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'아이폰 Snap' Trend Among Engaged Couples
Increase in Related Scam Cases as Popularity Grows

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Recently, among couples preparing for marriage, the so-called 'iPhone Snap' has become popular. Unlike the traditional shooting method using expensive professional cameras, this method features capturing wedding moments using an iPhone. iPhone Snap is popular because couples can receive photos on the wedding day itself and it is relatively affordable. Additionally, many young couples post their wedding snaps on social networking services (SNS) because they can preserve the ceremony photos with the unique sentiment of the iPhone.

Click! Groom and Bride Photos with iPhone... 'iPhone Snap' Trend

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Recently, posts related to iPhone Snap have been continuously appearing on wedding-related online communities. A bride-to-be planning to get married in the first half of next year said, "I could ask a friend to take wedding photos, but it seems like it would be a burden for both sides, so I plan to have snaps taken. Although there have been many fraud controversies lately and prices have risen significantly compared to before, I don’t want to miss the iPhone vibe. If there’s a good company, please introduce it to me."

In the past, professional photographers at weddings often captured the groom and bride only at designated moments. However, as smartphone camera functions and performance have improved recently, companies specializing in this have started to emerge. Compared to professional cameras, the pixel count is not high, so it is difficult to expect sharp photos, but the advantage is that it can capture natural moments as usual.

Also, it is not uncommon for well-shot iPhone snaps to be posted on Instagram or YouTube Reels. In fact, searching the hashtag #iPhoneSnap on Instagram yields about 350,000 posts. In other words, iPhone Snap seems to be gaining popularity among young couples who value the atmosphere and sentiment of the day more than the photo quality.

Why 'iPhone Snap' Is Preferred Over 'Galaxy Snap'

Japanese photographer Atsushi's Instagram account 'aaa_tsushi_'

So, why are snaps using iPhones especially popular among smartphones? This is related to the younger generation’s preference for iPhones. According to the '2024 South Korean Adult Smartphone Usage Status' by Gallup Korea, 64% of smartphone users aged 18-29 in South Korea use iPhones. Only 34% responded that they use Galaxy. Among female respondents in their 20s, the proportion using iPhones was overwhelmingly high at 75%. Female respondents in their 30s also had more iPhone users (59%) than Galaxy users (38%). In other words, the prominent preference for iPhones among young people has led to the popularity of iPhone Snap.

Another reason for the popularity of iPhone Snap is the unique color tone of the iPhone. The photo color tones of iPhone and Galaxy differ somewhat. A Japanese photographer Atsushi posted a video comparing the image quality of the iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S24 Ultra on Instagram, showing that photos taken with the iPhone 16 Pro were expressed more warmly with a yellowish tint. On the other hand, the Galaxy S24 Ultra featured clean and sharp photos. Preferences may vary depending on individual taste, but among smartphone users, there still seems to be a perception that 'Galaxy is for landscapes, iPhone is for portraits.'

Increase in Crimes Related to the Popularity of iPhone Snap

Screenshot of the National Assembly Electronic Petition website

However, as iPhone Snap has become popular recently, related fraud has also been rampant, requiring caution. Some companies hire inexperienced people as part-time workers to shoot weddings. Also, so-called 'no-shows,' where photographers lose contact on the wedding day, occur frequently, causing distress for couples preparing for marriage.

Among these, on the 21st, a post titled 'Petition for Strong Measures to Eradicate Fraudulent Practices and Protect Victims in the Wedding Preparation Process' was uploaded on the National Assembly Electronic Petition website.

The petitioner, Mr. Jin, said, "Marriage is one of the important moments in life, and many people prepare with dreams of a happy future," but pointed out, "Recently, cases of fabric fraud, wedding attire company scams, and snap shooting company scams during the wedding preparation process have surged, causing the already economically burdened younger generation to give up on marriage." Mr. Jin explained that snap shooting company scams refer to "cases where promised photos are not provided after signing a contract or the company disappears after receiving a deposit."

He criticized, "Such behavior not only results in personal losses but also undermines trust in the entire wedding preparation process and could lead to social problems such as avoidance of marriage and childbirth."