Turning everyday spaces into photo spots: A new photo experience created by Seeya and Epson

Overview of article

Inspired by South Korea's "4-cut photo" trend, Seeya is a smartphone-linked photo booth service with compact printers.
Seeya turns cafés and events into easy photo spots without expensive equipment.
This article shares the co-creation story from Epson Innovation Challenge in Korea and user feedback.

In an age where smartphones overflow with photos, the desire to "preserve memories in a more tangible way" is growing. Responding to that need, the startup Team Cherryish. Inc. in South Korea developed Seeya, a BtoB photo booth app that turns cafés, events, and pop-up stores into spaces where users naturally want to take photos. Behind this service lies a story of co-creation with Epson—an effort that reimagines the printer not just as a device for output, but as a tool that elevates the photo experience.

■Lee Hane (right in photo)
Founder, Team Cherryish. Inc.

What is Seeya?
Seeya is a photo booth service that can be used entirely from a smartphone. Users simply scan a 2D-barcode placed inside a store or venue, choose a frame, and take a photo. Within seconds, a high-quality "4CutPhoto" print is ready on the spot.
There is no need to purchase large equipment or pay high rental costs. Seeya can be installed easily in cafés, school festivals, and brand pop-up events. The app also includes an editing tool that allows anyone—even without design knowledge—to create original frames that match a brand or event atmosphere. It offers a real and flexible photo experience that lets users take home "the air of that moment and that place."

Seeya service page: http://seeya-print.com/

For Epson Connect and API information, please visit: https://openinnovation.epson.com/en/epson-connect/

Tangible memories for a new generation ─ The challenges of photo booth Culture

── What inspired you to start Seeya? What issues did you see?

Lee: In recent years, photos have become trapped inside smartphones, and memories—once physical—are now digital data that quietly disappear. Even if posted on social media, they eventually get buried. As a result, the desire for "tangible memories" is growing. However, traditional photo booths require large, expensive equipment, making them difficult to install in cafés or small events. The shooting area is fixed, limiting poses and composition, and frame design often requires specialized skills. Ultimately, the need for "a more casual, more photo experience" was not being met.

A complete experience from your smartphone: Seeya's "Anywhere photobooth"

── How did Seeya address these challenges?

Lee: Seeya solves these issues through technology. By simply connecting a smartphone to an Epson compact printer, any location can become a photo booth. Users select a frame and take a photo in the app, and within seconds a high-quality print appears. No PC, no staff—everything is handled on the smartphone. The built-in editing tool allows anyone to create original designs without using professional software. By removing the three barriers—cost, installation, and operation—Seeya enables a photo experience where memories can be shared and re-lived instantly.

Co-creation with a global company - Epson: The beginning of a new partnership

── How did your collaboration with Epson begin?

Lee: Our encounter with Epson began at the 2024 Epson Innovation Challenge in Korea. At the time, Seeya had no way to deliver digital experiences into the real world. With hardware development being difficult for a startup, Epson—with its trusted brand and Epson Connect API—was the ideal partner. Epson understood the fast pace of startups and provided ongoing technical support and feedback. Even after the Innovation Challenge, they continued as a "co-creation partner," not just treating us as a contest winner, helping us evolve our service into a practical business.

Click here for the details of Epson Innovation Challenge in Korea

Studio-quality prints in a small space ─ Real reactions from users

── What feedback have you received from users?

Lee: The most common reaction is surprise: "This quality... from just a smartphone?" Epson's high-resolution printing delivers studio-quality results. Store owners also appreciate that the system requires little space and almost no maintenance. Photos with brand logos spread naturally on social media, creating a new model in which "memories become advertisements." The "idol filter" feature is especially popular—fans love the experience of appearing as if they're standing next to their favorite artist.

Seeya's photobooth at a department-store pop-up let visitors capture and print moments that reflect the brand's atmosphere.

Turning everyday moments into entertainment ─ The future of photo experiences shaped by Seeya × Epson

── What is your future vision?

Lee: Seeya aims to "preserve fleeting moments in a form you can hold once again." Photos are not simply records—they are re-experiences. We want to create a culture in which anyone can freely take, share, and talk about their memories. Together with Epson, we hope to evolve photos into a "heart interface" that connects the digital and real worlds, bringing this value to more people.

Thank you for reading. While this article focused on the story behind Seeya and Epson's co-creation, a separate interview covers the technical integration with Epson Connect API in more detail. Please take a look at that as well.

Epson Connect API Powers a Cloud-Linked "Anywhere Photobooth"

https://medium.com/epson-connect-tech-blog/c00a832c03da

Want to learn more about the Epson Connect API?
Click here for details

Interview conducted: September 2025

Published by Seiko Epson

All information on organization names, affiliations, titles, and reported content was correct as of the time of the interview.