Paid romantic photo shoots with male models gain popularity in China

Paid romantic photo shoots featuring female customers and male models are gaining attention on mainland Chinese social media, according to the South China Morning Post. Customers pay for staged couple-style scenes that can include hand-holding, embraces, kisses and other intimate poses within the studios’ stated boundaries. Prices can reach 8,000 yuan for an hour-long session, while one Nanjing studio advertises packages up to 28,000 yuan for a full-day experience.

One customer paid 4,520 yuan for a 30-minute shoot with two models. Another paid 3,000 yuan for a session built around a fictional quarrel and reconciliation with a boyfriend. Customers have described the service as a way to create attractive images or briefly experience romantic feelings.

Mu Zhao Studio, based in Nanjing, says it is China’s first photography studio offering couple-style shoots with male models. Its packages range from 7,200 yuan for nine edited photographs to the full-day package, which includes multiple outfits and 120 images. The models are generally commercial models or online influencers.

Their fees vary according to appearance, height, follower numbers and performance skills, according to mainland reports cited by the newspaper. Studio founder Mu Zhao said some customers wanted couple portraits, while others sought the feeling of dating an attractive man or hoped to ease pressure from family about marriage. She said the studio avoids exchanging contact details between customers and models, although some clients develop feelings.

The trend reflects a wider expansion of paid companionship services in China, where women can hire male companions for activities including outdoor pursuits and role-playing games. Online reaction has been mixed, with some users welcoming the service and others questioning its value and gender dynamics.