Return of the Genius Photographer

When Woojin and Jung Woong entered the meeting room, the people inside greeted them and introduced themselves.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Yong-deok, the film director. I didn’t expect you to come, Photographer Jung Woong.”

“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Lee Jae-seok, the assistant director. Please, take your seats wherever you’re comfortable.”

“I’m Song Sang-hyun, the actor. Nice to meet you, Woojin, Jung Woong.”

“Hello, I’m photographer Nam Woojin.”

“Long time no see, everyone.”

Following the introductions, Woojin bowed his head to the group.

It was only then that Kim Yong-deok got a good look at Woojin’s face, and his expression momentarily shifted in surprise.

‘What? A kid?’

Woojin’s face looked incredibly young, almost too much so.

It was the kind of untouched face you’d expect from someone barely out of their teens.

His smooth, pale skin and innocent features only made him look younger.

“Director, he looks way too young, doesn’t he?”

It wasn’t just Kim who noticed.

Sitting beside him, assistant director Lee Jae-seok whispered softly.

Kim nodded subtly in response, prompting Jae-seok to ask Woojin, cautiously:

“Um… Woojin, may I ask how old you are? There weren’t any personal details in your portfolio.”

“I’m eighteen.”

Woojin answered without hesitation.

At that, everyone’s eyes in the room went wide with shock.

“Director, he’s eighteen. That’s high school age! What should we do?”

Jae-seok’s stunned whisper made sense.

These days, even staff members weren’t hired if they were high school students, let alone a high school photographer.

There was no precedent, so no one really knew how to react.

Though he didn’t show it, Kim Yong-deok felt equally taken aback.

He had heard Woojin was a rookie, but he hadn’t imagined Jung Woong’s protégé would be this young.

Seeing the quality of the photos, he had assumed someone much older, so he hadn’t bothered to check.

Honestly, who would ever think that a student was behind photos good enough to be showcased in a gallery?

As Kim was quietly mulling over the situation,
it was the actor Song Sang-hyun who spoke up.

“Director, age doesn’t matter in the arts. All that matters is skill, right? I started acting when I was young, too.”

He made it sound like Woojin’s age was no big deal, persuading Kim.

And it wasn’t a wrong point.

After all, Woojin had been hired because they liked his photos, not for any other reason.

Even Kim had been thoroughly impressed by Woojin’s portfolio, thinking if the poster turned out even half as good as those photos, it would be perfect.

At that moment,

“Ahem! What are we all talking about? We’re here to discuss the poster, aren’t we?”

Jung Woong cut in, sensing the atmosphere was getting distracted.

Only then did Kim begin to realize why Jung Woong had come along.

Perhaps he had anticipated this sort of situation.

“My apologies. We just needed to clarify something quickly.”

Kim offered a polite reply, then slowly turned his gaze back to Woojin.

The young photographer still carried a calm, confident expression, almost as if he knew exactly what was going on.

Kim met Woojin’s eyes, and after a brief pause, spoke up:

“To be honest, I didn’t expect you to be this young. But I must say, I love your work.”

“Thank you.”

Woojin’s voice was just as confident as his demeanor.

“Have you ever done a poster shoot before, Woojin?”

“No, I haven’t.”

Kim was thinking about how to explain things when Woojin suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence.

“Do you have a specific style or direction in mind for the poster?”

“Sorry? No, not yet.”

“Is the film shoot wrapped up?”

“Not quite. There’s still a bit left.”

“Perfect. Could I get the remaining schedule, the primary locations, and the set locations, too?”

“…Pardon?”

“Also, could you provide the film script, shooting schedule, and any relevant checklists?”

For a moment, Kim was utterly confused, unsure of what Woojin was getting at.

‘Wait, what? Didn’t he just say he hasn’t done a poster shoot before?’

The terms Woojin was using were specific to a film set, things that someone without experience wouldn’t typically know.

Of course, anyone with even a little experience could pick up this jargon.

But hearing it from a high schooler, who supposedly had no experience in poster photography, was unexpected.

And what was with these demands?

Kim couldn’t quite grasp Woojin’s intentions.

The room, which had been relaxed a moment ago, now seemed to shift its focus, centering on Woojin.

“Why do you need the schedule and locations? You’re not planning to visit the set, are you?”

“Yes. Since there’s no set direction yet, I’d like to approach it my way.”

“And what exactly is your way…?”

There were several methods to creating movie posters, but the photos typically fell into one of three categories:

First, scheduling a separate shoot based on a predetermined concept.

Second, using stills captured during filming.

Lastly, using screenshots from key scenes in the movie.

Outside of using stills, it was rare for photographers to visit the set for the poster shoot.

Woojin’s suggestion wasn’t just unconventional—it was intriguing.

“Right now, I can only say it’s to make a better poster. I’ll explain more as we go along, showing you the results.”

Once again, Kim’s eyes met Woojin’s.

His expression remained as confident and relaxed as when he first entered the room.

However, there was now a certain intensity in his gaze that hadn’t been there before.

The director felt a strange unease at the realization that he was slightly overwhelmed by the look of a high schooler.

“Giving you the script and screenplay isn’t an issue, but… why the checklist?”

The checklist contained all the information the crew needed to know—details on equipment, staff, even the personalities and preferences of the actors.

In other words, it wasn’t something a photographer would typically need.

“I plan on attending a few more shoots. I don’t want to get in the way, so I’d like to familiarize myself with everything beforehand.”

“…Huh.”

Kim Yong-deok was at a loss for words. It was as though Woojin knew the set inside and out.

‘What kind of guy is this?’

