Getting my picture taken

In order to get a gym membership card at the Marriott, I need to provide a "mug shot". And it does not have the North American passport requirement of NOT smiling, No glasses, Neutral look requirements. As a matter fact, smiling is encouraged! So we went to this wedding picture taking place about 50 paces to the left of our apartment. I paid RMB$40.00; it gives me 5 small ones and 4 2" ones. Coloured! And the funny thing was, there were so many employees. One greeted us, one collected our money. The one originally greeted us took us to the back to take my "mug shot". The "other" office. We walked from the front of the store, went over to the backdoor, passed the "long" (a space between two buildings) then to the office where two people had been diligently waiting for customers. Two people assisted taking my "mug shot". They even provided evaluations as to which ones they liked. Of course, the one they picked also had to be approved by my wife. Approved. 5 minutes of waiting; got all the pictures; and they count them out for you so that you did not get cheated. Wonder how many customers they had today. Two people waiting in the back office in another building. Nothing is that straight forward in Shanghai. In total, getting mine done had passed over 4 sets of hand. Guess labour is cheap. But the cost of leaving is not really if you want to spend. We were discussing to pay RMB$25,000 for a gym membership and there was this bagger lying on his belly on a mattress bundled up asking for money; and he was eating some sort of bun from a plastic bag.