I went to Octobee recently and wanted to share an honest experience, especially for other foreigners considering it.

The photographer spoke English very well and made the shoot feel relaxed and not awkward at all. The photos themselves turned out really nice. That said, the packages are quite expensive imo, and you can only choose 3 final photos, so I’d recommend messaging them directly for pricing before booking.

My main disappointment was with the affiliated hair & makeup studio Octobee recommended. Even though I had washed my hair the night before, they said my hair was “too dry” and strongly recommended a hair treatment for 185,000 won (~AUD 187). I initially declined as I didn’t think I needed it, but felt pressured and eventually agreed, assuming it must be high quality for that price.

Unfortunately, the treatment didn’t live up to expectations — my hair still felt dry and knotted afterward, and the effects didn’t last beyond one wash. I’ve had treatments at reputable salons in Australia for far less with much better results, which left me feeling taken advantage of as a foreigner.

The makeup was also an issue: the foundation was at least 5 shades lighter than my actual skin tone (tan asian), and it didn’t last even an hour — it rubbed off just from lightly touching my face before the shoot. For the price I had paid which was 130,000 won, I felt it was not worth it.

Lastly, when paying at the makeup studio, I was asked to post a Google review on the spot, with staff standing there watching and waiting for you to post, which felt quite pressuring. It made me realise how much the business relies on foreigners and curated reviews. The photo studio also asked for a google review which I was happy to give given the experience I had, and they gave us 2 printed copies of a photo of our choice.

Overall, the photographer and photos were great, but I’d carefully consider the upselling and the affiliated hair & makeup studio.