BLOG

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to photograph a surprise proposal at Fushimi Inari Shrine, one of the most iconic and popular shrines in Kyoto. Because this location is always very crowded, it was essential to plan carefully in advance. I created a customized map for my client, marking the exact meeting point and proposal spot, and we discussed the flow in detail beforehand. Thanks to this preparation, everything went smoothly, and we were able to capture a very natural and emotional proposal moment.

What made this proposal even more special was that his family joined the session. They played their roles perfectly, blending in as regular tourists, so his girlfriend never suspected a thing. When the big moment came, she was completely surprised—and her reaction was priceless. She jumped with joy, and I felt so happy capturing that excitement through my camera.

Both he and his partner were incredibly kind and appreciative. They trusted my ideas for different poses and locations, which allowed us to capture a variety of beautiful photos around the shrine. His family was also very friendly and supportive, which made the whole photoshoot feel fun and memorable. Time passed so quickly, and it was truly one of the most enjoyable proposal photoshoots I’ve done in Kyoto.

To this wonderful couple—thank you so much for choosing me as your photographer to capture such an important moment in your lives. Congratulations again, and I hope to see you back in Japan someday!

I recently had the joy of photographing a truly beautiful surprise proposal in Kyoto. Since the session was early in the morning, the park was almost empty, which created the perfect atmosphere for such a special moment. Surrounded by silence, it felt as though the entire space became sacred, making the proposal even more unforgettable.

The couple was so adorable and friendly that after the proposal, I suggested several different photo spots. They happily agreed to every idea, which allowed me to capture so many wonderful moments of them together.

They also had one special request: to take photos with hydrangeas. To prepare for this, I had already checked where the flowers were blooming. The location was a bit farther from the proposal spot, but it was absolutely worth the trip. When we arrived, the area was filled with blooming hydrangeas, creating a magical atmosphere. The couple loved it, and it made the shoot even more special.

What I enjoyed most was not only taking their photos but also talking with them throughout the day. They were incredibly easy to talk to and made the effort to understand me, even with my imperfect English, which I deeply appreciated.

Congratulations again to this lovely couple! Photographing your proposal in Kyoto was such a joy, and I hope you come back to Japan again one day.

One of the most unforgettable photo sessions I’ve had recently was a surprise proposal in Kyoto. The couple had planned a quiet and heartfelt moment on a small bridge inside a peaceful park, and I had the honor of capturing it.

To keep everything a secret, I approached them as if I were looking for a couple to model for a photo project. I gently guided them toward the bridge where the proposal would happen. Their friends, who were in on the plan, acted naturally to help everything go smoothly. Thanks to their support, the proposal was perfectly executed — and her reaction was priceless. She was absolutely thrilled and surprised, and the moment was full of joy and excitement.

After the proposal, people nearby started congratulating the couple, adding even more happiness to the atmosphere. I was so grateful to be there to photograph such a beautiful and emotional moment. We continued the shoot with group photos, some fun shots with friends, and of course, more romantic pictures of the happy couple. Everyone was cheerful, kind, and truly a joy to photograph.

Because the group was so open and excited, I was inspired to get creative and explore parts of the park I don’t usually shoot in. It made the whole session even more fun and memorable.

To the lovely couple and their wonderful friends — thank you for choosing me as your photographer. I’m so happy I got to be a part of your special day. I hope you visit Japan again soon. Congratulations!

I had the honor of photographing a truly unforgettable couple in two of Kyoto’s most iconic locations: Fushimi Inari Shrine and the Gion district. From the very first moment we met, I was greeted with the warmest smiles, and I just knew this was going to be a special day. And I was right — we spent about two and a half hours together, and every minute was full of joy and connection.

More than just a photoshoot, it felt like we were old friends catching up. We shared stories, talked about our cultures, and learned so much from one another. I was amazed by how deeply they knew about Japanese traditions — in some areas, even more than I did! It truly moved me to see how much love and respect they had for Japan.

