Espionage: I Have Photo Editing Software

"Crackling and popping..."

The deafening sound of firecrackers suddenly rang out on Ganxi Road, attracting passersby to stop and look.

I don't know when, but the old photo studio's facade has been renovated.

The couplets on both sides of the gate, with their powerful and vigorous strokes in gold on a black background, are particularly eye-catching.

First line: A journey through mountains and rivers, a fleeting image

Second line: Half a lifetime of glory, half a portrait

Above the door hang four large gilded characters, which serve as both a horizontal inscription and the shop's name: Peerless Elegance.

A striking red banner hangs across the top of the door: Our store is launching two new services, travel photography and portrait photography, with a limited-time half-price discount!

Wei Renming stood under the banner, watching the firecracker paper fluttering in the air, a smile spreading across his face.

After more than ten days since I arrived, I have finally found a place to live.

"Brother Wei, do you think anyone will actually try the two new businesses we've launched?" Feng Xiaotian looked down at his feet, avoiding eye contact as he spoke.

He was also from Funing, three years younger than Wei Renming, only seventeen, but he had already been an apprentice at another photo studio for two years.

It was through his introduction that Wei Renming was able to enter the American-Indian Photo Studio.

After Wei Renming took over Zhaofu Photo Studio, he immediately thought of him.

In the past two years, Feng Xiaotian has barely touched a camera, let alone entered the darkroom.

Wei Renming summoned him with the intention of repaying a debt of gratitude, so naturally he wouldn't hold back.

Once Feng Xiaotian has finished learning his skills, whether he stays or leaves is entirely up to him, and he will never stop him.

"Do as I say."

Wei Renming held out flyers to passersby, his mouth never stopping, "Take a look, take a look! If your photos aren't good, you don't get a penny!"

Feng Xiaotian was a little timid, but seeing Wei Renming working so hard, he mustered up his courage and started shouting too.

Throughout the morning, many people came in to inquire, but as soon as they heard the price, they all ran away.

A photo shoot costs 100 yuan and includes 10 photos, plus a display stand and album.

Travel photography: 100 RMB per set in Shanghai city, 150 RMB in the suburbs. The further away from Shanghai, the more expensive it is.

This pricing alone would deter 99% of customers.

"This method of attracting customers is too slow," Wei Renming sighed.

To renovate the storefront, he spent all the ten yuan he had borrowed from Chen Zhiqiang and still owed the renovation team money.

If we don't earn any more money, we'll probably go hungry.

"How about we start serving regular customers too?"

Wei Renming shook his head. "We'll only go for the high-end market."

"How about lowering the price?" Feng Xiaotian asked.

"Need not."

Wei Renming would never do anything that would lower his own status.

It was evening.

Wei Renming led Feng Xiaotian to the outside of Shen Shidi's photo studio and pointed to the customers coming in and out, saying:

"See these people? They're dressed in expensive clothes, they look like they're not short of money, they're our target customers."

Feng Xiaotian clicked his tongue. "They all came because of Shen Shidi's reputation. I heard that a portrait taken by Shen Shidi herself costs at least twenty yuan."

"My photos are better than his!" Wei Renming retorted, pointing to the customers who had just left, "Let's go, let's go attract some customers!"

"Please wait a moment." Wei Renming strode forward. "Are you two ladies here to take photos?"

Upon hearing this, Xue Ning turned her head, staring at Wei Renming warily. She then stepped forward, shielding Xue Wan behind her, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Wei Renming smiled warmly. "My surname is Wei, and I'm the chief photographer at the Peerless Elegance Photo Studio next door."

"Peerless beauty? Never heard of that!"

Xue Ning took Xue Wan's hand and prepared to leave.

"Wait a moment!" Wei Renming quickly took out the sample booklet he had rushed to produce in the past few days and said, "My portrait photos are better than Shen Shidi's. Words are not enough; you two will see for yourselves when you take a look."

He then opened the sample booklet and placed it in front of the two of them.

"No need," Xue Ning refused without even glancing at it.

Xue Wan glanced at the photo album subconsciously, and her eyes lit up when she saw the photos.

With filters, skin smoothing, face slimming, big eyes and other special effects, plus poses that are now commonplace, which girl could resist?

"Sister Xiaoning, wait a minute."

Xue Wan took the photo album and carefully flipped through it. After a while, she looked up and exclaimed in surprise:

"Did you really take these photos?"

"It's the real deal! No one else in Shanghai could have taken this photo except me!" Wei Renming said proudly.

"Sister Xiaoning, these photos are really beautiful. Why don't we go to his shop and take a look?" Xue Wan suggested.

Shen Shidi is famous for taking portrait photos.

In Shanghai, wealthy ladies and young women alike were proud to have his photographs taken by them.

As the saying goes, things are valued for their rarity.

Shen Shidi also understood this principle well.

So they started using scarcity marketing.

He only films ten people a month, and they have to make appointments in advance.

This has resulted in many people having to wait in line for months.

Those who can't wait either have their apprentices take the photo or go to another photo studio.

Clearly, Xue Wan did not manage to secure a spot.

"Okay. If you like it, then go take a look." Xue Ning didn't object, but her eyes swept over Wei Renming and the other person intentionally or unintentionally, as if she was on guard.

Wei Renming noticed it, but didn't care.

"Oda, lead the way quickly."

"Okay, okay. Ladies, please come this way."

Ganxi Road intersects with Jinling Road.

The Peerless Elegance Photo Studio is only two or three hundred meters away, just around the corner.

Xue Wan looked around the storefront and smiled:

"Your couplet is quite interesting. Did you come up with it yourself?"

Wei Renming said, "With the opening of the new store, I'm short of money and can't afford to pay a fee, so I have to do it myself. Please excuse my poor performance."

"It's very well written, very charming. But what does 'photo shoot' and 'travel photography' mean?" Xue Wan was a typical woman from Jiangnan, speaking softly and gently.

Wei Renming explained:

The term "xiezhen" first appeared in the Northern Qi Dynasty, referring to hand-painted portraits.

I borrowed it and gave it a new meaning, referring to artistic portrait photography, which makes portraits look like works of art.

Travel photography, as the name suggests, is taking photos to commemorate a trip.

Nowadays, portrait photography is mostly done in studios, resembling handicrafts and lacking much of its natural charm.

"Mr. Wei is more like a scholar than a photographer," Xue Wan praised softly.

"Writers express their feelings through words, while I express them through light and shadow; though our paths differ, we arrive at the same destination." Wei Renming said as he opened the door to the photo studio. "Please come in, both of you."

Xue Ning frowned as he took in the old and worn-out furnishings of the shop.

Xue Wan was slightly surprised, seemingly not expecting such a large difference between the storefront and the interior environment.

"The presence of two elegant ladies in my humble abode has made it seem brighter. Perhaps this is what the ancients meant by 'a humble abode gaining luster'!"

Sweet words came naturally to Wei Renming.

It's utterly worthless; it's all just emotion.

Xue Wan blushed slightly, feeling a little shy from the compliment.

Xue Ning's face remained cold, seemingly unmoved, but her slightly stiff movements revealed that she was actually quite pleased inside.

After Wei Renming's compliment, the two felt embarrassed and turned to leave, then went into the store.

"Please have a seat, both of you."

After the two were seated, Xiao Tian served tea, and Wei Renming then took out the price list and said:

"Which package would you two like to choose?"

Xue Ning glanced down, then suddenly looked up and shouted, "A hundred legal tender as the starting price? Why don't you just rob us?"