The Photographer (Ignazio Boschetto Fanfiction)

by annawritesfanfiction

Tamzin Montgomery is definitely NOT happy when she has to take a job as the photographer for Il Volo. She wanted to work for a different company as a landscape photographer, and so she resents the boys, especially Ignazio, who can't seem to leave her alone! But as she begins to see what Il Volo is all about, she realizes it might not be so bad after all.

12. Chapter 12

Chapter 12

As my two weeks of desolation drew to a close and a subtle excitement germinated in my chest in anticipation of the end, it became time for Il Volo to stop in Chile and have the photoshoot for the new Christmas album cover.

We would be meeting with a well-known Spanish designer who called himself Marc, and he'd have the plans for the cover as well as the boys' outfits ready. We'd spend the day getting the shots, and Michele would collaborate with the producers, who would be flying in to finalize the work on the album.

On the day of the shoot, the boys, Barbara, and Michele left for Marc's office, and I stayed behind in the hotel to update the Il Volo web page. Michele assured me that there'd be a while before they were ready to actually begin the shoot, and I agreed to come at a later time.

As I sat in the quiet hotel room saving photos to my laptop, I studied the old CD cover and meditated on what angles and positions I would try to capture when I went to Marc's studio. I wanted the photos to be especially good, as the new cover with my work would represent me as a photographer. But I still regretted that this was the work of mine that most people would see, instead of my landscapes in the pages of a National Geographic magazine.

I comforted myself with the hope that when the year ended and my contract drew to a close, perhaps National Geographic would want to offer me a job from the photos I'd take along my travels with Il Volo. At this thought, a familiar longing and a panicky reminder that I had skipped photographing a few countries shot through me. I stopped myself from turning to glance out the window, knowing the view would intensify the feeling.

I desperately tried to return to my listless state, which was easier to bear than the incessant longing. I muffled the desperation as I buried myself in my portraits again, determined to mask it until I was freed from the two weeks and could return occasionally to my landscapes. I was discouraged that the longing had returned, and I tried to bar my mind against the excitement, shutting out the anticipation of good things to come.

I moved quickly through the portraits in front of me with a determined frustration to focus on Il Volo, and I worked fervently until Michele called.

"Marc says we'll be ready in a while to start shooting. Apparently he's hiding the designs from me because he wants to surprise me, but he told me to bring you over. I'll leave in a moment and head over to the hotel to pick you up."

"No, that's okay!" I said quickly, wanting to have a bit more time by myself to shut out the longings and tame my agitation before I rejoined any of the Il Volo associates.

I got up from my laptop and dressed to go, feeling frustrated and irritable as I got my camera and pulled on my red high-tops.

I went out and asked an English bellhop to help me get a cab that took me to the studio, a huge building bearing the name MARC in enormous bright letters across the entryway. I slung my camera around my shoulder and looked up at the building, raising my eyebrows at what I perceived was its flashy arrogance.

I shook my head and took a deep breath before going inside and looking around for a hint of where I was supposed to go. Seeing no indicators, I went right up to a desk, ducking under the railing as I approached.

"I'm supposed to be meeting with Marc," I told the woman, and waited impatiently as she held up a finger and finished typing. She turned to me and looked me up and down, and I raised an eyebrow and posed a hand on my hip as I waited for her answer.

"He's meeting with Il Volo at the moment. The only one who can see him now is their photographer."

I lifted my camera above the desk so she could see it and gave a dramatic bow, much like one Ignazio may have given but more dominated by agitation than coyness.

"Tamzin Montgomery, at your service."

"Oh! My apologies, second floor! The elevator's over there."

I gave a quick nod and turned to go up the stairs out of spite.

I walked down the hallway to the huge studio, my gait suggesting that I wasn't in the mood for nonsense. When I came to the door I saw Michele through its window, standing at the opposite side of the room conversing with the designer and some other, older men that I recognized as the Il Volo producers. I watched them curiously for a moment and subconsciously smoothed my hair, wanting to make a good impression. I look at Marc, and saw that though he looked eager and prideful, Michele looked somewhat off-put as he gazed past him. A few girls, probably interns, stood along the wall observing the scene around them.

I took my camera in my hand and shoved open the door, which announced my entrance with a bang as it pushed aside a stray rack of clothes that was too close to the door.

I saw Marc's dirty look out of the corner of my eye, but I was more interested in Barbara's disdainful expression aimed across the room.

I turned and stared in stunned silence at the scene before me.

