Worth A Thousand Words

Without a crowd inside the room with him, Featherweight found the studio's spare photo shoot room less stuffy and more open to him. His decision to get to work from the get-go was something he inherited from his time in Ponyville, everypony there usually having a gung-ho attitude when it came to working, carts being pulled to and from town and workers carrying their tools to their destinations. It took some time to sink in when he left the office a couple days ago, but by the time he settled in for bed at home, it was final. He was going to work his dream job, with a mare of many a stallion's dreams no less.

He’d called her only once, the day before, to confirm that their plans for today were still in the clear. That call was brief, but her melodious voice agreeing with his idea still sat in his mind. Shaking his head, Featherweight placed his camera bag in a nearby chair and went to work on fixing the set left behind by the previous crew. Part of him wished they'd at least put away some of their equipment, but it couldn't be helped if they were tired by the time they were done. Some sessions, Feather learned, could go on for hours. Fortunately, today wouldn't demand much of their time or effort. his was Feather’s first professional assignment, so keeping it simple was the best way for the moment.By the time he'd managed to clear away some of the lights and chairs, the area was looking at least more organized than when he'd arrived.

The sound of heels clicking on the tile floor made him turn around, and his breath caught as Fleur entered the room. To him, Fleur was an shining example of beauty as she walked. Her summer ensemble was one he remembered her doing before in a shoot: a pair of cream colored pants that drew attention to her long legs that carried her, inviting a further look up at her buxom figure contained in a pinkish-rose camisole with white lace. Her mane was brushed and free to fall down her shoulders, leaving her face open to the world. He only barely registered the small team of ponies coming in behind her, more of his attention on the model while they went to the table against the wall to set up her makeup station.

“Fleur. Good to see you.” He managed to say when he brought his eyes back to hers. “I only got here a few minutes ago myself. The crew before us left things out, so I've been picking things up so we have room to work with.”

The mare smiled at him and nodded. “Not to worry, Feather. These ponies do have a tendency to leave a mess behind them, but it is little trouble for us. Today is our first shoot, so there is no need for anything complicated or difficult.” She assured him. “Tell me, how are you feeling? Are you ready to get to work?”

Featherweight nodded at the model before turning back to the light fixture he was trying to move. It was a grounded unit, meaning it was a bit heavier than he expected. “Yep, just...trying to get things situated.” He told her. The unit suddenly lifted up from the ground, making the stallion stumble before catching himself as the light moved to where he needed it. By the time Fleur's magical aura had left the fixture, he had straightened up. “Thank you.”

“Don't mention it.” Fleur assured, setting her own bag down in a nearby seat. “We work together, after all. Do you remember our plan for this shoot?”

Featherweight ran a hand through his hair, then dusted it off on his pants leg. “For Photo Finish's catalog, we were going with a focus of you and your successes under her tutelage.” Fleur gave a smile and nod before he continued. “So today's shoot would focus on showing you alongside some of the successes you've made while working with Photo Finish, like your perfume and clothing lines. So we won't need too detailed a set since the focus will be on you and those.”

“Very good. You've been paying attention to how these work, I can tell.” Fleur praised, making him smile at her. “I still remember one of my first shoots; the photographer came in with such a haphazard plan that even his staff were confused. It was like trying to draw water from stone with him.” She moved away to seat herself at a nearby table, with a vanity mirror and accompanying lights surrounding it. “I'll give myself a quick check-over while you finish fixing up the set, ok?” She turned and approached the table where makeup was waiting, seating herself in front of the vanity mirror while they went to work.

Featherweight nodded, refocusing on how he wanted to approach his task. The first setup would be her and her perfume line, which meant close-up shots of her and the product. A few minutes later and some more lifting had rewarded him with a comfortable seat for Fleur and a prop table placed at a height she could work with. The white backdrop was the standard for this, anything else would detract from the focus of the shoot. Feather took a step back and peered through his camera on the tripod a couple feet away.

“I think that'll do it.” He muttered. He had made use of more natural lighting in the room by doing away with the curtains to the windows and dimming the set's lights. The brightness from outside in conjunction with the white backdrop would be plenty of illumination for the model and her products for the time being. If the shoot took long enough though, he'd turn the lights on to compensate for adjustments.

