The bell above the glass door jingled as Laura pulled it open, holding it for her daughter to step through. Kelly’s sneakers squeaked faintly on the polished wood floor, the air cool and faintly scented with something floral—maybe the vase of lilies on the front desk, maybe the perfume of the woman behind it.

“Hi there,” the woman said, smiling in a way that was almost cinematic. She was tall and raven-haired, with captivating beauty and green eyes that seemed to linger a half-second longer than expected. “I’m Nicole. Welcome to New Perspectives Photography.”

Laura smiled back. “Hi, Nicole. I’m Laura, and this is my daughter, Kelly. I spoke to you on the phone a few days ago about a senior portrait session. I think you booked us with Adam.”

Nicole nodded and gestured to a neat little seating area by the wall. “Of course. Have a seat; I’ll let him know you’re here.” She swept past a velvet curtain in the corner, her heels clicking gently against the floor.

Laura and Kelly sat side-by-side on a leather loveseat, the hum of an unseen air conditioner filling the room. The walls were lined with portraits—women in glowing light, families caught mid-laughter, and a bride with her veil tossed in the wind. Each image was so crisp, so alive, that for a moment it felt like they might blink and step right out of the frame.

Kelly tilted her head toward a shot of a smiling teen in a field of sunflowers. “That one’s pretty. Kinda makes me want to get a dress like that.”

“Mmhmm,” Laura murmured, scanning another photo featuring two twin sisters embracing, their eyes locked in a way that made her stomach twist, though she couldn’t say why. She shook it off. “So, you’re going out with Dylan after this?”

“Yeah. If that’s okay.”

“That’s fine. Just be home by eleven. I’ll make something light for your dad and me.”

Before Kelly could reply, the curtain was pulled back and a man in his late thirties strode out, his sandy hair slightly tousled, his smile wide enough to be its own welcome.

“Kelly and Laura, right? I’m Adam. Great to meet you both.” His voice was warm, almost effervescent, like he was genuinely thrilled they’d come. “Come on, right this way.”

He ushered them toward the curtain, chatting as though they were old friends. The studio beyond the entry area was larger than they expected—tall ceilings, paper backdrops rolled like scrolls, and stands holding lights with umbrellas that looked like enormous silver flowers. There were props of all sizes scattered about, as well as a corner of the room that was dressed as a warm, almost seductive bedroom.

“That’s for my boudoir shoots,” Adam smiled, noticing the direction of Laura’s gaze.

Stopping at a small table, Adam picked up a camera with a somewhat large strobe attached to the top before turning back to face the women.

“Alright,” he said, patting a nearby light stand. “The strobe on my camera ties into these lights, too. It can catch people off guard, so we’ll start with a quick test.” He aimed his camera and pressed the shutter button. A burst of white light flared from the strobe, sharp enough to etch shadows on the walls. Kelly blinked rapidly, spots drifting in her vision.

“Wow,” she said.

“You’ll get used to it,” Adam assured the eighteen-year-old with another easy grin. “It’s all part of the magic.”

They moved deeper into the set, the soft flooring muffling their steps. Laura didn’t notice when, behind them, Nicole slipped back into the front room. She turned the small hanging sign on the door to "Closed" and, with a soft click, slid the lock into place.

Adam gestured toward a stool in front of a large backdrop. “Alright, Kelly—these first few shots are mostly just a warm-up. Sit here for me. Chin up, shoulders relaxed.”

The strobe flashed again, brighter this time. Kelly blinked, a slight fuzziness settling at the edges of her thoughts. Adam’s voice was low and deliberate. “Perfect… just like that. Tilt your head toward me. Hold still… and breathe.”

Another flash. Kelly’s fingers loosened on the edge of the stool. The faint urge to check her phone or fiddle with her hair just… slipped away. She didn’t think about why she was following his instructions—only that it felt right to.

“That’s it,” Adam murmured. “You’re a natural.”

Laura smiled from the sidelines, arms folded as she watched her daughter go through a couple more poses. Then suddenly, Adam’s attention shifted to her with a sudden spark of inspiration.

