How To Start A Kpop Photocard/Album Collection
Having a Kpop photocard/album collection is one of those rituals that many Kpop fans follow. It is because they want to showcase their passion for Kpop bands and stars. This is how they show their love for their favorite celebrities and bands they admire. If you are a Kpop enthusiast who’s always looking to boost Kpop enthusiasm, then you have come to the right place.
This guide will help you with everything you want to know for collection photocards/albums of different stars and music groups of Kpop. Keep reading this blog!
How It Started:
Girl’s Generation, a well-known Kpop girls group, released photocards with their album ‘Oh’ back in 2010. On the other hand, the pop-duo TVXQ had photo cards for their album in 2007.
As of now, there are so many companies who are rolling out photo cards at the moment, and they are trying their best to push them to their hungry fans. Almost every group has its own photocard nowadays.
Starting Your Very Own Kpop Photocard Collection:
Whenever you are thinking of starting a Kpop photocard collection, it is crucial to have it planned before you jump into the process of starting it. You have to spend your time doing research on which Kpop star or group you want to collect, what type of photo cards and how much money you are willing to invest in your collection.
Start by searching for the ‘group name’ photo card template to find out which photo cards have been released so far. Most of these templates contain album photocards and POBs/store-exclusive photocards, but you will also find some that have other photo cards as well.
Types of Photocards:
- Regular Album Photocards
- Broadcast Photocards
- Pob’s/Store Exclusive Photocards
- Event-Based Photocards
- Polaroids
Important note: The size of a Kpop photocard is 55x85mm (2.2x3.5in). Some of the Kpop photocards are smaller in size than any other trading cards like Pokémon, etc. Trading cards are usually 63x88mm.
Album Photocards:
These photo cards that you will see most often because they are the cheapest ones, and you will see them on any marketplaces.
A standard Kpop comes with one or more photo cards inside them, depending on the album. Usually, you will find 1 or 2 photocards per album, but groups like TWICE are known for adding 3 to 5 photocards per album. Photocards that are meant for the out-of-print albums are intended to go at a higher price as compared to the photocards for in-print albums.
Price: USD 8$ to 12$ | The amount in the album (2 photocards in one album would be $4-6)
Broadcast Photocards:
These photocards are distributed among the participants who attend music shows whenever a group is promoting it. Fans can attend music shows like Mcountdown, and if they get inside it, they will get a broadcast photocard. However, there’s a limit to how many participants are eligible to attend one show, and it is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Most of the time, there’s one set of photocards on every promotion, and they are rare in the market as compared to regular photo cards as you have to go to the music shows in a set period of time.
Price: $50+ (Depending on the groups' popularity)
POB’s/Store Exclusive Photocards:
POB’s (Pre Order Benefits) or store-exclusive photocards are photo cards that you will get whenever purchasing an album via a specific store for a limited time.
There are some famous Kpop stores that have POB’s and store exclusive photocards for fans across the world. You can take a look at them. Speaking of exclusive photocards, you can check the Kpop Merchandise Online store for official Blackpink merchandise.
Price: $10-15 for one card per album (2 cards/1 album = %5-8)
Event-Based Photocards:
Fans can get these photocards whenever they are attending any events like concerts, pop-up stores, merch stores, etc. It doesn’t require you to purchase any album for the photocards.
It can be photocard sets which will be given whenever you are buying merch for 10 USD, or it could be 100 limited photocard sets which are only available at the concert site. The price depends on what kind of event it is and how accessible it is.
Price: $2 to $500.
Polaroids:
Polaroids aren’t exactly photocards, but they are in the same league. They are usually given out to the fans during events and giveaways. Most polaroids have been a common gift to give fan-sign video call winners. Polaroids can be signed or not signed, and they can be decorated with stickers.
Price: $50 to $500
Where To Buy Photocards:
Since you know about the photocards and which you want, now the real question comes to your mind, where do you buy them from? Almost every purchase and sale of these photocards is done online via different marketplaces. eBay, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, to name a few.
You can read about the tips whenever purchasing photocards online:
- The price of the photocard is usually higher on marketplaces like eBay. It is because of the fees, but this platform is also the safest place to buy such stuff.
- Always avoid paying via F&F (Friends and Family) with Paypal. It is because if you choose this payment rail, you will lose all your rights as a buyer, and it is impossible to get your money back. However, you can check out our website to get official photocards of your favorite Kpop group or celebrity from us.
- Always ask for proof of earlier sales. Some of the sellers on Instagram have proofs in their highlighted stories.
Storing Your Photocards:
Most of the people in the Kpop community like taking a look at their photocards and keeping them in immaculate condition, with the collection in a binder. However, it is not the most protective way to store your photocards, but it does the job for you.
You can get clear plastic sleeves which will protect your photo cards from getting scratched. You will find many sleeves in the market, and it depends on your preferences. Pick the one that you like. On the other hand, you can get a top loader, which is a single card sleeve made out of thicker plastic.
Moreover, the market is filled with one-touch cases. They will protect and keep your photo cards safe from almost everything. They are simple, and you can easily get your photo cards in and out. The best part about these cases? They have UV protection. These cases can be used for collecting the stunning Blackpink photocard moments collection in one place.
Kpop fans, what’s stopping you from starting your own Kpop photocard/album collection? Start it today and get all the photocards that you always wanted.