He realized that the room was quieter than it should have been, as previous experience told him that makeup teams were anything but quiet. Looking over, he found the vanity table bare of anypony, confusing him before he heard a shuffling sound to his left. Turning, he saw the motion of a pale magenta streak by the privacy screen used for changing outfits before Fleur emerged from it. The mare's clothes she'd worn in, were now draped over the top of the screen, while she appeared in a much more extravagant dress. It was a slim, form fitting red piece, a light shade that made her white fur stand out where it didn't cover her. The dress reached her knees, a suitable fashion that kept attention to all of her and not just her long legs. Her mane was being brushed via her magic holding a brush by her head, finishing in time to let her sweep it back so her face could be seen clearly. She batted her eyelashes at Feather as he gazed at her.

“I am ready if you are, Feather.”

The youth had to swallow to find his voice. Her remark snapped him from his reverie, and he nodded. “R-right. Um...” he glanced at his setup, pushing down thoughts of how un-extravagant it appeared, before looking to her. “Ok. Take a seat there and let me know if it feels comfortable for you first.” He instructed. “Where did your team go?”

“I told them just the one round was needed for now. If I have need of them, I will call them back.” Fleur said and walked past him, heels clicking on the tiled floor as she passed him to go to her spot. He watched, the fluid gait she used a practiced one he imagined came from the constant passes of the catwalk she did for shows. Fleur turned, her long tail draping itself over the right armrest of the chair while her torso occupied the opposite side. The perfume bottle was placed on the table next to her, the label reading “Magnifique Mare” in bright gold lettering against the black bottle.

Feather moved to the camera tripod and turned it on, centering its focus upon the model and her product. Already, he was making adjustments in his mind for changing their setup, the next step to follow along in their shoot for today. With the crosshairs of the camera upon Fleur's face, he marveled at Fleur’s enchanting beauty, from the way her mane framed her face to how the light makeup she’d applied brought out her bright eyes.

“You look fabulous, Fleur. Tilt your head up just a little for me?” Snap, snap went the camera. “Move your hands down, please?” Snap. “Was this dress one of your making or from somepony else?” He asked as he started taking photos, the clicking sound filling the room.

“It was one from my own line, thank you. I have several more like it at home, but it felt fitting for this shoot.” She explained, smiling for several seconds as he took more shots. When Featherweight paused to move the tripod closer, she spoke again. “I did not expect that you would want my advice for what I should wear here, Feather. It is usually the decision of the photographer on what a mare might wear.”

Featherweight held his position as he zoomed in on Fleur's direction, the camera's vision capturing part of her muzzle and flowing mane while keeping the perfume in profile. As lovely as Fleur's face was, the emphasis was on the product and her. “True, it usually is. But I'd like to think I'm not as savvy on women's fashion as you are, Fleur. I'm not the one who walks the catwalk like she owns it.”

Fleur giggled, her smile becoming more relaxed as time went on. “So true.” She waited until he paused again to move, this time shifting to her right for another angle, before speaking again. “Feather?”

“Yes?” He stopped what he was doing and looked over the camera to the mare. “Is it too quiet? I can turn on the radio if you'd like.”

“No, no, it is not that. I had a question to ask you.” She explained. “Tell me; what drove you to become a photographer? What motivates you?”

It was a curious question to come from the model, but Featherweight indulged her while settling back in. “Well, I grew up in Ponyville. When I was younger, I always liked looking at photos of things, whether it was of other ponies, or of nature. Mom always let me have the newspaper in the morning when she was done reading through it. It was fun to see the pictures they'd take.” He explained. “I wound up actually working on the school news staff as their photographer, which was pretty fun.”

“So you started when you were just a colt. Impressive.” Fleur summarized.

Featherweight nodded. “Why do you ask?”

The model gave a smile, and brought her hands together to steeple her fingers while her delicate chin rested upon their bridge. “I wanted to learn more about the pony I am working with. It is not every day Photo Finish changes things up; it's different, and I like different.” Featherweight felt his cheeks color slightly, but carried on snapping pictures as Fleur spoke. “Tell me about Ponyville. I've heard so much from rumor and gossip, but I want to hear it from somepony's lips who has been there.”

“Well, what can I say about Ponyville...” Featherweight trailed off as he tried to find the right words to describe it to the model without coming across boring. “It's a unique place. A lot of ponies mistake it for just a country-town, but there’s more to it. I always found it to be somewhere you can never expect the next day to be the same as the last.” He looked over his camera to the model. “Lay on your front some.”

