Late last year, I heard from a group of friends who wanted to collectively offer a gift to the Nowak family. The group thought that the Nowaks would enjoy a portrait session in Tokyo since they would soon be moving on from their life in Japan. Of course I was happy to provide a gift certificate for the Nowaks and looked forward to scheduling their custom session. After receiving their digital gift, the Nowaks promptly contacted me and set their family portrait session shoot for a day in early winter. Here in Japan, winter doesn't mean frigid temperatures or heaps of snow. In fact, winter in Japan is more than pleasant and kids generally do a great job out and about in the brisk air (In all honesty, it is my favorite time of year for family sessions in nature or in the city). While it was chilly on our scheduled date, the Nowaks were still ready and keen to head into the streets of Tokyo. For an hour or so, the Nowak family and I strolled through the backstreets of Shibuya, opting to skip the hustle and bustle of the main thoroughfares for the calmer alleys that locals are familiar with. The Nowaks and I had a great time together. Their young son had a wealth of energy that I was eager to keep up with. In the end, we created a wealth of images that will not only serve as a reminder of their time living in Tokyo, but of the time when they were a young family. Are you searching for a relaxed family portrait session in Tokyo or elsewhere in Japan? If so, reach out today to find out about my family photography services and how I can serve you in Japan or beyond. More Family Photography Sessions In Tokyo After nearly three years of closed borders, Japan has recently invited tourists to return. With this news, flocks of adventurers are heading towards the Japanese capital. While many visitors are coming on impromptu trips to Tokyo, droves of tourists have waited patiently for this moment to come, to finally have the Japan trip they envisioned over 1,000 days ago actually happen. Last November, I heard from Shan and Jase, a couple who had long ago hoped to be in Japan to celebrate their honeymoon. Shan wrote: Hi! My husband and I are finally traveling to Tokyo at the end of November and would love to have a couples portrait shoot. We planned on having a pre-wedding shoot in Japan. But, as you know, Covid happened. So here we are... now wanting to have a post-wedding shoot instead. My husband would do away with a photoshoot (or even a wedding ceremony) if he could. But fortunately, he has a wife who'd remind him how important it is to have these moments captured so that they can be reminisced upon years from now. My husband is grounded, enjoys peace and quiet and his routine - while I enjoy spontaneity and dancing like no one's watching. Opposites do attract! One of the main reasons why we want to have a photoshoot in Japan is so we could have a good time during the shoot - cool weather, good food, and enjoyable walks. Although I'm not good at expressing the look and feel I'm hoping to achieve in the photographs, I can say that I'm very aesthetic oriented. After reading reviews about your services and looking through your portfolio, it seems like your portrait sessions are perfect for us. We're making the best of life now and traveling to our hearts' content! Considering this, please let us know if when you're available in Tokyo and your rates. I was thrilled to hear from Shan and Jase and wanted to create a custom session that would be allow the couple to have a relaxing time together and to see some of Tokyo. In the end, Jase and Shan decided on booking a half day post-wedding portrait session. We met on a crisp day in late November. With several hours together, we were able to explore the parks and shrines surrounding Ueno, navigate the bustle of Harajuku, and meander through sights of Shibuya. More, we were able to make hundreds of photos that will allow Shan and Jase to reminisce on their time together in Tokyo years from now. Are you searching for a couples, pre-wedding, or honeymoon photographer in Tokyo, throughout Japan, or beyond? If so, reach out today to receive a quote for your own portraiture session. More Couples Photography in Tokyo
This was the first spring the O'Connor family had been in Tokyo to see the sakura for a decade. Considering this, Mark wanted to make this spring extra special by treating his wife Kaori to a family portrait session as a birthday gift. I got to work and created Kaori a custom made an e-gift certificate. Mark let me know that she was thrilled and eager to schedule our session. For years the O'Connor family have lived outside of Japan. But now, with a son and new opportunities in Tokyo, the O'Connors decided it was time to move back "home." Luckily, the O'Connors made it back to Japan at the perfect time of the year. Tokyo is a special place during the early spring (late March). The pink and white sakura blossoms are just starting to bloom. The air is still crisp. For many, this part of spring is a signal of rebirth and new beginnings. For sure, this time is an auspicious one for the O'Connor's return to Japan. Since the cherry blossoms were not yet roaring, we decided to head to Shinjuku Gyoen, one of my favorite private parks in Tokyo. We would have a stroll, see the sakura beginning to bloom, and celebrate both Kaori's birthday and the O'Connor family's return to Japan. In the end, our plan was perfect. We created a wealth of imagery that would serve as a birthday gift for Kaori. But more, the images are a document of a forward transition for the O'Connor family. I was honored to take part. If you are considering a family portrait session in Tokyo or somewhere else in Japan, reach out today to learn more about how I can help. More Family Photography in Japan When the Meinholds reached out and scheduled their family portrait session date, we knew there was a chance that we would miss the peak bloom of Japan's famous cherry blossoms. The Meinholds, however, were okay with that. It had been three years since the family had created any family portraits and they were well past due for a fresh set of family portraits. Cherry blossoms or not, the family was more than ready to get outdoors and capture their evolution since their last photography outing. I loved the Meinhold's attitude and, as a father, know how important it is to capture families in different stages of life. On our shoot day, I met the Meinhold at their home in western Tokyo. Our plan was to capture the family in their environment. It seemed only natural for our portrait session to incorporate elements of the Meinhold's daily life in Tokyo. The kids could play in the park and then we could navigate the streets of Tama that the family has grown to enjoy over the past years. Even though the majority of the sakura blooms had dropped and spring leaves were mostly in, we still managed to find a couple of groves in Nogawa, a vast park in western Tokyo. We spent a lot of time relaxing the park and making portraits on the street close to the Meinhold's home. For the rest of our portrait session, the family and I explored an area along the Sebu-Tamagawa line, popping into local temples, and meandering through the neighborhood that the Meinhold's call home. I couldn't have asked for a better day as a photographer in Tokyo, Japan. Are you in need of a photographer to capture your family? If so, reach out today to find out more about my portrait photography services and to book your portrait session. More Family Photography In Tokyo, Japan
