Return of the Genius Photographer

“Alright, let’s begin the planning meeting for the photoshoot.”

As soon as the staff member spoke, the lights in the conference room dimmed, and a PowerPoint presentation appeared on the screen in front of us.

“As you’re all already aware of the outline, our theme this time is ‘The Future.'”

Yoon Jung-ah, the editor, stood up and began explaining the concept in front of the screen.

“VOTUS magazine started as a fashion magazine. However, over time, as the magazine grew, we included more and more content that wasn’t strictly about fashion.”

Her voice, clear and resonant, naturally drew everyone’s attention.

“So, with this project, we’re going back to our roots to remind people of VOTUS’s original purpose as a fashion magazine.”

As Yoon Jung-ah continued, she advanced the slides on the screen.

The presentation showcased a variety of outfits—wide pants, mini skirts, leather jackets—all items that had been quite popular in Korea at one point.

“When you think about the role of a fashion magazine, it’s obvious, isn’t it? We introduce items that stimulate people’s desire to buy.”

Yoon Jung-ah succinctly and accurately conveyed her point, earning nods of agreement from the rest of the team.

“By combining this with our ‘Future’ theme, we plan to showcase items that will dominate the latter half of the year.”

The following slides displayed the predicted trends for this year: minimalist styles, sporty clothing, skinny jeans, and shorts, among others. The items were organized in order of their expected popularity, from the most likely to the least.

‘They’ve done a ton of research.’

The sheer volume of information, meticulously prepared, was enough to make anyone appreciate the dedication involved.

It was impressive, really. No wonder they were considered the top magazine in the industry.

The last time I was here, I came in as a last-minute replacement, so this was my first time experiencing one of their meetings.

But if I had to guess based on my memory of Suncheol, it wasn’t quite like this.

‘So, I guess it’s safe to say that this editor is incredibly talented.’

I kept my eyes on Yoon Jung-ah as she continued her presentation.

“That means we need to be especially careful during the shoot to ensure that the items don’t look stale.”

From the wardrobe team to the makeup artists and the models, everyone in the room seemed fully focused on her.

Given how thorough she was, down to the specific details to watch out for during the shoot, it seemed unlikely that I’d need to step in as much as I did during the last special issue.

In reality, the last special issue had been an exception. This was how a typical magazine photoshoot was supposed to go.

For a photographer, it wasn’t too challenging; our role was to bring to life the blueprint that the editor had already drawn up.

And considering that the theme was ‘The Future,’ well…

While it might have been a difficult concept for others, for someone like me, who had practically lived in the future, this theme couldn’t have been easier to wrap my head around.

From head to toe, I already knew which items would trend this year.

“If you have any questions, feel free to ask me anytime. That’s it for the meeting. Let’s start preparing for the shoot.”

With Yoon Jung-ah’s closing remarks, everyone stood up and began filing out of the conference room to prepare for the shoot.

Before long, the room emptied, leaving just me and Yoon Jung-ah behind.

I took the opportunity to ask her about the shoot.

“I have a few questions.”

“Of course, go ahead.”

She smiled and responded readily.

“How many total cuts are we aiming for in the magazine?”

“Excuse me? Oh, around twenty shots, give or take.”

“Do you have any specific shooting methods in mind?”

“Hmm… We’ll start with the product shots and then move on to the models. Other than that, we don’t have any strict guidelines.”

“Understood.”

Before any shoot, it’s essential to gather as much detailed information as possible.

That way, you know exactly what to capture in the photos.

It’s like piecing together a puzzle—you need to know what the final picture looks like before you start fitting the pieces together.

Even small details that seem insignificant now are crucial to the process.

“But isn’t this your first time doing a magazine shoot?”

“Huh?”

“You’re quite young, so I just assumed this would be your first time.”

Yoon Jung-ah, who had been answering my questions without hesitation, suddenly looked at me with curiosity.

“But the way you’re asking questions doesn’t seem like someone who’s doing this for the first time. Usually, first-timers aren’t so proactive.”

“This is actually my second time.”

“Really? And you’re still in high school? You’ve been really active. Where was your first shoot?”

Yoon Jung-ah’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, as if she found my background quite fascinating.

“I shot here about two months ago.”

But the moment I answered her question without much thought, Yoon Jung-ah’s expression, which had been warm and smiling just a moment ago, suddenly froze.