“True? Tell me more.” Fleur asked while following his instruction, causing Featherweight to shift again to center on her while she rested her torso on the chair. The model's chest was pressed up from the way the armchair sat against her, a fact that Feather tried not to focus too much on.

“Well, like, take the seasonal changes for instance. When the seasons change here in Canterlot, the only real difference that can be made out is the change in weather and in everypony's outfits.” He described. “But in Ponyville? It's a whole community effect when there's a change in the seasons. Farmers change their crops, vendors swap out their goods. Local events are themed for the season. It's like everypony wants to make the most of each day.” He paused to unhook the camera from the tripod, using the transition to free-motion shooting to keep talking.

“I tried to capture some of that in the profile I sent when I applied for the studio. One of my favorites was a shot from the treeline I got of the annual Running of the Leaves. It's a Fall event where everypony who wants to participate takes on a 5K run through some of the forest trails. It was based on this old story of how our ancestors used to run and stomp their feet to shake the leaves loose from the trees.” He explained, a smile crossing his muzzle. “It sounds kinda silly, saying it out loud.”

“I find it fascinating.” Fleur assured. She lifted a hand up and behind her to flick her mane back before letting it rest on the armrest she was propped on. “I have wanted to visit Ponyville when I have had the free time, but my schedule keeps meso busy, it is a rare chance if ever. Hearing such tales to me is wonderful.” Feather was surprised by her interest in his stories; most Canterlot-ians who asked about Ponyville were more keen to snub it as a country town than a refined culture center like Canterlot.

“I think you'd get a warm welcome there. You're a known model and celebrity everywhere, and Ponyville's no exception.” He assured her. “You would probably have to get a bodyguard or two just to have some space, though. There was always a crowd when Princess Twilight would go out in town for things.”

“Perhaps I should have you give me a tour sometime?”

The question made Featherweight pause, and he lowered the camera after snapping a shot to look at her with his own eyes and not the camera's.

“Really? You find it that interesting?”

Fleur nodded, and sat up from her position. Feather felt like giving her a small break anyway; he had snapped plenty of shots in this setup, and a change would be good. “Canterlot is a city I will always love for its uniqueness; it is something I've grown into myself. But there is always the appeal of seeing the rest of the world, and Ponyville is a curiosity to many who have not visited. I have only met with a select few who come from Ponyville, such as miss Rarity, and yourself of course.” Fleur stood to her feet, stretching her arms up. The act caused a delightful swell of her breasts that made Feather pause again before fixing his eyes on her face once more. “Shall I change outfits once more?”

“U-uh. Yeah, sure. We've got enough for this portion. I'll switch the set while you pick out your next outfit.” He answered, before she disappeared behind the curtain once more. Feather studied the set. This time, there'd be no furniture, and he could have her stand or perhaps pose on the ground with the bottle. A more direct approach than just posing next to the bottle felt better to him anyway.

He turned around to ask Fleur her opinion, but the question died in his throat as he looked at the curtain. Featherweight’s eyes locked onto the black, shapely form displayed across the curtain’s surface. The light of the sun from the adjacent window cast the dark outline of Fleur’s body onto the screen in front of her. Feather couldn’t see the mare herself, but the moving silhouette was a marvel to behold in itself. Her long arms rose above her head as she peeled off the dress she’d been wearing, before tossing it over the side of the curtain. Even from her shadow alone, it was obvious that Fleur was fully naked behind her protective drapes. Lowering her arms, Fleur gave a small stretch of her torso, turning to the right and left to loosen up from the poses she’d held earlier. The motions made the model’s bosom bounce as she twisted, the cantaloupe-sized mounds giving a jiggle before coming to a stop when she turned to her dress rack to her right.

Picking one from the line, Fleur lifted it up with her hands, only to drop the hanger by accident as she moved the dress off of its holdings. The shadow of the model slowly leaned forward and picked it up with her hands. While her hair fell over her face, her round, full cheeks stood out as she bent over, her tail shifting behind her from her movement. The cheeks of her derriere were massive, as big as melons, smooth and thick through and through . Standing upright again, the shapely silhouette lifted her dress up, and slipped it down over her elegant curves. Her arms pulled the fabric down over her back and to her waist. Her momentum ceased for a moment, as her hands tugged at the dress which seemed stuck over her substantial buttocks. Her lower body swayed from side to side, her hands carefully wriggling the fabric down over every inch of the wide obstacle. Once she’d finally overcome the endeavor below her waist, her tail lifted and waved as it slipped through the small, makeshift hole designed for it, giving a flick before settling again.

