HuaYu: Starting with Photography to Navigate the Entertainment Industry

"These two photos, 8000 yuan each, we'll take them!"

Jin Jun was direct and gave his answer right away.

"Very good!"

Zhu Zhu let out an excited cheer, grabbed Xu Lang's arm, and shook it repeatedly.

"Xu Lang, we did it! Haha!"

Xu Lang patted Zhu Zhu's hand and said calmly:

"Don't rush, Editor-in-Chief Jin hasn't finished speaking yet."

"Ha ha!"

Jin Jun looked at Xu Lang and laughed heartily, "Young man, you're right. For creative and capable young people like you, I have even better benefits to offer."

As he spoke, he said to the editor beside him:

"Go and fetch Contract No. 3 for 'Special Cooperation'."

Upon hearing this, the editors in the small conference room were all taken aback.

"Contract No. 3? Did I hear that right?"

Unable to resist confirming with Jin Jun, she asked, "Editor-in-chief, is it Special Contributor Number Three?"

"Yes, go quickly!"

"it is good."

Watching the edited message, only four words remained in Zhu Zhu's mind.

Special collaboration!

"Does this mean they want to sign a special cooperation agreement with us?"

Zhu Zhu felt a surge of excitement.

Nowadays, models and photographers collaborate to submit articles to magazines. For both models and photographers, this is a grassroots endeavor where they may have food to eat today but not tomorrow.

It's unstable and lacks platform resources.

If you can become a special partner, it's like having a secure job and access to the booming resource platform of "Men's Health" magazine.

"At that point, let alone her photoshoot fees, even a G-list endorsement deal wouldn't be impossible!"

When that time comes, we'll really have made it through!

Zhu Zhu looked at Xu Lang with eyes full of excitement and gratitude.

Compared to Zhu Zhu's excitement, Xu Lang was much calmer, even extremely so.

His mindset has long since moved beyond the stage where he would blindly rush forward just because his boss made empty promises.

"Special cooperation agreements are only acceptable if there are actual benefits!"

Soon, the editor brought over two contracts. Jin Jun took a look at them and then handed them to Xu Lang and Zhu Zhu.

"Our men's magazine just launched this year and we're currently short-staffed. With your arrival, we're sure to achieve great things."

As he spoke, he used the contract in Xu Lang's hand as an example to explain:

"Xu Lang, you can become our special photographer. For each photo that is used, I can give you 2000 yuan, and you are guaranteed at least 10 photos per month."

When this condition was set, not only Zhu Zhu, but even the editor standing nearby was dumbfounded.

"At this price, only a few photographers who shoot magazine covers for celebrities can afford this treatment."

Zhu Zhu, standing to the side, excitedly kept shaking Xu Lang's arm.

"Two thousand per card, at least ten per month, that's twenty thousand per month."

Twenty thousand!

Zhu Zhu spoke exaggeratedly in Xu Lang's ear, his expression suggesting he wanted to devour him whole.

"2000 yuan, that's the price I pay now!"

Xu Lang chuckled inwardly, pushed aside the excited Zhu Zhu, and, with his expression remaining calm, asked Jin Jun.

"Editor-in-Chief Jin, are there any other benefits or conditions? Please tell us all at once?"

Seeing that Xu Lang didn't seem interested in the price, which was somewhat unexpected for Jin Jun, he adjusted his expression and continued:

"There are still many benefits. As you probably know, our platform originates from the UK and is a long-established international media outlet. Top models, celebrities, and business associates from around the world are all our clients."

"Once you're on our platform, it's not impossible for you to film Fan Bingbing in the future."

Photographing celebrities represents power, status, and money.

To be honest, Jin Jun really knows his photographer skills; the moment he opened his mouth, he hit Xu Lang's weak spot.

Xu Lang was genuinely tempted to film Fan Bingbing.

but. . .

Xu Lang didn't believe that Jin Jun would offer such favorable treatment to a newcomer like him, so he asked directly:

"What are the conditions?"

"There is still one condition."

Jin Jun found the back of the contract and pointed to an exclusivity clause, saying:

"It's just a symbolic clause: during the period of our cooperation, the work of the specially commissioned photographer cannot be published in other publications."

"ha!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Lang sneered inwardly, "I knew it couldn't be that cheap."

With this in mind, Xu Lang didn't hesitate and said directly:

"Forget it, I won't consider it anymore. Just tell me about these two photos."

"what?"

His words stunned everyone present.

Zhu Zhu, in particular, looked at Xu Lang with a face full of surprise and whispered words of advice.

