Rising prevalence of divorce in China equates to lucrative opportunities for certain individuals.
Despite a continuous decrease in China's marriage rate, the 28-year-old photographer based in Henan province is capitalizing on a growing trend: divorce. She now captures photographs of couples honoring and sometimes celebrating the conclusion of their relationships.
According to statistical data from China's National Bureau of Statistics, marriage rates in the country have been consistently decreasing, with a drop from approximately 13 million in 2013 to below 7 million in 2022, marking the lowest rate since 1985. Although there was a slight increase in 2022, reaching nearly 8 million, the authorities remain concerned about the tendency.
On the other hand, divorce rates have skyrocketed, reaching a record high of 4.7 million in 2019, which is over four times higher than two decades ago. The government has attempted to mitigate this rise by implementing a 30-day "cooling off" period required for couples before divorce, leading to a temporary decrease in 2021, but the number has since increased by 25% in 2023, compared to the previous year.
These trends have contributed to a severe demographic crisis in China, exacerbated by a slowing economy, an aging population, and a decline in birth rate due to the decades-long one-child policy.
Motivated by the long queues outside government offices that facilitate separation processes, the photographer started offering services to divorcees last year. She has photographed around 30 couples, capturing emotions of despair and joy as they dismantle their marital ties.
“Business is good,” the photographer said. “Both joy and sorrow are worth recording.”
Evolution of attitudes towards divorce
The photographer's foray into the divorce photography business sheds light on China's changing views on marriage.
Once stigmatized in Chinese society, which values family stability and unity, divorce is now more socially acceptable for young people, even when it results from an unsuccessful marriage.
The cultural shift has resulted in a thriving market for divorce photography, not only for the photographer, but for additional photographers hoping to profit from the trend.
Samplings of these divorce photos can be found on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, highlighting couples signing their divorce papers and couples posing with their divorce certificates.
“I’m 29 years old. Happy divorce,” wrote one user, accompanying a photo of her marriage and divorce certificates.
Furthermore, companies now offer services to dispose of a divorcee's old marriage mementos in a ceremonial manner.
Peng Xiujian, a senior research fellow at Victoria University in Australia, believes the cultural shift is a reflection of a younger generation focusing on personal freedom and career development.
She credits the decline in marriages to both economic and social factors, including the high-pressure work environment, competitive labor market, and high cost of living.
For those opting for divorce, it is no longer viewed as shameful, according to the photographer.
“It is not shameful to be brave enough to divorce,” she said. “Both parties still have feelings and want to commemorate the relationship.”
A divorcing couple who hired her chose a restaurant where they had their first date, ordering nostalgic dishes and sitting across from each other without speaking. After the photo shoot, both parties cried, according to the photographer.
The wife endured ongoing conflicts with her in-laws and her husband was too busy with work to help resolve the arguments, the photographer explained.
Sadly, not all separations are mutual.
The photographer recalled a man spending the entire photo session fiddling with his phone, causing the woman to cry. The man had instructed her not to take many photos featuring his face in the photos afterward.
This wasn't the only time the man rejected her services; he subsequently hired another photographer to photograph his new wedding with his partner.
However, the photographer primarily serves female clients, making sure that male partners share the costs of the service.
Divorce as a commodity
Sixty miles outside Beijing, Liu Wei and his team operate a business that helps divorced couples eliminate evidence of their previous marriages.
Faces in old wedding photos are concealed with spray paint prior to being destroyed in a crusher, alongside other precious mementos. The entire process is captured on video for those seeking closure and the opportunity to move forward.
The demand for Liu's services has been so high that his business is thriving, having destroyed wedding photographs for nearly 2,500 couples since its inception in 2021.
Gary Ng, an economist with French investment bank Natixis, notes the challenge in predicting the size of the divorce market and potential for growth, but acknowledges that China's rising divorce rates indicate “there will be more economic activities surrounding it.”
Tan, the photographer, is already considering how to expand her business, looking for methods to prompt return clients if fate should reunite the separated couples.
"I'll offer them a 18% price reduction if the duo gets remarried and requests me to capture the moments," she proposed.
The photographer's business has attracted other photographers looking to capitalize on the growing trend of divorce photography in China. With the rise of divorce rates, companies offering services to dispose of divorcees' old marriage mementos in a ceremonial manner have also become popular.
