx]

She came out of the dressing room wearing a simple but very well tailored pant suit. Looked like she was going to attend a charity function to lend her status to the event. Jensen's hand cupped his chin as he thought. And thought. Did she really imagine her boyfriend would be so enthralled with this image of her that he would never look at another woman while he was away? Most of his clients for this project had strongly overstated their sexuality. She was obscuring it. Well, a challenge to be sure.

"For this type of photograph I do no post-editing. Images that are not up to standard will be scrubbed from the card using the camera's software. You will take the card with you when you leave. As soon as the card is in your possession you will have absolute and total control of the images.

"I need to do a series of test exposures to adjust the lighting. This takes some time, so just relax, no need to pose, we will not use any of these images, they simply serve to adjust the lighting."

For the next ten minutes, Jensen took photographs, checked the data on the camera screen showing a variety of metrics only a photographer would understand. And walked about moving the flash units, changing filters, adjusting the exact position of the backdrop, changing lenses, and trying different filters on the camera itself.

"If you want to take a break and walk about a bit, go ahead. I know this phase is very tedious, but it is part of the work that can't be avoided."

Jensen pushed the button on the remote in his pocket that triggered the music he prepared with the subliminal messages. The music could just barely be heard in the room. If she was susceptible, and he was certain she was, it would make her feel uncertain and insecure about her boyfriend, and induce her in this case to quite literally let her hair down. She looks such a prig, he thought. It will be a real pleasure watching that facade break down.

Finally her pupils responded to the low ambient light in the studio, and enlarged. Magnifying her eyes on the camera screen she saw exactly what he needed. Large pupils that showed subconscious excitement. Allure.

"Could you just fold your hands on your lap, please."

He triggered a laser unit that shone red dots at various places around the room. "Please look at the red dots as they appear." Using a tablet he moved the dots, and in effect changed the position of her head. After a bit he decided the left side of her face was the better. Got the chin a bit up, her looking to the right. Then flashed a dot far to her right, and caught the photo as she reacted, twisting her head.

He studied the image for a couple of minutes. Really just waiting for the subliminal messages to take hold. 'And now the test' he thought.

"Miss Bellingham, let your hair down for me."

Jensen pursed his lips to mask the internal smile as he saw her immediately respond, no thought, no pause. She just reached up and unpinned her hair, flipping her head to let her hair cascade. He caught it in mid-fall. And there it was. The contrast between the strict pant suit and the cascading hair in mid flip with her arms still up was perfect. The jacket had just about perfectly compressed one breast. The image hinted at a perfect figure, almost, but not quite, totally masked by the jacket.

This was exactly what he wanted. But he shot a few more, using the laser dots to pose her, the music changed to one of the Vivaldi concertos. They were done, and if the subliminal messages had worked as planned, she would be left with a strong desire to repeat the experience, and to attempt to lure her intended with photographs.

"Finished. You can preview the images on the camera screen. There are three. you can scroll them using the blue and yellow button on the controls." He had placed little dots of color on the appropriate buttons.

Jensen stood back from the camera, now angled down so the screen was easy to see without crouching. He went to the wall and adjusted the dimmer to brighten the room lights gradually over the next couple of minutes so her eyes could adjust before entering the more brightly lit dressing room. He watched her face as she scanned the three images. Watched her pupils enlarge as she looked at the photo of her flipping her hair as it fell. That one actually turned out very well. The implied sexuality was strong, very strong. Stronger because it was bursting through the facade she used to mask her feelings.

Chuckled to himself. Like fly fishing. It was all in the initial presentation. Then the process of slow inducements to take the bait, and at the right moment set the hook. The process was challenging, but the reward would make it worth it.

Time to jiggle the fly a bit.

"When shall we schedule your next appointment? Would one week be convenient? Same time?"

 

[pipper]

Mandy was getting a little ‘hot under the collar’ as she had to repeatedly look at the red dots. She never had to do this when posing for an ‘establishment’ photographer, but her upbringing had taught her to remain calm and polite in such circumstances.

