About Hanbit Kwon
I'm a Philadelphia-based photographer trusted by leading institutions and community organizations to document the civic energy, culture, and defining moments of this city.
As a Korean American, my approach to photography is shaped by Buddhism and a grounded, nuanced view of the human condition. Before picking up a camera professionally, I worked as a first responder in New York City's diverse neighborhoods — work that taught me what social awareness actually looks like up close. I've also navigated my own share of difficult family and emotional dynamics, which gave me an early, hard-won fluency in reading suffering beneath the surface and seeing it with clarity rather than judgment. That layered understanding of what human beings carry shows through in the way I photograph.
I'm currently shifting my focus toward institutional and media work, and winding down private commissions. I still take on a select number of weddings on a referral basis per summer.
Trusted By
Media: WHYY / Billy Penn
Universities & Healthcare: Drexel University, Thomas Jefferson University
Community & Civic Organizations: Food & Water Watch, Bread & Roses Community Fund, Gender Justice Fund, WCRP, Studio 34 Yoga & Healing Arts, Helen Gym for City Council