A place to make photographs
you will keep.

Soohyun has spent decades making photographs and nine years operating a photo studio in the Chicago area. His practice as an artist and photographer informs the way gugwa approaches people, light, and the finished image.

When planning a session, we will let you know who will photograph you.

Our studio has settings for different kinds of portraits. Tell us whom you want to photograph, what you have in mind, and any clothing or styling questions. We can discuss the options relevant to that session without assuming every arrangement is included.

Preparing for photographs can feel like one more task. We aim to make the plan clear, help you feel comfortable in front of the camera, and leave room to enjoy the session. Direction changes with the people and the photographs they want to make.

Retouching and print are central to gugwa. We consider what the photograph needs after the session and how you may return to it: as an image on your phone, in an album you open, or as a print you see at home. A personal or family portrait can bring back a moment and the people in it. Specific editing, product, and file options are explained for each service.