Though Jensen had asked her if she wanted to take a break, Mandy declined. She just wanted this over and done with!

Finally, the trouser suit set was finished. Checking the three images, she wondered why she had let her hair down. Either way, she did look good. ‘A pity that Daniel won’t see these,’ she thought.

Then Jensen alluded to making another appointment. Mandy looked at him. “Let’s get this one finished first, before deciding if I’m interested in using your services again.” Again she was being polite, not wanting to tell him ‘that she wouldn’t be back’.

Back in the changing room, Mandy didn’t waste much time in exchanging her trousers for the long black skirt. She wanted to get out of this studio as fast as she could. It was now obvious that she had made a mistake in coming here.

One final look in the mirror to check that everything was okay, but it wasn’t! Her hair was down. The ‘establishment’ rules required female’s hair to be long, though it should be worn up most of the time, which to Mandy didn’t make sense. Why fuss over the upkeep of long hair when it was worn up? One might as well, have it cut! She sighed as she began to lift it up to put the pins in, then, “No, I’ll leave it down, just this once.”

Smoothing her blonde hair out, her eyes fell upon the pencil skirt again. Mandy walked over to it. Her attention to detail told her that its hem would come to just above her knees. Something she couldn’t wear.

Soon she was back in the studio chair, waiting for Jensen.

 

[JayTee69gmx]

While she was dressing Jensen prepared a second version of the music with a new subliminal message. This time he chose Beethoven Hammerklavier, the 2nd movement. For a late Beethoven rather light, but he wanted to save the emotionally charged sonatas for later. "You must do as Jensen asks." Over and over again. Basically, hypnotizing her, Of course she would never do something against her character, but if led slowly and gently, he was certain he could get the results he wanted. And she was such a perfect subject. That arrogance was priceless.

When he heard the dressing room door close, Jensen returned, putting on a Mozart piano sonata to set the mood. As before he had her sit in the chair, studied her a moment and said "The skirt is a different tone, I need to adjust the lighting and exposure."

With a hand-held meter he walked about holding it near her face, shoulders, thighs, calves. That close he could catch her scent. Very clean with with just bare hint of a perfume or cologne. So faint one wondered if it was an illusion.

He adjusted the shutters on the lighting units and kept repeating until he saw her pupils had widened in response to the low light in the studio. The music switched to the Beethoven with the subliminal message. He took a couple of shots and then moved his camera to be about 45 degrees to the side of the front of the chair, and said "Miss Bellingham, please remove your jacket and hold it with one finger in the loop at the back of the collar." It was all he could do to suppress a smirk as she complied instantly. So far so good he thought.

"Miss Bellingham, look this way." Almost a stern command, and it elicited exactly the look he wanted. Part obeying, part entitlement. Exactly how he imagined someone like her would react to her husband. But the good part was the way her blouse stretched over her breasts. No bra outline was visible, but he was certain she was wearing one. Barely perceptible bumps showed the location of her nipples, and that they were somewhat aroused.

"Thank you, Just relax a few moments."

Jensen quickly erased most of the shots leaving the formal portrait, which looked like a shot from a brochure for a charity auction showing the patron, the angled shot with her breasts shaping the blouse. and one moments later that captured 'the look.' He zoomed and cropped the last one to show only her face, her pupils large and razor sharp. That last one is pure art he thought. It said so much, but also left so much to the viewer's imagination. 'Perfect.'

"Please come over and look at the photos, tell me if you approve."

He flipped the camera to face down and set it up for her to scroll though the shots. Just before the Beethoven ended he said "When you come next week, I think you should wear something less formal, after all you want to let this person know how much you miss them. As I said before, same time." And he flipped the card out of the camera, and handed it to her. The music progressed to a Vivaldi concerto.

 

[pipper]

Mandy listened to his words. ‘He never gives up, does he?’ she thought, as she scrolled through the images.

After taking the card from Jensen, she walked towards the changing room. “And what makes you think that I’ll be coming next week, or even coming back at all, Mr Jensen? As I alluded to earlier, I’ll decide if I want to use your services again.”

