Chapter Text
It has been about 5-6 years since I have graduated from college with a bachelors degree in fine arts, specifically in photography and design. Ever since I was young, I always have dreamt of taking my editing and photography skills into the professional realm, and now, I can proudly say that.
I live in Korea, so I have had my run ins with KPOP groups who need photo shoots for their upcoming album or even photo cards. At first, as any growing artist, I only got customers for smaller events like parties, graduations, weddings, concerts, etc. But as of recently, I've had the pleasure to meet a handful of KPOP idols and groups where I took their photos and had my name spread online.
It has been fun meeting all these idols that I scream my heart out to with their songs, and now seeing them in my studio and seeing my name on display on their posts.
It haven't had the biggest names out there, until I met one of my favorite groups who walked into my studio for the first time ever. Stray Kids.
JYPENTERTAINMENT reached out to me through my website email that the KPOP group, Stray Kids wants to schedule some times where they can do some photo shoots with me. Apparently they have a new album titled, ATE, coming out, and need help promoting.
They have had a look at my current concepts online, and are pleased with the results and want to use my concepts for this new album. It's nerve wracking but exciting at the same time.
My team was ecstatic when I announced that Stray Kids was going to be present in our still-growing studio.
I have a small department for makeup and dress, a small department with photographers that work alongside me, and a group of managers (including myself as I created this company), who help assist the entire process. Luckily, JYPE informed me that they will also help and bring their staff as well to quicken the process.
In all honesty, I'm shocked they even chose my company to take their photos. I'm still growing my name and my company isn't the most known. However, I am still grateful.
• • • • • • •
It is the day of the photoshoot and everybody, including myself, have been running around the studio, making sure everything is perfect. This being my favorite group, I wanted to please them in every way possible.
All the different sets as we discussed beforehand were set up, the props and costumes and special effects were ready to be used whenever we get started, and we made sure all technology were charged and all food/beverages were refilled.
Stepping through the door, I see a big group of staff surrounding the group. I see Bangchan's wide smile as they all bow as they entire. I bow at each of them and welcome them in, same as my own staff.
"Welcome in guys." I say with a gentle smile, trying to hide the fact I have shaking in my shoes as they all enter and shut the door being them.
As they all file in quickly, one of the members quickly catches my eye. Seo Changbin. I know I shouldn't have favorites, but I can't help, he's my bias. I love all of them with my whole heart, but something about Changbin just reels me in the most.
I look at him as he walks through the door, mask on and a hat on, only seeing his eyes through the slits between the two objects covering most of his face.
Before I'm about to glance away as this staring is becoming a bit obvious, his eyes glance and meet with mine, catching me off guard. He does a small bow of acknowledgment to me, and I bow back. I can see the edges of his mask curl which means he gave a smile behind it, which I return with another.
"Thank you so much for helping us with this photoshoot." Bangchan replies, guiding his members down to the sets, indicating for everyone to get started as he stays behind.
"So everything is ready for us?" He asks, looking around. "It looks perfect, I'm excited to work with you...-"He says, grabbing my hand and giving me a firm shake, pausing as he doesn't know my name.
This snaps me back to reality and I quickly respond. "Y/n L/n." I give a gentle smile, that shake almost made my body explode and I felt my hands get even sweatier, I hope he didn't feel that happen.
"Y/n. Thank you thank you." He chuckles with that same bright smile.
"Oh of course Bangchan. This is such an honor to be able to meet you all and assist you with this new album." I do my best to keep my cool and not stumble over my words, seeing Changbin leave with the others to the sets and trying not to turn my head to continue looking at him.
"Okay, let's get started then. Just let us know what we should do and how everything's going to happen, and I'm sure everything will go smoothly." Bangchan clasps his hands together and we walk together to the crowd of people to layout the day.
• • • • • • •
After discussing the plan, everyone disperses to their jobs and different sets. As we are going to be doing multiple concepts, we have multiple sets prepared so each members can get everything done quicker.
