One of the popular trends in Korea is taking a photo at a photo studio. You can capture the memory with your friends or families or even by yourself! Among the various photo studios in Korea, self-portrait studios that allow you to take and edit photos yourself are especially popular. Today, we would like to introduce you to Because Friends, a self-portrait studio where you can take and edit photos on your own.
Because Friends Hongdae Branch
Information
Hours: Wednesday - Monday 11:00 - 20:00 / Closed on Tuesday
Available reservation times: Wednesday - Monday 11:00 - 19:30
Address: 2F, 25 Donggyo-ro 27-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
서울 마포구 동교로27길 25 2층
Why We Recommend It
At Because Friends, you can take self-portraits using a remote control without a photographer, making it easier to capture your own charm.
The studio offers two distinct booths: the darakbang(attic) booth and the event booth, allowing you to take unique and creative photos.
One of the studio's unique features is its cozy and magazine-like color tones that enhance the overall appeal of your photos.
Despite its affordable pricing, the service includes professional photo editing, providing excellent value for money.
Conveniently located near Hongdae Station, you can explore the lively Hongdae area while waiting for your photos to be retouched.
Things to Keep in Mind
Please make sure to be punctual for the reservation time and date.
The reserved time indicates the starting time of the photo shoot. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early for preparation and waiting.
For additional options such as original copies and photos of different sizes, you can confirm the actual samples on-site and make payment at the studio.
In the event of lateness, the shooting time will be deducted, and if the delay exceeds 10 minutes or there is a no-show, the reservation will be automatically canceled, and refunds will not be provided.
Please note that the retouching service is available for pick-up until 16:30 on the same day. For pick-up after 16:30, please visit the studio on the following day.
Photo prints will be kept for up to one month, so please make sure to collect them within one month.
You will receive two edited photos via the email address provided in your reservation information.
All prices are based on 2 people. Additional costs will be incurred for extra people and should be paid on-site.
For a single person shoot, the price for 2 people applies.
When accompanied by infants or pets, the price for 1 person will be charged.
There are no size, weight, or species restrictions for pets, as long as they can be controlled.
Event options change concepts quarterly.
Retouching time typically takes about 1-2 hours but may vary depending on the situation on-site.
For any reservation changes or inquiries, please contact us at help@creatrip.com.
During Photoshoot
When taking photos, please allow about a 3-second delay between pressing the remote control button, as pressing it too quickly may cause it to stop.
Do not touch any equipment other than the camera. The camera angle is fixed and cannot be moved.
Pulling the remote control forcefully may cause the camera to fall over.
Props must be put back in place after use.
If you damage the camera, you may be held responsible by the studio.
Review Event
If you leave a review on the Creatrip page, you can receive one pocket-sized photo as a service. After checking the reviews, they will select one of the retouched photos for printing. Don't miss this opportunity!
| When you write a review on Creatrip, you can get one free pocket photo |   |
Price
Please make a reservation at least 2 days in advance.
Both packages are based on 2 people, and additional charges apply for extra persons (on-site payment).
For a solo photoshoot, the price will be the same as for 2 people. If you are accompanied by a baby or a pet, it will be considered as 1 person.
Duration
- Darakbang (Attic) Rectouching (2 people): 30 minutes (15 minutes photo shoot + 15 minutes selection)
- Event Retouching (2 people): 35 minutes (20 minutes photo shoot + 15 minutes selection)
| Darakbang (Attic) Rectouching (2 Persons) 2 prints (5x7 size) and 2 retouched versions 50,000 KRW |  |
| Event Retouching (2 Persons) 2 prints (5x7 size) and 2 retouched versions 60,000 KRW |  |
Refund Policy
| Canceled before 3 days of visit | 100% refund |
| Canceled before 2 days of visit | No refund |
How to Reserve
- Please fill in all the required information accurately on the reservation page.
- Please proceed with the full payment.
- Once the payment is completed, your reservation will be confirmed within 1-2 business days.
- If there is a need to change the reservation date or time, you'll be contacted via e-mail or messenger apps.
- During your visit, please show your reservation details to the staff.
Darakbang (attic) Concept Example
Our Visit
Today, we visited the Because Friends Hongdae branch. Because Friends Hongdae branch is divided into darakbang (attic) booth and event booth, so you can choose a booth you prefer. We visited during the opening hours, so there were no other customers. The store has a cozy atmosphere with a combination of yellow and wood.