The boys stood in front of a white screen, talking and looking down to observe their own clothes.

I couldn't take my eyes off of them in disbelief as Michele came over and stood beside me, with the producers following him.

"This-" he announced, laying a hand on my arm, "Is our new photographer, Tamzin Montgomery!"

I tore my eyes away from the boys and smiled.

"Hi."

I let the producers hug me as Michele introduced them, and afterward I turned and looked at the designer, who stepped forward and extended his hand to shake mine.

"Hello, Tamzin! I'm Marc! Welcome to the studio! So this is your first real photoshoot, huh? I remember those days!"

He laughed, and I observed him quietly with a raised eyebrow.

"I trust that you'll get the best photos for Il Volo, so I'll let you take up my cover idea and run with it. Michele says you're the best photographer Il Volo's had yet! Oh, and see those girls over there? They're my interns. They'll get you whatever you need, anything at all!"

I turned and looked over at the boys again, and Marc put an arm around my shoulder, which I eyed indignantly as he steered me away from Michele and closer to the boys.

"Well…this is the idea! Isn't it great!? Just imagine it on the cover...Can you see it!?"

"Oh, I can see it, all right," I said scornfully, shrugging off his arm as I continued to stare at the boys.

The three of them were wearing suits, but they were some of the strangest suits I'd ever had the misfortune to look upon. Gianluca's was bright red and plaid, with a gross dark green tie. Piero was standing in the middle of them wearing a similar suit, but his was a bright, plaid green with a red tie. Ignazio was the worst of the three, wearing a light blue suit decked out with mockingly cheerful white snowflakes, and I cringed at it. I stared with disdainful disbelief, and I looked up and raised my eyebrows at Ignazio, who replied with a sheepish smile in agreement.

"Well…" Marc said eagerly, clasping his hands together and smiling at me expectantly, "I guess I'll let you get started, then."

I slowly turned my head to him, incredulous, then shook my head.

"No," I said firmly.

"What?"

"No. These are all wrong!"

I gestured to the three boys standing in front of me and he stepped back defensively.

"Excuse me? I am a professional-"

"This is so wrong! What in the world are you thinking? These suits are ridiculous! Red and green plaid, and snowflakes!? This is a photoshoot for a CD cover, not a children's Christmas program!"

"It's festive!"

"It's ridiculous! What in the world are you going for here!?"

"Amen!" Ignazio suddenly cried out, throwing up his hands as Piero and Gianluca laughed and nodded in agreement.

"Michele," Marc snapped, turning away from me, "Control your photographer!"

"Tamzin," Michele said softly, moving closer and weaving in and out of clothing racks, stacks of magazines, and camera equipment.

"Oh geez, you had Gianluca's hair slicked back!? And where in the world are Piero's glasses!? Can he even see!?"

"Not really," Piero confirmed, nodding at the space above my shoulder, and Gianluca fingered his hair disdainfully.

"Oh geez!" I said, shaking my head, "You've got this all wrong. These outfits are nonsense!"

"Um, yeah, Marc, I don't think this is what we envisioned…" Michele started, running a hand sheepishly through his white hair.

"No, it's better!" Marc protested firmly. "Trust me; the public will love the outfits!"

"What!?" I nearly shouted. "They're ridiculous!"

"They're whimsical!" Marc whined, turning to me.

"WHIMSICAL!? Do you even know what Il Volo IS!?"

I turned and looked around for a copy of the CD, and saw one with the old cover balanced on a stack of camera equipment a few feet away. I went over to it and snatched it up, then returned quickly to Marc and held it up for him to look at again.

"See this? Look at this photo. Does it look whimsical to you!? This is the way Il Volo is meant to be portrayed, not like THAT! Have you even ever listened to an Il Volo CD!?"

"Actually, I have," he said, folding his arms and giving me a fierce glare. And who are you to tell me-"

"Good, then you know about them! Their voices are rich, powerful, handsome! There's nothing whimsical about it! The music is deep and beautiful, transcendent! They're brilliant, and I'm not about to let them be made into fools!"

I shook the CD for emphasis, and then put my hand on my hip and defiantly returned his glare.

Our eyes locked in a quiet confrontation, I suddenly became aware of the silence reverberating throughout the room, and broke from the stare to look to Michele, wondering if he was upset with me.

Instead, he seemed to be watching me curiously, as were the producers, and Barbara was suppressing a smile behind them. I looked past Marc at the boys, and took in Ignazio's incredulous gaze. When I looked into his eyes, they shone secretively and he smiled brightly, revealing his dimples.