They welcomed me with such kindness that I honestly felt like I was spending the day with family. Saying goodbye at the end was bittersweet because our time together had been so meaningful.

To this incredible couple — thank you for choosing me as your photographer. I will never forget the memories we created together, and I truly hope our paths cross again someday. Until then, please take care and thank you again from the bottom of my heart.

Recently, I had the honor of photographing a deeply emotional and beautifully planned surprise proposal in a bamboo grove in Kyoto’s Arashiyama area.

As photo regulations in the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove have become stricter in recent years, I recommended a quieter bamboo grove where photography is still allowed without a permit. The groom-to-be and I planned everything in advance, and to avoid crowds, we met early in the morning. He arrived perfectly on time, which allowed us to begin the session smoothly.

When the moment came, he got down on one knee, and it was pure magic. His girlfriend was completely surprised — her reaction was so genuine and emotional that she began to cry. Even the people nearby, who had no idea what was happening, stopped in their tracks and cheered them on with warm congratulations. His proposal didn’t just touch her heart — it brought smiles to everyone around.

Both of them were incredibly polite, kind, and full of warmth. As I guided them to several beautiful photo spots, they showed genuine interest in each location and treated me with such respect and friendliness. Thanks to their positive energy and bright smiles, the entire shoot felt natural and joyful from beginning to end.

I’m so grateful they chose me to capture this important milestone in their lives.
Congratulations again, and I truly hope to see you in Japan again someday.

I recently had the honor of photographing a surprise proposal in Arashiyama on an incredibly sunny and beautiful day. The weather was perfect, and the location was ideal for such a special moment.

What made this proposal even more touching was a huge surprise: both the bride-to-be’s and the groom-to-be’s families had secretly traveled to Kyoto without the bride knowing. I arrived early at the location to meet with the families and go over the plan together.

The idea was that after the proposal, the families would quietly approach the couple and surprise her again. When the couple arrived, both wearing beautiful kimonos, I began the shoot as planned. He then proposed to her in the most heartfelt way, and she was truly surprised and full of joy.

After she had a moment to process everything, I invited the couple to sit on a bench and enjoy the view. While they were relaxing, their families slowly approached from behind. She was completely shocked and started to cry tears of happiness.

Everyone looked so joyful and full of love, and I felt incredibly lucky to be part of that moment. After the surprise, we had a lively and warm photo session with both parents and the bride’s sister. Everyone was so friendly, and thanks to their warmth, I was able to photograph the session in a relaxed and happy mood.

Congratulations again to this amazing couple and your wonderful families. I absolutely loved photographing you all. I hope you’ll come back to Japan someday — I’d be thrilled to see you again.

I had the joy of capturing a beautiful surprise proposal at Kyoto’s iconic Fushimi Inari Shrine. Since this spot is one of the most famous and crowded locations in Japan, we decided to start the shoot early in the morning to avoid the crowds.

The couple arrived right on time, and I casually approached them, pretending to be just another tourist. Following our secret plan, I guided them to a quiet, perfect spot where the big moment would happen. She had no idea what was coming — the surprise worked perfectly, and she was in tears as he proposed.

I was nervous about people walking into the scene, but we were lucky — no one came by at that moment, and we were able to capture truly magical photos without interruption. Sharing in their happiness was such an emotional and exciting experience for me.

After the proposal, they were open to all of my creative ideas, and together we created a wide variety of shots. It honestly felt like we were the perfect team of three. They were both incredibly kind and full of smiles, and I’m so grateful to have met them.

Thank you so much for choosing me as your photographer. I hope you come back to Japan again someday — and congratulations once more!

I had the absolute joy of photographing a truly wonderful and kind-hearted couple’s proposal in the beautiful Gion area of Kyoto. It was late April, a time when Kyoto is usually quite crowded, but we planned a morning shoot and were lucky to avoid most of the crowds.

