The Pink Stiletto

A few miles away from me is another seaside town, Weymouth. I often shoot there in a terrific little studio called Art Asylum Re-loaded .

I was going to drive but it was Weymouth Carnival and parking would be impossible so I decided we’d go by train. The train from where I lived stopped where she lived and then went on to Weymouth: cool. We met up and all was good.

To make life easier, I packed everything I’d need into a small suitcase: props, outfits, camera and other bits and pieces. The shoot was a great success and we got some great shots and had a laugh doing so which is generally the mark of a good shoot.

End of shoot arrived so we packed up, in a bit of a hurry to get the last train back. I stuffed everything into the case. Just as we were about to leave, the studio owner, Steve Cook, lovely guy and good photographer too, said “Oh, Jules left these for you.” And handed me a carrier bag. Jules was a terrific model, but has given it up now. She was selling off her modelling wardrobe and had some great shoes which I’d bought off her. She’s local to the studio so had left them with Steve. I grabbed the bag, stuffed it in my case and we shot off for the station – all good.

The train was packed but we got seats and relaxed.

“Can I see the pics?” she asked.

“Now?”

“Yes?”

“Can’t you wait?”

“No.”

“Really?”

“Oh please, pretty please? Please, please, please, please…”

She was, I knew, going to go on and on and on until I gave in…which I knew I would! I relented and got the suitcase down off the overhead rack.

When I’d initially packed to go to the shoot, everything was neatly folded and sensibly packed. At the end of the shoot it was a case of chuck it all in and go, go, go! Then there was the bag of Jules’ shoes stuffed in there too.

I unzipped the case. I knew the camera was in the bottom, under everything else. The lid sprang open and a bright pink stiletto heeled shoe tumbled out onto the floor. As I got down to retrieve the shoe, I was assaulted by an avalanche of stockings and fishnets and satin material, the other pink stiletto, red spiky heels etc.

My model was, by now, laughing so much she almost burst. She was laughing so hard that she was attracting the attention of the other passengers – of whom there were many. It was, as I said, a busy train and everyone was having a good old chat about their fun day in Weymouth at the carnival. As they turned to see what the laughter was all about, the chatter died to a deathly hush as yours truly appeared from half under the seat brandishing the shocking pink stiletto, draped with various items of lady’s underwear. I guess the other passengers now had another fun story to tell when they got home!

I am sure that I’ll end up on a register of some kind…if I’m not already on one!

By that time, my caring and ever so helpful model could hardly breathe she was laughing so much. Thanks. Thanks a lot.

Got any stories of your own?

Let me know in the comments below…