meet the photographer

Hi! I’m Ji Su, the face behind sustudio photography. I’m so happy you’re here!

I’m currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area, but I grew up in Korea and Singapore (yep, I’m a third culture kid). I moved to California for college more than 10 years ago and I had no idea I would still be in the same state a decade (!) later. I live the quiet suburban life, with my husband and ginger kitty named Hodu. My little family and I enjoy our quiet lives Sunnyvale, looking forward to those Friday evenings with Korean fried chicken and cold beers. We love tropical, laid back destinations like Hawaii and Cabo.

Personality-wise, I thrive on variety - my perfect week involves something different every day (my very organized husband shakes his head at this idea). Combine that with being an empath, you get a photographer who’s both adaptable and emotionally tuned in. I bring a steady presence that can sense when you need a quiet moment to breathe, or get you excited for sunset photos with champagne in hand. I'll be right there catching all those fleeting moments - both the planned events and the unexpected, in-between moments.

Whether you're planning an intimate celebration in the city or a weekend in the vineyard, my goal is to create images that feel as authentic as they are artistic - the kind you'll look back on in years and still feel all the emotions of your day.

ISFP

I love personality tests — specifically the Myers Briggers test (aka MBTI). I first took the test more than 10 years ago, and I have always tested as ISFP a.k.a. the “Adventurer”. When I was in high school I didn’t think much of it but as I grew older and became more self-aware, I realize it describes me very well. Spontaneous, works well under pressure, and open to new experiences. As an ISFP, I'm naturally attuned to aesthetics and emotional authenticity, which might explain why I'm drawn to both the carefully planned details of a wedding day and those raw, unscripted moments of joy.

My own love story

This is my husband Paul and I on our wedding day at Saratoga Springs. We met on Hinge (like I said, very open to trying things) and I think we both knew within the first few months of dating that this was a long term thing :) We got engaged in the peak of the pandemic, and did a virtual civil ceremony 6 months after that. Finally a year and a half later, we were able to have a larger, in-person celebration (and by larger I mean 40 guests). We now live in the South Bay with our ginger kitty Hodu (a.k.a. walnut in Korean). One day I’ll take a non-incriminating photo of Hodu and put it up…

Coastal

I grew up in hot and humid Singapore, which meant that the only acceptable outdoor activity was swimming. Then I moved to California for college and I was shocked that ocean water could be so frigid, even in the middle of the summer. After years of ignoring the ocean, I recently realized how to enjoy the chilly Pacific Ocean — surfing with a thick wetsuit! Ever since discovering it a couple years ago, I go surf in Santa Cruz whenever I can make it out there. Now I’m a certified coastal grandmother who enjoys cruising on a soft top, and a giant lunch afterwards in downtown Capitola.