There is a set with bright colors and sandy floors, a more colorful and vibrant theme. Then there is a set that is fully black as we will use a wide projector to display photos of the members in the background, this will be done last as we need the photos done for the background done before. The last a red room where there is a fog machine which will be our prop in that set. In all honesty, that might just be the photoshoot I'm most excited for.
I head over to the red room area to begin shooting whoever is up first. I grab my camera and set it up on the stand, and confirm with the staff that the lighting and everything is ready.
I then see a pair of legs pass by the camera. I look up and see a kind smile with purple bangs falling over his face, "nice to meet you, I'm Seo Changbin." He extends a hand out.
I try not to scream in that very moment and shake his hand back, hoping again my hand isn't sweaty as hell. "Nice to meet you Changbin, I'm Y/n L/n. You ready?" I ask as we let go and he backs up to the couch on the set.
"Yes yes." He says with that sweet smile, adjusting his jacket and hair as he takes a seat. Suddenly, that sweet and bubbly aura shifts into something darker. Widening his stance as he leans against the backrest and extends his arms across the couch. His head lowers and his narrowed eyes are looking at the camera through his eyebrows.
I try not to fall to my knees in that very moment, feeling my heart beat harder against my chest. Damn it Seo Changbin, you mess me up through photos and now I'm the one taking the photo. How do these photographers handle him?
I clear my throat and begin snapping photos through the camera, seeing the flashes of the camera and various lighting around the set, Changbin slowly changes poses and positions throughout the set. Taking things naturally and not needing me or the other directors to help him with different shots and such.
After a few shots, I then signal to the director to turn on the prop we have in the corners. "Changbin, we are going to turn on the fog machine now. So we're moving onto the next section, you doing okay? Need some water or a break?" I ask him as I walk over to him.
He gives a gentle smile and nods his head, "a bottle of water would be nice, thank you. But I'm ready for the next section then." He lays his arm on top of the couch's headrest and lets out a sigh.
I nod my head and quickly head to the fridge which has fresh bottles of water inside. I grab one and hurry to Changbin to the couch, "here you go." I give a small bow as he opens it and drinks it.
When he finishes, he closes it and hands it to me with a smile. "Thank you." As I go to grab it, I feel my fingers brush against his, causing my body to heat up. But I quickly get the bottle and scurry over back to my camera. I clear my throat and place his bottle beside me.
The catching of each other's gazes and the brushing id the fingertips, what am I in, a k-drama? I need to get back and focus and make sure this shoot turns out perfectly.
As the fog machines turn on, Changbin switches back into model idol mode and begins to pose for the camera and set the mood perfectly with his actions.
Nodding my head behind the camera, indicating that everything is going smoothly and he is doing well. I've learned with my years of photography that giving compliments and hyping up the model helps them grow more comfortable with the setting and be more motivated with the shoot.
I know Stray Kids is already comfortable with cameras and posing, however, they should also be comfortable in the actual setting and the people surrounding them.
"Mhm, good good good, stay like that for another second, mhm looks super good Changbin." I would say while nodding my head and humming with approval. I click away at the camera and adjust the angles and zooms throughout while continuing to confirm that he's doing well in this process. "Yess eat it up Changbin. Show off to your stays who's the visual of this group." I nod and continue to hype him up.
These compliments and comments seem to get through to him as I see a smile form across his face and a chuckle coming out his mouth. His eyes squint with the sweet laughter, covering his mouth slightly.
"Oh em gee guys I made the Seo Changbin smile, that's so awesome." I said out loud, still trying to hype him up and keep him smiling. But suddenly realizing that this shoot is serious I shut up and clear my throat. "Ahem, sorry got carried away there. But yes keep it up you look great." I focus back in the camera.
Changbin laughs once again, "no no it's nice. Thank you." He clears his throat and goes back to the serious and dark manner for the setting of this photoshoot.
"No, thank you." I chuckle as I snap away one again.
• • • • • • •
After this shoot, I sit on the floor and quickly review over the photos. Just making sure I did not miss any key poses from Changbin and if there was anything he wanted to add or recreate. Fortunately, he was happy with it all, so we all got a break and headed to the tables with snacks and water.
