Return of the Genius Photographer

‘This is a masterpiece.’

As soon as Director Kim Yong-deok laid eyes on Woojin’s poster in the TJ ENM meeting room—where they had first met—he was struck by this thought.

It was the same captivating beauty he had felt when he first saw Woojin’s work at Song Sang-hyun’s house. That same allure was present in this poster.

And the director wasn’t the only one who felt it.

“Wow…”

“Director, this is seriously impressive.”

“These are all shots from the filming, but why do they feel so fresh and striking?”

The production team, who had gathered in the meeting room after hearing that the poster was ready, each expressed their own admiration for Woojin’s work.

Four different images of the protagonist, set against the backdrop of a poor neighborhood.

While each image was remarkable on its own, the true brilliance of the poster was revealed when all four were seen together.

‘Is this capturing the progression of the story?’

It had to be, because these four images perfectly mirrored the film’s narrative arc: introduction, development, climax, and conclusion. Each poster captured the emotional shifts of the protagonist as the story unfolded.

“Director, these photos would be fantastic for marketing as well,” the assistant director commented, and Director Kim nodded in agreement.

For those who hadn’t seen the film, the images would spark curiosity.

For those who had, they would recognize the deeper meaning within the shots.

Those who loved the film would likely want to collect all the posters, which would, in turn, increase the demand and interest in the movie.

The assistant director was anticipating this kind of response. Even if not, the high quality of the photos meant that poster collectors would likely be drawn to them as well.

‘Hah… I never thought he’d bring something beyond my imagination.’

Recalling what Woojin had said during their first meeting, Director Kim couldn’t help but let out a quiet sigh.

He had thought it was just Woojin showing ambition, but the young man had truly delivered a poster beyond anything he could have imagined.

In fact, could this even be called a mere poster? It was more like an art piece that expressed the entire life of the protagonist in four images.

‘So that’s why he needed those captures.’

As he continued to gaze at the poster, Director Kim finally understood why Woojin had requested to be at the filming site and why he had needed those specific frames.

The lingering questions he had were finally answered.

“Except for the typography, the Photoshop work is complete,” Woojin explained, seemingly unaware of the thoughts running through the director’s mind.

“If there are any additional revisions needed, just let me know.”

Though Woojin spoke nonchalantly, Director Kim fully understood the significance of what he was saying.

A poster is not something a single photographer typically creates easily. Usually, it involves a marketing team, designers, and multiple meetings to finalize even a single image.

Nowadays, using stills from the film as posters, like Woojin did, had become more common. However, most productions still conduct separate photo shoots for the posters, coordinating actors’ schedules, preparing sets, and gathering props, making the process both time-consuming and costly.

Yet, Woojin had managed to complete this in just a few days, and all on his own.

‘I’ve heard many photographers resist using Photoshop for editing…’

Not only did Woojin take the photos, but he also edited them himself, making them poster-worthy.

His skills extended far beyond that of a regular photographer—he was operating at a level comparable to professional poster production companies.

Director Kim had initially thought that even if the quality of Woojin’s work fell short, it would still save significant costs. But to his amazement, the final product was on par with, or perhaps even surpassed, those produced by agencies.

He was so impressed that he felt like hugging Song Sang-hyun, the actor who had recommended Woojin in the first place.

Director Kim, trying to suppress the smile creeping up his face, locked eyes with Woojin, who stood there with the same calm smile he’d worn at their first meeting.

Back then, that smile had seemed cocky. Now, it felt more like quiet confidence.

‘No wonder he was so self-assured. He knew he could deliver work like this.’

Finally understanding Woojin’s demeanor, the director nodded to himself in agreement.

‘I want him.’

That confident attitude, backed by undeniable talent, sparked a desire in Director Kim to keep Woojin close.

For starters, wasn’t he young? Someone who already possessed such poise and ability would undoubtedly find quick success if they switched their aspirations to filmmaking.

And the director was confident he had the power to make that happen.

He even entertained the thought of luring Woojin away from Jung Woong and bringing him into the world of cinema. But…

‘Probably won’t happen.’

This wasn’t out of consideration for his relationship with photographer Jung Woong.

Director Kim instinctively knew that even if he made an offer, Woojin would likely refuse.

Someone with Woojin’s level of talent didn’t get there by relying on raw skill alone. It was clear he had put in immense effort to reach this point.

Someone who had worked that hard wouldn’t be easily swayed by external promises.

