BUSTED: Ou Garden Photoshoot Hilariously Roasted on Social Media (Suzhou) 🤦♀️😂
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I just finished taking a beautiful set of photos in the gardens of Suzhou, only to discover online that many people were criticizing the practice of hiring photographers in the garden.
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Why I took these photos:
+ I saw other people's photos taken in the gardens of Suzhou and was really impressed. The classic Chinese setting was exactly what I wanted for this photo session.- A small fact: The Suzhou Gardens are the hallmark of classical Chinese architecture and some even have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Known for their exquisite layout and rich cultural connotations, they attract countless tourists, all eager to take a closer look.
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During the photo shoot:
+ Some people mentioned that they would take photos or those getting photographed by photo professionals in the garden and post it, alongside complaints, on the comment section.
+ This reminded me that when I got my pictures taken, someone must have taken out their phone to record us too! I didn't think much about it then, but now I realize they might've felt we were blocking the scenery. -
My survival instinct kicked in:
+ Luckily, my photographer and I realized just how important it is to keep things simple!
+ We pretty much hurried through each spot in two minutes or less, getting two or three shots a piece before moving on. -
A word of advice for those planning a photo shoot in the Suzhou Gardens:
+ You may draw unwelcome attention: If you plan to hire a photographer, be prepared for the possibility of other visitors disapproving and discreetly taking photos of you.- Avoiding this: Try to be less conspicuous, avoid causing a scene, and don’t hog a popular spot for too long.
+ **Quick shots are the way to go:** Learn from me and communicate well with your photographer so you can wrap up your shots quickly. Don't disrupt others who just want to quietly wander around or admire the scenery. + *Why this matters: Most Suzhou gardens are quite compact, so with people coming and going, the narrow pathways are often crowded. A prolonged photo shoot certainly affects others' visiting experience.* -
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That's pretty normal. What seems like just two or three minutes to you feels like an eternity to other tourists. It's like you've been shooting for an entire century.
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Actually, you might feel like you've only been shooting for two or three minutes, but in reality, half an hour or more has already passed.
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Let me put it this way: I visited the Couple's Garden (Ou Yuan) about six years ago, I think it was summer. Commercial photoshoots in gardens weren't so rampant back then. I wandered around for about half an hour, and what I remember most was its tranquility and the pleasant, leisurely atmosphere. So, I decided to revisit. But this time, it was just a sea of commercial shoots everywhere, with all sorts of colorful outfits. You're supposed to be enjoying the scenery, but instead, all you see are people posing. They occupy one spot, shoot, and then the next group comes in, like an assembly line. The people taking photos are completely absorbed, while those who just want to enjoy the view are left feeling frustrated.
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Sigh, that's true. I also visited Suzhou five years ago and was hoping to relive that feeling, which is why I wanted to take some photos to remember it by.
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Commercial shoots could go to some less popular, smaller gardens with fewer tourists. If they insist on crowding into popular spots, of course people will complain.
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Smaller gardens with no tourists? Where? Tell me. I'm going on a trip in two weeks, I'll check if that's true.
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On Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), every commercial photoshoot claims they only took 2 minutes.
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They sure know how to talk themselves up.
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Why not go to Yi Pu Garden? It's less crowded and more niche. In those popular gardens, you either have to avoid people, or it gets awkward if you shoot for too long. It feels pretty uncomfortable.
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I didn't do enough research for my trip, so I just found a spot nearby.
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You can time it. Pressing the shutter and checking the photo might take two minutes, but the time spent finding the spot, posing, fixing clothes and hair, directing expressions, adjusting settings, and even waiting for the area to clear definitely adds up to more than 2 minutes.
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They should learn from the Forbidden City and just ban them altogether.
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It's useless, even worse than before. In the past, it was mainly those professional wedding photographers who dominated the spots. You could argue with them, call your friends for backup, or get security. Now, it's often groups of friends ('sisters') taking photos together or individual photographers, making it hard to tell if it's a commercial shoot. They'll hog one spot for ages, with several people taking turns. And because they often look like regular tourists, you can't really say much. You can only try asking, 'Hey, how are your photos coming along? Mind if I snap a couple?' Some are nice about it, but others are totally unwilling to move.
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I just booked a commercial shoot on Pingjiang Road today. What exactly counts as a commercial shoot that doesn't disturb other tourists?
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Attractions should impose some restrictions on commercial photoshoots to reduce conflicts with regular tourists, such as specific ticket types, limited time slots, and a cap on the number of commercial shoots allowed in at any one time.
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I support this. There's no need to outright ban everyone who enjoys taking photos.
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It would be best if commercial shoots and regular tourist visiting hours were separate, so they don't affect each other.
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That's impossible. These state-owned attractions can't just do whatever they want like smaller, local places might.