Makeup space photo studio in Seolleung: license photo, Deokseu Gallery

My driver's license renewal period was coming up, and I wanted to update my photo with a somewhat more "current" face, so I went and got a new ID photo taken. The last time I took an ID photo was maybe 3 years ago... I've heard of people who take one every year to keep a record, but each year goes by so fast that I just can't keep up with that haha. Anyway, since a driver's license, once issued, stays with you for a long time, I figured I should submit the most recently taken photo, so I went looking for a photo studio.

Where is Deokseu Gallery? 1 minute from Seolleung Station, near the Gangnam Driver's License Test Center

The place I shot at is called Deokseu Gallery, located just 1 minute on foot from Seolleung Station. Accessibility was really great since it's literally a 1-minute walk from the station. Every time I need to take a license or passport photo, I always agonize over where to go, but Deokseu Gallery is close to the Gangnam Driver's License Test Center and right by the station, which made it the most convenient option by far.

It's especially a great location for busy office workers, so there's no reason not to recommend Deokseu Gallery! It's known as a place people stop by during lunch break or after work when they urgently need an ID photo or profile photo.

It's even rumored to be a place that takes really great photos, so a lot of celebrities apparently visit too!? There were tons of autographs inside the store haha.

Deokseu Gallery is in the basement of the building, so you have to look carefully to find it. Buildings in Seoul are always confusing no matter where you go...

Deokseu Gallery's prep room: makeup space, hair iron and clothing rental

Another thing I loved about Deokseu Gallery was that the makeup space had a water dispenser, clothing rental, and a space where you could sit in front of the mirror to do everything from touching up your makeup to using a hair iron.

The mirror was nice and big so you could see yourself clearly, and there were all kinds of hair products, so if you didn't have time to prep beforehand, just come do it here at Deokseu Gallery! Plus the owner thoughtfully placed a separate mirror right in front of the camera, so you could check your appearance right up until the moment the photo was taken, haha.

Shoot, retouching and printing in 15 minutes with no waiting

Usually when you get an ID or profile photo taken at a studio, there's often a long wait, but at Deokseu Gallery near Seolleung Station, the whole process — shoot, 1:1 custom retouching, and printing — took only about 15 minutes.

During the shoot, the photographer thought through poses with me and coached me through different expressions and stances, so I didn't feel nervous and was well taken care of haha. It had been a while since I'd taken a photo like this, so it felt a bit awkward at first...

Once the shoot was over, they let me choose the shot I liked best from all the ones taken. Since I got to pick the best cut myself, I ended up much happier with the result.

How Deokseu Gallery's 1:1 custom retouching handles every request

Then they moved right into the editing. The photographer did the basic edits first, and then I could ask for additional touch-ups wherever I wanted. I had a lot of requests (haha...), but the photographer carefully handled each one, so I ended up with a photo I really loved. Even the smallest details were well taken care of.

I also liked that the retouching wasn't overdone — the shot still looked very much like me. The photographer at Deokseu Gallery naturally brought out the strengths of my features while also smoothing over asymmetries or flaws I usually feel self-conscious about, in a natural way. And this whole process takes just 15 minutes! Pretty great for busy modern people, right?

After all my many requests and demands, my license photo was finally born, haha! It had been a while since I'd taken a proper photo, but thanks to the photographer's dedication, it came out looking great, and I was so happy about it. I found Deokseu Gallery while searching for a good nearby studio for my driver's license renewal, and I was very, very satisfied with the fast turnaround and high-quality photo. Next time I need a personal profile photo, I'm definitely coming back to Deokseu Gallery :)