Preparing for your Photoshoot
Thank you for choosing me as your photographer😊 Here are some tips to help you prepare for your photoshoot and ensure we get the best photos!
What to Wear for Photoshoot?
Keep it simple: solid colors work great in most situations. Avoid too much logos, strong pattern and floral print as it will distract and pull away attention from ‘your’ photos.
Note that Japan is a conservative society, there are social norms not to wear ‘too revealing’ clothes at sacred/ worship places such as temples and shrines.
Match: Align your outfit to the vibe of the scene/ season.
- Day/ Sakura/ Autumn: something dressy/ pastel & earthy colors/ neutral fabrics (cotton, wool, silk) would work well.
- Night/ Neon Lights: something edgy/ solid colors/ less patterns or synthetic materials/ leather looks great.
Dress up a notch : a photoshoot is a special occasion, take out your business casual or Sunday best.
Coordinate: for couple/ group photoshoot, coordinating your clothes to ensure they have similar palette or vibes would ensure the best result for the photos. It doesn’t have to be all 100% matchy matchy like uniform, but ensuring continuity in the theme/ palette/ vibe is important for good result.
There are restrictions on a photoshoot for bridal wear, cosplay, traditional (except kimono)/ formal clothes at temple, shrine and many Japanese gardens; if you are planning to wear them, please consult with us in advance. Failure to do so, it may result us in getting rejected to use those premises/ facilities for the shoot. As a consequence, I may refuse to proceed with the shoot due to a risk of getting banned/ fined; and client will be responsible to pay in full amount.
Monochromatic at its best: nifty shades of grey
You can’t go wrong with the earthy tone
Change of Clothes: changing clothes in the middle of the photoshoot would take away time from the actual shoot and probably takes longer than you might expect as we need to find a public toilet, queue, and re-store the clothings. So I would not recommend it for short session less than 3 hours. I would suggest changing accessories or layering your outfit instead to give more variety to the shoot
Not sure where to start? Pick 2-3 hero colors to lead the overall mood of your photos! Try basic color theory such as complimentary, analogous or triadic colors to get your inspiration!
When in doubt, you cannot go wrong with neutral fabrics and white, beige or any other earthy colors.
Analogous colors always work well for spring/ autumn
Denim = Contemporary Timeless
Meeting Point
Always double check directions to the meeting point in advance; and ensure you have an ample time to arrive by your booking time. Places such as Shinjuku Gyoen Park is huge, if you arrive at the wrong gate, it could take up to 10- 15 minutes to walk to the other side which will cut into your session time.
Google map works very well in Tokyo!
Luggages
It’s important to have your hands free throughout the session, so leave extra bags, shopping bags at the hotel or in the nearby public coin lockers which you can find around the stations or tourist areas (unless you intend to have them appear in the photo). I will not be able to carry any items during the shoot. Especially for the urban/ street scene (such as Shibuya or Shinjuku) where you need to go in the middle of busy crossing, it would be risky to leave your belongings unattended on the side street while we shoot. I suggest arriving 15 minutes earlier prior to shoot to ensure you have time to store your belongings.
For shoot where it is inevitable for your to bring some items with you (eg. change of accessories/ outer outfits/ small bags etc), I recommend bringing a plastic bag to hold all those items that you can put on the ground and get dirty. Please ensure those do not contain your valuables - let me repeat that it would be risky to leave your belongings unattended on the side street while we shoot.
Mix & Match the scene with your style
You can go all in with neon lights- edgy, leather, anything goes!
Neutral fabrics work well for both day & night scenes
Family with children/ Group
Family/ group cooperation is essential for getting good shots- I find well prepared parents who dress everyone comfortably in similar theme, get their children to sleep beforehand and feed their kids before the session so they are not hungry/ cranky, or bribe the kids with toy/ treats promise if they behave well on the shoot as having the best shots. Ensure to bring their favorite toys/ items (if any) to the shoot so that we can attract their attention.
‘Coordinate’ with your members to align the overall palette
No need for a uniform, we can still tell you are a family
What to do on a Rainy Day
We will proceed rain or shine, unless in case of heavy rain/ thunderstorm/hurricane. Besides those, the show will go on. With creativity, willingness and clear umbrellas, we can still make uniquely amazing photos! There are quite a few good things you can get from rain: 1) guaranteed good lighting as the cloud blocks harsh lighting, 2) rain drives away the crowd, allowing for clear long shot normally impossible in crowded places in Tokyo, and 3) various reflections/ angles, providing varieties of angles for your photos :) in case of heavy rain/ hurricane/ thunder storm, we may reschedule as our availabilities allow.
Don’t forget to grab a clear umbrella (easily found in every convenient store), it works the best for the photoshoot as it does not block your face and let the light shine through.