Cheeks burning, he tore himself away and stared just at the white backdrop. Photo Finish didn’t hire a drooling idiot to oggle one of the best models in the business; she hired a professional! “S-Say Fleur?” He called to her, not looking over his shoulder in fear of losing track again.

“Yes, Feather?”

“Uh...” Featherweight almost slapped himself just to get words to flow out of his mouth. “So what's it like being in Canterlot, for you? You said you love the city, but if I remember from your profile, you didn't grow up here, right?”

“That is correct.” Fleur answered, emerging from the curtain once more. This time, she appeared with a more refined look, her mane pulled back into a ponytail. The red dress had been swapped for a black number, the cloth cut to leave her shoulders bare and to expose the top of her chest.

“Canterlot was not my birthplace; that was overseas, a humble beginning for a mare like myself. It was Photo Finish who found me there and brought me to Canterlot in my late teens and started my career. I was only a teen model in those times, but I blossomed under her guidance and teachings.” Fleur said. “It seems such a long time ago now. I fear one day my age will catch up with me.”

“Nonsense. You look great, Fleur.” He insisted, making her giggle while he blushed at his outburst. “I-I mean, you already knew that. It's just that I think you always look great.”

“You haven't seen moi in the mornings then.” She countered, her smile reaching her eyes and making them sparkle. Featherweight found that expression more alive on her than when she was posing. He needed to keep that smile on her.

“Oh? Are the mornings tough on you?” he asked as she stood in front of him. When she didn't answer at first, he realized she was waiting on his instructions, looking around at the empty set since there was no furniture to sit upon. “Sorry, I wanted to try and bring more of the attention to you and the product. The furniture was a good start, but you can only do so much.” He explained. “Why don't we try a low-angle pose? Are you alright to lay on your side with the bottle in front of you?”

Fleur nodded, settling down and lying on her side on the floor. Without the furniture to interfere, her body was more at rest, her ponytail styled mane a cascade of color behind her head while her bright eyes stared into the camera. Pushing down any sort of blush, he focused on snapping pictures.

“I prefer to sleep in in the mornings when I can. I can rise early, but I need a coffee or two. Getting between a model and her coffee is like taunting a manticore; it never bodes well for you.” Fleur said, smiling once more. Featherweight snapped rapid shots of the expression, capturing her face and form with the bottle in perspective. Kneeling like he was, it kept her posed just how he was hoping for; the center of attention.

“This is looking grand, Fleur. You really are a natural for this.” Feather appraised as he continued snapping. “Thank you, by the way.”

Fleur's expression changed to one of curiosity, and Feather realized he had slipped up. “For what, Feather?”

The pegasus lowered his camera and gave her an apologetic smile. “Sorry. Just...all this. I could only imagine ever getting to do a professional shoot like this, with a beautiful mare like you. I mean not two days ago, I was just an intern handing out for the crew. And now I'm here.” He kept talking despite the worryin the back of his mind fretting he was boring her. “It means a lot that you'd agree to work with me. I want to do right by you, Fleur.”

His cheeks colored as he took in the model's bright smile, the mare sitting up to kneel in front of him while she rested her rear on her tucked back feet. “It is good to know that you feel that way. A photographer and their model work best together when they agree and can bond. If you keep your distance, it leaves a mare feeling like she is merely an object for show.” Her hand came to rest on top of the perfume as she spoke, but her eyes remained on him. “I can tell you are not the kind of stallion to treat a mare that way. It is a mindset few can appreciate or have in this profession.”

Featherweight nodded and gave her a smile in return. “Can you tell me more about your history here? What was your first shoot like?”

Fleur smiled, before shifting position to rest on her hip and not her side, propping herself up on her arm while the other rested along the slope of her side and hips. It brought attention to the hourglass figure she was known for, making her appear in her element even more as they carried on. “My first photo shoot was actually done by Photo Finish herself, in her earlier years. When she first found me, her studio was still getting on its feet. Things were unorganized back then compared to now; a photo shoot would change direction if Photo felt even the slightest bit off or interested in something else.”

