Geoje first birthday photoshoot: Samsung Hotel to Ongidang

Photos from about 2 hours of a first birthday party at Samsung Hotel and Ongidang in Geoje.

Hi, I’m author S.
Today I’m sharing photos from a Geoje first birthday photo shoot, a dol (the Korean first birthday party).
The last time I shot a first birthday party in Korea was in 2014, so it’s been almost 12 years.
Of course, I’ve shot plenty in Prague.. but there they were mostly outdoors, while in Korea they’re mostly indoors, so it feels different again.
Before coming back to Korea, I’d heard that these days people don’t throw huge first birthday parties like they used to, and keep them small, just family. So I knew what to expect, and things went smoothly.

Here’s the star of today’s party.

The plan was to shoot in the Samsung Hotel courtyard first and then head to Ongidang. Originally we were only going to shoot at Ongidang.. but since it was cherry blossom season, we asked the hotel for permission, and that’s how we ended up shooting here. They seem to have a connection with Samsung Hotel, so I guess that’s why they helped us even though the first birthday party wasn’t held at Samsung Hotel.
As for me, when I heard “Samsung Hotel”.. I thought of the Shilla Hotel and parked far down the hill.. but it turns out you can park nearby here.

My photos.. are closer to documentary than to anything staged. So many of my shots capture people exactly as they are. That includes crying: if the baby cries, I photograph it.
Because in about 10 years, it becomes a story you tell.

As for hanbok.. I really do think traditional hanbok is beautiful.

Here they’re moving along naturally. At this point.. the cherry blossoms were only half out, so they’re walking toward an area with more blossoms.

I get one with the hotel in the background too.

And I capture the baby running excitedly too.

Shots like this always look best with nothing staged.

Crying is a memory too.

Well.. it’s not a particularly impressive photo, but it’s the most natural one.

A lot of my photos are taken on the move. I actually keep shooting even while we’re moving.
Just like I always have in Prague and Okinawa.

This photo is staged.
Still, you need at least one where everyone’s looking at the camera.

A quick reset before we head over to Ongidang.

I’d parked way down the hill and had to walk about 10 minutes, which may be why the family got here before me.

I capture the event preparations too.

Actually.. I make a point of taking plenty of photos of the baby with their grandfather.
Grandfathers tend to hang back during shoots like this, so when you look through the photos later, they often appear in the fewest shots.
So I keep asking him to get involved. When you say it’s a photo with the grandchild, they’re usually happy to join in.

The older sibling.. picked up a balloon from the 70th birthday party venue next door.

Now it’s time for the formal group photos.

Shooting little by little in between

I shoot the baby alone at the first birthday table too.
Dad is holding the baby around the waist from below.

I never tell anyone to smile. It’s a taboo phrase.
I keep everyone entertained and take photos as they enjoy themselves.

Here I do give a few instructions.
The baby must never end up a bit player in the photo. The grandfather and grandmother have to bend down to the baby’s level.

This one is a candid shot. Like candid photography, it was taken naturally without the client knowing, with no posing at all.

Again, I have the person being photographed move in close to the baby.

Ever since we got to Ongidang.. the baby keeps looking only at the camera.. so natural, unposed photos like this are a bit rare.
In the old days, babies wouldn’t look at me and it was a struggle.. these days babies look only at me, which is a problem.

One more shot before I finish at the first birthday table. The older sibling is busy playing with the balloon.

Photos like this are rare.. so this one goes into my selects for now.

Now the event begins.

I capture them sitting and getting ready too.

Today’s celebration follows a Christian format.

Does the baby even know what it is? Isn’t that adorable?

Looking at me again.

Locked in on me.
Everyone else is singing praise songs, and the baby has eyes only for me.

They’re watching a year’s worth of photos and videos using a projector.

It shows everything from the day the baby was born.. to all the mischief. Well.. causing a ruckus is a newborn’s job, after all.

A truly rare smile.
I don’t try to force a smile. I capture the baby just as they are 😀

Careful observation.
I’m recording what they did and what they saw during the event.

For the doljabi, instead of objects like a judge’s gavel, a stethoscope, money, or a pencil, they used a paper scroll with Bible verses written on it.
I’ve photographed a lot of first birthday parties, but maybe because it’s been a while since I did one in Korea, this felt really fresh.
In the old days, they used a judge’s gavel, thread, money, a stethoscope, that sort of thing.

Which one will it be?

The message was that the baby would grow up into an adult with the wisdom of Solomon.

Mom takes care of the rest of the program.

And that’s how the Geoje first birthday party photo shoot came to a close.
The space was a bit tight, so it was hard to make full use of it, but I hear small events like this are the trend these days, so I’d better get used to it.

I hope you always stay healthy and grow up to be an adult with the wisdom of Solomon.

I used to charge less because I had no portfolio, but now I have photos like these to show, so I now charge 500,000 KRW throughout Gyeongnam and Busan. The shoot runs about 2 hours, and if you’d like it private, meaning none of the photos are published anywhere outside, such as a website or blog, it’s an extra 50,000 KRW, which you can add on the payment page. For other areas, please get in touch.
You can find booking info and contact details on the Sarangbi Snap page.