Risqué Business: The Website That Started It All

People often ask how I ended up designing websites for such a unique and unconventional niche.

The same question always comes up: “How did you get started in this?” It’s not every day you meet someone building brands in this corner of the web, so I get the curiosity. Truth be told, it’s a story that still makes me smile—not because it was well-planned or polished, but because it was anything but. It all started with a leap of faith, a bit of luck, and one bold client willing to take a chance on someone with more ambition than experience.

Flashback to 1998

Picture it: 1998, the heyday of Netscape Navigator and the screeching symphony of 56k modems. I was an Art Director at a DC ad agency, thoroughly bored with print advertising and itching for something new. That’s when the internet started its meteoric rise, and web design—with all its quirky, uncharted possibilities—caught my attention. It was thrilling, but there was one small hiccup: I had no idea how to code.

Rather than taking the usual path of learning the basics first and then finding clients, I leaned into the ADHD’er baptism-by-fire approach: find a paid project and figure it out along the way. It wasn’t smooth sailing, but it was exactly the shake-up I needed to tap into a whole new realm of creativity.

Enter Tasha Ray

After posting my resume on a local DC design bulletin board, I got an email from a woman named Tasha Ray. She was interested in working together but made it clear her business required an open mind. Intrigued, I agreed to meet her at an upscale Georgetown restaurant the next day.

When I arrived, I was welcomed by a warm, cozy atmosphere and guided to a secluded table where I met Tasha—a striking brunette with a definite Shania Twain vibe. She radiated confidence and got straight to the point, revealing her profession without hesitation. I’d been curious ever since her email, and now that the mystery was solved, I couldn’t wait to learn more. Escorting was a world I’d barely heard of, and in my naivety, I found the whole idea more fascinating than anything else. With a sly smile, she asked, “Any qualms about it?” My answer was an immediate and resounding, “None at all.” Her confidence was magnetic, and I was completely hooked.

Over the course of our conversation, I learned Tasha was one of DC’s top providers, attracting significant traffic to her site. But her website—built by her engineer boyfriend—was clunky and lacked the sophistication she wanted. She’d even invested $2,000 in a professional photo shoot (a big deal at the time) to elevate her brand. It was clear she needed a site that reflected her professionalism and style.

By the end of dinner, Tasha asked about my fee. Completely unprepared, I threw out a number on the spot. Without hesitation, she handed me a white envelope stuffed with cash. It was exhilarating and a little surreal—my first step into a whole new world.

Go Time

Web design in the late 1990s was the wild west. Browsers behaved unpredictably, internet speeds crawled, and layouts relied on HTML tables—tools never meant for design but used anyway. Domain registration, web hosting, and FTP felt like cracking a secret code, and I spent countless evenings camped out at Barnes & Noble devouring web design books to piece it all together.

I learned how to compress GIFs, wrestle with 640×480 resolutions, and slice designs in Adobe ImageReady. Adding tiny interactive touches felt like magic, even if I was fumbling my way through. To make things even more interesting, I had to keep my work discreet—my new bride was wonderfully supportive but understandably didn’t want risqué content popping up on our shared Mac screen.

After months of trial and error—and Tasha’s endless patience—the site went live in early 1999. Was it groundbreaking? Not exactly. But in a sea of lackluster sites, it managed to stand out. More importantly, it ignited a passion for web design that’s stuck with me ever since.

“Designed by Honey Butter”

As the project wrapped up, I added a little “Designed by Honey Butter” credit in the footer, not expecting much to come of it. To my surprise, that tiny detail sparked a flood of inquiries. Suddenly, I was getting pricing requests left and right, and I realized I’d stumbled into a niche few designers were serving.

The response was overwhelming and a little surreal. While the novelty of designing layouts with scantily clad ladies wore off quickly, what really hooked me was the collaborative process. Compared to my high-stress day job with lots of layers of approvers and cooks in the kitchen, this work felt refreshingly personal and straightforward. Helping clients build brands that genuinely elevated their businesses turned out to be the most rewarding part.

Looking Back

What started as a leap of faith with Tasha’s project grew into a career full of creativity, unexpected challenges, and rewarding partnerships. Along the way, I’ve learned that the best opportunities often come when you least expect them. Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful for Tasha’s trust, her patience, and the doors her project opened.

Here’s to more risks, more learning, and plenty more chances to help others shine. Cheers! 🍻