Specialties
At gugwa, we specialize in elegant Korean-style portrait photography, offering a clean and modern aesthetic tailored to every stage of life. From newborn sessions and family portraits to professional headshots and indoor wedding photography, we capture life’s most cherished moments with care and precision.
Our spacious 2,400 sq-ft studio provides a comfortable and unique experience, perfect for creating stunning portraits. We offer a wide range of services, from fun and affordable self-portrait sessions to luxury portrait experiences personally guided by Soohyun Kim.
The Glenview location stands out with its thoughtfully designed interior, featuring an art installation and custom wood furniture by renowned artist Sung Jang. The graphic design, including our logo and visual space elements, was crafted through a collaborative effort between Sung Jang, graphic designer Taekhyun Kim, and Soohyun Kim. This collaboration was carefully curated to provide a unique and inspiring experience for every visitor, blending artistic beauty with functionality.
Let gugwa create timeless portraits you’ll treasure for generations.
History
Established in 2017.
2017: Founded Studio Soo and Chicago Baby Photo Studio in Arlington Heights. Studio Soo specialized in Korean-style indoor wedding and engagement portraits, while Chicago Baby focused on fine art-inspired family photography, particularly 100-day-old baby and 1-year-old celebration portraits.
2018: Expanded to a new studio space in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, bringing our distinctive Korean aesthetic to a broader audience.
2019: Introduced video production services to complement our photography offerings, enhancing our ability to tell compelling visual stories.
2022: Rebranded as gugwa and opened a second location in Glenview. With the rebranding, we introduced Korean-style self-portrait studio services at both Chicago and Glenview locations, unifying the brand under gugwa to offer a comprehensive range of indoor portrait sessions.
Meet the Business Owner: Soohyun K.
Soohyun Kim, founder of Studio Soo | gugwa in Chicago, is an artist and educator with over 30 years of experience. A devoted husband of 16 years and father of two sons, Soohyun is passionate about building lasting relationships with families. His studio specializes in capturing life’s precious moments, from the joy of newborn portraits to meaningful family milestones.
Since launching Studio Soo in 2017 and expanding to gugwa in 2022, Soohyun has introduced the beauty of Korean-style photography and culture to the Chicago community. What began as a solo venture has grown into a talented team of artists, all dedicated to providing a refined, personalized, and modern portrait experience.
At Studio Soo | gugwa, Soohyun’s heartfelt approach and commitment to storytelling create timeless portraits that families cherish for generations. Visit gugwa to experience the artistry and cultural touch that make every session truly unique.