Marc suddenly held up his hands and stepped away from me, shaking his head.

"I'm done," he said, "I'm not directing this photoshoot anymore. Boys, hand over the jackets. Maybe someone else will appreciate them."

"Done!" Piero said, shrugging remorselessly out of his plaid green coat. "Can I have my glasses back now?"

"Wait…" I said softly, startled, looking to Michele and the producers to see if they were angry that I had derailed the whole photo session and ticked off their hired famous designer.

Marc quickly redirected my attention when he folded his arms and scornfully declared, "Well then, if my idea's so wrong, what do you suggest the cover should be?"

I looked at him incredulously.

"Me?"

"Yes, you! You obviously know what you're doing! What do you suggest?"

I looked at his condescending gaze for a moment before turning thoughtfully to the boys. They obediently tossed aside the weird jackets and stood tall for me to observe them. I looked over each of them quietly, thinking quickly and raising my hand absentmindedly to my lips as I pondered the scene.

"Okay, here's what I want," I said firmly, straightening authoritatively as Marc uncrossed his arms in disbelief. "First of all, I need Gianluca's hair redone-Gianluca, can you fix it and give me your usual look?"

He smiled and nodded.

"I need someone to find Piero his glasses-the normal red-framed ones. Then Ignazio, I'm sorry, but you have to shave. It's getting out of hand."

I turned away from Ignazio's dramatic pout and addressed the producers who were observing the scene.

"I think red would be appropriate for a Christmas album, and very classy, too. There's no Il Volo CD out yet with the boys dressed in red, and I think it'll be a nice look for them. Rich, vibrant, passionate, exactly how we want to portray them!"

I turned back to the boys, looking them up and down as I gestured to Marc. "Get me a sort of medium red, not too dark, but not too bright either. I want something rich and bold…Picture a red rose."

I heard the interns scrambling around eagerly behind me, and I continued, my voice getting louder and quicker as the picture of the cover formed more clearly in my mind and confident excitement bubbled inside me.

"Alright, the black pants are fine, but I want black dress-shirts too. Button-up, with nice collars. I want Gianluca in a traditional red suit jacket, long sleeves, normal black tie. I also want him in the middle of the cover."

I paused as the boys rearranged themselves, and then focused my gaze on Piero.

"The Il Volovers seem to like Piero's vests, so I want a red button-up vest, with a black bow-tie, not a regular tie! The fans adore the bow-tie on him!"

An intern rushed up beside me holding a red jacket, and when I approved it and watched her rush back into the clothing racks, a feeling of exhilaration coursed through me. I turned quickly back to the boys with a sudden smile that switched to a determined smirk when I jumped on the task of choosing Ignazio's outfit.

"Okay, Ignazio…" I said, meeting the bright, incredulous look in his eye. As I met his gaze, a matching, friendly eagerness struck me and I smiled brightly as I decided what would be best.

"Okay, I don't want Ignazio in a suit, or even a dress shirt anymore. I'm thinking black leather, a thick jacket, long-sleeved, of course, with a nice collar. Emphasize the broad shoulders. No tie, the leather will be fine by itself. Okay, GO!"

Immediately there was a flurry of activity as Barbara hurried Gianluca away to fix his hair, Ignazio went in search of a razor, Piero went with an intern to track down his glasses, the producers left the room to converse, the interns rushed around frantically, and Michele went to pacify a protesting Marc, whose cheeks were the same color as my desired materiel.

I found a rolling chair and pulled it to the side of the room and sat, watching the activity and feeling the passionate rapidity of my heartbeat. I hadn't felt this exhilarated since I had last been lost in my landscapes, and I grasped the previous Christmas CD and studied the cover, picturing with tremulous excitement the new cover I was about to produce. Nervous energy prompted me to leap up from my sitting position and stroll about the room, hunting for good angles and observing the lighting as I approved and disapproved clothing items that were brought to me.

I waited for the longest time for the boys to return, and when Ignazio finally came back looking handsome as ever without his beard, I seized him and sent him off with the black leather to change.

"Go, go!" I said with breathless exhilaration as I hurried him off, "Go put it on, now!"

He laughed at me as he left, showing off his dimples as he exclaimed joyously, "I'm going, Tamzin, I'm going!"

I paced feverishly even when the producers came back in and watched me.

Ignazio returned in the company of Piero, each wearing their new clothing, and I clapped my hands in unconcealed jubilation.

