I majored in pottery in college. Becoming a potter was not my dream; I chose the major to match the scores I needed for a university in Seoul. It was fun but didn’t quite suit me. Throughout my college years, I struggled with choosing a career path. Eventually, after graduation, I shifted gears and applied to an interior design company. I was confident in my eye for colors and had always been interested in decorating spaces since I was young. I thought I could leverage this strength. Despite lacking a relevant degree or experience, they saw my potential and hired me. I was fortunate to meet great mentors, learn a lot, and manage significant projects, gaining recognition and eventually leading a small team. After about a decade, I decided to resign.

I was pregnant with my first child, and the physical toll was immense. Commuting became torturous. After working in the same company for over a decade, I needed a break and planned to return to work after some rest. However, as soon as I quit, former clients began reaching out with job requests. I could work from home, so I freelanced. It was less physically demanding, and I earned significantly more than I did at my previous job. For a while, I thought freelancing was indeed for me. But that was a misapprehension. I felt myself falling behind. When you're in the field, trends come to you, even if only during lunch conversations. Working alone, I started to feel outpaced. And as hard as I tried to be more proactive, balancing work and motherhood had its limits. I realized I couldn't keep up with the younger generation and reconsidered my career path.

I was hired for an interior design project near Samgakji during this period. The building had a café on the first floor and a restaurant on the second, with an attic on the third. The client mentioned that the attic had a great view and was too good to be a storage, offering it to me at a low cost if I needed a workspace. I had always harbored dreams of starting my own business, so I deliberated. Nearly 90% of those around me were opposed—my family, in-laws, and friends all discouraged it. My first child had just started elementary school, and my second was four years old—a demanding time for parents. But my husband was the one who supported me. He believed it was a waste for someone with my sensibilities to work from home and encouraged me to pursue what I truly wanted. Bolstered by his support and somewhat defiant against the overwhelming opposition, I wondered, "What could I do with this space?" Suddenly, the idea of a 'photo studio' came to mind.

I was quite a ‘photography enthusiast.’ It was the era of film cameras during my youth, and I carried one wherever I went. The film was expensive, so every shot had to be carefully considered. I thought about composition with each frame and poured all my affection into the subject. After shooting, I'd scan each photo and adjust the colors. When I uploaded these to Cyworld, the response was overwhelming. Among my friends, I was always known as the 'kid who takes great photos.'

Also, my in-laws ran a small photo studio in Jinju. During the holidays, I helped out a bit—the kind of rural studio where you take a photo and print it immediately. I'd adjust the images in Photoshop before printing, and the elderly customers loved it. These memories gave me a vague confidence that I might do well with a 'photo studio.'

Of course, I did. Looking back, I wonder how I could have been so daring (laughs). It was an absurd situation. I barely knew how to handle a camera's manual mode and set up lighting. I often wondered whether I could do it. But I enjoy the thrill that comes with taking on something new. I realized that even if I failed, the only consequence would be personal embarrassment, as I had no employees or substantial capital involved. Although there was some pressure, it wasn't overwhelmingly frightening.

What I'm doing now is entirely unrelated to what I did before. In the pottery department, I developed an eye slightly above the typical taste, and the skills and sensibilities I learned at the interior design company enabled me to plan spaces. I've learned that no experience is useless, and there's no such thing as wasted time.

It was a tiny, three-pyeong space in an attic. There was even more opposition because it was an attic—how could we put up a sign, and who would come all the way here for photos? At that time, Amorepacific was a beacon of hope. Almost nothing else was around, but the Amorepacific building was shining brightly. They were planning to move into a new office building next March. Our building was also set to be completed in March, so I felt good about the timing. I was confident that if a trendsetting company like Amorepacific moved in, it would bring a fresh breeze to Yongsan.

