On this day, I was shooting a young group of girls that were supposedly 'the next big thing' in the pop music industry. In my own thoughts, I imagined what it would be like to photograph the current 'big thing' in music, a boyband. I knew it couldn't happen due to my lack of experience and small amount of advertising I managed to scrounge up. It would definitely get my name out there, but it couldn't happen.
"Hey! Melissa? Is that your name?" one of the girls in front of the camera shouted.
"Yup. You can call me Mel though. Why?" I answered, concentrating on changing the roll of film in the camera.
"Well, I was just wondering, do you get much...umm, business?" the twenty-something girl ventured.
"Oh, you mean...well, not that much to be honest..." I trailed off, feeling somewhat embarrassed to tell her this.
"Well, we were just talking," she started, motioning to the other two girls behind her, "and if our prints turn out good, we could refer you to some really big names. I mean, you're super nice, seem like you've got awesome talent, and you've got a place that probably no one knows about!"
I was truly stunned. No one had ever said they'd refer me, help me, or aid me in any way. What if they did? I had worked for every little thing I had so far and I wasn't about to let someone else do my dirty work for me. I finished with the roll of film and looked through the viewfinder, adjusting the focus.
"Wow. That's quite an offer you have. But sorry, I'm afraid I can't accept it. I've worked too hard to have someone start doing all my work for me now," I finished with a smile. "Sorry, thanks but no thanks."
"Gosh, you really are an awesome person!" one of the quiet girls in the back squealed.
"Yeah," the other chimed in. "Please, just this once. I mean, it's the least we could do. People would truly know what a talented photographer you are!"
I contemplated the offer again. "I...I'm not sure girls. I mean, like I said if you did this for me now and I started getting tons of business, I'd have other people doing my work for me from here on out. That's not how I want to make it in the business."
I stood firm in my choice, even though I knew it would be the ultimate thing to boost my career in the right direction. My heart knew well, but it was my brain that wasn't cooperating.
"Ok, ok c'mon you guys. Only one more roll left and y'all are done. Alright?" The five agreed and plastered pose after pose on their faces.
[Later that afternoon]
The girls, whom I had found out, went by the name of Snap Judgement [AN: ok ok don't ASK how that one popped up :)] were through with their session. But since they had a few more hours before they had to beat an interview, they decided to stick around a little longer, checking out my various photos from my high school and photography classes.
Lauren, the oldest, spoke up. "These shots of the sunset are amazing," she breathed. "I only wish I could take shots like these."
"Well, you were born with the gift of music hun, therefore, that's what you do," I replied wryly.
"C'mon Mel!" she whined. "Just this once. We've got some other friends in the industry that are huge right now. You have to know who they are...and if you photographed them your phone would be ringing off the hook!"
"Well, what if I did let you do me this little 'favor'? Who would these people be and how exactly would I still be able to manage my work alone?"
"Ok, their name is *N Sync, they're the hottest po-"
"Wait, did you just say *N Sync?" I asked incredulously.
She laughed lightly. "I take it you've heard of them?"
"Lord, what woman in her right mind under the age of 30 hasn't? So, you think you could really...arrange that?"
"Of course? Do you happen to have a phone around here?"
"You'd do it now! Lauren, oh my gosh! No..no I mean, yes I have a phone, but I still don't know about this."
Miranda, the youngest, came to Lauren's defense. "Mel! Why are you doing this? I mean, if we did this what makes you think that someone else will always be there doing the work for you?"
I thought long and hard before replying to her question. I honestly did not have an answer. "I suppose that if I did happen to get popular in the photography world that there'd always be someone looking over my shoulder or someone always wanting to put my name out there. Like I wouldn't have a say in it almost."
"Oh please!" the two cried in unison. Lauren continued. "Well, that's not going to happen. Now, where's this phone of yours at?"
"Upstairs to the left, on the table. Can't miss it," I sighed, defeated.
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