"In Photo Shoots, I'm Also a Celebrity"...The 'Photopress Generation' Who Are Serious About Photos [Youth Report]

Recently, a new term called 'Photopress' has emerged. It is a compound word combining 'photo,' meaning 'picture,' and 'express,' meaning 'to express,' referring to young people who record their lives through photos and share them with others. Following this trend, the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z) has been found to visit photo booths or invest without hesitation in equipment such as film cameras to create special memories.

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Lee (28), a third-year office worker, said, "When I meet friends, we take more than 100 photos a day," adding, "Starting with selfies, taking pictures of food, scenery, and various things, 100 photos go by quickly." He also mentioned, "Besides the phone camera, we sometimes take photos at Insaengnecut to preserve memories."

Photo booths like Insaengnecut have gained great popularity among young people over the past few years. They are characterized by a relaxed atmosphere where one can naturally show their true self. Additionally, photo files can be easily downloaded via QR codes, and the cost is relatively low, making it easy to enjoy without burden. In fact, the total number of stores of top self-photo studio brands such as Insaengnecut, Photoism, and Photogray increased by 21.6%, from 827 at the end of 2022 to 1,006 at the end of 2023.

Jeon (27), who works at a marketing company, recently visited Photoism alone to take pictures. He said, "I like actor Byeon Woo-seok, and since a Byeon Woo-seok frame was released, I went alone to take pictures," adding, "It felt like taking photos with my favorite celebrity, which was great, and if there is another collaboration like this, I would come alone again."

[Image source=Pixabay]

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Many ordinary people also visit professional studios instead of photo booths to express their unique personalities. Just a few years ago, studios were mostly visited by celebrities or athletes for photo shoots. However, with the trend of body profiles, ordinary people frequently visit studios to receive makeup and hair services as well.

Park (27), who took a body profile photo last year, said, "I wanted to capture my appearance after successfully dieting," adding, "It was a meaningful experience to take photos with the concept I wanted. Also, when I see compliments from acquaintances on SNS, I feel inexplicably proud."

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While the MZ generation showcases various personalities through photography, film cameras are gaining popularity among teenagers. Unlike phone cameras that allow instant results, the old cameras that require careful attention to each shot feel fresh to teenagers. Additionally, the retro-style camera, known as the 'Ditto Sensibility,' surged in popularity following the success of the idol NewJeans' music video 'Ditto,' which captures analog emotions.

In fact, KakaoStyle’s style commerce platform 'Zigzag' analyzed transaction amounts by age group over the past three months (May to July this year) and found that products like 'Kodak Film Camera' and 'Hug Y2K Digital Camera' were popular among teenagers.

The popularity of vintage digital cameras is not limited to Korea. The U.S. economic media outlet Business Insider stated, "Vintage digital cameras are gaining popularity among Generation Z, who seek unfiltered experiences," and predicted that "digital camera sales revenue is expected to increase by more than $1.4 billion by 2028."

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