The photographic essay series "The Business of Love" explores the complex connection between love, money and society's expectations of relationships. The work explores how the pursuit of love, or the desire to give value to relationships, entices people to spend significant sums of money. The visual narrative unfolds at various locations and events, including the "TrauDich" wedding fair in Berlin, speed dating events, single date trips and the "Matchmaker" festival in Lisdoonvarna, Ireland. I also want to tell personal stories, for example of people who place newspaper ads or pay for love oracles. At the same time, I want to highlight the other side - those who earn their income from love, such as singles brokers or dating app operators. The photo series avoids stigmatizing the participants and instead focuses on the longings and fears that people experience in the context of their search for love.
The aim of the project is to give viewers an insight into the world of love as a commercial commodity. At the same time, the images are intended to encourage critical reflection on the role of money and the media in shaping our ideas of love.
