Return of the Genius Photographer

The town was painted in hues of orange.

Staring at the beautiful sunset, I once again realized that I’ve returned to the past.

My blurry vision is now blessed with the light I’ve yearned for.

-Click!

“I’m glad I came out today.”

There are a lot of subjects outside.

An uncle going home with hands full of fried chicken.

A kid whose hands and face are caked with dirt from playing outside.

And even the yawning cat with its mouth wide open.

The streets are brimming with photo opportunities.

-Whirrr!

As I press the shutter, the Polaroid camera spits out the freshly developed photo.

The image slowly materializes on the pristine film.

‘It’s been ages since I’ve seen this.’

This Polaroid was the first camera my parents ever gave me.

I loved it so much that I carried it with me even in my past life.

While it’s incredibly convenient to be able to see the photos right away, there’s a major downside.

‘It’s crazy expensive to buy film.’

My parents probably bought it because it was cheap, but…

I haven’t taken many photos yet, but I’m already running low.

That’s the problem with this camera; I can’t take as many pictures as I want.

If I really want to take good photos, I need a different camera.

But cameras are expensive pieces of equipment. As a high school student, buying one is practically impossible.

And on top of that, if I’m serious about photography, the additional costs of a tripod, lenses, reflectors, and other accessories are not insignificant.

‘So the issue is money…’

I can’t think of any good solutions.

In my past life, I was a successful photographer, so I never really struggled with money, except for when I was starting out.

If I had known I would come back to the past, I would have memorized the lottery numbers.

‘What can I do?’

I thought about stocks and bitcoins, but I didn’t think those were good options.

I have no funds to invest, and even if I did, I don’t know when or what to invest in.

I could save up and invest for the long term, but I only have a superficial understanding of investing, so I’m not sure if that’s a good move.

Besides, I don’t need a huge amount of money. I just need enough to buy a camera.

Even without the extra equipment, I could figure out a way to make money with just a decent camera.

I’ve done it before, after all.

‘I don’t want to borrow money from my parents.’

I can’t ask them for help even after knowing their situation.

If anything, I should be the one helping them.

‘Wait, what if I just… got a job?’

After much deliberation, an idea strikes me.

It might be the perfect solution to both my photography and money problems.

*****

To say that 2007 was the Warring States period of online shopping malls would not be an exaggeration.

Although the period of rapid emergence of shopping malls in the early 2000s had passed,

It was a time when large shopping malls, having grown significantly in size, intensified their power struggles.

Simultaneously, it was an era where shopping malls unable to adapt to the competition disappeared miserably.

So how should small shopping malls adapt?

This was a critical issue for Lee Minjung, the owner of 3rd Street Market.

“Sis! Do we really have to do it this way?”

“Hyunwoo, didn’t I say? If we stay like this with our small shopping mall, we’ll either gradually decline or be swallowed up by other malls.”

Minjung quietly scolded her grumbling younger brother beside her.

‘It’s understandable to be worried.’

Even though Hyunwoo had been expressing his complaints the entire way here, Minjung understood her brother.

They had used most of the money earned from the shopping mall to lease an office, after all.

No matter how close they were as siblings, it was natural for him to have such complaints as a co-founder.

“Hyunwoo, everything will turn out fine. When have I ever been wrong?”

She looked around the office.

It was a 50-square-meter space, still empty.

It would serve as a workspace with a fitting room for models, storage for goods, and even a small studio.

Until now, they had solved everything by renting a place whenever needed.

But to expand the size of the shopping mall, a professional space was essential.

“I’m done with just selling clothes. We have to gradually expand the sales items.”

“What are we going to sell? Have you thought about it?”

“Well… for now, cosmetics or accessories? I think fashion accessories that our original customers are not unfamiliar with would be good.”

Minjeong divided the space in her head while walking around the office.

‘Let’s make this part a studio, and we can expand the fitting room a bit more.’

Her head quickly filled up the 50 square meters.

“Sigh, here we go again.”

Hyunwoo sighed quietly.

