Photo Blog | Tokyo, Photographer

I arrived a few minutes early at our pre-determined meeting spot. I'm always early as the thought of a client having to wait on me is the stuff of my professional nightmares (seriously, I fret about it). Upon arrival, immediately noticed J&K. They had shown up moments before and seeing them prompted a wave of shame within me. But, I was also filled with hope for humanity knowing that are others in who still value punctuality. 

After a gregarious greeting, we chatted a bit about our session. I wanted to learn more about J&K's artistic tastes. They were, of course, familiar with my work and were able to articulate that they wanted a set of images that was "conservatively artistic." J&K didn't want the overly cheesy set of maternity photos that we have all seen on Pinterest. But, the expecting couple didn't want me to go completely rogue (which I love to do) and deliver over 100 monochrome images full of motion-blur and double exposures. I knew exactly what they meant and, with a good idea of what J&K had in mind for their product, we started our portrait session.

We headed into one of my favorite spots in western Tokyo and strolled towards a section of the location that I knew would be great for maternity portraits. As always, the location was empty, an incredibly rare treat anywhere near the Japanese capital. I was happy to see that the sakura were still in bloom and was excited to utilize the cherry trees in some of our images. 

I spent 90 minutes with J&K, the perfect amount of time to create a massive collection of imagery that will serve as a reminder of this special time in their lives. I had a blast with J&K and haven't laughed so much during a portrait session in a long, long time. Being around the couple reminded me of the time, years ago, when my wife and I were expecting our son.

My time with J&K was wonderful, a perfect spring afternoon during a spring that is anything but perfect. I was honored to be hired as J&K's portrait photographer and wish them nothing but luck as they enter the new chapter in their relationship as a family. 

Are you expecting a new family member? If so, I would be honored to serve you. Whether you are located in Tokyo or beyond, contact me today to begin discussion your custom maternity session. 

Spring has finally come to Tokyo. The plum blossoms have come and gone. Now the sakura blooms are having their turn. All around Japan, streets are lined with cherry trees bursting with pink and white fluff. It is a magical time of the year and I am always amazed by the natural beauty on display.

As we all know, this spring has been exceptional due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are no massive hanami parties with thousands of Tokyoites downing sake together. Cherry blossom festivals around Japan have been cancelled. You can't even get a sakura flavored latte because Starbucks is closed (as it should be).  This year, there isn't frenzy and mass capitalism surrounding the natural spectacle and we are left to enjoy sakura season in its purest form. 

With the sakura blooms here, it is the perfect time for family portraiture in Japan. I was delighted to hear from the Confers, a family of four living in the suburbs of Tokyo. The Tama-based foursome decided to book an extended session to celebrate the coming of spring.

Japan is not in a lockdown. Still, I wanted to make sure that the Confer family felt comfortable during their session and that we were being socially responsible by distancing ourselves from others. Considering this, we decided on some locations that would be void of other people. 

I was eager to get out of the house and into the fresh spring air with the Confers. To my delight, we started our session surrounded by sakura in a place that I had hoped would be relatively isolated. As I suspected, there were very few people basking under the sakura trees which gave us the space to make some images and to relax under blossoms in full bloom. From there, we hopped on bicycles and meandered along the banks of the Nogawa River. Every now and again we parked, took some portraits, and soaked in the beautiful scenery surrounding the river. 

With stunning blue skies, spring flowers, and a ton of laughs, my ninety minutes with the Confer family flew by. Honestly, the spring photography session was just the thing I needed to lift my spirits during this unusual spring and I couldn't have asked for a better day as a portrait photographer in Tokyo.

It had been over a year since I had seen Nicola, Alex, and their sweet girl J. I couldn't believe how much J had grown since I last saw her. Her curly hair bounced up and down and she ran down the street to greet me. J is one of those kids who is endearing the moment you see them; you can't help but smile and giggle at the sight of her. 

