Tokyo Location Portraits

The City as Active Participant

Tokyo is an incredible place, immense and highly varied. It makes for an extremely rich backdrop against which to capture portraits.

While many portrait photographers show up with a rigid method and a consistent list of locations, my approach is more flexible.

Part of what makes portraits in the city interesting is the way that we respond to our environment, and that goes for both the photographer and the subject. Every session is different because every subject is different, and we’ll find what we’re looking for in different places.

Sessions take place on location across Tokyo: streets, gardens, neighborhoods, interiors. The city is never just a backdrop, it’s an active participant.

Working From a Different Perspective

As a photographer, my focus is on creating authentic, personalized portraits on location. It requires more than just going somewhere interesting and asking for a smile, though.

Before we begin, I take a little time to get to know you and get a sense of who you are and what you want. It doesn’t have to take long, usually ten or fifteen minutes at most, but it helps me craft portraits that reflect your unique personality, and temperament.

While I’m naturally an introvert, my love for people and capturing their unique stories drives my approach to portrait photography. I believe that a great portrait requires finding human connection between the people on both sides of the camera.

I also understand that being photographed can be uncomfortable for many people, even if they really want the photos, so I do my best to make the experience as relaxed and enjoyable as possible.

Location and Time

The choice of location plays a significant role in shaping the mood and look of your portrait. Outdoor sessions may take place in bustling streets, quiet alleyways, or peaceful parks and gardens, with plenty of room for spontaneous discoveries along the way. Oftentimes, the best settings are discovered by chance, when we naturally respond to a place.

Popular areas like central Shibuya are, of course, an option, but are not my recommendation. Tokyo is vast, and has so much more to offer than the same places everyone else winds up going.

Indoor sessions are also an option and offer a quieter, more relaxed experience. Photographing in your home or accommodation may help break tension, which can be especially good for those who feel less comfortable in front of the camera. An indoor setting also allows for quieter portraits that reflect a sense of comfort and ease.

Finally, we can plan your session for any time of day, from early morning to late in the evening, depending on needs, availability, and the desired look. And while fair weather is preferable, we can make rainy days work, too.

Reserve Your Session Now

For booking your session, I currently offer two options. Both have the same working method and deliverables (details below), but differ in timeline, flexibility, and cost.

Option one is a standard booking at a base price of ¥35,000. Assuming I'm free, this can be arranged up to one day before.

Option two is an advanced booking in the form of a service voucher. This option is available from ¥25,000 but must be booked at least a month in advance. Read more about my voucher system here. This second option will be available through the end of 2026. An additional 10% discount is available for Japan residents able to pay by bank transfer.

Either way, get in touch and let me know what you're looking for and when you'd like to do your shoot. We can start planning from there.

Get in touch and let's start planning

Service Specifics and Deliverables

A standard portrait session includes the following:

• A brief pre-session interview to discuss your needs and desired outcomes

• Location of your choice in Tokyo (we can figure this out together)

• Minimum 60 minutes shoot time

• Includes 10 finished images with basic retouching, as chosen by you from a downloadable gallery

• Finished images delivered within 1 week of selections being made

• Images provided in 2 file sizes, suitable for online use and printing

Standard portrait sessions are intended for individuals and couples, but families and small groups can usually be accommodated.

With a standard booking, a ¥10,000 deposit is required ahead of the shoot, with the balance due upon delivery.

Longer shoots, multiple locations, additional retouching, prints, and other options can be arranged on request for an additional fee.

Other:

• Additional finished images: ¥1,500 per image with basic retouching

• Additional retouching: from ¥2,000 per image, price dependent on the extent of work required

• Prints: From ¥2,000, varies depending on size, type, and quantity

• Portfolio Opt-Out: ¥2,500

  • Excludes use of your images in my portfolio and social media promotion (my use is only ever for promotion of my services, your image will never be used otherwise)

• Commercial usage (such as for advertising) can be negotiated, please get in touch.

Prices and policies subject to change without notice. This page last updated 2026-10-04