[antyhowacc]

Episode 4

Chelsea met up with Vince a few days later for a trial run. Neither of them knew exactly how this was going to work, but they were both willing to give this a try. For Chelsea, it was really a shot in the dark for her influencer career. For Vince, on top of being able to practice his skills, it was such a honor to be working with someone like Chelsea. Everyone he knew had the hots for her (including those attached), and now he is the one who gets to work with her.

Armed with approximately $2,200 worth of DSLR and peripheral equipment, the two set off on a hunt for possible spots around campus. Chelsea hadn’t brought many outfits, just 3 or 4 different sets given that this was a trial run. She also decided conservatively that this should be a fashionable shoot, with her showcasing her latest wardrobe.

The shoot was long and tiring, taking almost the whole day with the two exploring many corners on campus with varying backgrounds such as brick walls, grass patches, cafes, parks and gardens. Given how Vince was unable to afford lighting equipment yet, they had to utilize the natural sunlight, which at times may not be in their favor. Many a times they had to compromise and improvise on angles and poses to cater for sufficient illumination.

Nonetheless, Chelsea was pretty satisfied overall with the shoot, although the weather was Singapore-hot. All of her poses required her to pretend that the heat was not affecting her one bit, and sometimes they had to shoot certain poses again because perspiration was visible on her face. Other times Chelsea freaked out when insects came too close, such as flies or mosquitoes or even innocent ants going about their way. Chelsea was often uncomfortable during the outdoor shoot, but was glad at the progress they had made overall.

Two days later, Chelsea met Vince at his room to go over the photos taken. Vince has trimmed over a thousand out-takes to 6 or 7 sufficiently decent photographs for Chelsea’s purposes. However, one thing about influencers that Chelsea had painfully learned is that one does not simply publish those 6 or 7 photographs at one go. Especially not if you’re still a struggling influencer who simply isn’t attending that many events. Instead, they need to be carefully curated and spaced out, to create the image that you’re so fashionable all the time when really it was all done in one day. No harm no foul right?

A working partnership may have been established, but Chelsea wasn’t fully satisfied yet. After all, no matter how well the trial run had turned out, it was a trial run. Sure, the photos were fashionable and presentable on her profile, but they weren’t going to garner the likes and followers that she is getting so desperate for. Instead, it simply meant that Vince was a suitable photographer for the next steps that she had in mind.

One that involved significantly less clothes.

One that would attract people’s attention. One that would cause her current followers to share her work with their friends. She needed something irresistible and impactful like that.

And let’s be honest, Chelsea isn’t the first one and will never be the last. If that’s what it takes to compete, that’s what a girl gotta do.

Thanking Vince for all of his hard work (and free labour), the two begin to discuss Chelsea’s next idea. For Vince, it felt like he had struck the lottery. Spending the whole day with Chelsea felt like one of the best days of his life, being able to be so close to a goddess like her for a otaku like him. And now, Chelsea was suggesting a sexy photoshoot? Just thinking about it sent blood rushing south.

Fidgeting in his seat before his computer, Vince willed himself to concentrate. A sexy photoshoot sounds amazing, but the logistics involved were somewhat beyond his capabilities as a budding photographer. For example, there’s no way the model (in this case, Chelsea) is expected to strut around almost naked in public areas like the previous photoshoot right? They would need a private venue, which preferably isn’t any of their rooms. Indoor settings would also require sufficient lighting, which Vince had to admit, the previous shoot had compromised more than he would have preferred. Then there were the outfits, what was considered acceptable to Chelsea? Is she going to go fully nude? Where are the lines?

All of which were discussed in detail between Vince and Chelsea. They had scheduled it to take place on Saturday two weeks after, if possible. But for now, both of them had much research to do on how to make it happen.

Chelsea beamed at the prospect of the photoshoot happening. All she needed to do was to decide on the outfits she was going to wear and Vince should take care of the technical stuff. Chelsea needed to do some lingerie shopping given how she isn’t sponsored by any underwear brands yet, but confident that she would be once the fruit of the photoshoot is borne.

Chelsea also needed to research how to pose sexily, which always sounds easy to the layman, but is incredibly hard when one attempts it. Well, into the world of sexy influencers and if required, pornography for inspiration! Last but not least, given that she would be wearing a little lesser than usual, it was perhaps time for a diet and more scheduled exercise to ensure she’ll look her best. Two weeks isn’t a lot of time after all...