As divorce rates surge across China, businesses are stepping in to cater to the emotional and economic needs of separating couples. Photographer Tan Mengmeng is one such entrepreneur, turning heartbreak into a thriving business through divorce photography—capturing the unique moments that signify the end of a marriage.
- Booming Divorce Market: With divorce rates rising to record highs, a new market for divorce-related services has emerged, from photographers to wedding memento shredders.
- Tan’s Business Pivot: Once a wedding photographer, Tan now specializes in divorce photography, a niche she saw potential in after witnessing long lines at government offices handling separations.
- Capturing Emotional Moments: Tan’s clients often want to document both the sorrow and relief that come with ending a marriage. She has photographed over 30 couples since adding divorce sessions to her services.
- Creative Services for Closure: Entrepreneurs like Liu Wei also capitalize on this trend by offering to destroy old wedding photos—symbolizing closure for couples moving on. His services have helped over 2,500 couples since 2021.
- High Demand: Divorce photography has become a profitable avenue, with clients willing to pay for a keepsake of their separation, while others seek more therapeutic services, like shredding past memories.
- Economic Potential: The rise of businesses catering to divorce reflects China’s changing attitudes toward marriage. Economists predict this growing divorce economy could lead to further innovations in personalized services for separating couples.
China’s rising divorce rates are reshaping the business landscape. Entrepreneurs like Tan are turning personal heartbreak into a profitable opportunity, offering services that reflect the country’s shifting cultural norms. As more people embrace the end of marriage as a fresh start, divorce-related businesses are poised for continued growth.
