Chapter 108: Bonus Story: Hailey
Hailey
Today is a big day for me.
My phone rings just as I’m arranging my portfolio for the hundredth time.
"Ms. Haley Jameson?"
"This is she. Who am I speaking with?" I ask.
"This is Vivian Chen from Luxe Magazine." The woman’s voice is crisp and professional. "I’ve been reviewing the photographs you submitted last month."
My heart skips a beat. Luxe is one of the top fashion magazines in the country. I submitted my portfolio on a whim, never actually expecting a response.
"Your urban street style series caught my attention," she continues. "Particularly the contrast work in the rain-soaked models against the neon backgrounds. It’s exactly the aesthetic we’re looking for in our September issue."
I grip the phone tighter, trying to sound calm while my free hand clutches at my desk for support. "Thank you, I’m glad you liked them."
"Liked them? Ms. Jameson, we’d like to offer you the feature spread. Ten pages, full creative control, with our top three models. It pays eight thousand, plus expenses."
The room seems to tilt. Eight thousand dollars? That’s more than I’ve made in photography all year.