Mandy didn’t wait for any response from him before entering the changing room. “I don’t like being pressured into doing this or that,” she muttered while beginning to undress.

Now down to her underwear, Mandy spotted her reflection in the mirror. She sighed. “Just like a bikini.” The ‘establishment’ frowned on such swimwear. Females were required to wear swimsuits, and the males, trunks.

Back in her burgundy blouse and grey skirt, she made sure that the rest of articles she had brought with her, were safely packed and secured in the clothes carrying case. Then, one final look around to make sure she wasn’t going to leave anything behind, before heading back to the studio and Jensen.

Mandy decided to see how desperate he wanted to photograph her again. ‘This could be fun’ she thought. “I do commend you on the music you provided. It’s so nice to hear such wonderful stuff played in this day and age.” So much for the flattery; now it was time to bait Jensen!

“I’m still undecided, Mr Jensen, if I’ll be using your services again. However, if you’re willing to give me an incentive to do so, I might take up your offer.”

 

[JayTee69gmx]

"Of course we have a returning customer rate, sliding scale, plus each return visit earns a token. Five tokens can be exchanged for one free session, either for yourself, or someone you choose. A few families like to document life in a formal way and take advantage of it.

"And people in a long distance relationship, who like artistic photographs, find it helps them maintain contact.

"However, I happen to have a relationship with a theatrical costume provider. They specialize in clothing for film and television productions. And providing special designer dresses for gala functions. They will not deal with the general public, for efficiency reasons. Here . . . "

Jensen broke open a new card, and quickly loaded it with his laptop.

"That is their catalogue. Anything you fancy, let me know the catalogue number along with sizing information and I will have it here for you to use. Of course everything will be cleaned and sanitized to ACTRA standards. One off designer clothes are also available from them, I get a reduced rate I am happy to pass along to you. When you are done with them, they are returned to the company and they modify them and add them to their stock. The modifications assure you had a unique style."

Then he frowned. And thought a moment, deciding if it was time, and decided, no it was not time yet.

 

[pipper]

Mandy knew she was enjoying this moment. Of course, such behaviour would never be sanctioned by the ‘establishment’. She pretended to take in every word Jensen was telling her, but it was a case of, ‘in one ear and out the other’.

Once he had finished his spiel, Mandy decided it was time to shut her incentive ploy down. It had been nice, so nice in fact; she quickly decided to give Jensen one more chance at her bait.

“That sounds very enticing, Mr Jensen, but I’m afraid I only wear new clothing.” That fact was true. To purchase a used article of clothing would be classified as ‘scandalous’ by the ‘establishment’. “Maybe, you would know of a boutique where I could purchase new items for a discount on the condition that I would wear them once for another session with you?”

Oh, Mandy was so enjoying this! Now it was time to see if Jensen would either nibble at her bait or just give up? Hopefully, the latter would prevail.

 

[JayTee69gmx]

"I have no connection with any boutiques Miss Bellingham. However there is an option at the costume provider. Not surprisingly, there are some actors who object to wearing pre-worn outfits. The company buys them new clothes, and they are returned after, to general stock. Of course this creates a discount for the item as the company will rent it out many times after you wear it. As I mentioned some actors prefer exclusive designs. For an additional fee the item is recut somewhat to alter the design enough that the original would only be worn once in that configuration."

Jensen wondered why anyone with virtually unlimited money would care if they got a discount or not. On some items. On others they seemed to strive to pay more than anyone else for something. Automobiles for example. They always seemed to have the most expensive, and typically unreliable, car they could find. Well if nothing else, she certainly was proving just how entitled she thought she was. And that made her perfect for his project.

"Just go to any boutique in the city, snap a photo of the outfit on your phone, and email it to me with the name of the boutique. Address if they have more than one location. I will arrange to have it here for you. The cost will be 60% of what you would pay at the store."

Of course there was a finders fee built into that offer. He would keep 10% for himself. Keep track, and when it built up enough, if this continued to work well, Jensen planned on buying her some VERY special clothes, but he had to work up to that, slowly.

