The Portrayals of the Beautiful
Chapter 1

The past four years have been the busiest years of my life. I have worked my way up from an amateur to the most sought out professional photographer. My name is Keladry Mindelan; I came from a little estate in the North of Tortall. I'm currently living with my dog called Jump, and I keep a few birds too.

You are possibly more interested in what has happened in the past four years, particularly the last year. Well I will tell you my share of the story of the portrayal of the beautiful people known as models.

When I was little, I always wanted to be a photographer, I wanted to capture wonderful things onto a film and transfer it onto paper. My parents bought me a small camera when I was eight, and everyone remembered I would go nowhere with out it. As I got older, the quality of my photos improved, as they were no longer out of focused pictures of my parents standing beside a temple, or random unflattering photos. Then it came to the time when I went to college, and I took that opportunity to study a course on photography.

It was fun, but sometimes not that pleasant, as there were a few times where I would be camping in the countryside for a week. Not that I mind but it's awful when it was hot enough to cook me alive, or when it was so cold I couldn't take a single shot because my fingers were frozen.

I passed my course and I became an apprentice to an easy going scenery photographer. It was interesting; we went all around the country, to capture the beauty of Tortall. It stayed that way for a year.

It was one day when we went to a photography exhibition in Corus. I was looking around the stalls of high quality photographs alone. When suddenly a short bustling business woman walked straight into me, she dropped all her paper work which scattered all over the floor. I apologised and helped her gather her paperwork, I didn't know whether I didn't see her, or she was busy with reading the big pack of leaflets and forms. She was very nice to me, even though she did look scary then. I offered to help her carry the load, as it was sort of my fault she was going to be late for a meeting.

We rushed to a very classy stall on the other side of the exhibition. Unlike the other stalls in the exhibition, it was enormous. They had mirrors, stylish couches and coffee table at one side, smart looking assistantsdressed inblack, talking to business people in suits. They even served champagne in crystal glasses, while the most the other stalls did was give you weak orange squash or badly made tea.

A lean, dark haired man walked towards the lady I was carrying the papers for. At a first glance I thought the man was extremely handsome, with his black beard and his sapphire blue eyes.

"Buri, it's so good to see you here at last." He kissed the lady's hand elegantly, he guided her towards the couches, and an assistant brought her a glass of champagne. I laid down the paperwork on the glass coffee table. Buri smiled at me.

"Thank you very much,"

"Keladry." It felt so awkward standing there in a very stylish stall with extremely important looking people.

"Are you a photographer yourself Keladry?" She asked.

"I am an apprentice to Malorie Peak."

"How delightful, well I think we could use someone from outside's opinion. Would you have a few minutes to spare to talk with us?" She motioned the couch opposite them.

At that time, I was feeling too awkward to leave the stall with a proper farewell, so I just sat down. An assistant handed me a glass of champagne, which I sipped, even though I do not like champagne.

"So Jonathan, what would you like to propose to me?" Buri asked with a serious tone.

Jonathan relaxed into the modern cream couch as he got comfortable.

"I would like to propose a contract between the Rider's and Corus modelling agency. Which I think both of us would benefit." He said gracefully.

This must be the reason why this stall is so elegant; it's the stall of the biggest modelling agency in Tortall. And here I am sipping champagne with the man who owns it all in front of me.

"What does this contract involve?" Buri asked.

"It's a simple contract really; I just wanted a guarantee that I would get the best photographers in Tortall to take photos of the models in my agency."

I did wonder how a man with so much power in this business to be so relaxed about a contract which could cost a few million.

"I am not too sure Jonathan, I have worked with you often enough to know this contract will be beneficial for both of us. It's just I'm not sure I have the right photographer to reach your high expectations at the moment."

"Well find one for me then."

"It's not as easy as that Jonathan. Did you expect a young talented photographer is going to appear in front of us?"

"I could do it." Jonathan and Buri looked at me questioningly.

I blamed the champagne for letting my mouth open up (when my mouth is very capable of keeping closed when it's supposed to). I can't take photos of models! The closest thing I got to taking shots of people are only photographs of my family's birthday celebrations and in Midwinter. Jonathan smiled slightly at me; it gave me the unnerving impression that he was up to mischief.

"Let her try Buri."
What! I half prayed he was joking, yet I half hoped he was serious about giving me such opportunity.

"Are you sure Jonathan? We don't know what experiences she has?" Buri muttered.

"My mind is set." He ordered one of his assistance to him, "Ask if Gisele is in a good condition for a photo shoot. I want to try out this young lady's photography skills in studio 1 now." The assistant strutted off and began to order other assistants to work.

"Jonathan, I don't mind you trying out this young photographer, but are you serious about using a super model for this. I mean surely one of your up-coming models would do."

"No, I want Gisele." He objected, "Now Keladry, follow me to the studio and let me brief you on my expectations."

I followed him quietly; I was still stunned about what I was just going to do. I was going to demonstrate a photo shoot, to prove my skills to the biggest man in modelling, and not just that, I was going to photo shoot a super model.

It was that day when I began my busy life taking photo shoots of models and celebrities, having my photographs in page after page in fashion magazines and on billboards.

I became the most wanted photographer in Tortall.

AN: Hello! I just put this up to see if this style of writing is favoured and if you like the sound of the plot so far. I have only done one-shot AU's so this is something of a change for me.
So review to tell me to shut up and continue to write 'The Tower of Perils', or tell me to carry on & improve.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything by Tammy, because it belongs to Tammy. I'm just borrowing to stuff to make readers happy.