"Brilliant!" I exclaimed triumphantly, ordering them to stand before the white background with an exultant smile.

I walked around them, looking them up and down and nodding in approval.

"Brilliant!" I exclaimed again. "You guys look great! Now we just need-"

I paused and turned to the door as it opened and Gianluca came in, wearing the red jacket and gingerly touching his slightly damp restyled hair.

"Gianluca, you look great!" I exclaimed, "Come on, let's do this!"

He looked up at me in surprise, and then smiled and hurried to join Piero and Ignazio.

I looked them over approvingly as the interns and the rest of the Il Volo team re-entered the room.

"Okay, guys," I said, stepping up before the boys and adopting a serious expression, "Here's what I want for facial expressions. Piero, you first."

I stepped up in front of him and he smiled and waited expectantly.

"In the past you've been made to have a sort of gentle smile, without showing teeth, but your fans adore your real smile and your laugh, so when I take the picture I want a bright laugh, okay? Full smile, all teeth showing, okay? And I think your best bet, angle wise, for this shoot is to face slightly sideways and turn your face toward the camera, like you did on the very first Il Volo CD. The fans loved that one, it was great! Stand up straight, though, and hold your chin up! We've got to see the bow-tie!"

He smiled and nodded quickly, and I stepped sideways to stand before Gianluca, who gave me a crooked half-smile.

"Perfect!" I said quickly, startling him, "I want you to look just like that! Do the smile again!"

He laughed, and then flashed the crooked half-smile again.

"Brilliant! Just like that! You're the more serious one, so I want that famous Gianluca half-smile. Focus on being handsome and serious, okay?"

"Handsome and serious? I'll do my best."

"Angle-wise, shadows work excellently for you, so tilt your head down a little so we get some nice ones. Not too much-though, or you'll look scary. Got it?"

He nodded, and I moved and stood in front of Ignazio, who smiled brightly at me, his eyes shining playfully.

"How's this?" he asked, and immediately assumed a dramatic serious face with pursed lips and his thick eyebrows raised, straightening and putting his hands on his hips as he tilted his head drastically downward.

I laughed suddenly, and he dismissed the pose with an eager, surprised grin.

"Maybe next time," I laughed, sharing a smile with him.

I shook my head and resumed my feverish productivity.

"This time, I want you to turn a little sideways, opposite way from Piero, and look straight into the camera. As for facial expression, with you, it's all about the eyes."

"The eyes? Hmm…"

He looked at me thoughtfully, raising his eyebrows slightly, and his eyes shimmered as he smiled.

"Like that!" I said, holding out my hands eagerly. "I want that shimmery, playful look you have. That's what really charms the fans. Do you know how many tumblr photos there are of just your eyes? Just try to show that brightness you have."

"I'm not sure if I can just make my eyes "shimmery" on command," he said as he laughed.

"You always manage it when you smile at me," I said thoughtfully, and his laugh softened as his smile grew gentler.

"I'll just smile at you, then, before you take the photo," he said.

"You do that," I said in approval, stepping back and turning away.

"Wait, Tamzin, how do you want me to smile?"

I grinned, knowing that I'd have no trouble getting a good smile from Ignazio.

"Whatever feels natural."

He nodded, and I turned toward the producers. I clapped my hands loudly and everyone turned their attention to me. "I'm ready to start!" I proclaimed, and Michele and the producers nodded approvingly and told me to go ahead.

I whirled around to face the boys and beamed as I held up the camera, the cool metal in my hand contrasting the heat inside my chest. I took hold of the photoshoot and grasped the situation in the palm of my hand, using the camera as an extension of myself. I saw the image in my head come to life on the screen as I rushed around the boys, dashing foreword and back as I watched the images shift on the camera's screen. I hunted down the perfect shots and seized them as I knelt down and leaped onto chairs while demanding the boys pay attention to me. I ran back and forth driven by wild excitement, positioning myself to get good shots as the boys held their poses for me. There was only me and the boys, and I reveled in my ambition, thinking of my own image on the cover of the new CD.

At last I stopped, breathless, looking down as I flicked through the images on the screen in my hands. Seeing them flash in front of my face, I laughed out loud at the bubbling energy inside me, and then pulled off the camera and held it in the air triumphantly.

"Done!" I cried, turning to the boys with a broad smile on my face. Ignazio beamed back and clapped his hands together, and Piero and Gianluca laughed and joined in. Michele began too, and the producers followed, pulling me back into the studio and alerting me to their presence as they applauded me.

