Chinese women pay up to $1,200 for staged romance photo shoots

A growing number of young Chinese women are engaging in a novel form of emotional companionship by paying for romantic photo shoots with male models. These sessions, which can cost up to 8,000 yuan (US$1,200) for an hour, feature couple-style poses such as hand-holding, embraces, and staged kisses. The trend has gained significant traction on mainland social media.

These full studio sessions involve professional photographers, elaborate sets, and proper lighting, with clients receiving heavily retouched images weeks later. The process typically takes a full day, with two outfits requiring five to six hours and three outfits extending to seven to eight hours. Clients can choose from a wide array of styles, including traditional Hanfu (various dynasties), Qipao (1920s-30s Shanghai style), Republican era looks, Wuxia (martial arts hero), ethnic minority dress, K-pop-inspired fashion, fantasy themes, and modern fashion portraits.

In contrast to full studio sessions, a less expensive option involves costume rental at tourist sites, with light makeup and the ability to take one's own photos, sometimes with a photographer for an extra fee. These typically cost between 50 to 400 RMB (about $7 to $55) and are a more casual, shorter experience.