“She must've kept you very busy.” Featherweight noted. With the light changing as they had carried on, he adjusted his camera's settings to make use of the shift, the filter he applied giving more lighting to Fleur while they continued. “Did it ever feel overwhelming?”

“Truthfully, I had my worries at first. I was uncertain if this really was meant for me, or if my talents were best utilized in another field. But when I had my first big break, it became a natural part of me. Now we are intertwined.”

Feather mulled over his thoughts before speaking again. “Was that big break the one where you had the series of travel shots around Canterlot? The ones they still use today for the tourism ads?”

Fleur giggled and nodded. “I did not know I had such a fan in my photographer. Most have simply come to believe I did those only recently, and not so long ago.”

The stallion gave a sheepish chuckle. “Kinda hard to not be a fan, Fleur. I'd have to be blind to not see how great you are.” The praise slipped from his lips, and he chastised himself for babbling. “H-hey, I think I got enough here. How are you feeling?” He asked to keep her from noticing his praising.

“I am doing well enough. I am surprised; these shoots usually take so long, but you have made an hour pass in what feels like so little time.” Her remark made him look to the clock on the wall, and it surprised him to see she was right.

“Huh. Well, we've only gone through two of your outfits so far. Did you want to use anymore?” He asked her.

Fleur rose up to stand at his question. She brought a finger to her cheek in thought, leaving Featherweight to wait for her decision.

“We can try for a couple more; there was a blue dress I love wearing so much. If that's alright by you?” She asked him.

Feather nodded. “Sure, lets go for it!”

“Intriguing…” Photo Finish uttered the word while flipping through several of the photos Featherweight had taken in today’s shoot. She went back and forth between each pose Fleur was in, her lips in a thoughtful pout as she inspected them. It had been something she'd required as part of this experiment, seeing things “fresh from the fire” as she called it. It was little work on his part to go over what shots he felt captured Fleur best from their time together that day, having spanned another hour past their first break and encompassing a few more outfits of her choosing. It had been fun to spend that time with her. She left with a smile and a written note with her number on it, so he could contact her any time he needed about ideas or anything concerning her for the shoots.

“Fascinating!” He heard Photo whisper to herself as she scrutinized one of his first photos before shifting to another. “How long did zhis take you to complete, Feather?”

The pegasus thought before answering. “Well, the whole shoot took about two and a half hours, miss Finish. I made sure that we took a break to eat lunch and to let Fleur rest when she wanted to.”

“Did you use many cameras or just your own?” She asked.

“Just my own, ma'am. I didn't want to cause fuss and leave somepony without a camera to work with themselves.” He answered. “I used a tripod to stabilize the camera for some of the early shots, but I moved it aside when we wanted to change posture and positions. I intended to keep the focus on not just the product, but Fleur herself as well, since this is her own product she's posing for.”

Photo Finish nodded, and straightened up as she adjusted her shaded eyewear. “Featherweight, I think zhat this shows me-” Any further words were lost when the door behind Featherweight opened suddenly, making the pegasus look behind him in surprise. “We are in a meeting!” Photo Finish barked out, yet the would-be intruder was undeterred. Featherweight recognized him immediately as the photographer from before he got assigned with Fleur.

“Sorry, Madame Finish. I was just hoping to pop in for a minute.” Flare Shot replied, waving a hand in a placating fashion. The tall stallion was dressed in a casual outfit of khakis and a button up white shirt, suiting his orange coat color. A small rounded hat rested atop his head, hiding most of his red mane while the bangs peeked out from the rim. “One of the makeup team said Fleur’s newest session just finished up, and I was hoping to see-”

“Quiet!” Photo’s tone made Feather jump as the mare rose to her full height, her white eyebrows furrowed as she seemed to glare at the taller stallion through her glasses. “Zhis is my office, Flare. You do not barge in as if zhis studio is yours!”

“Right, right, I know.” Flare raised his hands, fanning them at Photo Finish. “I’m just wanting to see how our-your, number one model’s new project is going.” It was then that Flare noticed Feather’s presence, and raised an eyebrow before jerking his thumb at him. “What’s the kid doing here? He your new secretary or something?”