“You know,” he said, lowering the camera slightly, “since you’re here, we should get some cute mother-daughter shots, too. Something that really shows how close the two of you are. How about a few shots together? Just for you both to have.”

“Oh, I don’t know—” Laura started, waving a hand.

The strobe popped again, though Adam’s camera wasn’t raised this time. The burst washed over Laura’s vision, leaving bright spots in her vision that seemed to pulse in time with her own breath.

“Come on,” Adam coaxed, stepping toward her, his tone almost conspiratorial. “We won’t use them unless you want to. Just a few. Trust me—you’ll be glad you did.”

Kelly looked at her. “It might be fun, Mom.” Her voice carried a new softness, almost a plea, her eyes oddly steady.

Laura’s protest faded before it could take shape. The thought of refusing felt… distant, unnecessary. She found herself nodding without quite realizing why.

Adam’s smile deepened. “That’s the spirit. Just step into the light right here.”

The strobe flared once more, and the afterimage clung to Laura’s vision longer this time, as if the room itself had grown quieter around them.

Adam’s smile never faltered as he guided Laura into position beside her daughter.

“Shoulders closer… good. Now, look at each other like you’re sharing a secret.”

The strobe flared again, bleaching the edges of the room in white. Kelly giggled without really knowing why. Her mom’s face looked softer in the glow, her eyes almost glassy.

“Perfect,” Adam said. “Hold still—don’t think, just feel.”

Another burst of light, another metallic click of the shutter.

They moved through poses like a slow dance—Adam directing, the girls obeying. Chin up, shoulders back, hands here, eyes there. Each command came along with a flash, as if the light cleared a space in their minds for his words to drop neatly into place.

“Alright, Kelly, let’s get some more solo shots over there.” He gestured for the girls to follow him toward the bedroom set in the corner.

“I thought you said that was for your boudoir shoots?” Laura asked as they approached the set.

Adam turned, his smile bright as he depressed his shutter once more, bathing the women in the bright light.

“Oh, it is, but I do other shoots here, too. It’s perfectly lovely.”

Shaking off her moment of concern, Laura strode next to Kelly, following the photographer onto the bedroom set. She couldn’t deny that the bedroom set had a certain loveliness to it. The bed had four elegant posts rising from the corners and a rich burgundy bedspread. The walls were a creamy white. It looked like the perfect place to enjoy yourself.

Adam gestured to a spot where Laura could stand off to the side of the set, then guided Kelly until she was standing in front of the bed. He gave the eighteen-year-old an appraising look, cocking his head slightly and arching his eyebrow as if something was wrong.

“You know, that jacket’s great, but it’s stealing the focus from your face. Let’s try a few without it,” Adam said in a casual, professional tone.

Kelly slid it off without hesitation, handing it to Adam, who tossed it on a nearby chair.

“Better,” Adam murmured, eyes narrowing slightly as he raised the camera and looked through the lens. The strobe popped, and Kelly felt her breath catch—not with nerves, but with an odd sense of approval.

Adam adjusted a light stand, moving it closer. He looked through his lens, and the strobe flashed again. “Kick your shoes off too. Bare feet will make the shot more relaxed, more real.”

The suggestion might have made her laugh under normal circumstances, but now it just seemed… logical. She took off her sneakers and socks, the cool floor pressing against her skin.

“Good girl,” Adam said, almost under his breath. Another flash.

From the sidelines, Laura watched, her hands loosely clasped in front of her. She felt no urgency to step in—Adam’s confidence and his easy rhythm made it seem like everything was unfolding exactly as it should.

“Alright, Laura—your turn again.” He beckoned her forward. “We’ll do some more together. Stand right here. Close enough that your hair brushes her shoulder.”

The girls followed Adam’s instructions without thinking, their bodies aligning in whatever shape he asked for—faces close, hands grazing, posture leaning toward him.

Adam circled them slowly, camera low, voice soft and steady. “You’re doing amazing, girls. Just listen. Just relax. Let me guide you.”