"Why didn't you take such a good opportunity?"

Isn't that exclusivity agreement normal? If you can make a living here, why would you go to other places?

There's no need for that; it doesn't belong to anyone.

Xu Lang ignored her, took the agreement from her hand, and glanced through it. It contained similar clauses.

"During the collaboration with FHM, the model's photos cannot be published in other publications."

Looking at this clause, Xu Lang said to Zhu Zhu:

"Don't sign this contract either."

"what?"

Zhu Zhu was very surprised and asked Xu Lang in a low voice,

"Why?"

With FHM being so popular right now, being able to frequently appear in their magazine means you're bound to be wealthy and have a good physique.

This is a real benefit.

Seeing the longing in Zhu Zhu's eyes, Xu Lang hesitated, after all, he was unwilling to force others.

After a moment's hesitation, he finally said:

"I'm just giving you a suggestion, but the final decision is yours."

Seeing Xu Lang's solemn and serious tone, Zhu Zhu hesitated.

She knew perfectly well that the high price these two photos fetched and the opportunity to sign a contract were more than 90% due to Xu Lang himself.

Xu Lang can change models, but Zhu Zhu can't just replace Xu Lang.

After all, she had only just managed to latch onto Xu Lang as a powerful patron.

Moreover, this thigh seemed to be thicker and larger than she had imagined.

Seeing the two of them like this, Jin Jun also noticed something was amiss. He put the contract aside and said with a smile:

"Haha, there's no rush with the contract. You can take your time to consider it."

Then he steered the conversation back to the two photos they had just taken.

"Don't worry, even if you don't sign a contract, we will still buy these two types of photos at 8000 each."

"Okay, it's settled then."

That's settled.

Soon, the two parties signed a contract to buy out the photos, and 16,000 yuan was transferred to Xu Lang's account.

Xu Lang pondered for a moment, then said to Zhu Zhu:

Give me your card number, and I'll transfer half of it to you.

"Huh? No, I don't want it."

"No, you can't just take it.

According to normal market logic, the copyright of these two photos belongs to Xu Lang.

If we were to split the money with Zhu Zhu, it would be an appearance fee of 800-1000.

But Xu Lang remembered that the two of them hadn't agreed on this beforehand, and after filming, they came directly to the editorial department.

"Let's cooperate then, it won't cost much."

Xu Lang then proposed that each person have half.

Besides that, Xu Lang also had some ulterior motives. After all, when taking the photos, he had seen, touched, and kissed Zhu Zhu's body.

He couldn't bear to let Xu Lang get away with taking advantage of others for free.

After everything was done, the two walked outside.

Although Zhu Zhu didn't sign the contract because of Xu Lang's words, which was a bit of a pity, he was still very happy overall.

Eight thousand yuan—that's several months' income for her!

"Xu Lang, thank you!"

"Don't mention it, from now on we're practically family."

"Half one of our own?"

Zhu Zhu blushed slightly upon hearing the word, but he didn't object.

She quickly changed the subject.

"By the way, Xu Lang, why didn't you let me sign that contract? Let me tell you, the terms of this contract are already really good."

"Um."

Xu Lang did not deny that the contract terms were generous, but signing the contract was tantamount to being locked into the "Men's Health" magazine.

Have you ever heard of the term "protective takeover"?

"A protective buyout?"

"right!"

Xu Lang first learned of this term from the movie "Pegasus".

"From a magazine's perspective, the safest approach for talented photographers and models is to keep the information in their own hands."

Otherwise, if you shoot for other magazines, it will threaten its position.

That's why Kim Jun offered this price; his purpose was to lock us in.

Once the contract is signed, he can do whatever he wants with it.

At this point, Xu Lang pinched Zhu Zhu's cheek.

"Your future prospects are far more important than these petty gains. Sacrificing your future development for such a small amount of money is not worth it."

"oh!"

Zhu Zhu began to understand Xu Lang's meaning.

As the two were talking, they heard footsteps behind them, and an editor came running up quickly from behind.

"Miss Zhu Zhu, please wait."

"Um?"

Xu Lang and Zhu Zhu stopped in their tracks. Zhu Zhu, somewhat puzzled, asked the man,

"What's wrong?"

"Ms. Zhu, our editor-in-chief would like to meet with you alone."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Lang immediately pictured Jin Jun looking at the photo.

"Could it be that he couldn't control his lust?"

"Do you want to bring Zhu Zhu back for a power-for-sex deal?"