diff --git a/docs/caching.rst b/docs/caching.rst
index 7bf7ea6..00d9ae8 100644
--- a/docs/caching.rst
+++ b/docs/caching.rst
@@ -35,18 +35,25 @@ Cache File Strategy
 Each ``ImageCacheFile`` has a cache file strategy, which abstracts away when
 image is actually generated. It can implement the following four methods:
 
-* ``before_access`` - called by ``ImageCacheFile`` when you access its url,
-  width, or height attribute.
+* ``on_content_required`` - called by ``ImageCacheFile`` when it requires the
+  contents of the generated image. For example, when you call ``read()`` or
+  try to access information contained in the file.
+* ``on_existence_required`` - called by ``ImageCacheFile`` when it requires the
+  generated image to exist but may not be concerned with its contents. For
+  example, when you access its ``url`` or ``path`` attribute.
 * ``on_source_created`` - called when the source of a spec is created
 * ``on_source_changed`` - called when the source of a spec is changed
 * ``on_source_deleted`` - called when the source of a spec is deleted
 
-The default strategy only defines the first of these, as follows:
+The default strategy only defines the first two of these, as follows:
 
 .. code-block:: python
 
     class JustInTime(object):
-        def before_access(self, file):
+        def on_content_required(self, file):
+            file.generate()
+
+        def on_existence_required(self, file):
             file.generate()
 
 
diff --git a/imagekit/cachefiles/__init__.py b/imagekit/cachefiles/__init__.py
index 3e67420..806b960 100644
--- a/imagekit/cachefiles/__init__.py
+++ b/imagekit/cachefiles/__init__.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from django.core.files.images import ImageFile
 from django.utils.functional import LazyObject
 from ..files import BaseIKFile
 from ..registry import generator_registry
-from ..signals import before_access
+from ..signals import content_required, existence_required
 from ..utils import get_logger, get_singleton, generate, get_by_qname
 
 
@@ -57,7 +57,30 @@ class ImageCacheFile(BaseIKFile, ImageFile):
 
     def _require_file(self):
         if not getattr(self, '_file', None):
-            before_access.send(sender=self, file=self)
+            content_required.send(sender=self, file=self)
+            self._file = self.storage.open(self.name, 'rb')
+
+    # The ``path`` and ``url`` properties are overridden so as to not call
+    # ``_require_file``, which is only meant to be called when the file object
+    # will be directly interacted with (e.g. when using ``read()``). These only
+    # require the file to exist; they do not need its contents to work. This
+    # distinction gives the user the flexibility to create a cache file
+    # strategy that assumes the existence of a file, but can still make the file
+    # available when its contents are required.
+
+    def _storage_attr(self, attr):
+        if not getattr(self, '_file', None):
+            existence_required.send(sender=self, file=self)
+        fn = getattr(self.storage, attr)
+        return fn(self.name)
+
+    @property
+    def path(self):
+        return self._storage_attr('path')
+
+    @property
+    def url(self):
+        return self._storage_attr('url')
 
     def generate(self, force=False):
         """
@@ -101,9 +124,9 @@ class ImageCacheFile(BaseIKFile, ImageFile):
         if not self.name:
             return False
 
-        # Dispatch the before_access signal before checking to see if the file
-        # exists. This gives the strategy a chance to create the file.
-        before_access.send(sender=self, file=self)
+        # Dispatch the existence_required signal before checking to see if the
+        # file exists. This gives the strategy a chance to create the file.
+        existence_required.send(sender=self, file=self)
         return self.cachefile_backend.exists(self)
 
 
diff --git a/imagekit/cachefiles/strategies.py b/imagekit/cachefiles/strategies.py
index 1104de6..af678ba 100644
--- a/imagekit/cachefiles/strategies.py
+++ b/imagekit/cachefiles/strategies.py
@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@ class JustInTime(object):
 
     """
 
-    def before_access(self, file):
+    def on_existence_required(self, file):
+        file.generate()
+
+    def on_content_required(self, file):
         file.generate()
 
 
diff --git a/imagekit/registry.py b/imagekit/registry.py
index a881aa3..d781b06 100644
--- a/imagekit/registry.py
+++ b/imagekit/registry.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from .exceptions import AlreadyRegistered, NotRegistered
-from .signals import before_access, source_created, source_changed, source_deleted
+from .signals import (content_required, existence_required, source_created,
+                      source_changed, source_deleted)
 from .utils import call_strategy_method
 
 
@@ -12,7 +13,8 @@ class GeneratorRegistry(object):
     """
     def __init__(self):
         self._generators = {}
-        before_access.connect(self.before_access_receiver)
+        content_required.connect(self.content_required_receiver)
+        existence_required.connect(self.existence_required_receiver)
 
     def register(self, id, generator):
         registered_generator = self._generators.get(id)
@@ -42,13 +44,19 @@ class GeneratorRegistry(object):
     def get_ids(self):
         return self._generators.keys()
 
-    def before_access_receiver(self, sender, file, **kwargs):
+    def content_required_receiver(self, sender, file, **kwargs):
+        self._receive(file, 'on_content_required')
+
+    def existence_required_receiver(self, sender, file, **kwargs):
+        self._receive(file, 'on_existence_required')
+
+    def _receive(self, file, callback):
         generator = file.generator
 
         # FIXME: I guess this means you can't register functions?
         if generator.__class__ in self._generators.values():
             # Only invoke the strategy method for registered generators.
-            call_strategy_method(file, 'before_access')
+            call_strategy_method(file, callback)
 
 
 class SourceGroupRegistry(object):
diff --git a/imagekit/signals.py b/imagekit/signals.py
index 36c915b..12a0042 100644
--- a/imagekit/signals.py
+++ b/imagekit/signals.py
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ from django.dispatch import Signal
 
 
 # Generated file signals
-before_access = Signal()
+content_required = Signal()
+existence_required = Signal()
 
 # Source group signals
 source_created = Signal()
diff --git a/tests/models.py b/tests/models.py
index f1e20c2..758f2cb 100644
--- a/tests/models.py
+++ b/tests/models.py
@@ -29,12 +29,16 @@ class ProcessedImageFieldModel(models.Model):
 
 class CountingCacheFileStrategy(object):
     def __init__(self):
-        self.before_access_count = 0
+        self.on_existence_required_count = 0
+        self.on_content_required_count = 0
         self.on_source_changed_count = 0
         self.on_source_created_count = 0
 
-    def before_access(self, file):
-        self.before_access_count += 1
+    def on_existence_required(self, file):
+        self.on_existence_required_count += 1
+
+    def on_content_required(self, file):
+        self.on_content_required_count += 1
 
     def on_source_changed(self, file):
         self.on_source_changed_count += 1