The more they talked, the more it felt like he was being drawn in. And yet, Woojin wasn’t done with his requests.

“Oh, and please make sure I can view all the raw footage at a designated place before post-production starts.”

“…Yes?”

“And also, I’d like someone assigned to help with my movements during the shoot.”

Post-production involved the editing of the filmed footage, correcting colors, mixing sound, and piecing everything together to finalize the movie.

Though the audience only sees the final two hours, the amount of footage recorded is many times greater.

But Woojin was asking for all of it? And a personal assistant too?

“I understand, Photographer Nam Woojin. Your requests are clear, and none of them seem impossible.”

Yong-deok spoke cautiously, processing Woojin’s words.

“However, providing you with all the raw footage and assigning you a manager might be a bit difficult.”

It was a clear refusal.

“Investing that much in a single photographer seems excessive,” Yong-deok concluded.

Even still, he was willing to accommodate the rest of the requests, which were already quite generous.

But—

“Then I’m afraid I won’t be able to participate in the poster shoot.”

Woojin’s sharp gaze showed no room for negotiation. His resolute tone even made Jung Woong, who had been watching quietly, let out a sigh.

The offer to shoot a movie poster, a golden opportunity, was right in front of him, yet Woojin showed no hesitation in saying he didn’t mind letting it go.

“As long as my conditions are met, I can deliver a poster beyond your expectations.”

Woojin’s voice carried an air of absolute confidence. Yong-deok was once again struck speechless and fell into thought.

“If you need time to consider, shall we end the meeting here for today?”

As if reading his mind, Woojin stood up from his seat.

The room fell into an awkward silence, as though a storm had just passed through.

* * * * *

“So, what’s your take on this?”

As they drove back in Jung Woong’s car, the older photographer’s voice was tinged with concern.

He was likely referring to what had happened at the meeting.

“Which part do you mean?” Woojin asked.

“The demands you made. Did you think them all through? What if you don’t get the contract because of them? I was getting worried back there.”

Jung Woong spoke slowly, as though replaying the events in his head.

“I trust you didn’t say all that without a plan. Am I wrong?”

Jung Woong smiled slightly in Woojin’s direction. Woojin paused, considering his answer.

He had set those conditions because they were necessary for him. As he mentioned in the meeting, they were essential for creating the best possible poster.

A movie poster conveys the film’s message to the public with a single image. That means a photographer must have as deep an understanding of the film as those making it.

He wanted to leave no room for error.

‘And honestly, I hate being underestimated because I’m young.’

Woojin recalled the looks he received when he walked into the room. Their surprise at his age. He had no intention of leaving a mediocre impression.

If setting such high demands would make them take him seriously, it would only help him in the long run.

He’d rather make things difficult now than be looked down upon later during the shoot. That was why he was firm on his terms.

No matter how great an opportunity it was, there was no need to bow his head to anyone.

“I just did what I thought was necessary for a good photo.”

“I see… I see.”

Jung Woong fell silent, seemingly lost in thought.

The quietness filled the car once more, as Woojin stared out the window.

The meeting wasn’t over yet.

Now, all that was left to do was wait.

*****

Inside the meeting room that Woojin had just left.

Director Kim Yong-deok was still seated, deep in thought about what had just happened.

“Director, let’s just go with someone else. Aren’t the conditions too much?”

Assistant Director Lee Jae-seok seemed quite burdened by Woojin’s demands.

It was already uncomfortable enough having to hire a high schooler, but with these strict conditions, his suggestion was to just drop the idea altogether.

“If we agree to all of that, wouldn’t we be completely playing into a kid’s hand?”

It wasn’t an unreasonable point.

Even just now, Woojin had pretty much dominated the atmosphere in the meeting room. Whatever Director Kim had felt, it seemed Jae-seok had picked up on as well.

There were plenty of photographers who could shoot a movie poster. If they wanted, they could cancel the deal and hire someone else in no time.

However, Director Kim couldn’t bring himself to make that decision so easily, unlike the assistant director.

There was something tugging at his mind, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was.

‘Something’s odd.’

Director Kim replayed Woojin’s appearance in his mind. More specifically, his eyes.

That confident look, paired with the declaration that he would create a poster beyond their expectations…

It was absurd. But maybe that was exactly why it piqued his curiosity.

What kind of photograph was he planning to create that required so many conditions?

Woojin’s gaze wouldn’t leave his mind.

“Director, I think we should give him a shot.”

“Actor Song Sang-hyun, aren’t you a bit too fond of Photographer Nam Woojin?”

“Assistant Director, why don’t we just try him once?”

Song Sang-hyun, who had been quietly observing the scene, carefully spoke up.

“You know I have a pretty good sense for these things, right? I’ve got a good feeling about this. I think we should give him a chance.”

“And how do you expect me to believe that?”

“Come on, if the results aren’t good, we can always ask someone else.”

“Logically speaking, this makes no sense.”

As the two debated fiercely about whether to bring Woojin on board, Director Kim gathered his thoughts.

‘Logic versus instinct…’

This wasn’t about what was right or wrong. It was about choosing between logic and instinct.

And in situations like these…

“Alright, I’ve made up my mind.”

After a long moment of contemplation, Director Kim spoke, causing both men to stop and look at him.

“Assistant Director, who’s handling communications for us?”

“That would be the PR team.”

“Right, then we need to get in touch with them.”

“Are you hiring a different photographer?”

“No. Get me Nam Woojin’s contact info. Tell him we agree to all of his conditions and look forward to working with him on the poster shoot.”

Following instinct was the right call.