Are you searching for a portrait photographer in Tokyo, throughout Japan, or beyond? If so, contact me today to start a conversation about how I can best serve you. More Portraits In Tokyo
As a photographer in Tokyo, I get requests from a wide range of clients. I never know what kind of photographs I am going to be asked to create. From editors inquiring about editorial assignments to mothers searching for a photographer to shoot their son's bar mitzvah, each day brings a uniquely interesting client. One segment of the expats in Tokyo that I always love to hear from are the service members stationed in Japan. I recently heard from Jeremy. He wrote: Andy! I am hoping to contract you to create some professional headshots to use on my business school and LinkedIn profiles. I live in Yamato, Kanagawa but work on Camp Zama’s airfield. Regarding a personal branding portrait session, I’d like to incorporate a professional vibe of course. Clean backgrounds seem appropriate. My target industry following business school is management consulting, so I want to appear conservative yet welcoming. I’m also going to business school on the East Coast, so I imagine a more conservative appearance is the norm. I figure taking cues from the partners’ profile photos is a reasonable strategy. Can you help me? I was happy to hear from Jeremy and knew that we could easily knock out some professional corporate branding images together. After receiving such a detailed inquired, I also knew that I could travel to him in Kanagawa and that this small effort would make my client's shoot day less stressful. I quickly responded and carved out a day on the calendar for Jeremy. In the end, I spent just one hour with Jeremy but created more than 50 images for him to use as he embarks on his new adventure in corporate life. Are you in need of headshots or personal branding images for your next chapter? If so, contact me today to see how I can help out or to directly book your session date. More Personal Branding Photography
It was quickly apparent that Admir was going to be a great portraiture client. He was gregarious, full of life, and had a smile a mile wide. As a portrait photographer, I want to know as much as I can about my clients before photographing them. Understanding a person's background helps me decide how to navigate their. portrait session. With this said, the more Admir and I talked, the more impressed I became. Born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Admir's story runs deep. When war broke out, he became a teenage refugee. During the Bosnian war, he fled to Croatia where he was able to enroll in a technical high school. Though he was originally accepted as a non-matriculating student, Admir displayed tremendous efforts and was awarded a high school diploma. With sponsorship and support, he then enrolled in university and soon started a company which worked to preserve ancient cultural heritage. Years later, he received his doctorate in chemistry and eventually made his way to America. Now, Dr. Masic is currently a scientist serving as a career development professor at MIT. He is also a researcher, studying the characterization of archaeological materials with the objective of inspiring the design of more sustainable and durable building. After learning Admir's story, I was honored to create some new personal branding images for him and to share some time together here in Tokyo. More, I was honored to work with an intellectual whose life serves as an inspiration. Are you in need of new imagery to help propel your personal brand? If so, reach out today to start a conversation about how I can best help you reach your goals or to learn more about my session offerings. More Portrait Sessions
I shoot a range of genres. But my primary love is portrait photography. Without a doubt, a portrait photographer has one of the most intriguing jobs in the world. I find the whole process utterly human and it invigorates me. During a portrait session, I get the chance to connect with another person in a way that is intensely personal. My clients and I get to experience a certain amount of vulnerability together. With keen awareness, I am allowed to observe different aspects of my clients and am always grateful for being permitted to capture those fluctuations of spirit. Portrait sessions are both empowering and cathartic for clients and photographers alike. There's nothing else like it. Because of this, I am always am excited when I receive an inquiry from anyone who wants or needs images of themselves. A recent request came from Sui. She wrote: Hi Andy! My name is Sui, and I’m currently living in Tokyo. I recently joined a model agency and they need some pictures of me to help me get bookings. I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to get some professional photos taken. I enjoyed browsing your website and looking at your portraits. I would appreciate a photography quote and to learn about your upcoming availability for a portrait session. Even though I didn't yet know Sui, I was proud of her for taking the steps necessary to follow her dreams of becoming a model in Japan. I quickly responded and asked Sui some probing questions. I wanted to understand her larger ambitions so that I could help her create the images that would help navigate her to her ultimate goals. I wanted to know more about her personality and what type of images would connect who she is at the core to her professional aspirations. After learning a bit more about Sui and how I could best help her, we moved forward and scheduled a portfolio building session. Are you considering a leap into the modeling world in Tokyo or anywhere else in Japan? If so, I would be delighted to discuss a custom portfolio building session with you. Reach out today to learn more about my portrait offerings or to directly book your session date. Related Posts
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