Return of the Genius Photographer

“Woojin, would you consider working full-time with us at VOTUS magazine?”

Yoon Jung-ah stopped mid-step and turned to me with her unexpected question.

We were only halfway through the shoot, and she was already offering me a full-time contract, even before reviewing all the results.

“Wait, really? The shoot isn’t even done yet,” I asked, more bewildered than excited.

Yoon Jung-ah laughed, explaining herself.

“Didn’t I already tell you? I’ve been watching your work closely since the shoot began. Plus, the May feature was all yours, wasn’t it? Do I really need to see more?”

Her tone was bold and confident, quite different from what I had expected. I had pegged her as meticulous and detail-oriented, but here she was, showing a surprising level of decisiveness.

“You know VOTUS is the top magazine in the industry, right? I don’t want to boast, but this could be a huge step for your career,” she continued, trying to convince me.

“Honestly, this is unusual,” her voice softened, as if carefully selecting her words.

“It’s rare for us to offer an exclusive contract, especially to someone as young as you. We’ve never signed a deal like this with a young photographer before. But with you, I believe it would be worth it.”

I couldn’t help but wonder why she was so sure of me. How many people had shown me this much trust before even finishing a shoot?

What exactly was she expecting from me?

“I’m not just making this offer because of your photos,” she said seriously. “There are plenty of people who take good pictures. But…”

Her eyes held a deep sincerity, making it clear that this was no impulsive decision.

“You’re the first photographer I’ve met who considers the magazine’s readers beyond the lens.”

Yoon Jung-ah praised me with a gravity that made me feel her words were genuine.

Her gaze was direct and unwavering, reminding me of the time I first faced Photographer Jung Woong. That same intense, unyielding energy was present in her.

Maybe I just have a knack for getting along with strong personalities like hers. After all, I had felt incredibly comfortable working with Yoon Jung-ah throughout this shoot, making me seriously consider her offer.

‘An exclusive contract… it’s a bit much.’

When I first heard her proposition, my immediate instinct was to decline. If this had been during the May feature shoot, I would have accepted without hesitation, but things were different now.

My schedule was already packed.

Looking back, it was true. On weekdays, I had to be at school from early morning until late afternoon. Even if I could skip evening self-study, there was no way I could miss regular classes.

‘It’s not entirely impossible, but…’

I remembered the time I had lied to leave school early, all because of the VOTUS shoot. That had been my first time skipping class, too.

Anyway, aside from school, which took up most of my week, my only free time was in the late afternoons, evenings, or weekends.

I usually spent those hours shooting for Minjung’s shopping mall. On top of that, I now had to prepare the exhibition photos Jung Woong had requested. Adding another commitment to this schedule would be overwhelming.

Being an ordinary high school student in South Korea was exhausting enough. Balancing that with a photography career left me with no free time at all.

Of course, working exclusively with VOTUS would be an amazing experience. It would broaden my scope, giving me the chance to meet new people—models, editors, celebrities, and designers.

The appeal of collaborating with so many different individuals was undeniable, as it contrasted with the solitude of personal projects. And the more people I met, the quicker my name would spread in the photography world.

But if I successfully completed the photos for Jung Woong’s exhibition, it would lead to more requests from him in the future. Following my current path meant I would get busier, and no matter how tempting this offer was, I would have to turn it down.

Just as I had resolved to decline, Yoon Jung-ah seemed to sense my hesitation and asked me another question.

“Is there something in particular you’re worried about?”

Yoon Jung-ah asked anxiously, as if she hadn’t expected me to decline her offer. I decided to be honest.

“Well, I’m still in high school, and I have other commitments. Taking on a full-time contract seems like it would be too much to handle.”

“Is that so?”

Though I had framed it as a polite way to reject her, she didn’t seem disappointed. In fact, it felt like she saw it as a positive thing.

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that!”

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t feel burdened. VOTUS already has five exclusive photographers.”

She proudly held up five fingers as if to emphasize the point.

“We also have three editorial teams, each with its own dedicated photographer. So, there really won’t be much to do. Time-consuming fashion shoots like these are rarer than you might think.”

She then explained VOTUS’s shooting process in more detail.

“Most of your shoots would likely be portrait sessions. Wouldn’t that be manageable?”

“Could we adjust the schedule for portrait shoots?”

“Of course! While we try to accommodate the interviewees, we can work around the photographer’s schedule too.”

The more she explained, the more appealing the offer seemed. Perhaps this was the advantage of working with a large, established company.

“Oh, and when you do portrait shoots, you’ll often meet celebrities! You’ve never met any, right? Is there a celebrity you like?”

She asked, assuming that as a young guy, I must be a fan of some celebrity. While I wasn’t particularly interested in meeting celebrities, her persistent efforts to recruit me finally made me reconsider.

“Alright. If we can adjust the schedule to fit around my other commitments, then I’ll agree to the contract.”

“Great! Let’s sign the contract after the shoot. Looking forward to working with you!”

With the conversation settled, Yoon Jung-ah gave me a slight bow of gratitude and promptly returned to the set. I watched her for a moment, then stood up and put my shirt back on. My sweat had cooled, and a chill ran through me—it was time to get back to work.

– Click!

I picked up the camera again.

