Maternity photos with dress rental at Seongsu self-photo studio U&E

Why we shot it ourselves at U&E Studio Seongsu instead of hiring a photographer

U&E Studio Seongsu is a self-photo studio on the 3rd floor of 347 Gwangnaru-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. I thought there was still so much time left after confirming the pregnancy, but suddenly here we are at 35 weeks... time really does fly. I gained a lot of weight during pregnancy and wasn't really into having my photo taken to begin with, so I hadn't planned on doing maternity photos. But as the due date got closer, I felt like I should leave something behind for the future. So through a good opportunity, we went and took maternity photos at U&E Studio Seongsu.

We actually had a free maternity photoshoot voucher included in our postpartum care center package, but my husband and I thought it would be a bit awkward having a photographer shoot us in a studio. So after thinking it over, we decided — let's just shoot ourselves comfortably and freely! — and while searching for info, we found U&E Studio Seongsu.

Parking and directions: 4 first-come spots behind the building

We booked in advance through Naver Reservation and arrived at our scheduled time. Even though it's in Seongsu, it's tucked at the edge of the neighborhood, so it wasn't crowded even on a weekend, which was nice.

We drove there, and there was plenty of parking space behind the building, which was convenient. However, only 4 spots along the wall line are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you visit in the afternoon there might not be a spot left. In that case, they told us you'd need to use a nearby paid parking lot. Using the building's parking lot is free!

U&E Seongsu is located on the 3rd floor of the building. Once you're on the 3rd floor, go to room 302 on the left.

When you step inside, a staff member comes out to guide you — we changed into indoor shoes and headed into the hallway.

How big is the shooting room at U&E Studio Seongsu?

They led us to the shooting room at the far end, and I saw a clean studio with high ceilings. It was bigger than I expected, plenty of room for several people to shoot together. Looking at reviews, a lot of people do group photos there too — now I see why.

Dress and shoe rental for 5,000 won

The best part was how varied the props were. First off, there was a good variety of dresses and shoes, which seemed really useful for self-wedding shoots, maternity shoots, and more. Costume rental costs an extra 5,000 won, but if you tried to prepare your own outfit and shoes separately for a shoot, it usually costs double in both money and time — so this felt like a big advantage.

The props: dolls, balloons and a fake cake

Looking through reviews, a lot of people bring their babies along for family photos too. There were kids' outfits of course, plus dolls, glasses, balloons, cake models, and all sorts of other props — actually using them during the shoot made it fun instead of boring.

There were also flowers and larger props — honestly, out of all the self-photo studios I've tried, this had the widest variety of props. My husband and I tend to freeze up a bit when taking photos, but with so many props to use, we looked less awkward, which was great!

The makeup area and fitting room

There's also a makeup zone and fitting room, so it was easy to change outfits and get ready.

There were several sample shots posted on the wall too, which were great for referencing poses and prop ideas. Those props and examples really helped us out!

How the shoot works: remote control and monitor

The shooting setup was simple — press a button on the remote and it takes the photo automatically — and there was a monitor right in front so we could check each shot as we went.

We tried out each prop one by one and shot all kinds of photos, and when we checked the shots on the computer at the end, I loved them. Shooting ourselves really did make things look more natural and less stiff.

When do the original files and prints arrive?

They sent the original photos to the email we'd given in advance. From those, you choose a total of 5 images, including one for an event, and they retouch and print a total of 6 photos. This process takes about 5 days from when you select the originals to delivery. The printed photos were sent by courier, so we didn't need to make another trip, which was convenient.

I liked the originals, but the retouched versions definitely had a more polished, put-together feel. Seeing them made me love them even more, and I know we'll cherish them as a precious memory!! If you want a relaxed, natural vibe for your maternity photos, I recommend U&E Seongsu!