Novelty is the spice of life

One of the first things she noticed as a product model was that many brands were more interested in chasing the latest trends than in focusing on quality. Some even produced deceptive imagery. One relatively common practice that she dislikes is the use of clips to clamp together ill-fitting clothing during a shoot, pinning the back to the front and the front to the back, to make an item look more fitted.

Despite repeated attempts to rectify such problems, no one listened. After all, she was still a newcomer to the industry.

Within a year, Yang earned herself a reputation as a tireless professional who never let her clients down. The number of job offers soared, and she soon found herself traveling to places in other provinces like Changshu and Jiaxing in Jiangsu, Hangzhou in Zhejiang for photo shoots.

"Back then, I spent nearly half of my time on the road or in the photo studio. On the day of a shoot, I could work as late as 10 pm. I felt like a machine. I was just trying on outfit after outfit," she says.

By 2020, Yang's growing stature in the industry earned her the clout to be able to pick the photographers and brands she wanted to work with, and as her intense work schedule had started to take a toll on her health, she decided to be more selective.

"As I grew older, I realized the importance of leading a more relaxed life and embracing the retiree lifestyle. I've tried it all, and it was satisfying to some extent but most importantly, I wasn't finding enjoyment in doing it anymore, but I still wanted to experience the joy of art," she says.

Today, Yang only works with those who, like her, believe that authenticity is the most important factor when selling a product. In fact, she is such a fervent supporter of this philosophy that she refuses to have her image digitally enhanced.

Now that she only works one week a month, she has more time to pursue other interests. Over the past two years, she has taken online courses in smartphone photography, and this has in turn benefited her health as she has started traveling around the country to capture its sights and sounds. She has also started learning to play the piano.

Looking ahead, Yang says that she wants to learn vocal singing and to do traditional painting and calligraphy.

"I am someone who can't stay idle for long. I believe that one of the secrets to a long and healthy life is to keep working, even in old age. Being engaged in work helps maintain vitality," she says.

Aware that aging comes with its own set of problems, Yang has made contingency plans in case she will be too old to travel, and plans to enroll at a university for the elderly to learn new skills.

"Learning is what keeps me motivated and interested in life. During my younger years, opportunities to learn new things were relatively scarce. Today there is a plethora of online courses and opportunities. I can learn anything I desire," she says.