When he proposed, the atmosphere was incredible — even the people nearby who happened to be taking photos in the same spot joined in to celebrate the special moment. His girlfriend was completely surprised and moved to tears. It was such a touching and joyful scene.

After the proposal, I guided them around to different locations for more photos. Throughout the entire shoot, they were full of smiles and so genuinely happy. They truly enjoyed every moment, and I could feel their love and excitement. I instantly adored them — they were so easy to work with, and together we created some beautiful images, trying out different ideas along the way.

A few days later, we met again for a night photoshoot in Osaka. They loved the photos and were really curious and excited about the places I showed them, which made the session even more meaningful for me.

Thank you so much for choosing me as your photographer. It meant so much to be part of your special moments, and I feel so lucky to have met you both. I truly hope we’ll meet again someday — until then, congratulations once again from the bottom of my heart!

I recently had the joy of photographing a lovely mother and daughter during their spring trip to Kyoto. We met in Arashiyama, one of the most scenic and peaceful areas in the city—famous for its bamboo forest, river views, and seasonal cherry blossoms.

From the moment we started, I felt like I was part of their little family. We talked, laughed, and shared so many stories together that the shoot didn’t feel like work at all—it felt like spending time with two close friends. Both of them were incredibly kind, friendly, and full of warmth.

During the session, I found out that the daughter is also a photographer! From that moment on, we got even more excited talking about photography, creativity, and our passion for capturing memories. It was one of those rare moments when everything just clicks—good conversation, genuine smiles, and beautiful scenery all coming together.

They were on a mother-daughter trip through Japan, and seeing how close they were reminded me how important it is to cherish time with family. It made me want to take my own mother on a trip like that one day.

The cherry blossoms were in bloom, and both of them were so happy to see the beautiful pink flowers surrounding them. Watching their reactions made me so happy too. I’m truly grateful to have been part of this special memory for them.

Thank you both so much for the fun and heartwarming session. I hope to see you again someday—maybe for another adventure in Japan!

During cherry blossom season in Japan, timing is everything—especially for a surprise proposal. On this particular day, the famous Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms had already fallen, but I had scouted out a quiet spot where the late-blooming sakura were still in full bloom.

It was the perfect hidden gem—peaceful, with only a few local people walking by. I arrived early to prepare, and as I waited for the couple, I couldn’t help but think how lucky we were to have found such a beautiful and quiet location.

Just as planned, I approached the couple casually to start the surprise proposal shoot. The groom-to-be was so relaxed and calm that I actually hesitated for a moment, wondering if I had the right person! His cool demeanor helped the whole proposal go smoothly, and his partner’s reaction was pure joy and surprise. It was such a touching moment, and I felt honored to capture it.

After the proposal, we continued with a fun and relaxed photo session. Spending time with them felt just like being with close friends. They were cheerful, open, and full of warm smiles. They also tried every idea I suggested, which helped us create so many wonderful shots together.

I’m really happy with how the photos turned out—and even happier to have met such a lovely couple. Congratulations again, and I hope to see you back in Japan someday!

I recently had the pleasure of photographing a truly heartwarming surprise proposal under the full bloom of cherry blossoms in Kyoto. The couple was incredibly sweet, and even though there was a small mix-up at the beginning because they forgot to tell each other what they were wearing, everything turned out beautifully.

The proposal itself was unforgettable. Along with the engagement ring, the groom-to-be prepared a large puzzle engraved with heartfelt messages from their closest friends and family. After she finished reading all the messages, he presented the ring and asked her to marry him. It was such a beautiful moment, made even more magical by the gentle sakura petals falling around them.

After the proposal, we moved to the famous bamboo forest for more photos and met up with her parents for a joyful second part of the shoot. Everyone was so warm and cheerful—it was truly a session filled with happiness.

Thank you for choosing me as your photographer for this once-in-a-lifetime moment. Congratulations again, and I’m so happy I got to be part of your story.