Wine friends

Along with Planet Anime going on at the KC Convention Center, Union Station was hosting the Uncorked wine festival in the Grand Hall. And with all that alcohol and not a lot of options for food inside Union Station to slow down alcohol absorption, that could lead to a lot of drunk people very quickly.

To stave off the potential liability that presents, food trucks in the parking lot gave several food options. If this wasn't a Saturday night, a night where my wife and I usually go out to eat, I probably would've considered my options - though it still wouldn't have been entirely wise given how much walking I typically do.

Instead I was considering my... umm... other options. Like this pair of friends standing outside for a smoke.

And of course, I wanted individual shots so they also had a good chance to really show off the incredible dresses they were wearing.

The other handed over what was left of the cigarette, to which the first commented along the lines of, "I think I need that after this..."

Same poses just to keep the encounter brief and straightforward.

She said something about the not smiling while we were reviewing the exposures. And I get asked in some way by a LOT of the women I photograph, "Do I smile?" And typically I say "Only if you feel compelled to do so".

Since forced smiles generally don't look all that great. Give me a completely natural, compelled smile any day.