Family portraits still sought-after tradition amongst Chinese

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Amongst many other Chinese traditions, taking family portraits appears to still be common – despite the smartphone boom.

Beijing China Photo Studio says more New-Beijingers and those back from overseas have visited the studio for family portraits in recent years.

“As stress resulting from work and studies increases, people focus more on kinship and family affection… What they are after [taking portraits here] is a sense of ceremony, because this can’t be captured at home,” said Xu Jianbo, assistant to the general manager at the studio.

Each family comes with its own story.

Concept of a family

Wei Lin, a local TV host, said the tradition helps strengthen her family’s bond.

“As the pace of life gets faster, especially in a big city like Beijing, everyone is so busy. Through this process, everybody gets to present his or her happy self,” she said.

Yang links the family portraits to the value of perseverance in life. /CGTN Photo

Her grandparents are both 85 years old and will celebrate their “本命年” (that's when a person's birth year coincides with the animal year in which they were born) this year. They've been waiting for this occasion for a long time.

“Our grandchildren have been taking portraits since the age of ten. But it’s not easy now as they are all working. To be able to come here again, I am very happy,” said the grandmother.

Wei Lin also recalled two of her fondest memories of having her portraits taken. One of the portraits was taken after she turned 18, marking the coming of age in China, and the other one was after she graduated from university.

“Graduation means a new starting point, a time to repay my parents for having worked so hard to brought me up,” she said.

Her father also links this to the country’s increasingly high living standard, which has, in turn, strengthened the concept of family.

Act of perseverance

Yang – together with his family of eight – has been coming to this studio for five years to celebrate his first-born daughter’s birthday.

“I hope this small act of taking portraits will give my children a sense of perseverance in whatever they do. Not just in celebrating little wins in life, but also, think about it – if you do this every year over ten years, imagine what will it become,” he said.

Yang's mother echoed his sentiments, insisting that taking portraits may look like a simple act, but it is a Chinese tradition – a gesture of respecting the elderly and loving one’s child.

A family is an essential concept for the Chinese. As the saying goes, harmony in the family leads to prosperity in every aspect of life, which translates to peace in society and the nation.

What do photos mean

The office director of Beijing China Photo Studio, Bao Chen, said the beauty of the studio lies beyond taking portraits of many of the country’s previous leaders and artists.

China Photo Studio has taken portraits of many of the country’s previous leaders. /CGTN Photo

“For example, how I look at this photo now, and how I look at it five, 10 years later... is different. As time goes by, the meaning which the photo carries in my hands gets heavier. It's almost similar to reading a book now, and rereading it years later,” said Bao.

China Photo Studio was established in 1937. One of its Beijing branches in Wangfujing says the annual turnover for its studio in the past few years has been increasing, with an overflow of customers during festive seasons. At its peak, it saw almost 300 families queuing up – in a day – to have their portraits taken on 2018’s New Year’s Eve.

(Cover Photo: Wei Lin’s grandparents traveled from Harbin to have their family portraits taken. /CGTN Photo)