As Alex and Nicola caught up to their toddler, I noticed that the couple was likely expecting a new member of the family. After hugs and greetings, Nicola confirmed my suspicions. Knowing that Nicola was pregnant immediately made our family photography session that much more special. While maternity photography is far from my specialty, I enjoy it. There is something powerful about photographing an expecting family and I was pleasantly surprised that this portrait session was really of a family of four, not three. 

The Sergeants and I roamed around Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, a massive green space plopped right next to one of the most congested neighborhoods in all of Asia. The ponds and little bridges, open lawns, and well-manicured gardens are an oasis of tranquility and one of the best places in Tokyo for portrait sessions of this type. 
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Just like my last session with the Sergeant family, our time together went off without a hitch. For an hour or so, we ran around the park, visited some of the quiet spots in the gardens, and made a ton of great images that will hopefully serve as a reminder of this special time in the Sergeant's life. I couldn't have asked for a better day as a family photographer in Japan or for better clients.

I recently heard from Michael. He wrote:

I was in Lalibela, Ethiopia when I received Michael's inquiry. Over the next couple of days, the internet went in and out. But, thanks to the internet gods, Micheal and I managed to plan an anniversary portrait session for the day after my return from Ethiopia. 

We decided on a street-style session in Shinjuku, one of Tokyo's most popular neighborhoods. As Kaelyn and Micheal had seen some of my work from previous sessions in Shinjuku, they wanted to take a similar route visiting Omoide Yokocho, the backstreets of Kabukicho, and the infamous Golden Gai.

I was more than willing to take the couple of a similar path that I had offered previous clients. But I wanted Michael and Kaelyn to know that I would be creating custom images  for them (I did not want to simple recreate another client's session). Micheal and Kaelyn were more than happy with that caveat. 

I loved Kaelyn and Michael the minute I met them. Not only were they on time, they were dressed like Tokyo locals. Before our session began, we chatted a bit. I learned about their backstory (they met at a dance studio in New York City), where their anniversary trip had taken them, and that Kaelyn had just broken her tailbone a few days earlier on her first run down a ski hill here in Japan.

Wait... What? You read that right. Kaelyn had a broken tailbone. I checked to see if the couple still wanted to move forward with the session. To my surprise, Micheal and Kaelyn were keen to roll on as planned. I was impressed with how badass Kaelyn was and was shocked that the pair hadn't cancelled the session.

We decided then and there that we would make our time together as relaxed as possible. We would ensure that any posed portraits wouldn't be pain inducing and that we would work very, very slowly. 

For the next ninety minutes, Kaelyn (bless her) and Micheal were the perfect clients. We had a great time meandering through the streets of Shinjuku, laughing and making fun of ourselves along the way. In the end, it was an amazing January afternoon as a couples photographer in Tokyo, Japan. 

It seems like with each flip of the calendar there is another natural phenomena to look forward to in Japan. During December, I enjoy the yellow blasts of the ginko trees when they fully turn and the warm-colored carpets they make of the streets when the leaves decide to drop. In mid-February, the bright pink plum blooms accent the carefully manicured ume trees in the parks and neighborhoods throughout Tokyo. I look forward to the late summer rains that turn foliage so lush that one would think they were in a sub-tropical paradise. And, like everyone else, I anticipate late March or early April when the majestic sakura season comes.

The arrival of the cherry blossoms means a variety of things. The sakura signal that winter has finally yielded and that the Japanese spring is roaring in with force. The sakura also inspire deeper musings. The sacred blooms relate to the natural cycles of life and remind us how fleeting our existence is. The cherry trees burst open, show their glorious nature, and are quickly gone. So is life.

Last spring I had the opportunity to work with several couples and families under the sakura blooms. One of those clients was the Yung family. Many of my clients elect to have their portrait sessions in packed locations like Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden or along the edges of the Meguro River. But the Yungs wanted to keep things simple and save the majority of their day for touring the Japanese capital with their friends. 

​I was thrilled to avoid the blossom-crazed crowds. I had the perfect spot in mind, a place in Tokyo's Midtown that was full of sakura trees and façades that would be perfect for family photography. As luck would have it, the spot was also within a short walk from the Yung's accommodation. 

