Page 75 - SpontaneousSuccessMatos

That afternoon I got off early and headed for the
pharmacy.
I told the guy at the counter I was doing a photo
spread for Fair Lady magazine and I needed a camera. I
guess he thought I was a nut-case but in the end he sold
me a used twin-lens Rolleiflex and told me to read the
manual and the instructions inside the film box. That
was the end of the paper flower money.
The shoot was a big success thanks to the heaven-
sent stylist from the Cape Times shoot, and because the
model we chose was a gem. Upbeat, beautiful, and
humble, nothing was too much trouble. "Want to try it
again?" she’d say. "Let’s try it this way."
The following week, I quit my job at The Cape
Times and rented a studio two blocks away from Fair
Lady’s offices. It was the start of a 25-year career as a
fashion photographer with studios on three continents
Desperation is a double edged sword. It can creep up
like a thief, stealing your sense of security and replacing it
with gnawing anxiety. It can be a raging fire that
consumes you, or a spark that ignites transformation.
In that moment, I discovered the secret to
Spontaneous Success. It’s not about waiting for the
perfect opportunity or until the stars aligned. It ’s about
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