The restaurant in the building was called 'Kakibaum,' which means 'persimmon tree' in German. The building, a renovated 50-year-old house, had two large persimmon trees. The trees seemed symbolic, and the restaurant's interior used persimmon and green as their primary colors. Naturally, we named the photo studio 'Gamnamu Photo Studio.' A grand, sophisticated English name didn’t fit our modest space. The logo was created in just five minutes. Looking down at a persimmon calyx that had fallen in the yard, it looked just like a flower. Inspired by this, I designed the logo to resemble a camera flash bursting in the shape of a persimmon calyx within a square frame.

Unbelievable things happened. It was just a day we were setting up the lights before the official opening, and two Amorepacific employees visiting the café downstairs came up wondering, “What is this place?” Usually, I'm pretty extroverted, but I was so nervous with the first visitors that I didn't know what to do. My mother was there, and seeing me freeze, she took their hands and asked them to spread the word. Whether her sincerity touched them, they offered to post about us on their company bulletin board. They immediately uploaded the discount coupons we had prepared for our opening event, which sparked the first wave of booking inquiries. Most of our initial customers were from Amorepacific. We were overwhelmed with customers before we were fully prepared, making the early days quite challenging. We learned through trial and error, often using the customers as unwitting test subjects (laughs), and gradually improved our services. It's no exaggeration to say that Gamnamu Photo Studio started and grew with customers from Amorepacific.

It's still a wonder to me. When I look at those early photos, they may lack technique, but they exude a heartfelt warmth. The customers' expressions are incredibly relaxed. As any photographer knows, the expression is everything. Large, lavish studios can be overwhelming, but our small space's cozy and intimate atmosphere made our customers feel comfortable.

It's a personal preference, but I don't like backgrounds that are too elaborate or cluttered with items around the person. They can look dated after a while. I figured there must be customers who share my taste, so we decided to focus on capturing expressions against a clean backdrop.

There were a few that specialized in simple, black-and-white portraits. Other than that, many studios operated with package deals—from maternity photos to first birthday shoots—and these were quite expensive. You had to pay extra to buy the original prints. Every parent wants to preserve as much of their child's growth as possible. I thought it would be nice to have a studio that was more accessible and reasonably priced. I decided to pioneer that market. The same goes for wedding photos. I've always wondered why adding 'wedding' to anything makes it more expensive. At Gamnamu Photo Studio, we shoot wedding photos at the same price as couple photos. Because of our affordability, we've been dubbed 'the conscientious photo studio' or 'the kind photo studio.' It feels rewarding to think my effort to alleviate my discomfort resonated with our customers.

The entire process takes less than an hour, from shooting to editing and printing. We try to keep the shoots brief. As soon as we capture a natural expression, we end the session. Longer shoots can tire customers, worsening their expressions. Then, we pick and edit the photos together, which is also fun. Customers can take their prints home immediately. I hope the experience of taking pictures is enjoyable and memorable for our customers. Especially for children, I want to instill the notion that 'photo studios are fun places, places to play.' So, we aim to make the shoots as short and enjoyable as possible.

People are often quite nervous when they first come to the studio. Since I'm an 'ajumma,' I use my ability to chat and smile even before we begin shooting, which helps customers relax. Many people are beautiful but feel insecure about their looks. However, everyone has their unique beauty. During the shoot, I continuously compliment them on these aspects, which boosts their confidence and helps bring out more natural expressions. Nothing is more important than viewing our customers through a lens of appreciation.

Initially, customers come for couple photos, then return for wedding and maternity shots, and later for their baby's 100-day and first birthday photos. Afterward, they revisit for birthdays or anniversaries. Out of curiosity, I once asked why they kept coming back. They told me it feels like leaving an annual task unfinished if they don’t. Documenting life with photos has become a habit for them.

Seeing these customers makes me hope that the culture of capturing a family's growth through photography becomes even more widespread. That's why we strive to keep our prices accessible. It's genuinely fulfilling when a large family says, ‘We’ve never been able to afford a family photo before, and this is our first one.’ Gathering the whole family for a photo is meaningful yet surprisingly challenging. We focus on enhancing our core offerings so customers can receive satisfying results at reasonable prices.

