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!