Photo Studio Usage in the Smartphone Era: Insights on Solo Use Resistance and Desired Photo Editing Areas Revealed!

Truesight Japan Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Mitta Zhang) conducted a survey targeting women aged 18 to 35 on the 'current state of photo shooting, editing, and photo studio usage among young women'.

With the widespread use of social media, young women are increasingly exposed to others' views of their appearance. This has brought to light issues such as 'low self-esteem regarding one’s appearance' and 'psychological resistance to being photographed'.

While demand remains for professional photographers and photo studios during special events like coming-of-age ceremonies and weddings, these psychological barriers may be deterring potential users.

So, what kind of value should future photography services offer to those struggling with self-acceptance?

To address this, Truesight Japan (https://www.evoto.ai/ja/about) conducted a survey targeting women aged 18 to 35 on the 'current state of photo shooting and editing among young women'.

Survey Overview: 'Current State of Photo Shooting and Editing Among Young Women'

[Survey Period] April 28 (Tue), 2026 – April 29 (Wed), 2026

[Survey Method] Internet survey conducted via PRIZMA (https://www.prizma-link.com/press)

[Number of Respondents] 308

[Survey Target] Female monitors who reported being aged 18–35 at the time of the survey

[Survey Conducted By] Truesight Japan Co., Ltd. (https://startupclass.co.jp/online/companies/1846/)

[Panel Provider] Sacrisa

Detailed findings on Gen Z women’s attitudes toward photos and editing practices are introduced in this article.

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'Uncomfortable using alone...' – About 30% of non-users face psychological barriers to professional photography

First, when asked whether they had 'used photography services from photo studios or professional photographers', responses were as follows:

'Currently using regularly (9.4%)'

'Have used in the past (28.2%)'

'Have never used but am interested (16.6%)'

'Have never used and do not plan to use in the future (45.8%)'

Over half of respondents indicated they had either used or were interested in using photo studio or professional photography services. Despite the prevalence of smartphone photography, the desire to 'look better' and 'preserve special moments' remains strong.

Among those who answered 'have never used', when asked for the reason, the most common response was 'I feel the price is high (39.6%)', followed by 'I feel uncomfortable using alone (32.8%)' and 'I don’t feel the need (27.1%)'.

Alongside cost concerns, psychological barriers such as discomfort with solo use ranked highly.

Why aren’t these services used more casually in daily life?

In a previous survey, when asked 'how do you feel about appearing in photos?', approximately 80% responded 'neutral (28.2%)', 'don’t like it much (24.7%)', or 'don’t like it at all (23.4%)'.

When asked 'how satisfied are you with your appearance?', about 80% answered 'neutral (27.0%)', 'not very satisfied (26.0%)', or 'not at all satisfied (22.4%)'.

The similarity in responses between those who dislike being photographed and those dissatisfied with their appearance suggests that low self-satisfaction may contribute to resistance toward being photographed.

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We have conducted an in-depth investigation into Gen Z women’s attitudes toward photos and editing habits.

Among those who answered 'have used' such services, when asked 'for what purpose or occasion did you use photo studio or professional photographer services?', the most common response was 'Coming-of-Age Ceremony (pre/post-shoot) (49.1%)', followed by 'Job-hunting/ID photos (34.5%)' and 'Family photos (24.1%)'.

Usage for milestone events such as 'coming-of-age ceremonies' and 'family photos' ranked highest.

The use for practical purposes like 'job-hunting or ID photos' indicates that people still turn to professionals for 'photos that cannot afford to fail' or situations that 'impact one’s future or personal records', where quality assurance is essential.

Is affordability less important? The top deciding factor in choosing a service was 'good plan content (number of delivered photos, data format, etc.)'!

Continuing with respondents who answered 'have used' professional photography services, we asked:

'How did you learn about the photo studio or photographer?'

The most common response was 'Introduced by family, friends, or acquaintances (33.6%)', followed by 'Found via internet search (23.3%)' and 'Learned by seeing the store (22.4%)'.

Despite increasing digitalization, personal recommendations from close contacts remain the most common discovery method.

When asked 'what was the deciding factor in choosing the studio or photographer?', the top response was 'Good plan content (number of delivered photos, data provision, etc.) (37.1%)', followed by 'The photo quality looked good (25.0%)', 'The price was reasonable (24.1%)', and 'Good location/easy access (24.1%)'.

This indicates that when choosing a photo studio or photographer, users value not just 'aesthetically pleasing photos' but also 'cost-effectiveness' and 'practicality' such as the number of delivered images and plan details.

Additionally, when asked 'how much did you pay per session?', the most common response was 'Between 10,000 and 20,000 yen (32.8%)', followed by 'Between 20,000 and 30,000 yen (19.0%)' and 'Under 5,000 yen (14.6%)'.

The most common session cost was 'between 10,000 and 20,000 yen', suggesting that for young women, photo studio and professional photography services are perceived as valuable investments for personal milestones or special memories.

Around 40% want 'natural-looking edits'! Is heavy retouching that makes you unrecognizable a no-go?

When asked 'what kind of photos would you like a professional to take for you?', the most common response was 'Wedding photos (39.0%)', followed by 'Commemorative photos for coming-of-age or graduation ceremonies (27.6%)' and 'Memorial photos with family or partner (19.5%)'.

This shows a clear demand for high-quality, professionally captured photos to document special life events and relationships.

'Photo studios and pro cameramen'