Trend of 'divorce photoshoots' to celebrate end of marriage increases in China

Amid a growing number of divorces in China, couples are increasingly opting for photoshoots to mark the end of their marriages, reflecting a shift in cultural attitudes toward separation.

This contrasts with the traditional emphasis on the family unit that once dominated Chinese society.

According to CNN, the 28-year-old photographer, Tan Mengmeng, who primarily captures wedding moments, has expanded her business to offer services to couples seeking to document their divorces.

Since 2023, Tan has been hired by 30 couples for divorce photoshoots.

“This is a good business. After all, both joy and sorrow are worth recording,” Tan commented.

Chinese society has experienced a significant shift in attitudes toward marriage and divorce, leading to evolving stigmas and expectations around both.

Fewer people are inclined to marry, and those who do are now more widely accepted by society even after separation, a stark contrast to the once deeply rooted family traditions that discouraged divorce.

In addition to photography, another business has emerged catering to divorcing couples. This new venture removes all traces of their marriage.

These so-called “divorce factories” offer services like shredding old wedding photos and other memorabilia, charging between $8 to $28 for their services.

Some couples share photos with their divorce documents on social media, and occasionally, they even hire professionals to dispose of old wedding dresses.

For photographers like Tan, this is a new business opportunity. She even offers discounts to clients who remarry, in the hopes that some might reconcile.

According to China's National Bureau of Statistics, the number of marriages in 2022 dropped to under 7 million, a decline from about 13 million in 2013, which is the lowest rate since 1985.

On the other hand, the divorce rate has been on the rise. In 2019, there were 4.7 million divorces, four times higher than two decades prior.

Despite the introduction of a 30-day 'cooling-off' period in 2021 to curb divorces, the rate surged by 25% again in 2023.