 

[pipper]

It seemed that Jensen had put the ball well and firmly back into Mandy’s court! Now it was decision time. She could accept one of the options he had given her, or simply decide that none of them were of any incentive to use his services again. That latter would have given her an easy way out, but…

“Let me look at the catalogue for a bit, and see if there is anything that catches my eye.”

Maybe the second option might give her an excuse to wear some new clothing of the type that the ‘establishment’ frowned upon. Mandy knew that once she married Daniel, she would be required to wear long dresses and skirts, unless she could convince him to let her wear trousers in the cold weather.

Mandy eagerly went through the catalogue on the laptop. Elizabethan and Victorian costumes were a plenty along with other costumes of historic nature. Nothing there for her! Fifties and sixties era dresses caught her eye as the pencil skirt in the changing room returned to her thoughts. Would she be brave enough to actually wear one? After all, the item would be delivered to Jensen’s studio and left there for him to return it to the theatrical costume provider, so no fear of being seen carrying, or wearing it.

She typed, ‘Pencil skirt’ into the search panel. Up popped a window that displayed twenty skirts; mostly in black. Mandy wasn’t interested in those whose hem line came to just above the knees like the one in the changing room. She wasn’t that brave! Well, not yet!

A couple did catch her eye though; one whose hem would come down to her calves and the other just below her knees. Mandy quickly jotted down their catalogue numbers and size on a piece of paper she found on the counter. However she wasn’t finished. Another search resulted in her finding a cream coloured blouse with black trim around the collar and matching black cuffs on sleeves that came down to just below her elbows. Its description said it that it wasn’t made of ‘sheer’ material. The last thing Mandy needed was to have any hint of her bra seen through the blouse.

Again she jotted down the catalogue number and size. Then she tore off a blank portion and copied all details of the three items onto that, before placing it in her handbag. Before handing Jensen his copy, she added, ‘NEW ONLY!’

 

[JayTee69gmx]

"Understood. I will see you next week then, at the same time. Either bring your memory card with you, or I can give you a new one. And of course you get the first level returning customer rate too."

For the rest of the week Jensen did his usual sessions, none really very interesting, although one woman's ideas were quite explicit. He suspected she was selling. It was a bit of a challenge to try to get her look. In the end he gave up and produced what looked like very stock men's magazine shots. Charged her a bit extra for all the retouching that was needed.

In his spare time Jensen worked on the subliminal messages. He recorded a few: 'Let down your hair', 'Cross your legs', 'Turn sideways'; 'Open your collar'; and 'You need more photographs in sexier outfits' These he laid over various piano and violin sonatas, still mostly the more lyrical Mozart and Brahms, but one slightly more passionate Beethoven. Even some Handel to re-inforce that look of entitlement.

 

[pipper]

The next few days found Mandy puttering around the garden. She loved having her own one. So much freedom to plant what she wanted, not what, Burns, the head gardener back at the manor dictated.

On one particular day, she heard a van pull into the driveway. She waited. “Excuse me, Ma’am, but I brought you some flowers and bushes.”

Mandy smiled as she spotted Nick Greene’s head over the garden fence. “Come on in, Nick, let’s see what you managed to abscond from under Mr Burns’ nose."

Nick was in his early twenties and quite handsome. ‘If only he was from the ‘elite’ side’ Mandy thought; because if he did, she’ll be wearing his engagement ring, not Daniel’s. She could have, but that would have brought scandal upon her family for becoming betrothed to someone much lower than her status. If the ‘establishment’ had failed in its attempts to ‘persuade’ Mandy to change her mind, she would become an outcast as would Nick.

Nick was a son of a gardener, and while the both of them were growing up, Mandy always remembered her parents telling her not to have any feelings for him, except normal friendship, because marriage to him was utterly out of the question.

For better or for worse, she fought not only her parents, but also Burns to allow Nick to look after her own garden. He had taken care of hers back at the manor.

“Oh, some yellow roses and a couple of bushes,” he smiled as Mandy stood up, while brushing the dirt off her jeans.

“Don’t you dare tell anyone you saw me wearing these,” she said before breaking out into a laugh.