Photo Finish huffed through her nose. “Featherweight was zhe photographer for Fleur’s latest session. I am reviewing his work, and I do not take kindly to being interrupted!” She replied. “If you’ve business, you can wait outside until I am done!”

“Photo, babe, come on now. You’re coming off all wrong here.” Flare said as he took a step closer, plucking up one of the photos that had been laid out on Photo Finish’s desk. “I’m one of your senior photographers, been here for years. If anything, you should’ve asked me to offer some advice, help the newbie out.” Holding the photo up, Flare seemed to take his time to appreciate the picture before speaking again. “So what’d you do, kid? Take some shots and edit them for more lighting? It looks kinda bright.”

Featherweight swallowed before speaking up. Photo Finish didn’t look to be enjoying having Flare’s presence intruding on them, and he didn’t want to exacerbate her anger. “No, I just used a white backdrop. We did it around noon, so the sun provided the lighting.”

Flare hummed in thought before flicking the photo back onto the table, where it landed face down. “Smart thinking, for an amateur. You probably should’ve gone with having her use some other colors than just red or black, so her fur doesn’t shine too much.”

Featherweight glanced at the other untouched pictures before looking back at Flare. “I-I didn’t think they looked bad.” He answered. He wished his voice came out stronger than it did. The pegasus’ voice sounded more like a scolded child.

“Rookies don’t see their mistakes at first. That’s why they’re rookies. It takes some time to learn how this business works, what the public wants.” Flare said, shaking his head. He reached out and gave Feather’s shoulder a pat, making the youth flinch from the contact. “You’ll learn though. If you don’t, Fleur’s gonna be mighty disappointed in her new partner.”

“That is enough!” Photo exclaimed, coming out from behind her desk. Her movement drew Flare’s attention, allowing Feather to back away while Photo began pushing him out of her office. “You dare to come in, interrupt my meeting, harass my new photographer! I should fire you! Consider zhis mercy zhat I do not! Now get out, und stay out!” Photo declared before shutting the door in his face, locking it right after. She breathed in several harsh breaths before calming herself, walking back to her desk and seating herself once more.

“He is arrogant in his ways. Too firm, too unyielding. I hired him with the hopes zhat he would be great, and he has become great. But it is tempered with his brash behavior, and ruins zhe hopes I had for him. I worry he has forgotten zhe true magicks of zhis industry.” Photo Finish remarked before taking off her glasses and rubbing at them with her spare handkerchief. Her indigo eyes peered at Feather, who kept quiet as she continued. “He is too taken with zhe fame, zhe spotlight. He is not zhe one in zhe spotlight, merely its audience, its witness. He believes it iz he who deserves zhe spotlight and not zhe beauty he claims to capture. Our place as photographers iz to bask in zhe beauty of zhe world, not to be zhe beauty.”

She donned her glasses back on and adjusted the photos that had shifted on her desk, flipping back over the one that Flare had tossed away. The room stayed quiet, Feather having nothing to offer in reply to her remarks. He wasn’t sure if it was even his place to say anything, if he even could give anything to his defense. Flare’s words had tugged at his self-confidence, more than he cared to admit openly. Photo Finish brought him out of his thoughts as she broke the quiet.

“I need more of what you haf given me, Feazher. Und I vant zhem before zhe end of zhe week.” She instructed him, her accent coming out in full force. “Can you do zhat for me?”

“Y-yes, ma’am. Fleur has some meetings this week, but we’d planned for Friday when she’s available next.” Feather answered.

“Good. I will keep zhese for now, for further review. Go now, go onwards. Keep zhe magicks working and flowing. We must keep going!” She declared. Feather took this as his dismissal, and nodded before exiting the office and heading out of the studio. He didn’t catch sight of Flare Shot hanging around, something he was grateful for. The taller stallion’s remarks reminded him that he really was in the big leagues now; he couldn’t afford to make mistakes or slip-up if he wanted to make this work. He was working with a top-class model, and making a photo portfolio the whole world would see, and judge, and it could go south with just one bad photo.

He looked at himself in his bathroom mirror and tried to steel his mind to push out Flare's remarks. He couldn't afford to be distracted, he had to do his best for Fleur and Photo Finish, and himself. He couldn’t give any less than his best, and that was all there was to it.