Profile
Engineer student shoots high with developing career in photography
By Wang Wen (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-03 14:17
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Zhao Lu, 28, started work as a wedding photographer in 2002 at the Beijing branch of the V2 Vision photographic organization, a reputable company with branches in several cities in China, as well as Malaysia and New Zealand.
The keen photographer graduated from Taiyuan University of Technology in 2002, but in an unrelated field of engineering to his career. Though he claims he knew nothing about photography before his entry into the business, six years of hard work elevated him to technology director at the Beijing office last year. METRO followed the young professional around for a day to learn what it means to be a wedding photographer.
Before 9 am:
Breakfast at apartment
Zhao Lu gets up at 8 am in his 80-sq-m apartment. His employer rents it for him and another colleague.He has worked in V2 vision photographic organization for three years in Chengdu, Lijiang, Sanya and Shanghai before he came to Beijing in April 2008 to work at V2's Beijing branch.
After eating a piece of bread for breakfast, he leaves the warm flat.
From 9 am to 9:30 am:
Talks with customers
Zhao walks to the studio on Lugouqiao road in Fengtai district. The studio spent 3 million yuan to build indoor scenes so that most photos can still be taken on site.
He arrives at the office at 9 am when his customers - a couple - have finished their makeup. He talks with them about dresses, makeup and photo locations.
There's a snag when the potential bride refuses to accept his dress suggestion. She wants a pink princess dress but Zhao prefers a red one.
"The pink dress she wants does not suit her temperament," Zhao said. "It is sweet and cute, but she will look great in romantic style."
When facing this kind of problem, Zhao had to persuade the customers.
"Sometimes I need to stick to my opinion because I know what is the best," Zhao said.
He spends more than 30 minutes persuading the bride. Finally, she agrees to try it on.
From 10 am to 11 am:
Photos for the first dress
Zhao starts his work from about 10 am and the bride's first dress is red. He chooses a corridor of gray bricks on the second floor of the 3,000-sq-m studio for the location. The colors of the dress and the background are in sharp contrast to each other.
"The princess dress helps the bride to feel relaxed and natural," Zhao explained.
When taking photos, Zhao reminds the bride to raise her head and stretch her jaw.
"This makes her neck look more slender," he said.
It takes him 40 minutes to take more than 30 photos.
From 11 am to 1 pm:
Lunch break
When the couple changes dress and makeup, it's about 12 pm and time for lunch.
Zhao's lunch is rice and fish from a nearby restaurant. The studio pays and also offers bread and milk to the customers.
His salary can be 8,000 yuan per month in peak seasons like summer and autumn, but at other times can drop to about 3,000 yuan. His room and board are covered by the studio, so a large chunk of his salary goes in the bank.
From 1 pm to 3 pm:
Photos for the second dress
After lunch, the bride returns wearing a white full-skirt wedding dress. This satin dress is Zhao's favorite.
"The white full-skirt dress displays the bride's purity," Zhao said. "It is also the most popular one in our shop."
The vital thing about wedding dress photos, according to Zhao, is to show happiness.
"The most beautiful photos are natural snapshots," he said.
"The job can offer me happiness and money, so I decided to continue it," Zhao said.
From 3 pm to 5 pm:
Photos for last dress
The last set was a fashionable mermaid dress.
Zhao let the couple choose the location, but since the couple are too tired to smile, he suggests they try without.
"This makes her look like an ice queen," Zhao said.
From 5 pm to 6 pm:
Pictures developed
Zhao has taken more than 100 pictures. He finished earlier than usual because in peak season, has to handle two or three couples every day. Normally he can't get off work until after 7 pm.
The couple is happy when they see the shots in Zhao's camera and decide to select their favorites on the following day.
After 6 pm
When the couple leaves, Zhao feels a little down because he is single.
"It's kind of ironic," he said.
He has four days' break every month, but prefers to come to the studio on his days off.
"I would rather talk with colleagues here than stay at home."
His depression doesn't last long though because he gets an invitation to KTV from a former customer. "After working together, my customers usually become my friends," Zhao said.