– Click!

– Click!

“Look this way, just like that.”

The rest of the shoot progressed smoothly. As with most things, the hardest part was getting started. Once we figured out the direction, everything flowed easily, and before I knew it, we were nearing the end.

The model, now dressed in a retro denim look, had fully adapted to the set. She confidently struck a pose, feet planted shoulder-width apart, hands on her hips, staring boldly into the camera. Her confidence radiated so powerfully that it almost leapt through the lens.

I swallowed hard, wondering what kind of image this would produce.

This was why you couldn’t let your guard down until the very last moment of a shoot.

“Perfect. Just like that!”

I pressed my face against the viewfinder and shouted with enthusiasm.

The model looked stunning through the lens. To capture her fully immersed in the moment, I had to match her intensity with my own focus.

‘ISO at 100, aperture at f/4, shutter speed 1/125.’

I double-checked the camera settings. Everything was perfect. The model stood frozen in place, like time had stopped, and I pressed the shutter button as if I were preserving that moment forever.

– Click!

As the sound of the shutter echoed through the set, the day’s shoot came to an end.

I couldn’t predict how the magazine would turn out, but I was confident that the photos inside would shine.

*****

In the near future.

“Mom! There are so many books here!”

A child shouted excitedly upon entering the bookstore, their voice ringing out in the otherwise quiet space.

Embarrassed by the sudden noise, Choi Song-hwa quickly scolded her child.

“Yuri, you need to speak quietly in a bookstore.”

“Mom! Are we here to buy books?”

The little girl, clinging to her mother’s pants with wide, curious eyes, was endearing. But for Song-hwa, it was exhausting.

“Shh. People are watching. We’re here to buy a book for your sister.”

Song-hwa raised her finger to her lips, and Yuri nodded, finally calming down. Relieved, Song-hwa patted her daughter’s head and walked deeper into the bookstore.

She stopped at the very back, in the section for study guides.

‘What was I supposed to buy again…? Math Essentials? Grammar book?’

Song-hwa, standing in front of the shelves, stared at the sea of books, trying to remember. There were so many options—it was overwhelming. And the prices! Why were study guides so expensive?

Just as she was struggling to recall the exact title, Yuri, bored with all the study guides, darted off toward the comic book section.

“Mom, look! Comics! Can I get one?”

Song-hwa, startled by her daughter’s sudden disappearance, quickly followed and grabbed her.

“Yuri, I told you not to run off by yourself.”

“Mom, I really want this book. Can we buy it, please?”

Oblivious to her mother’s alarm, Yuri clutched a comic book, pleading with wide eyes.

“No, not today. Maybe next time.”

With a firm tone, Song-hwa gently took the book from Yuri’s hands and put it back on the shelf.

That’s when something caught her eye.

“Hmm?”

Right next to the comic section was the magazine shelf, and her gaze landed on a cover featuring a model in a denim jacket and skirt.

“Bo…tus? VOTUS?”

She read the title aloud, her face lighting up as she picked up the magazine.

“Oh wow, is this in style again? This was popular back in the ’80s.”

The denim-on-denim look was so familiar. Could it really be true that fashion trends cycle every 20 years? She found it fascinating to see the styles from her twenties back on the cover of a magazine.

‘The photos are so beautiful. I probably have something similar tucked away in my closet… Has it really been that long?’

As she looked at the magazine, memories from her younger days flooded back—times when she could wear anything she wanted and walk the streets in style.

Back then, she was so interested in fashion. But after having kids, finding the time to dress up or even go out had become rare. These days, her focus was on her children’s clothes rather than her own.

‘Ah, what’s the point of it all now?’

Feeling a pang of nostalgia, Song-hwa was about to put the magazine back when Yuri interrupted her thoughts.

“Mom, can you buy that for me then?”

“This?”

Song-hwa’s eyes widened. It wasn’t a comic book. Why would Yuri want a fashion magazine filled with pictures of adults in clothes?

“If you’re not buying me a book, I want to play dress-up. I want the sticker set inside.”

“Sticker set?”

Confused, Song-hwa followed Yuri’s gaze and looked at the back of the magazine. There, tucked inside the plastic wrap, was a dress-up sticker set.

Yuri had been eyeing the stickers all along.

“I want to play dress-up! Please, Mom! Buy it for me!”

“If I buy this, will you listen to me?”

Song-hwa asked, smiling at her daughter’s big, hopeful eyes. Yuri nodded eagerly, and Song-hwa couldn’t help but laugh.

Children are impossible to resist at times like this.

Lovingly, she stroked Yuri’s head and nodded. “Alright, I’ll buy it.”

In truth, Song-hwa had been debating whether to buy the magazine for herself. It was just a fleeting thought, but the beautiful photography on the cover had reignited her long-dormant interest in fashion. She felt a sudden urge to flip through the pages and see what clothes were featured.

Picking up the magazine again, she couldn’t wait to browse through it.

For some reason, the magazine featuring Woo-jin’s photos sold out quickly. Whether it was due to Woo-jin’s creative input or the quality of the photos, no one could say for sure.

But one thing was certain: it was all thanks to Woo-jin.

Though the full extent of his contribution would take a little longer to come to light.

Just a little longer.