The Yungs were a lovely bunch. By the end of our family photography session, we were able to quickly capture a slew images with and without the iconic cherry blooms. In under an hour, the family of four waved goodbye and headed into town to enjoy all that Tokyo has to offer. 

At the close of the year, the portrait season has wrapped up. I  typically experience a long break between the autumn rush (when families, couples, and individuals want to capture the Japanese fall in all of its red-orange-yellow glory) and the spring madness (when clients keep their fingers crossed that photographers still have a plum or cherry blossom date left in their schedule). After the beginning of December, it is rare that I receive an inquiry for portraits in January or February. But, to my surprise, I heard from Akane right before I left Tokyo for Christmas holidays. She wrote:

Last year I heard from Gullivers Sports Travel, the UK’s leading (and longest established) sports tourism operator. For those unfamiliar with Gullivers, the company has mastered the art of running supporters trips to major sporting events worldwide. Over the years Gullivers has built a solid reputation, upheld by their personal service and full understanding of the needs of those who travel across the globe to watch sports live. Considering this, Gullivers wasn't going to miss the opportunity to host a tour to Tokyo, Japan for the 2019 Rugby World Cup (RWC).

Sadly, I wasn't on hand to photograph any of the RWC tests. I was, however, delighted to be commissioned by Gullivers shoot event photography for their Tokyo-based RWC forums. The RWC forums were a chance for guests to meet and hear insights from some of the Rugby world's most recognizable names. Referee Wayne Barnes was on hand to give his overarching insight into the tournament. Moreover, there was a panel discussion with Mike Tindall, former rugby beast and current member of the British Royal Family. 

I was honored to shoot the events and to hear some insight into the world of sport. I was also happy to collaborate with the kind folks from Gullivers and the loyal rugby supporters who came from Europe to take part in the fandom surrounding the 2019 Rugby World Cup here in Japan. 

Returning to Japan, I got straight to work. My first editorial photography assignment of the year came as soon as I returned to Tokyo. Mabuhay Magazine, sent me over to Tsurutokame, an amazing sushi restaurant operated by an all female staff, to make some portraits of the chefs, management, and exquisite sushi on offer. 

Up next was a multi-day event for ShipChain, a logistics platform utilizing blockchain to provide increased visibility, traceability, and efficiency. The January conference gave both investors and employees a glimpse at what was in store for the company in 2019 and beyond.  In addition to shooting the event, I was also commissioned to photograph a full run of corporate headshots. ShipChain wanted an editorial feel to the imagery and I was happy to oblige. 

Another editorial assignment rolled in from SkyLife, Turkish Airlines' publication crafted for first-class passengers. I was tasked to shoot a group of spectacular chefs and the Japanese cuisine they are known for. From piping hot sukiyaki to Michelin Star winning tempura, I was happy to photograph the chefs, the dishes, and to sample some of the finest cuisine in the Japanese capital. 

Next was a chilly portrait shoot with Kyoko Matsushita, CEO of Essence’s Asia-Pacific region for Adweek followed immediately by a personal branding session with Melissa, an Australian television presenter making waves here in Tokyo.

Unlike years past, January and February were busy. As the snow fell in February, I hit the road to document some of the tours offered by TripAdvisor Experiences. From the sumo stables of Tokyo to the iconic slopes of Mount Fuji, the commercial project kept me busy for a few weeks and was a great way to close out the shortest month of the year. 

March finally came but spring was still a way off. Temperatures remained chilly and luckily my next commissions were indoors. In March I switched to event photography mode and worked with the both the Government of South Australia and the organizers of the Tokyo Marathon.

My time in Kyoto wasn't just limited to the interiors and exteriors of EPH. To help expose their hotel guests to Kyoto's rich cultural heritage, EPH also commission me to produce an image library for their social media channels. For a few days, I hit some of my favorite spots in Kyoto, Japan's cultural center.

As soon as the Kyoto-based project was completed, I boarded a Seoul-bound flight. It was awesome to be able to return to Seoul, the Korean megalopolis where I once lived for six years.

