Fashion photography by Chen Meng: fashion and style at the intersection of East and West (21 photos)

Chen Meng is one of the most influential contemporary fashion photographers and a pioneer of Chinese fashion photography. Her work has graced the covers of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Esquire, and her exhibitions have been held from Shanghai to London. Chen Meng's unique style is a synthesis of traditional Chinese aesthetics and contemporary Western trends, with bold post-processing and a philosophical approach to each shot. She has photographed Rihanna, Victoria Beckham, Benedict Cumberbatch, and many other international stars, infusing their images with elements of Eastern culture.





At the Roots of Fashion Photography

Chen Meng was born in 1980 in Beijing to a family far removed from the worlds of fashion and art. From childhood, she was fascinated by drawing and painting, dreaming of becoming an artist. After high school, Chen entered the prestigious Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in Beijing, where she studied design and visual communications. It was there, in her third year, that she first picked up a camera.

Chen Meng began her photography career in the early 2000s—a turning point for China. China's economy was developing dynamically, Western luxury brands were flooding the market, and fashion magazines were being launched. But professional fashion photography in the country was practically nonexistent—there were no traditions, no role models, not even a clear understanding of what it should look like.



Victoria Beckham for Harper's Bazaar, 2012

"I was one of the first," recalls Chen Meng. "There was no history of fashion photography in China, no masters to learn from. I had to invent everything from scratch, relying solely on my artistic training and instinct."

The photographer said her first works were met with mixed reactions:

"I took my first professional photographs for Vision magazine in 2003 and 2004. I emphasized post-processing, which shocked people. They didn't perceive me as a photographer, but artists didn't see me as an artist either. After all, I was shooting for a fashion magazine. Even today, traditional Chinese people don't see me as a photographer—they really dislike retouching."

Benedict Cumberbatch in Shanghai, Grazia, 2016

Despite criticism, by 2005, Chen Meng had become one of the most sought-after fashion photographers in China. She was invited to become the art director of Vision magazine, and major Chinese publications lined up to publish her work.

Returning to Tradition

But over time, trends changed, and excessive retouching became outdated. Chen Meng began searching for ways to embody elements of Chinese culture in a contemporary format. She studied traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, opera, and ancient philosophy, reinterpreting them through the lens of contemporary fashion.

"In my work with visuals, I draw on Chinese philosophy," the photographer notes. "The ideas of the balance of yin and yang, the harmony of the five elements, and the interaction between man and nature—all of this is reflected in the composition, color, and mood of my photographs."



"Long Live the Motherland" by Vogue

Chen Meng is often compared to Annie Leibovitz, but the Chinese photographer has her own unique style. Her work is easily recognizable by its distinctive post-processing, rich colors, geometric compositions, and Eastern motifs—from traditional costumes to the symbolism of Chinese mythology.

The photographer's images have appeared in publications such as Vogue (Chinese, British, and Italian editions), iLook, Harper's Bazaar, Esquire, and L'Officiel, and her solo exhibitions have been held in Shanghai, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Milan, and London. In 2018, Chen Meng was included in the Forbes "30 Under 30" list in the "Art & Style" category.

Working with the Stars

Over the course of her career, Chen Meng has photographed dozens of international celebrities. Her models include Rihanna, Victoria Beckham, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sophie Marceau, as well as leading Chinese film stars Fan Bingbing, Zhang Ziyi, Shu Qi, and others.



Blue Face for Tony Studio in 2005



Double Mickey for Tony Studio, 2004



Actress Fan Bingbing for Esquire, 2009



For Guess 2014



Actress Fan Bingbing for i.D, 2012



For Guess, 2012



Taiwanese actress Shu Qi for Harper's Bazaar, 2015



Young Pioneers and the Three Gorges (gravity dam hydroelectric power station) 2008



Rihanna for Harper's Bazaar, 2015



Actress Zhang Ziyi for Harper's Bazaar, 2012



Sophie Marceau, Self, 2015



Sun Li, Self, 2015



Di Xu and Kevin Tsai for Esquire 2010



Zhou Dongyu and Yuan Heping, Bazaar, 2017



From the "Great Wall of China" series for iLOOK 2007



For L'Officiel, 2014



From the "Great Wall of China" series for iLOOK

Philosophy of Creativity

Chen Meng doesn't just photograph fashion – she creates visual manifestos. Her works often explore social themes: China's urbanization, the clash of tradition and progress, and the place of women in modern society. The "Great Wall of China" series depicts the ancient monument as a symbol of permanence in a rapidly changing world. The "Young Pioneers" project reinterprets the Sino-Soviet past through the prism of contemporary aesthetics.

"I want my photographs to be more than just pretty pictures," says Chen Meng. "They should tell stories, make you think, and show China in a way the rest of the world hasn't seen."

Chen Meng's work blends tradition and modernity, art and fashion, East and West. She has proven that Chinese fashion photography need not be a copy of Western models, but an independent phenomenon with its own voice and philosophy.

Do you think fashion photography should remain universal, or is it important to preserve its cultural identity? Does Chen Meng succeed in finding a balance between Eastern tradition and contemporary trends?