***

‘He’s really accomplished a lot at such a young age…’

At first, Yoon Jung-ah didn’t think much of it when she questioned Woojin. She was simply intrigued by the idea that a high school student could have such an impressive resume. After all, there are plenty of magazines in Korea, and she figured he might have worked for a children’s magazine, something a high school student could handle.

But Woojin’s response far exceeded her expectations.

‘Two months ago? If I recall correctly, there were no shoots planned around that time except for the special issue…’

Two months ago was May, right around the time of the special issue shoot.

Could Woojin really be the photographer behind the special issue that Team 1 had been so secretive about?

“Here? No, which magazine did you shoot for?”

Finding it hard to believe, Yoon Jung-ah asked Woojin again.

The VOTUS studio was part of the Korea Times building. While it was primarily used for VOTUS magazine shoots, it was occasionally rented out to other magazines or media outlets. So, she thought, perhaps he had shot for another magazine.

“VOTUS.”

But Woojin, with the same calm demeanor, answered matter-of-factly, as if wondering what the big deal was.

“You don’t mean… the special… issue?”

“Yes. The original photographer canceled, and I ended up filling in on the day of the shoot through some fortunate connections.”

‘No way…’

Yoon Jung-ah was stunned by Woojin’s response.

The May special issue, produced by Team 1 under the leadership of Managing Editor Won Suncheol, had been nothing short of a sensation.

It was so well-crafted that it elevated fashion magazines to an art form, with a quality truly deserving of a special issue.

The concept was remarkable, but the photography was beyond imagination.

The photos were so impressive that even Jung-ah, who had her fashion section taken away, couldn’t argue with the result.

Among the issue’s highlights, the cover, where art and photography merged seamlessly, was recognized by other editors as a masterpiece.

‘I knew something was odd…’

But what was even stranger was what happened next. Despite producing such a groundbreaking magazine, Team 1—known for their loud success—went uncharacteristically silent. Especially Won Suncheol, who was normally one to boast about his accomplishments, brushed off any inquiries about the magazine.

This silence led to rampant speculation about VOTUS’s Team 1.

Rumors ranged from the idea that they had hired a famous foreign photographer to the notion that Suncheol himself took the photos after the photographer backed out.

Some even suggested that nothing unusual had happened, and that the rumors were simply a ploy by Suncheol to confuse his competitors.

Despite the many rumors, it was strange that Suncheol hadn’t set the record straight. Now, however, Yoon Jung-ah understood why they had all remained tight-lipped.

‘When I asked if the photographer canceled, they flat-out denied it. Was it because they didn’t want any flaws in their record?’

Editors, by nature, have short career spans. Their retirement age tends to come sooner than most other professions, with talented and perceptive younger colleagues constantly emerging. As a result, no editor can hold onto their position for long, making the race for promotions highly competitive.

VOTUS magazine was currently in a fierce competition for the soon-to-be-vacant editor-in-chief position. Among the three executive editors, one was confirmed to be leaving, leaving Jung-ah and Suncheol as the two vying for the spot. That’s why they were both so obsessed with their performance records.

Suncheol, having successfully wrapped up the special issue and secured a better position than Jung-ah, likely didn’t want to share any information with her. He probably didn’t want to admit that the original photographer had backed out, nearly causing a major problem, or reveal a talented photographer to someone he saw as competition.

That’s how Jung-ah reasoned it. Whatever the exact details, it was clear that Suncheol had intentionally hidden the truth.

Yet, whether by chance or fate, the very person Suncheol had tried so hard to keep under wraps—Woojin—was now standing right in front of her.

As the saying goes, “Heaven helps those who help themselves.” And at this moment, Jung-ah felt like the heavens were indeed smiling down on her.

“Is there something wrong?”

Woojin, noticing Yoon Jung-ah’s expression had hardened for quite some time, asked her with a concerned look. His question snapped her out of her thoughts, and she quickly relaxed her face.

Oh no, how could I let my mind wander with such an important guest right in front of me?

“Oh, I’m sorry. I got lost in my thoughts for a moment there.”

Jung-ah immediately responded to Woojin, her lips curling into a smile as she continued.

“Photographer-nim, I’m counting on you.”

If Woojin really was the photographer behind the special issue, then this project might turn out even more successful than she had imagined.

That’s what Yoon Jung-ah thought.