The strobe fired again and again, each flash leaving them blinking and compliant.

Nicole stepped in once, her perfume sharp in the air, to tilt Laura’s chin or brush a lock of Kelly’s hair from her cheek. The touch felt strangely intimate, but neither of them pulled away.

“Let’s loosen this up,” Adam said, his fingers brushing against Kelly’s sleeve. “Just roll it up—there. Laura, copy her. Perfect. It’s all about mirroring each other.”

More flashes. More poses. Flash after flash, Adam pressed the girls close together in more and more intimate positions.

Adam lowered the camera, tapping a finger against the lens as if considering something bold.

“You know,” he said, “we could do something really striking here. Something that captures the bond between you two. It’s all about closeness. Let’s play into that closeness with a little lingerie shoot.” The strobe flashed again. “Girls, why don’t you strip down to just your bras and undergarments, and we’ll try some really hot poses.”

Laura blinked a few times. Somewhere in the back of her mind, it felt wrong to be stripping down with her daughter, especially in a photo shoot. Sensing her hesitancy, Adam fired the strobes once more.

“This is perfectly normal, girls. We’re on an intimate bedroom set. You’re just reflecting that intimacy.”

Deciding that it made sense, Laura nodded, unbuttoning her blouse. Kelly did the same, and after a few more flashes of the strobe, both girls were stripped down to their undergarments, Kelly in a black lace bra and matching thong, and Laura in a slightly more modest matching pink set.

“Perfect, ladies. Just perfect.”

Adam stepped forward, adjusting their bodies as he spoke. Kelly’s hip was nudged toward her mother, and her arm slipped loosely around Laura’s waist. He guided their faces until their foreheads were touching, their lips just millimeters apart. “Good… Now look deep into each other's eyes. You really love each other. Show it in your eyes.”

Laura felt Kelly’s warm breath against her face as she stared lovingly into her daughter’s eyes. The pose was unusually sensual for a family shot, but before she could really think about it—

Flash.

The thought slid away like water disappearing down a drain.

Adam tilted his head, studying them. “Almost there. Let’s go with something even softer—Laura, lean in as if you’re telling her a secret… lips almost to her ear. And Kelly, tilt your head like you’re listening. Yes, perfect.”

Laura hesitated, a faint crease in her brow. This feels… odd. It wasn’t a pose she would normally take with her daughter—especially not for a photo.

Adam’s voice cut in, smooth and sure. “Trust me, it’s going to be beautiful. Just breathe and bring those lips right up to her ear.”

Flash.

Her doubt evaporated. She leaned in, her lips brushing the fine hairs at Kelly’s ear as she smiled softly.

Adam stepped back, framing the shot through his viewfinder. “That’s it. You’re both perfect—don’t move.” The shutter clicked rapidly, the strobe punctuating each instruction.

Nicole moved quietly at their side, moving Laura so her body was pressed slightly more against her daughter, sliding Kelly’s hair so it fell across her shoulder. “Lovely,” she murmured, her voice a velvet echo of Adam’s.

Adam’s grin widened. “Now, Laura, rest your hand gently on the side of her neck. Kelly—close your eyes, just for this one.”

Laura’s fingers obeyed without question, her palm warm against her daughter’s skin. The closeness was almost dreamlike now, any hint of awkwardness swallowed in the haze of light and voice and camera clicks.

“Beautiful,” Adam said, lowering the camera just enough to let the praise settle over them. “Exactly what I was hoping for.”

Adam let the camera hang from its strap and stepped in close, his voice low.

“You two have such natural chemistry. Let’s play with that a little. For these next few shots, Laura, I want you to kiss your daughter’s ear and neck while you hold her just like that. Take your time and make your kisses slow and deliberate. Let’s show off how close the two of you are.”

Taking a step back, Adam raised his camera and told Laura to begin. The strobe burst, bleaching away the edges of the set. Her doubts fading away, Laura brought her lips up against Kelly’s earlobe, planting a long, tender kiss. Kelly exhaled softly, her skin tingling as the kiss lingered.

