Some sessions just click from the first few frames. About ten minutes into this one, I realized I had barely given any direction at all — and every photo was already coming out the way I had hoped it would. This session was that kind of session from start to finish.

We met near Togetsukyo Bridge in Arashiyama on an early, quiet morning. There is something so special about this area before the day really begins — the river running softly next to us, the mountains still holding their soft morning light, and hardly anyone else on the paths yet. We spent the first part of the session walking along the water, taking photos with the river and the hills as our backdrop. The two of them were so gentle, so easy in front of the camera, with calm, natural smiles that never needed to be prompted for. Every time they held each other, or laughed at something, or just walked side by side, the photos came out beautifully.

When I showed them the first set of photos on the back of the camera, they were so happy with them, and honestly it made me happy too. There is nothing quite like that moment.

Because everything was flowing so smoothly, we had time to visit more places than we usually get to. From the riverside, we walked over to Kimono Forest and then to the bamboo grove, and even after all of that, we still had time left. So I took them into a quieter pocket of old streets tucked a little away from the main Arashiyama area — a spot I have always loved because so much of the original Japanese atmosphere is still there. They fell in love with it right away, and being able to share one of my personal favourite corners of the city with them made my morning.

Arashiyama can feel very busy once the tour buses arrive, but because we had started so early, everything was quiet, and the whole session felt so relaxed. The hour flew by. Easy conversation, photos coming out the way I had hoped, and the two of them are honestly the kind of couple I finished the day still smiling about.

Thank you both for such a lovely morning together. I really hope to see you again the next time you visit Japan.

If you are dreaming of a couple session in Kyoto — whether at Arashiyama or somewhere quieter — you can look through my Kyoto packages here.