I don't really encounter many demanding customers. On rare occasions when a customer does prove challenging, I look inward to find the reason, asking myself, ‘What is wrong here? Could there be a fundamental issue?’ This introspective process has always helped me grow. However, challenging customers comprise only 1% of my clientele; the other 99% are like vitamins that energize me. Mainly, being able to work with babies is a true joy. Babies are utterly harmless. The happiness you feel when a baby smiles is indescribable; they're adorable even when they cry. The energy that these little lives exude is powerful. That’s why I think my job satisfaction is so high.

While the small space had its advantages, it also had its limitations. I wanted to take large family photos and full-body shots, and I felt apologetic to my regulars for always using the same backgrounds. I hoped to expand but didn’t want to leave this area. After three years, we finally moved to this building. When we first moved here, it was a quiet alley with an old-town vibe. I worried about not having enough customers, but as the area known as ‘Yongnidan-gil’ became a hotspot, the influx of younger people increased, and more walk-in customers started visiting.

It was incredibly challenging when the children were young; every day felt like a battle. However, I've always been ambitious about my work, so I continued juggling parenting and my career. As a freelancer, I worked from home with the help of a nanny. After opening the photo studio, I constantly scrambled to find someone to look after my child amid daily emergencies. There wasn’t a single day without its struggles. Yet, battling through, I reached a point where my child became more independent. If you can find someone to help with parenting until that phase, the day will come when juggling work and childcare becomes significantly easier.

I hope mothers don't feel too guilty about working. My children grew up more self-reliant because I worked; they take great pride in having a working mother. The very deficits created by my working hours became gifts for my child, turning into opportunities for growth and independence. It would be good to step back a little from too much worry and fear.

Leaving a company where I had worked for many years, I was worried about my career. So, I made sure to keep a foot in the industry, whether through hobbies, part-time jobs, or freelancing, to keep my edge. Fortunately, even after resigning, some people sought me out, allowing me to maintain connections with professionals in the field. My philosophy is this: if I am to succeed, those around me must also succeed. It's essential to wish well for others and, further, to assist them in their success. By continually accruing such goodwill, it eventually comes back around. I've received help from unexpected connections numerous times. If you leave a positive impression on someone, they will remember you when they need someone for a job.

I've never felt burnt out, not even when working 18-hour days or pulling all-nighters. There’s never been a moment when I wanted to step away from my work. Perhaps it’s because I always carry a sense of gratitude. While some may have taken a long and winding road, I feel I’ve slid down smoothly. It’s a stroke of luck I’ve received without asking, and with it, a belief that I mustn’t complain but be thankful. Interestingly, when you abbreviate ‘Gamnamu Photo Studio,’ it becomes 'Gamsa,' which means ‘thank you’ in Korean.

The Amorepacific building was sensational back then and still is. As I passed by, I wondered how happy the employees working there must be. It's been only seven years, but having this opportunity to do an interview is a great honor. Amorepacific has played a significant role in the growth of Gamnamu Photo Studio. Its mere existence is something I'm profoundly grateful for.

They radiate positive energy and are incredibly courteous. Even though they are customers, they come equipped with a service mindset. I treat everyone I meet as a potential client, and it seems that they inherently embody this attitude, which always makes it a pleasure to meet them.

We currently have seven employees, and watching them grow has been truly enjoyable. I've achieved my dreams to a certain extent. Rather than wishing for more success for myself, I want to help my employees succeed. Without them, I wouldn't have come this far. My goal for the next ten years is to expand and allow employees to manage new branches independently. Just as our main branch in Yongsan has established itself well, I hope our second branch in Pil-dong will also solidify its place.

Finally, to show our gratitude to our customers, I'd like to host a tenth-anniversary exhibition for Gamnamu Photo Studio. It would be meaningful for our customers to see the progress they've made over the decade and for us to reflect on our journey. There are four more years to go. I plan to use the preparation time to communicate with our customers and share our gratitude.

epilogue
Every time the shutter clicks, happy moments are captured forever. While watching Kim Hye-jung at work, I thought a photographer who catches fleeting memories resembles a magician. May she continue to capture more happiness for many more people.