“Perfect,” Adam said, circling them, firing off the strobes again and again. “Now, Laura, keep going. Leave a trail of kisses down Kelly’s neck. You love each other so much. Let’s really feel the emotion coming through.”

The strobe flashed again. Then again. She really did love Kelly so much. She’d never kissed her before like this, especially when their bodies were in such a state of undress and pressed up close, but somehow, that didn’t seem to matter. Slowly, her lips left their place on Kelly’s earlobe, kissing her just beneath her ear. As the strobe flashed again and again, Laura continued planting kisses, trailing all the way down to the girl’s collarbone before travelling up again. Adam kept taking pictures, guiding the older woman as she kissed her daughter again and again, trailing all the way up to her chin. Kelly let out a series of happy sighs as her mom worked, enjoying the closeness of the woman who raised her.

“This is all so good,” Adam said, lowering his camera as Nicole stepped onto the set once again. “I’m going to have Nicole pose you. I want the two of you facing each other. Now closer—perfect. Kelly—place your hands on your mom’s waist. Yes. Now Laura, mirror her—hands at her waist as well. Now get forehead to forehead again. That’s right, bring your faces close like that. Now, I want you to look into each other's eyes, and I want you to realize something. The two of you already love each other so deeply, but as I take this next set of photos, I want you to look into each other’s eyes and realize that you’re also in love with each other.”

Laura blinked. In love? With Kelly? It felt… not wrong exactly, but off in some way she couldn’t quite pinpoint. Kelly was her daughter. Could she really be in love with her own daughter? And what about her husband? She was already in love with him. Her hand lifted off Kelly’s waist, and she had just started to turn her head to ask Adam if he was sure about this when another bright flash from the strobe stopped her in her tracks.

Adam’s voice slid in again, gentle but absolute. “You’re doing great. Trust me, Laura. I’m a professional. Just look into Kelly’s eyes and let the feelings build. I know you’ll find them, and when you do, this photo will become one of your favorites.”

Flash.

Laura’s doubt softened, thinned, and then melted away completely. Laura’s hands settled back into place, and she found herself peering deep into Kelly’s eyes. As a series of flashes erupted from the strobe, Laura found herself more and more at ease. This was Kelly. Her Kelly. The girl she raised from a baby. She was so perfect and sweet. How could she not fall in love with her? As the seconds ticked on, she found her feelings growing stronger and stronger. Beyond the love she already had for her daughter. A soft smile materialized on her face as she realized that she didn’t just love Kelly; she was in love with Kelly.

Adam took a few more photos, then added, “Now—hold her a little tighter. Like you don’t want to let go.”

Kelly obeyed instantly, her arms tightening around Laura’s waist. Laura’s breath caught—not from discomfort, but from the sudden swell of emotion she couldn’t name.

“Beautiful,” Adam murmured, the shutter clicking three times in a row.


Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, “Now… both of you, you know you’re in love with each other, but I want you to feel something more intense for these next few shots. I want to see you deeply lusting for each other. Let me see it in your eyes.”

The strobe popped again, and the room felt oddly muffled to Laura as everything seemed to fade away, leaving nothing but her beautiful daughter. Her beautiful, sexy daughter, Laura thought. No, wait. That’s not right. She tried to correct the thought. She couldn’t think of her daughter as sexy, could she? Should a mother think of her own daughter like that?

As the bright flashes carried Adam’s message deeper into her brain, Laura found herself gradually feeling more at ease with the thoughts. Kelly was an attractive girl, after all. Laura had never thought of herself as bi, but if there was ever a girl she could go for, she could see it being Kelly. She had long, smooth legs, curves in all the right places, and lips that were perfect for kissing. Kissing, and more, she thought as her eyes briefly flicked down to her daughter’s lips.

Soon, visions started filling Laura’s head. Visions of her and her daughter, locked together in a tight embrace like the one they were now in, their lips coming together in scorching heat. Their bodies meshed up against one another. Their hands exploring each other. As she stood there, staring into her daughter’s eyes as the strobe flashed again and...