INFATUATION
I’m in Love With a Stock Photo Model
The photos were free use, but I had my heart stolen
Before I submit my writing anywhere I read the rules thoroughly. At MuddyUm I was told I must use free use photos or my own. I have shaky hands and look like Christian Slater on a crack bender.
Free use photos it is.
I have found Pexels to the best of the free photo sites for ease of use and picture quality. There’s one photographer on Pexels whose pictures constantly catch my eye. His name is Andrea Piacquadio and he claims to be one of the best microstock photographers in the world. I think he’s being modest.
This man is not only gorgeous but also has a gorgeous picture of almost everything I’ve ever written about and needed a picture for. He travels the world being attractive, taking pictures of attractive people. His life must be terrible.
You’ve seen his pictures on many websites. There’s always at least one in your feed. They always catch my eye no matter what model he uses. Here are his greatest hits.
But there’s one of his models who stands head and shoulders above the rest. I found her during a search for a picture of a woman looking at a phone.
She was perfect.
It wasn’t just the photo that was perfect. From the moment I laid eyes on her I was captivated.
“My God she’s stunning.” I remarked to myself. “Her smile is radiant. She’s going on every story she fits. She must be world famous. If she’s not yet she should be.”
I couldn’t find her name as stock models in general are uncredited. I wound up naming her Bungirl as her hair in the photos was usually up in one or two buns. I tried to find every picture of her I could. The way Pexels.com works, you have to dig a little to find the good stuff.
Andrea likes to take pictures of girls with a certain look, so Bungirl impostors run rampant in his Pexels profile.
I’ve sat scrutinizing pictures I’ve thought were her for hours. Though they look similar Bungirl has two distinct, unique features. The first being her blue/grey eyes.
But the eyes are not enough. What’s really unique about her is her wide eyebrows. Meaning cross-eyed girl is not Bungirl.
The writing life can be lonely. I talk to other people but almost exclusively online. I meet lots of women but I’m not trying to buy a plane ticket. I decided she was my new girlfriend.
I made her my wallpaper.
I had a few items personalized.
Played around a bit in Photoshop.
The reality is she is a fantasy woman. Women like that don’t really exist and if she did, why would she want anything to do with me? I didn’t want to ruin it by finding out she’s married to some rich Greek shipping heir who doesn’t want her modeling any more. I like keeping my fantasy a fantasy.
However, when I confessed my infatuation with Bungirl to my other writing girlfriend Meghan Gause, she had other ideas.
Meghan sent the link. It looked like her, but that can’t be her. No way she’s that young. In Andrea Piacquadio photos it looks like she’s in her mid 20’s.
I guess that meant it’s her. And her name is Kate Czepek.
Meghan asked what my next move was. “Move?” I typed. “Look at her, she’s a bonafide 10. That’s like .01% of the population. She’s the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen. She’s probably got a dozen creepy stalkers.”
Besides, she lives in Hungry. From her personal pictures I’m guessing she’s a teenager. I’m probably old enough to be her father. I’ll follow her with the other — She only has 1800 followers on Instagram? Crazy. So now I follow Kate and Andrea on Instagram.
I thought that was the end of it. When suddenly…
She followed me back on Instagram! Talk about making my day.
The photographers at Pexels like Andrea Piacquadio are nice enough to let us use their work for free. I show my appreciation by following them on Instagram and pushing them a few bucks whenever I get paid.
If you have made money writing stories that use free license photos and have never sent your favorite photographer a few bucks, shame on you. And if you have made over a thousand dollars and haven’t sent them a few bucks, you need to do that right now.
Seriously. What’s wrong with you? They can pull their pictures at any time, so make it worth it for the photographers and you will have more photos to choose from.
Thank you Andrea Piacquadio for allowing me to use your amazing pictures. You are my go-to and you are the best photographer in the world according to me. You need to call Kate’s people and get her back to take more pictures. She’s stock photography gold. Maybe something where she’s wearing a swimsuit.
And a big thank you to Kate Czepek. You are achingly gorgeous and I will always use your pictures when given the opportunity. You deserve to be like hydrogen, as in everywhere — movies, TV, prescription drug advertisements and bus stops.
When you make it to Hollywood give me a ring. I have a great view and I can show you my etchings. You too, Andrea. Minus the etchings part.
Check out my Pexels collection of Bungirl and other not quite as attractive models on my Pexel.com page.
Follow Kate Czepek on instagram Follow Andrea Piacquadio on instagram and on pexels.