His sister was so focused that she wouldn’t even hear him when he spoke.

When this happens, cleaning up would be Hyunwoo’s job.

Hyunwoo started to tidy up the messy surroundings naturally, as if he were familiar with it.

To save money, he had to do everything himself.

“Hyunwoo.”

How many hours had passed?

After the messy things were somewhat organized, Minjung called Hyunwoo.

“Why did you call me?”

“I’ve been thinking carefully. Let’s hire a photographer.”

“A photographer? Why? You’ve been taking pictures all along.”

Hyunwoo’s expression was clearly annoyed, as if asking what kind of nonsense this was.

However, Minjung answered as if Hyunwoo’s fierce expression didn’t matter.

“If we expand the business, there will be more work ahead. Will I have time to take pictures?”

“Do you have money?”

“After renting the office, the remaining money….”

“Ugh… no, then I’ll take the pictures.”

“You can’t take better pictures than me.”

“….”

Hyunwoo sighed deeply as if the ground had fallen.

‘Who can stop this sister….’

He knew his sister was stubborn. Once she decided something, there was no bending.

Of course, he had never suffered losses following her advice, but….

“Okay, I get it. But not now.”

Hyunwoo said firmly.

“Yeah. Then when?”

“Since the office isn’t organized yet and equipment needs to be installed, how about a month from now at the earliest?”

“Sounds good. Got it. I’ll post the job opening for now?”

“But sis, we’ll need to find a photographer with little money.”

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m planning to post the job with some flexibility.”

“Ugh… do as you please, sis.”

The sharp confrontation between the siblings ended, and a dramatic negotiation was concluded.

Of course, whether this was considered negotiation was entirely up to Hyunwoo.

That night, a job opening was posted on a job search site.

*****

“Is this heaven?”

Yongsan Electronics Market.

Located in Yongsan District, Seoul, it is the largest electronics shopping mall in Korea.

Inside the complex building and along the streets, due to the variety of products you can see all at once, it gained the ominous nickname “dungeon.”

True to its claim of being the largest in Korea, it was the place where you could get your hands on the latest electronic products first, and cameras were no exception.

I roamed around joyfully like a fish in water here.

‘There’s the Sony Alpha A100! It’s popular for its 10-megapixel resolution and good image stabilization.’

‘The Nikon D40X!!! It also has over 10 megapixels and is lightweight, so it has good reviews.’

Cameras displayed on shelves sparkled under the lights.

Just looking at them felt like I could spend the whole day, as if watching celebrities.

“Hey student! Are you buying? If not, just go.”

But it seemed to annoy the merchants.

Oh well, I averted my gaze and left the mall. Actually, my original destination was elsewhere.

“Is this the place?”

A building with a small sign saying ‘3rd Street Market’ on the second floor.

I looked up at the building, quite a distance from the electronics market.

“Timing is just right, huh? If I had stayed longer in the mall, I would have been late.”

I thought I had arrived leisurely. It seemed I had spent a lot of time at the mall.

Should I thank the merchants for helping me arrive on time?

‘It’s lucky that my first job is at 3rd Street Market.’

I know this place.

‘Would it be about five years later?’

Online shopping mall, 3rd Street Market.

Though not known now, it would become quite famous in the future.

Starting as a personal shopping mall, it gradually gained recognition among major corporate online shopping malls.

Especially known for understanding the needs of young consumers well in the fashion sector.

‘They said siblings co-founded it? That’s why it became more famous.’

The story of siblings who started from scratch with no money and succeeded had garnered great public response.

I still remember it because it was featured in the news for several days. Well, I suddenly thought of it when I saw the job posting.

After searching for work on the internet for a long time, I screamed when I saw the recruitment ad here.

Even though the job was for the sake of camera, it was an opportunity to get to know a place that would become famous later.

‘And the conditions are just right.’

No experience required. No age limit. No educational requirements. No resume needed.

Objectively, even a high school student like me with no experience could apply.

“Now, shall I go in?”

Anyway, I can’t waste this opportunity. I immediately stepped into the building.

