One of the exhibitors signs his name at the reception desk before the opening ceremony of China International Photography Professional Fair in China International Exhibition Center in Beijing on January 9, 2008. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

The China International Photography Profession Fair kicked off in Beijing on January 9, 2008. More than 200 exhibitors gathered in the China International Exhibition Center for the four-day exhibition.

Wedding photography and a high-tech photographic equipment show are the highlights of the professional fair.

A wedding fashion show brought the first day of the exhibition to a climax. Professional makeup artists and stylists from China's top fashion training centers showcased their understandings of wedding style trends with the help of the beautiful models.

Shi Ying, a fashion professional and president of a fashion training center called Jingshang Celebrity, shared her opinion on fashion trends in wedding photography for 2008.

"The dressing trend of wedding photography this year is simplicity, vogue and elegance. As for the sculpture trend, crystal and ostrich feathers will be two stylish elements in 2008. Meanwhile, the use of color will expand from white to vibrant colors, and the overall theme of wedding apparel will be 'silk stockings.'"

Stylists and designers create the beauty, but photographers immortalize the moment on film. The latest photographic equipment attracted great attention at the fair.

World famous digital equipment producer Canon brought its leading product, the EOS-1Ds Mark III. With 21.1million effective pixels, the 1Ds Mark III is specially designed for wedding photography. Koji Nakashima, assistant director of Canon's China regional Beijing CII division, has witnessed the rapid development of China's photographic equipment industry.

"I've been working in China for four years. I feel strongly that the number of Chinese photographers is increasing dramatically. They are becoming more and more professional. Their demand for technology is growing much more quickly than before. We are working very hard to meet their demands."

Besides digital camera producers, wedding dress manufacturers and professional wedding photography organizations, exhibitors from related fields such as cosmetics and photo frame producers also set up displays.

The China International Photography Profession Fair will run from January 9 to 12 in halls 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the China International Exhibition Center.