For this two-week trip I was happy to be shooting again for the fine folks at TripAdvisor Experiences. It was odd being back in Korea as a travel photographer. But, I enjoyed seeing many of the tourist-trail-sights with fresh eyes and with a specific task in mind.

Back in Tokyo, the spring came in with a roar. My first big project of the season was a week-long stint with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The assignment was to capture the ins and outs of MIT's Technology and Innovation Bootcamp where participants from all over the world met to discuss a range of topics. From healthcare innovation to artificial intelligence, participants were offered a series of lectures and were formed into groups to ideate solutions for some of the world's most pressing problems. 

With a bit of a break before the inevitable portrait season rush, I had the chance to sit down with Japan Station, a podcast produced by Japankyo to talk about how I ended up working as a photographer in Japan.  If you want to hear some extended thought pauses and me say "um" way too many times, you can listen to the episode on itunes here. 

The weather began to warm and portrait photography requests began rolling in. For a few weeks, I spent most of my time shooting family portraits, personal branding sessions, pre-wedding portraiture, and proposals in and around Tokyo.

At the end of the spring portrait rush, I popped down to Kobe, Japan for the New York Times. I was tasked with an assignment for the NYT travel section shooting 36 Hours in Kobe, Japan. I have always liked the port city and was happy to spend a couple of days exploring Kobe for one of my favorite publications. 

Back in Tokyo I was given the green light from my friends at TripAdvisor Experiences to photography "my Tokyo." It is always a privilege to be given free rein by a client to shoot a subject in my own style. Needless to say,  I was thrilled to head out to photograph my adopted home in the way that I see it.

Next up was another commercial hotel photography project. After a successful first round with the EPH brand, I was commissioned to photograph EPH in Takayama, Japan. EPH Takayama is as amazing as the Kyoto location. More, EPH Takayama is a refreshing alternative for travelers who like new, boutique accommodation.

​EPH Takayama is designed to reflect the natural environment found in Gifu Prefecture. Instead of the deep reds used to highlight EPH Kyoto, EPH Takayama uses greens and blues to calm guests. For a week, I worked with management to create advertising imagery that will help propel the hotel's business in Takayama.

After wrapping up my work in Gifu, I returned to Tokyo to tackle back-to-back editorial assignments. My first project was to photograph the reemergence of Japan's  kissaten cafes for +852 Magazine and then to capture a slice of the Tokyo bar scene for Conde Nast Traveler.

Then, before the end of May, I had a short string of couples portrait shoots. I had a blast working with pairs from France, America, and Taiwan in some of my favorite locations in Tokyo.

My last project of the spring took me Bangkok, Thailand for TripAdvisor Experiences. I was given a lot of flexibility to shoot the city in any way I saw fit. From Bangkok's street food (which the metropolitan government is attempting to get rid off) to magnificent examples of Thai architecture, I had a blast on the assignment and couldn't have asked for a better way to wrap up the first half of the year. 

At the beginning of June, my family and I headed to North America for a much needed break. For two months, we spent lazy days in Asheville, Chicago, and Toronto. But, just as in years past, I had the chance to get the camera out to photograph the people who mean the most to me. 

Worked picked up as soon as we landed back in Tokyo in early August. First up was a week-long editorial photography assignment for CAA Magazine. The project had me out in 105 degree heat, inside Michelin Star restaurants, and sipping cocktails in one of Asia's 50 best bars. I was happy to see the issue eventually come to print (Winter 2019) and to have landed the cover/s.

Soon enough, the heat broke and another string of portrait sessions came. I crammed in several family, personal branding, and couples photography sessions and was grateful to have worked with such amazing clients. 

After the portrait string, it was time to pop back to Kyoto to photograph the details of the stunning Machiya Shinsen-en. This new property is a machiya-style residence blended with a modern boutique hotel. The two sections of the property are both exquisite and are on the top of my list for chic, affordable accommodation in Kyoto. 

