Chapter 15: The Sports Photoshoot.

The next morning was Wednesday and when the girls woke up with their alarms, they were disappointed to find they were alone. They crawled downstairs to the kitchen and found the boys just finishing their breakfast.

“Why are you up so early, we still have over an hour?” Emma grumbled.

“We have to take the boxes down with the clothes as we wouldn’t all fit with them” Dan explained. “I’ll leave Mark there to guard them and come back for you two soon after half past eight. Be ready and not much makeup.”

“Yes sir!” Aiyla replied, saluting.

They were all at the school just before 9 and were joined by Jenny and the two younger girls a few minutes later. Mark had been given permission to use the school sports facilities for the photoshoot providing he signed a disclaimer, which he had and made a significant contribution to the school sports fund.

They were a bit surprised to see the girls’ athletics coach Ms Williams approach them.

“Good morning girls, gentlemen. The headmaster told me about your photoshoot and I must admit, my curiosity got the better of me, so I hope you don’t mind if I look on. I’ll try to keep out of the way but let me know if I can help” she offered.

The girls all greeted her with “Morning Ms Williams!” They all got on well with their coach and were pleased to see her, if a little unsure as to whether she would approve of some of the clothes.

“Good morning Ms Williams!” Dan said smiling. “I’m Dan, the lead photographer and you know my brother Mark who will be helping me. “Of course we don’t mind, I am pleased you are interested and if anything we’re trying to do doesn’t look authentic, please tell me.”

“Well, I have to say that Chica Sports is way above the price range most of our girls can afford, but it is excellent quality” Ms Williams said with a smile, showing the Chicas logo on her tracksuit.

Dan laughed, but said “OK girls, can you go change into running gear with soccer kit on top and tracksuits on top of that. It should reduce the number of times you have to go all the way there to change. I put the boxes with your clothes in your changing room earlier.”

“Detention!” Aiyla shouted. “A boy going into the girl’s changing room.”

The girls all giggled and Dan shouted “Go!” as he was laughing. He would have loved to tell the story of himself getting caught in the girl’s changing room and being suspended, but he thought better of it.

After the girls all ran towards the changing room, Amber’s Mum Jenny said “I don’t think I’m really needed here Dan and I’ve got a lot of things to do, so could you ask Amber to call me when you finish and I’ll come to pick them up?”

“I won’t be here to chaperone all the time Mrs Holmes” Ms Williams said.

“I don’t think that’s necessary” Jenny replied.

The girls came out in their tracksuits, smiling and laughing.

“Right girls, in a line, holding hands and jogging towards me” Dan instructed, positioning himself with the sun behind him. After taking a number of burst shots, getting the girls to run towards him a couple more times, Dan exclaimed “That will be the cover picture for the collection! Fantastic girls!”

He took photos of each of them separately from front, back and side views and instructed “Strip! I mean take your tracksuits off and jog over to the soccer pitch.”

“Balls?” shouted Emma, which had the girls and Ms Williams crack up.

“I’ll get some” Ms Williams said, running over to the sports building.

Mark was already over on the soccer pitch with camera and tripod at the ready. He took a few individual shots, with the goalposts in the background as the girls approached. Dan came over to join them followed by Ms Williams a couple of minutes later with a net of footballs.

“The girls’ Royal Blue shorts and White shirts looks just like the England Women national team!” Ms Williams remarked. “The white shirts look much better than the usual school blue ones.”

Tilly shouted “Come on England” and kicked a ball right past Emma who was in goal. The other girls joined in the chant.

When Dan and Mark decided they had enough photos, they all went over to the running track. The girls all took off their soccer kit to reveal their running gear. Mark had already been despatched to collect the girls’ running shoes, so they were soon limbering up.

“They look fantastic in their running gear” Ms Williams exclaimed, “but I’m going to have a hard time convincing the head that the girls are wearing bikini bottoms to improve their running, rather than just to look sexy, which they undoubtably do!”

Both brothers took shots of each girl from different angles and then Dan called time for a break.

“It must be really difficult photographing a bunch of wild teens having fun” Ms Williams remarked.

“It is, which is why we take loads of burst shots to get the right expression even though it means we have to wade through hundreds of photos to decide which ones to use. You’ll see on the final photos how worthwhile it is though. In most collections the girls look either bored or trying to force a smile, but ours look like they are having fun” Dan explained.

Ms Williams left, having locked the boxes of clothes in a closet and Amber phoned her Mum for a lift. While they were waiting, Emma got Amber and Tilly together.

“It’s my birthday next week and Mark’s too, so we’re having a joint birthday party at his house. Would you both like to come, it’s a week on Saturday.”

Tilly and Amber both squealed. Amber said ‘Really a party with boys?”

“Yes, and no adult supervision as their parents are away for a while. It’s a pool party, starting mid-afternoon then after a buffet, we’ll change into party stuff for the evening” Emma explained.

“Would I need to ask a boy to come with me?” Tilly asked.

“Most boys come so fast, it’s unlikely” Amber laughed.

“So true Amber” Emma grinned. “But you don’t need to bring boys. It’s a Singles Party!”

Knowing that Emma and Mark were a couple, the younger girls looked confused, so Emma explained.

“If you have a boyfriend, you are not allowed to be with him until after eleven. You can’t stay with another boy for the rest of the party either. The idea is you circulate and have fun. About half the kids we are inviting are single anyway.”

“So I could make out with Mark?” Tilly asked, with a cheeky grin.

“You can do whatever you both want to do” Emma clarified, “and there’s a spare bedroom for you to stay the night if you want. The party will go on late so it would save your parents having to come out and get you.”

“I don’t know how I’ll convince my Mum, but somehow, I’ll be there.” Amber said.

“Me too” Tilly added. “I’ll just tell my Mum I’m going to Emma’s birthday sleepover after the party.”

“I’ll make sure we invite some boys from the year above me to keep you entertained.” Emma promised, as Amber’s Mum was arriving to take them home.

The week continued with photos of swimsuits, leotards, two-piece gym sets, tennis clothes, netball clothes etc.

When they had finally finished, Ms Williams said to Dan “I’ve been thinking, if Chica Sport gave us a 70 percent discount, it would bring their clothes down in price to our current supplier. All of our school teams would be wearing Chica at all the inter-school events and they will look so good, kids from other schools will start asking about our kids gear. It could have a snowball effect and could generate loads of sales for Chicas. What do you think?”

“Great idea, can I get a photo of you with the girls then I’ll send it to them with your suggestion and contact details” Dan replied, enthusiastically.