China Love documentary explores the country’s pre-wedding photo shoot industry
- Olivia Martin-McGuire became fascinated by flamboyant pre-wedding photoshoots and the Chinese concept of love after she moved to Shanghai
- She published her first photo series in 2016 and her documentary China Love premiered in Sydney
When she visited China for the first time in 2004, Australian-born photographer-turned-director Olivia Martin-McGuire fell in love with its “pioneering spirit and upbeat pace”.
A decade later she found herself living in Shanghai with her husband and children. Over the course of four years in the city, Martin-McGuire became fascinated by love and romance in Chinese society – in particular the phenomenon of the lavish pre-wedding photos.
“I started noticing couples on every street being photographed in flamboyant wedding costumes. Delving deeper, I discovered this offered a curious window into understanding China,” says Martin-McGuire, who is now based in Hong Kong.
“It got me thinking … what is love in China? What is the dream, what is the fantasy?”
Her fascination grew as Martin-McGuire captured these scenes with her camera. Her first photo series was published in a magazine in 2016. She then decided to take her interest to another level and make a documentary.
China Love was released last year. It was an Australian Documentary Prize finalist at the Sydney Film Festival, where it premiered in June, and screened nationwide in Australia earlier this month.
