Changdeokgung Palace
Tiago張鈞策
7 months ago
This shop also offers luggage storage service, allowing us to easily wear hanbok to nearby Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung Palaces without worrying about the burden of carrying bags. The shop also works with photographers, so you can purchase professional photography services.
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A Journey Through Time: An Unforgettable Experience Taking Photos in Hanbok at Changdeokgung Palace
South Korea has always been one of the travel destinations I long for the most, and on this trip, what I looked forward to most was taking photos in a hanbok at an ancient palace. Compared to just skimming through tourist attractions, I much prefer experiences where I can truly 'step into history.' So, I chose to do a hanbok photo shoot at Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul. I didn't just rent a hanbok—I also hired a professional photographer to follow me throughout the experience and capture this dreamy journey.
This article aims to share my complete experience with everyone, from making a reservation, wearing a hanbok, the photo shoot process, to my thoughts after receiving the final photos. I hope this can help friends who are interested to smoothly experience the beauty of this Korean culture.
The reservation process is very simple. You just need to choose the rental time, shooting hours, and desired shooting location (I chose Changdeokgung Palace because Gyeongbokgung Palace is closed on Tuesdays). Finally, check whether you need a photographer’s service. The photographer will arrange a suitable shooting plan according to my needs and also briefly consult me about the style I want (such as artsy, classical elegance, lively and cute, etc.), which is very thoughtful.
Hanbok rental (2 hours, get 1 extra hour free
Professional photographer accompanies for shooting
I think the price is quite reasonable. For this kind of photography experience, it’s about 100,000 Korean won, which is less than 3,000 TWD.
I arrived at the designated hanbok rental shop half an hour early on the day of the shoot. This shop is located near Changdeokgung Palace, and the transportation is very convenient—it's about a five-minute walk from the subway station. The staff in the store were very friendly. Although they mainly spoke Korean, simple English and Chinese, along with hand gestures, were enough to communicate. Plus, my chosen style was listed on the reservation form, so preparations began quickly. The process of trying on the hanbok was very exciting! The staff helped me put it on and recommended the most suitable colors and styles based on my skin tone and body shape. I originally chose a blue hanbok, but when I saw a dress in bright pink with gold embroidery in person, it was just too beautiful, so I changed my choice right away. Wearing this hanbok made me feel so much more elegant, as if I had really traveled back in time to
The photographer is a Chinese man who can speak some English, so communication is not a problem. He was very friendly when we met and started by briefly introducing today's shooting schedule and the photo locations. We mainly took photos at several famous spots inside Changdeokgung Palace, such as the courtyard in front of Injeongjeon Hall, the paths beside the Secret Garden, and the long red-walled corridor.
The whole photo shoot was very enjoyable. What impressed me the most was a picture we took in the red-walled corridor at Changdeokgung Palace, where the sunset light shone perfectly on my face, making the whole scene soft and romantic. The photographer even crouched down or found different angles to capture the most beautiful composition, which really showed his dedication to his work. We shot for a full two hours. Although it was a bit tiring, being in such a beautiful setting, wearing a hanbok, and having a professional photographer capture the moment felt truly amazing.
About three days after the photo shoot, I received a cloud album link from the photographer. There were about 100 unedited original photos, so I could freely choose which ones to keep. If I needed retouching, I could send back 10 photos for detailed editing.
The style of the photos is very clean and natural, with no excessive retouching, preserving my true appearance. Even friends who usually aren’t interested in travel photos took the initiative to ask me how to make a reservation, which made me feel that this trip was really worth it.
If you are also planning an independent trip to Korea, I highly recommend setting aside a day for this kind of hanbok photography experience. It's not just about taking a few commemorative photos—it's a valuable journey where you can deeply experience the beauty of traditional Korean culture and capture it as a lasting memory.
Here are a few small suggestions for interested friends to consider:
It’s recommended to book in advance: especially during peak travel seasons (cherry blossom in spring, autumn foliage), otherwise popular time slots fill up easily. But there weren’t many people when I went.
Choose to shoot before 3 PM: The lighting is best at this time, and especially the architecture of Changdeokgung looks more layered in the afternoon. Allow more time for hair and makeup: Although hanbok is gorgeous, it can make your complexion look dull, so it's recommended to do a full face of makeup to look better in photos.
No worries if you're not familiar with poses: the photographer will guide you. Just relax and enjoy the moment.
Choose your favorite hanbok style: It's more important to wear what suits you than just listening to others say it looks good.
This hanbok photoshoot experience not only gave me a set of very precious photos, but also made me feel as if I traveled through time and space in just a few hours, experiencing the elegance and beauty of women from ancient Joseon. The photographer's professionalism, the gorgeous hanbok, and the grandeur and sense of history at Changdeokgung made the whole process feel like a dream. Traveling is not just about taking photos for social media check-ins, but about enriching yourself and creating more stories through different cultural experiences. I will always cherish this hanbok photography journey in my heart, and I look forward to having the chance to do it again in the future. Maybe next time I can try a couple's hanbok or even a nighttime palace photoshoot.
