Chinatown at dusk
Melbourne’s Chinatown runs along Little Bourke Street, between Swanston and Exhibition Streets. Red pillars, painted signs, dumpling houses and narrow lanes, one of the oldest Chinatowns outside Asia.
It is one of my favourite places in the city for engagement and pre-wedding photos. The colour does half the work, and the light changes completely after dark.
By Jiaxi Wang, an editorial wedding photographer and videographer in Melbourne. I photograph fashion-forward, design-led and intimate weddings on digital, 35mm, 120 and Super 8 film. Updated November 2026.
Colour and signs
Most engagement photos in Melbourne are taken in gardens or on the beach. Chinatown is the opposite. Red, gold and neon, hand-painted menus, steam from kitchens. It suits couples who like a fashion or film look, and couples who want something that feels like the city they actually live in.
Shirley wore a black coat, a red skirt and a white lace headpiece, Andy a brown suit. Against the signs outside a dumpling house, the outfits looked like they belonged there.
Day or night
Late afternoon gives soft, even light in the lanes. Blue hour, the twenty minutes after sunset, is when the signs come on and the sky still has colour. Night gives you neon and deep shadow, and it suits film and flash.
If you can only pick one, pick the hour around sunset. You get both the daylight and the first of the lights.
What to wear
Strong colour and simple shapes. Red, black, cream, deep green. Avoid busy prints, the street is busy enough. Traditional dress, a qipao or a tailored suit, looks especially good here. Bring a coat in winter, the lanes are cold once the sun goes.
How it works
An engagement session is one hour for $550, or two hours for $850, on digital and film. We meet at a corner and walk the length of Chinatown and the lanes off it. It is also the best way to get used to being photographed before your wedding day.
See the packages and the city photo locations guide.
Chinatown session questions
Is Chinatown busy?
Yes, especially on weekend evenings. Weekdays and early evenings are quieter. I work around people rather than waiting for empty streets.
Can we photograph inside restaurants?
Only with the owner’s permission. I can ask on the night, or you can choose a favourite place ahead of time.
Do you speak Mandarin?
Yes. 我也会说中文，拍摄时可以用中文沟通。
Can we use the photos for invitations?
Yes. Engagement photos are delivered in high resolution for print and web size for sharing.
Tell me about your day
Dates for 2027 are open.
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