Especially, there were two teddy bear dolls welcoming us, and the teddy bear doll next to the mirror can be taken as a prop for the photos.
Many photo studios have separate photo zones, and similarly, at Because Friends, there is a cute photo zone right in the center of the store. After receiving the photos you can take pictures at this photo zone!
Before starting the photo shoot, you can choose the props. Please keep in mind that it might take some time to select the props, so it's recommended to come earlier than the reservation time. The editor will be shooting both the darakbang (attic) concept and the event concept today. Let's start with the attic concept photo shoot!
Going up to the darakbang(attic) studio, you feel like climbing up to an actual attic. On the day the editor visited, it was raining heavily, and in such weather, we had to take off our shoes to go up to the darakbang(attic) studio.
In the darakbang(attic) studio, there are some important precautions that need to be followed, which applies everywhere you go. One of the important points to note is that when taking photos, there should be a slight delay of around 3 seconds between shots. Pressing the button too quickly may cause the camera to stop unexpectedly. Furthermore, it is important not to touch any equipment other than the remote control during the photo shoot. The camera angles are fixed, making it difficult to move them around. In addition to these, please refrain from pulling the remote control too strongly or mishandling any props, as you may be held responsible for any damages.
Once the staff sets the timer and leaves, you can now start the photo shoot.
You can check each photo on the front screen after taking it. You can monitor if the focus is correct and if your expression and pose look natural, making adjustments as needed.
Now it's time for event concept studio. Once the staff is ready, you'll enter and listen to the instructions, and then you can start the photo shoot by setting the timer, just like before.
The editor found it a bit awkward to take photos alone, so she brought a big teddy bear doll. Thanks to the cheerful expression of the teddy bear, it helped to ease the awkwardness! If couples come together, it would be fun to take various situation-based concept shots.
After the photo shoot is finished, you don't need to check the photos on the monitor in the studio. You can comfortably do the selection outside the studio.
Next to the event concept photo studio, there are two sets of chairs and laptops prepared. You can do the photo selection here.
Similarly, there are guidelines for photo selection in front of the desk. The photo selection time is a total of 15 minutes, and photos marked with a heart in the gallery cannot be gathered together for viewing. At Because Friends they provide two retouched versions as part of the service. If you want to purchase the original photos, additional payment is required, and the original photos will be sent within 3 days.
After taking all the photos, you take a seat with the guidance of the staff. Please select two photos to retouch using the paper on the left. The staff marked the areas where you should fill out, making it easier to fill in the details.
Since the editor took two sets of photos with different concepts, she selected two photos for each concept. If you have many photos that turned out well and would like additional retouching, you can check the corresponding option on the paper and make on-site payment. Also, don't forget to leave your email address, as they will send the retouched photos to your email. Once you've made all the selections, hand the paper to the staff. Depending on the store's situation that day, they will inform you to come back after a few hours to collect the photos. In our case, since we visited before 16:30 during the morning hours, they asked us to come back in approximately 2 to 3 hours. The best part is that since it's in Hongdae, there are plenty of things to do while waiting for the photos!
When we revisited the store after 2 hours, the staff first showed the retouched photos and asked if there were any additional adjustments the editor wanted. However, they did such an excellent job with the retouching that our editor didn't feel the need for many additional changes. Once the retouched photos were confirmed, they proceeded to print them. The printing process took about 5 to 10 minutes, and then the editor received the final prints.
After waiting for about 10 minutes, the photo printing was completed. Now, I'm going to the photo zone to take some pictures!
Event Retouching 60,000 KRW
Darakbang Retouhcing 50,000 KRW
If you leave a review on the Creatrip page, you can receive one pocket-sized photo as a service. After checking the reviews, they will select one of the retouched photos for printing. Don't miss this opportunity!
How to Get There
Leave exit 2 of Hongik University Station.
Go straight to the left from the exit.
Cross the crosswalk at the three-way intersection and head to the right.
Continue straight ahead.
Make a left turn at the first alley.
Go straight for about 100 meters.
Turn left at the third alley counting from the left.
Please enter the building that looks like the photo.
Go up to the 2nd floor.
You've arrived!
Because Friends Hongdae Branch
We hope that you can visit this place and take nice pictures! If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or send us an email at help@creatrip.com! You can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook to stay updated on all things Korea!