From Kyoto, I headed back to Takayama, Japan to shoot the food and beverage program for Hids' Cafe, the restaurant adjacent to EPH Takayama (a property I photographed earlier in the year). Hids' menu is one of the finest in the sleepy town. I was delighted to help the cafe with their commercial food photography and to support the Hids' as they enter the Takayama market. 

Autumn arrived and I was glad to be rid of the heat and humidity that make summer in Tokyo less than desirable. I was ready for my favorite season and eager to be in the final stretch of the year.

​My first autumn highlight was photographing Shinji Hattori, CEO of Grand Seiko (GS). Working with the Financial Times and GS, I worked quickly with Hattori-san and was happy to have the chance to drop off my grandfather's old Seiko watch for repair.

Another highlight from autumn was again for The New York Times. I headed out to cover 36 Hours in Yokohama, a piece highlighting Japan's second largest city. While Yokohama doesn't get as much attention as the nearby capital, it is stocked full of amazing experiences. Hopefully the 36 Hours piece will shed some light on the city by the bay. 

Next up was a round of corporate portraiture for McKinsey and Company, a worldwide management consulting firm. My subject for the day was Tiffany Kwok, an Expert Associate Partner at the firm. 

Still in portrait photography mode, I worked with David Ramis Åhfeldt, a guitar player in The Ocean (which happens to be one of my favorite bands). David needed some content to showcase his guitar, a custom-made axe crafted by Mozer Guitars. It was great to spend some time with David, help him showcase Mozer's impressive work, and chat about the state of heavy metal. 

Soon enough the 2019 Rugby World Cup kicked off. While I didn't attend any of the games (I am just not a sports fan),  I was invited to photograph a handful of events related to the international sporting event. I worked with Gullivers Sports Travel to capture their RWC Forum events and spent some time with Carters (a New Zealand based tool manufacturer) photographing their All Blacks (New Zealand's national team) event.  

In late October I sat down with Megapolis Magazine for an interview about travel photography. I was honored to share some thoughts and images with the Ukrainian based magazine and was,  admittedly, shocked to find out that the interview ended up running in six different print magazines on shelves throughout the Ukraine. If you have the interest, you can find the english language version here. 

Before October's end I knocked out a quick assignment focused on Shinjuku for American Way, American Airlines' inflight magazine. The small piece highlighted five great spots in Shinjuku, one of Tokyo's most well-known neighborhoods, where one can stuff their face and/or wet their whistle. 

At the beginning of November, I made my way back to the Kansai region to highlight a collaboration between tech giant Lenovo and Japanese industrial manufacturer Yanmar. The assignment was one of my favorite in 2019. It was amazing to see the scale of Yanmar's corporate and manufacturing hubs and to make some images of the folks who actually produce the company's equipment. 

After returning to Tokyo, I spent five days with a wonderful group of doctors from Takeda. I was commissioned to document the pharma company's President's Club incentive tour to Japan. From Gala dinners to a behind-the-scenes look at Team Lab's (now) famous digital art exhibition, tea ceremonies in Kamakura to tours of Takeda's facilities, the assignment was filled with a variety of photography tasks.

The weather finally turned and it was again sweater weather. The end of the year was coming but I wasn't quite yet finished. 

In the beginning of December I accepted one final commercial photography commission from MindValley Productions, an e-learning community based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I was tasked to photograph Ken Honda, the bestselling author of Happy Money (and all around nice guy) for a finance course that will soon go live on MindValley. 

To end the year, I was honored to see some of my work land on the cover of GEO Special Magazine. The issue, dedicated completely to Japan, was GEO Special's rebranding issue and I couldn't have asked for a better way to close 2019.

Without a doubt, it has been a hell of a year. I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to do what I love to do here in Tokyo, throughout Japan, and beyond. But more, I am blessed to have a loving support system. I would like to publicly thank my beautiful wife Laura who has gifted me with her patience and support.

I can't wait to see what 2020 has in store. I am just as eager to share the work created in 2019 that, as of now, I am obliged to keep under wraps. Thanks so taking the time to have a look at my 2019 Year In Review.