“Good heavens, no, and I won’t tell them about you wearing your hair down.”

Mandy lifted one hand to stroke her hair. It was down. Had it been those images she had done at Jensen’s which convinced her wear it as such?

“Yes, thank you, I wear it this way once in a while just for a change.” That was the best she could come with at that moment.

“Don’t worry, it’s nice to let yourself go once in a while, especially when you have your own place.” He knew that he had spoken ‘freely’, but that’s what made their friendship so great. No reprisals, as long as one didn’t push their luck. There was a limit after all.

“I best be going, otherwise ol’ Burns be wondering where I’ve got to,” Nick said. “I’ll pop back next week and tend to your garden. Oh, any further thoughts on having a sun-dial?”

“If you find an exact replica of the one in my garden back at the manor, please do.” She loved that one. It had been presented to Mandy on her fifteenth birthday.

They shook hands and Mandy watched him till he drove away. She sighed before putting all the stuff back in the gardening shed. The roses and bushes would wait until tomorrow.

Tomorrow came quickly for her. Attired in a royal blue calf length skirt and a white short sleeved blouse with matching two inch heels, Mandy walked into Jensen’s studio. ‘If he’s deviated from what I ordered, I’m walking out,’ she thought.

 

[JayTee69gmx]

Jensen chose Mozart's Sonata 15 as the background for the subliminal persuasions. Delicate, gentle, almost innocent, but with that wonderful underlying emotion. Really it complimented a woman's natural beauty. And it would evoke memories of The French Lieutenant's Woman, if she had seen that film. He added one more hidden message: 'Show him you can be sensual.' He smiled thinking that the 'him' could be himself, or the guy she was making these photographs for.

His phone chimed when the studio door opened. And there she was, as uptight and entitled as ever. He smiled to himself. What a pleasure it will be to see her facade stripped away and lasciviously enticing. The inner sexual animal released for him to see. And whoever she sent the photos too. If she ever shared them at all.

"Good morning Miss Bellingham."

Jensen gave her another new 2G SD card, still in original packaging. He opened it, and passed it to her a felt pen.

"Could you initial this please?"

"You will recall where the dressing room is. The clothes you asked for are hanging up in there. I removed the labels for you, but I assure you they are brand new. Unworn."

She took the card, and retired to change. Jensen had prepared the studio exactly as before, with the large upholstered chair, and dim ambient lighting. But he added an upholstered bench, with similar light gray neutral backdrop.

He busied himself with lighting measurements, and flash unit placements, then triggered the background sound. Gentle piano notes filled the air. Of course for the persuasion to work the subject must harbor the desires. The art of seduction is after all just convincing some one to do what they have longed to do.

 

[pipper]

Mandy looked at the pair of skirts and the blouse. Further investigation proved that they were the ones she had ordered.

Stripping down to her underwear, she wondered if she had made the right decision on ordering the items. Either way, she couldn’t really back out now.

The new blouse did feel right at home on her. It somehow felt as if it had been designed just for her. Of course, it was common for ‘elite’ families to have their own fashion designers.

It was after Mandy had zipped herself into the black calf length pencil skirt, that she sensed how it hugged her legs. Every step she took, it felt as if it was part of her. No swaying to and fro of the hem of a ‘normal’ skirt of the same length, but one that imitated her actual strut.

Her ears picked up the sounds of a Mozart opus, as she secured her modest high heels in place. Why didn’t she wear stockings with these? Mandy couldn’t figure out why she would, considering the fact that she loathed them. Even when she was ‘required’ to wear them at an ‘establishment’ party, it took every ounce of her being not to remove them

A final look in the mirror was required. Blouse completely buttoned up, skirt hugging her hips and legs, hair down. Down? Why on earth hadn’t she worn it up? Mandy shrugged when she remembered Nick commenting on it the previous day. Was it the norm now? Had she decided to wear it down in ‘defiance’ of the ‘establishment’ rules for her last few months of freedom before marriage?

Her hands slid down the sides of the skirt one more time before heading to the studio.