I see the rest of the members already resting away, getting their makeup and hair touched up and some costumes being changed into for their next concept photoshoots.
"Hey, you're the owner and photographer here right?" A deep voice asks me. I turn and see a smiling Felix to my right.
"Oh yes yes that's me." I give a bow and he returns the same.
"Ah I've been wanting to meet you in person. I was one of the first ones to see your work after Chan reviewed your work. It's beautiful." He compliments me.
I can't help but smile and bow a thousand times for him. "Oh you're too sweet thank you Felix."
Felix shakes his head and chuckles. "No no, thank you for helping us out with this. My favorite work was what you did for Enhyphen and their 'Romance: Untold' concept photos, I loved them so much." He squeezes his hands together in fists and scrunches his nose as he says this.
"Ahh that was my favorite shoot. I'm glad they turned out well and you enjoyed them." I bow again, still flustered by all the compliments from someone like Felix, who literally is... Felix.
Suddenly a smiley Jisung cuts in and wraps his arm around Felix. "Yeah your shit is sooo good. I knew we would get fire photos when we came here. And from what I've seen, you and your team has done amazing." He shapes his hands in an 'okay' symbol and clicks his tongue against his teeth.
"Thank you Jisung, and thank you again Felix. I am honored doing this for you guys. I'm still growing my name so hopefully you guys really enjoy all of it."
Bangchan walks in with a timidly smiling Changbin behind him. "Thank you for your hard work so far Y/n." He grabs my hand and gives me another firm handshake of gratitude.
"It's no problem. I have had a great time setting everything up for you guys. I can't wait for the rest of this day with you all." I smile.
A cheesy grinning Jeongin comes into the conversation. "How did you get into photography?"
"Oh- ahah. It actually all started when I was younger and for my first little hello kitty digital camera. It was just for fun and started taking photos of literally everything. But when I got older, I started to actually get pretty decent photos and actually put effort into getting the right timing and stuff." I shrug my shoulders, "I don't know I just was very constant with it that I began to enjoy it and actually become passionate with it."
"You like fell in love with your surroundings and the beauty of it all?" Hyunjin, a fellow artist except a painter, spins around in his seat while sipping on his Americano, intrigued.
I nod my head. "Yess, you get me. It all just became so beautiful to me and I couldn't help but pursue it further." I give a gentle smile.
Seungmin, sipping on some ice cold water in the corner just nods along, listening into the conversation but not saying much.
Bangchan claps his hands together. "Well, looks like break is over. Everybody up and let's back into it so we don't spend all day here." He nudges me, "though it would be fun. I need to sleep I'm tired already." He laughs while stretching his arms into the air.
Seungmin suddenly cuts in with the most energy, "Chan you're so old. Tired already. Wow." He shakes his head while standing from his chair and walking back to set. Showing off his youthful stride to the so-called old Chan.
I tried not to laugh but it was difficult, hearing the Chan is so old joke in person is so much funnier than I anticipated. "Pfft- oh my sorry. I should not laugh." I quickly bow for forgiveness.
Chan lets out a sigh but chuckles. "No no it's okay. I am used to it by now. Anyways, let's get back to the shoot yeah?" He pats my back slightly as we turn away from the break table and head back out, "you're shooting Changbin's solos right?" He asks as we walk.
I nod my head and even spot Changbin getting ready for his vibrant and colorful photoshoot in the corner. "Yeah I am. I can't wait to get everyone else's shots though, I want to work with all of you." I say with a smile.
Bangchan smiles back. "Don't worry, I know you'll be shooting everybody for the ot8 shots and also the projector ones. So I'm looking forward to that." He gives a smile and walks over to his turn at the red room set.
I bow as he leaves and head over to Changbin.
"You ready?" I ask, holding the camera in my hands.
"Always!" He gives a cheery smile and heads to his position as I head to mine with the rest of the staff.
I would do anything for this man.