WHEN WALKING through the busy streets of Korea, it is all too common to see a self-photo booth, or a thematic photo booth store, on every corner. Strolling into a store to take photos in these booths has become a new phenomenon in Korea and is now an essential course of action for young people to capture the moment and make fond memories. Even with the advanced technology of our cell phone cameras, why does the younger generation flock to these self-photo booths? 

The self-photo booth boom

   People have enjoyed instant photos since the late 1990s. However, the recent concept of a thematic photo-booth store only started in 2018—with the company, In saeng ne keot (Life Four Cuts). Since the launch of their first branch in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, In saeng ne keot quickly rose in popularity and currently have 300 branches across the country. Even the name In saeng ne keot has become part of the colloquial vocabulary, as Koreans use the company name to refer to all photo-booth stores and photos regardless of brand. Self-photo booth stores have quickly become a popular attraction for all age groups due to their convenient photography and special features that allow for a richer memory-making experience[1]. 

   In saeng ne keot turned the act of taking selfies with friends into a culture of customizable self-photo shoots that are instantly printed and digitally accessible by a quick response (QR) code. By visiting a self-photo booth store, anyone can take photos with various props, colored backgrounds, and digital frames for printed photos[1]. 

   There are also decorated photo zones in the store where customers can take selfies of themselves without ever stepping into a photo booth. Self-photo booths allow people to accessorize themselves and leave happy memories in photographs that will remain forever. 

   This leads to another point; the self-photo booths are a collaboration of analog sensibility and digital technology. The default size of the photos is a 2×6-inch photo frame, which is instantly printed at the end of the photo shoot[2]. Every self-photo booth has a timer, typically allowing customers ten seconds to prepare for each photo. This creates a sense of urgency for customers to pose quickly, which enhances the photo booth’s specialty of candidness[2]. 

   Although the photos appear candid due to the timer, these self-photo booths do not miss out on the most important virtue of a photo studio: ensuring that the finished images are aesthetically pleasing. They guarantee aesthetics by using digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras and brightly colored backgrounds inside the photo booths. The photo booth machine also provides editing services such as adjusting the level of brightness before the photos are printed.

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Self-photo booths have successfully captured the needs and wants of the younger generation. From the poses to the frames and props, it is a great way to express oneself which is just what the younger generation craves to do. 

[1] DongA Ilbo

[2] Seoulwire