“Welcome!”

A man with a friendly demeanor greeted me as I opened the door with the sign “3rd Street Market Office.”

He seemed to have been cleaning the office, wearing rubber gloves and an apron, and his appearance suited him quite well.

“I’m here for the photographer interview.”

“Yes. Please make yourself comfortable in the waiting room over there. The boss will guide you.”

“Thank you.”

I opened the waiting room door, guided by the man, and stepped inside.

‘Are all these people here for the interview too?’

Inside the waiting room, there were others besides me.

Awkward glances and nervous expressions. They all looked like they were waiting for an interview.

Without any intention to strike up a conversation, I looked around and found a suitable chair to sit down.

*Creak!*

Suddenly, the door swung open vigorously as someone entered.

“Hello everyone! Have you all been waiting long?”

It was a neat-looking woman with short brown hair and wearing a suit.

“I’m Lee Minjung, the CEO of 3rd Street Market.”

The woman introduced herself as Minjung. It matched the name of the CEO of 3rd Street Market that I remembered.

“Although I briefly explained over the phone, let me go over it again.”

Minjung handed out papers to everyone and began her explanation.

“You know makeup powder, right? The interview will involve photographing makeup powder instead.”

The paper had descriptions of the cosmetics that needed to be photographed.

I silently read through the paper and listened to Minjung’s explanation.

“We have all the props ready for the shoot. Just use them comfortably.”

Her voice was as pleasant as her appearance. I was worried about coming without a camera, but it seemed unnecessary.

“We’ll contact you later based on your performance during the shoot and the results. You can leave right after the shoot.”

It didn’t seem like there was much to worry about. Ultimately, as long as I took good photos.

“We’ll call you in the order you came. Please wait a bit.”

After finishing her speech, Minjung promptly left.

She said they would call in the order of arrival. Was I the last one in line?

I arrived on time, but I ended up being the last in line. However, it might actually be beneficial.

When people think of photographers, they often imagine individuals skilled in all types of photography with a camera.

However, photography encompasses diverse specialties as one delves deeper into the profession.

Art photography, documentary photography, commercial photography, fashion photography, and more.

The fact that the profession of taking pictures with a camera is so diverse means that the method of shooting varies greatly depending on what you are photographing.

Thanks to being pushed to the back of the line, I had plenty of time to think.

I quietly contemplated how to shoot while looking at the photos printed on the paper.

“Mr. Kim Yoonsoo, please come in.”

One by one, as Minjung had explained, each person was called out.

The order moved faster than I had expected.

“Mr. Nam Woojin, please come in.”

Soon after the person in front of me disappeared, it wasn’t long before my name was called.

I walked toward the direction from which the voice came.

*****

“Sigh, this is not good…”

Minjung pressed her temple with two fingers, a habit of hers when feeling frustrated.

After posting the job advertisement a month ago, she had expected things to go smoothly when contacting the applicants.

Given that there were plenty of applicants, she had assumed she would find someone she liked among them.

However, once the interviews began, she found herself not only dissatisfied with the candidates but also disappointed that none of them seemed capable of taking proper photographs.

“Mr. Kim Yoonsoo, are you planning to use such a large tripod for a makeup photoshoot?”

“Yes? Uh….”

This person had brought unnecessary equipment and spent all their time assembling it without taking a single photo.

Yet, the next person, and the one after that, were the same disappointments to Minjung.

‘Did I set the criteria too loosely?’

She even began to wonder if she had posted the job advertisement incorrectly.

‘Or am I setting my standards too high?’

Minjung briefly considered this while flipping through the inadequate photographs before shaking her head.

Although budget constraints were real, she didn’t want to just hire anyone.

Minjung believed it was better to dip into emergency funds if necessary to hire a capable photographer who could stimulate consumer desire, even if they weren’t an expert.

“If this doesn’t work out, I’ll convince Hyunwoo to increase the budget.”

Minjung glanced at the list, knowing there was only one person left to shoot.

“Mr. Nam Woojin, please come in.”