For now, the director decided it would be best to maintain their current relationship and see where it could lead.

“This is flawless. We will handle the logo work, so no further revisions are necessary,” Director Kim Yong-deok said, gazing at Woojin.

“I never expected you to prepare four photos of such high quality.”

“I’m glad you think so highly of them,” Woojin replied.

“No, I should be thanking you. These photos are beyond my expectations. Speaking of which…” Director Kim hesitated for a moment, as if contemplating something. He then turned to the assistant director, who was still mesmerized by the posters, and asked, “What was the original contract fee we agreed upon for Photographer Nam Woojin?”

“Ah, yes. If I recall correctly, it was three million won.”

For an inexperienced photographer with no prior experience in poster shoots, three million won was already a generous sum. But without a moment’s hesitation, Director Kim firmly said to Woojin, “I’ll increase your fee to six million won.”

The room buzzed with murmurs at this sudden announcement.

“Director, isn’t this a bit too sudden?” the assistant director asked, as if trying to dissuade him.

But Director Kim remained resolute. “We’ve saved a significant amount by not hiring an external poster company, thanks to Photographer Nam.”

The team members exchanged worried glances, muttering about the tight budget and rising expenses, but Kim Yong-deok ignored them. Instead, he locked eyes with Woojin, who maintained his calm smile amidst the commotion.

Matching his expression, Director Kim grinned and said, “In return, I’d like to work with you again on future projects.”

“I’d be happy to if the opportunity arises,” Woojin responded without hesitation.

Director Kim watched him with satisfaction. Right now, Woojin was just a rookie photographer who could be hired for a few hundred thousand won.

But a few years from now—maybe even within a few months—his value would skyrocket. He could very well become a top-tier photographer demanding millions for his services.

Increasing the payment now was a small investment for the potential long-term relationship.

“Thank you for your hard work. The fee will be processed by the end of the month,” Director Kim said.

“Thank you for your cooperation as well. I’ll send the original files via email. Until next time,” Woojin replied, bowing politely before leaving the room.

As Woojin exited, Director Kim returned to discussing the remaining tasks with his team. The poster shoot had been a success, but much work still lay ahead for the film’s release.

*****

Time passed quickly, and Director Kim’s film, Blues of the Slums, was just two months away from its release.

Today was the press conference where the movie would be publicly introduced for the first time.

The event hall buzzed with excitement, filled with actors, the director, the production team, and a swarm of journalists.

―Click!

―Click!

―Click!

Cameras flashed as the actors confidently posed for photos.

After a brief photo session, a short promotional video was screened, followed by a series of interviews.

“Actor Song Sang-hyun! This is your fifth film with Director Kim Yong-deok. Has anything changed since your previous collaborations?”

“What led you to take on this role?”

“Could you tell us about your character in the film?”

The barrage of questions came fast, but the actors handled them smoothly. As the interview progressed, Director Kim’s thoughts began to wander.

‘This is so tedious.’

He was never fond of these kinds of events, preferring to let his films speak for themselves. To him, this press conference felt more like a marketplace than anything meaningful. While it was a necessary evil, he found the commercial aspect of it exhausting.

“Director Kim, what moment from the shoot stands out to you the most?”

“Any memorable stories from the set?”

The questions eventually circled back to Director Kim, snapping him out of his thoughts.

‘Hmm, the most memorable part of the shoot…’

He was about to give a generic answer about every moment being special when a memory of Woojin flashed through his mind—the moment during the climax shoot when Woojin watched the set with a gaze similar to his own. It was a rare instance that had stayed with him, an image etched deeply into his memory.

That was the kind of moment that stood out, he realized.

With a faint smile, Director Kim grabbed the microphone. “Well, every scene has left an impression on me, but the last day of shooting was particularly memorable.”

The press room grew quiet as the journalists sensed that he was about to share something new. Director Kim was usually known for giving vague answers.

“On that day, a photographer who had never been on set before captured something that completely stole my attention.”

He chuckled as he recalled the memory.

“What happened exactly?”

“How did the poster shoot go?”

“What’s the significance behind the photos?”

The questions flew fast and furious, but Director Kim only smiled and said, “This doesn’t relate directly to the film, so I’ll stop there. But please, take a close look at the poster. We’ve put a lot of effort into it.”

His evasive answer only piqued the journalists’ curiosity.

Who was this photographer that had captured Director Kim’s attention?

Unable to resist, a few journalists began inspecting the poster, only to discover a small, subtle name printed at the bottom.