At once, I flew to the producers and offered them my camera.

"I did my best!" I declared, and the one in front of me reached out and laid a hand on my shoulder, smiling.

"Well done, Tamzin! Michele's chosen a great photographer! Come with us now and we'll review the images and attempt to pick out the best for the cover."

I nodded.

"Let's do it, then!"

Michele turned to the boys and directed them to return to the hotel with Barbara while we had our meeting with the producers.

"We'll show you the ones we narrowed it down to later," he told them, "This'll take a while to pick out the best."

I returned to the hotel a few hours later clutching a CD case fitted with a new prototype cover, my cover. I unlocked my hotel room door and went inside, shutting it behind me and leaning against it as I took in everything that had happened that day. It seemed like a fantastic dream, and I held up the CD in front of me as proof that everything was real. I went to the counter and set down my camera, and then rushed to the window and threw back the curtains to smile at the Chilean landscape. There were only a few more days until I could reunite with my landscapes, but for now I had something new to be happy about. I laughed out loud in excitement as I turned away from the window and held up the CD case again.

"Brilliant!" I exclaimed, gripping it tightly in my hands as if afraid it would evaporate in front of me. I went back to the counter and set it down beside the camera, then turned and listened to the quiet room unaware of my exhilaration.

The quiet was broken by a loud, eager rapping on the door, making me jump, and I leaped backward in fright when the door was flung open. I watched as Ignazio burst into the room and kicked the door closed behind him as he dashed up to me.

"Tamzin!" he cried, and his brilliant smile and shining eyes made me feel the rush of exhilaration all over again. He bounded up to me up took me by the arms, surprising me with his exuberance. "Tamzin, that was amazing! You were amazing! Oh, you should have seen yourself, taking charge like that, telling us exactly what you wanted! You were great! Did you see the look on Marc's face!?"

He laughed out loud, and I laughed with him and nodded eagerly.

"That was so much fun, Ignazio! I haven't had so much fun since…well…It was just so great! I loved it!"

"So you had fun today!"

"I did! I did, Ignazio, it was so much fun!"

Ignazio's grasp on my arms tightened and he pulled me close to him for a hug. I stiffened at first, surprised, but then smiled and reached my arms around his back.

"I'm so glad!" he said, and then pulled back and smiled gently at me, and I reached out and took his sleeve in my fist, tugging on him.

"Come see the CD case, Ignazio! It's brilliant!"

I went to the counter and grasped the CD, hiding the picture against my shirt until he sat down at the cabinet and waited eagerly.

"Look!" I cried, flipping it around and handing it to him.

He reached out and took it from me, smiling and nodding approvingly.

"I love it!" he said, nodding at me, and I sat beside him and smiled.

"Me too!" I said, and then laughed.

I quieted when I saw him smiling gently at me.

"What?" I asked, and he slid the case back to me and then leaned on his arm, watching me.

"Nothing," he said, shrugging, "It's just good to hear you laugh. You know, since you started working for Il Volo, I've only really seen you happy one other time, when you came in from outside, that day when I was sitting on the porch in Guadalajara."

"Oh," I said thoughtfully, looked down at the CD case and reaching out to feel the cool plastic in my hand again.

"I still want to know what made you so happy, if you're willing to tell me," he said, and I didn't look up at him. "Anyway," he said after a moment's quiet, his voice soft and reflective, "That day in Guadalajara, you had this spark in your eye, this ambitious, determined joy."

I looked up from the counter and into his sweet brown eyes, and he smiled gently. I watched him quietly, thinking about how Ignazio could recognize a spark in my eye.

"You had the same look in your eye today."

I smiled at him, and he smiled brightly back, his dimples showing.

"We like this happy Tamzin, the boys and I," he said, and playfully leaned over and jostled me. I smiled and shook my head, and he checked his watch and then stood, and I stood with him.

"The boys and I are about to go out for dinner. Will you come with us?"

"Come with you? Just the four of us?"

"Yes, it'll be fun! Please, Tamzin?"

I hesitated, remembering the first time I had dinner alone with the boys, and Ignazio dramatically dropped to his knees and clasped his hands together, pulling a pouting face. I laughed, and Ignazio smiled up at me.

"Please come with us! We want you to come with us!"

"Okay, okay, Ignazio, I'll come!"

"Yes!" Ignazio jumped up, smiling eagerly, and offered me his arm, which I decided to take for once instead of dismissing it. Together, we strolled out of the hotel room.