Our Story
The best decision we made on our trip
This is what guests most often write in their reviews. We’ve done more than 1,950 shoots in Kota Kinabalu alone and met over 6,500 guests. Along the way, we learned that good photos emerge once you feel comfortable in front of the camera. That’s why, before pressing the shutter, we first prepare for the hour ahead.
Don't worry if you feel a little awkward in front of the camera.
Most people who come to us are having their very first snap photo session. The word “awkward” appears 26 times in our reviews, and interestingly, every single one ends with “you helped us relax.” That’s why we buy and bring nervous guests mango juice, play songs they might enjoy through our speaker, and let bubbles float through the air. Once you feel comfortable, your expression changes, and that expression is captured just as it is in your photos.
Even my husband, who doesn’t enjoy having his picture taken, had such a fun and easygoing time with the photographer. It had been 10 years since he’d had photos taken, so it must have felt incredibly awkward and challenging, but he never showed any reluctance and enjoyed the whole experience so much!
The light in Kota Kinabalu follows its own schedule.
There’s a precise timetable that only someone who’s watched the skies over many years would know: which season and which beach will light up, and exactly when. It also tells us when tourist crowds are at their peak, which spots stay quieter, and where to move if it rains. Your shooting time and route are planned by someone who knows all of this.
Honestly, I was worried it would be crowded because it’s such a popular place. But it was quiet since it’s a photo spot known only to people at Cinehansoo, not tourists.
We'll meet in front of the hotel and part ways there as well.
We won’t ask you to make your own way to the shoot location in a hot country. We’ll pick you up from your accommodation and take you back when the shoot is over. We also keep chilled bottled water in the car. Many of our reviews mention the pickup service in particular because, in a hot destination, we believe the experience starts the moment we pick you up.
We’ll send you the photos as soon as they’re ready.
Wedding photos typically take one month to receive, and in some cases, it can take two to three months. At Cinehansoo, we send all the original files within 7 days of your shoot, and the color-corrected photos within 30 days of the date you make your selections. If you need your photos sooner, you can request expedited editing for an additional fee, and we'll deliver them within your preferred timeframe.
Wedding photography companies often take a month, or even two or three months, to deliver edited photos or the originals... Your turnaround is incredibly fast!
Things I’d like to tell you in advance
Basic editing includes color correction. Detailed retouching, such as skin and body shaping, is charged separately per photo. Please note that sunset sessions don’t guarantee that you’ll actually see the sunset, as there are days when clouds cover it even when the weather is clear. All packages, except for the landmark package, have a 60-minute shooting time. We wanted to let you know in advance in case this helps with your booking.
Photography team
Your shoot will be handled by Rozer, a local photographer who lives in Kota and knows the light and locations here. Our representative is currently in Korea and is not conducting shoots. They take care of planning the route and reviewing the final images.
SEHYUN
Sehyun’s field journal
A personal journal where Sehyun, who leads our shoots, records the light and people he meets while traveling — separate from the snaps, in photographs and field notes.
Read the journalCinehansoo in Numbers
1,950+
Shoots completed
6,500+
Guests photographed