Soohyun Kim & gugwa
Meet Soohyun Kim, the artist, photographer and educator behind gugwa.
Soohyun began photographing in Korea as a teenager. For nearly three decades, he has made portraits alongside his own photographic art, carrying that practice into every studio session.
In 2017, while taking over Chicago Baby, he photographed his sons Ian and Sean. Their portraits still hang in the studio. As a father, he understands why families return to photographs as the years change.
Soohyun’s independent work explores place, labor and belonging through the lives of the people he photographs. He has taught photography and visual communication at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Saint Xavier University and Trinity International University.
At gugwa, that practice becomes conversation, attention to light and gentle direction. Choosing the photographs, retouching and making the print are part of the same work. Some clients return from their wedding with a baby, then a growing family; each visit brings another part of their lives into the photographs.
In 2017, Soohyun founded Studio Soo and acquired the established Chicago Baby. Those years of photographing people and families led to gugwa—‘nine fruits’ (九果)—which opened in 2022.
Studio Soo’s wedding photography and films and Chicago Baby’s baby and family sessions now continue together under gugwa. We carry forward the experience of both brands and their full range of wedding, baby and family services.
gugwa also photographs individuals, couples and personal celebrations. Studio Soo continues to serve businesses and institutions, while Soohyun’s independent art remains a separate practice.
2012 · Soohyun moves from Korea to Chicago to study art.
2017 · Studio Soo begins; Soohyun takes over Chicago Baby in Arlington Heights.
2018 · Studio Soo and Chicago Baby move into a Chicago studio.
2022 · gugwa opens in Glenview.
2025 · The Chicago studio closes.
2026 · gugwa continues in Northbrook.