There’s a reason you won’t see any faces on this blog. Because its intended to be an update of how the project is coming along rather than a catalogue for trawling punters – lets be honest I’ve got better things to use my photographic skills for than provide a image bank for mugs. The whole purpose of the project is to humanize sex workers by putting faces and stories to the job title but for now they’ll stay faceless at least. Though I reckon if you follow their stories in these updates you will get to know them pretty well (and maybe even love them like I’m starting to) before the book comes out.

Yesterday I rushed home from the city on my bike so I could squeeze an hour in at Gatehouse, and I was glad I did because it was one of those days where everyone was being hilarious – cracking jokes and laughing. It’s really nice when its like that. Vee and Ess came in and complained about the young girl nabbing punters on the street. She was really pretty they said, and looked about 17. And her boyfriend had been hanging around while she worked. As they struggled into tighter jeans so they could compete for jobs with the ‘pretty girl’ Louisa and I talked about how sad it is that a young girl can get talked into street work by her boyfriend, who hangs in the car waiting for her to earn money so he can feed his habit.

I said my goodbyes and turned to walk home when this baby faced girl, who looked just like a younger version of my sister Melody walked up the path. I smiled at her and stopped in my tracks so I wouldn’t run into her. She gave me this sweet smile back, and ducked her head shyly as she made her way past. I was so busy thinking how much she looked like a teenage Melody, with her tall, lanky frame and curled brown hair it took me a moment to realise this was the girl the older workers had been complaining about. This kid who was dressed in high boots and a short skirt, this kid who was the same age as my intern Grace, this kid who looked just like my little sister, was walking the street selling sex.

I cried walking home yesterday. I cried for all of those reasons and I cried because no matter where this girls life goes, at some point her heart has been so caught up with some bloke she has walked the street to make him money.