It was Woojin.

‘I’m not expecting much from this one either.’

Minjung was already filled with disappointment after watching the candidates she’d interviewed so far.

With a somewhat relaxed attitude and a young-looking face.

Although she wasn’t one to judge based on appearances, Minjung felt that this person wouldn’t fit in here.

Moreover, the first thing Woojin said when he entered the studio was absurd.

“I want to use the camera. Where is it? I don’t have one.”

What’s with that confident appearance without a camera for a photography interview?

Minjeong tilted her head in puzzlement, but soon responded. Just in case, she had prepared a camera.

“Yes. It’s over there in the corner.”

Woojin went to where Minjung pointed and picked up the camera placed there.

“It’s a nice camera.”

His expression and attitude still didn’t show any tension.

Minjung already felt like giving up and started thinking about how to persuade her brother…

“Then let’s start shooting now.”

The moment Woojin finished speaking,

His demeanor began to change.

***

Woojin closed his eyes.

It was a habit he had developed while taking photos, a way to reduce eye strain during shoots. Over time, it became his routine whenever he needed to focus deeply.

With his mind clear, he concentrated on the sensation of the camera in his hands.

He liked the feel of the grip. The slightly worn body, showing signs of frequent use, added to its charm.

As he focused on the camera, all distracting thoughts vanished, leaving his mind in darkness.

Darkness that once terrified him no longer did.

‘Hoo.’

He took a deep breath.

Despite having taken thousands of photos, the moment before a shoot still excited him.

But getting swept up in emotion was for amateurs.

A true photographer channels that excitement into inspiration.

Clearing his mind and steadying his emotions, he focused on the camera.

When he finally opened his eyes, it signaled the start of the shoot.

-Click!

The shutter sound echoed in the studio.

Minjung recalled watching a professional photographer at work once.

The way they seemed to believe only the subject and the camera existed in the world was mesmerizing.

And now, watching Woojin, she felt a similar impression.

As if mistaking Woojin for that professional from back then.

-Click!

The shutter sounded again in the studio.

Woojin began to change the setup as he took more photos.

‘Not needed.’

He removed distracting props.

‘This isn’t necessary either.’

He turned off the interfering lights.

With only the lights on the props remaining, the studio dimmed.

Now, only a white table and the makeup powder to be photographed remained.

Despite the empty, almost barren setup, the makeup powder’s presence seemed to shine vividly.

Click-.

Woojin pressed the shutter again.

A tingling sensation shot through his finger on the shutter button.

He was rediscovering the thrill of photography, the rush that came with capturing the perfect shot.

‘Not yet.’

But Woojin didn’t stop. In fact, he became even more absorbed.

‘The subject is the makeup powder.’

As he clicked the shutter, he visualized the subject in his mind.

How could he make this makeup powder look beautiful?

How could he capture a photo that would grab attention?

The lighting? The angle? The shutter speed?

What was the best way to present this product?

‘A pink, translucent round case with a logo on the front. The contents inside….’

“Ah.”

Woojin suddenly stopped, as if struck by inspiration.

He picked up the makeup powder he had been photographing and began to scatter its contents on the white table.

Light brown powder spread thinly over the surface.

To an onlooker, his actions might have seemed eccentric.

But witnessing it firsthand, Minjung felt chills run down her spine.

‘Is he trying to show the powder inside?’

Unlike lipsticks or tints, this makeup powder’s color was hard to discern until it was used.

By scattering the powder, Woojin made its color immediately visible.

‘Why didn’t I think of that? I’ve only been photographing the exterior…’

The common sense of needing to unwrap a gift to see what’s inside, something so obvious yet brilliant.

No one had thought to show the makeup powder this way before.

And once scattered, the powder couldn’t be put back.

All for a single, perfect shot.

Minjung was astonished by Woojin’s boldness.

His command of the studio, photographic skill, and understanding of the product were far from ordinary.

‘Who is this guy really…?’

Minjung looked at Woojin with eyes brimming with curiosity.

She couldn’t wait to see the photos he had taken.