Travel couple
Japan Couple Photoshoot: Tokyo, Karuizawa and the Snow at Tateyama
My goal is to make portraits that are simple, believable and timeless.
By Jon Low
Travel couple photographs, for weddings, for a forever keepsake.
We travel for photos. There are occasions where we head out with an amazing couple on an adventure, producing some really nice portraits for their wedding. We travelled to Tokyo, Japan to capture Stephanie and Sam’s portraits for their upcoming wedding in Hong Kong. The couple hosted us while we were in Japan, moving from Tokyo to Karuizawa, and somehow we ended up at the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, up on a snow-capped mountain… in Japan! I was stoked, we were stoked… hopefully, they were stoked.
In this story
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Day one: casual portraits in Tokyo
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Day two: the wedding gown in Karuizawa
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A sunset by the farm
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Day three: snow at Tateyama
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An experience, for them and for us
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Day one: casual portraits in Tokyo
We wandered around Tokyo as we began the casual portrait session. It was a little bit cloudy. There wasn’t much dramatic light, but I think we were pretty good.
Casual portraits are our way to ease the couple into being photographed. Most of the people we have met may not have taken professional photographs, let alone photographs together.
Taking photographs is an experience. It may start out awkward, but as the day goes on, the couple gain confidence. My initial worry about how the day would unfold went away as we made great progress.
We made a series of photographs during the journey to our locations. The Tokyo Metro subway just looked so good in black and white. The casual photoshoot lasted the afternoon. It wrapped up in the rain, and we managed to capture a few rain photos in Tokyo.
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Day two: the wedding gown in Karuizawa
We picked up the rental car in Tokyo and drove to Karuizawa, about three hours away. We stayed in Karuizawa that evening.
The second day was formal wear day. We made use of the full-on greens Karuizawa has to offer. Both Stephanie and Sam preferred nature and greenery, and hence the tall trees, lakes and hiking trails were the perfect spots.
My goal is to make portraits that are simple, believable and timeless. It hasn’t always been like that, but over the years I’ve become better at it. Now I am quite happy with these photographs of Stephanie and Sam.
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A sunset by the farm
We wrapped the shoot in the evening and started our journey, but we were greeted with a magnificent sunset while driving. We drove past a farm, had to make a U-turn, stopped by the road and started on these wonderful sunset photos.
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Day three: snow at Tateyama
From Tateyama station we headed up the Alpine Route to a mountain with snow and ice. We took a shuttle bus to get up there.
And oh boy, it’s breathtaking to be up there. We braved the mountains of tourists that day, no pun intended. There was this euphoria amongst ourselves. Maybe it was the altitude sickness. Well, at least the good kind. Both Stephanie and Sam were more relaxed and had another good session.
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An experience, for them and for us
After all was said and done, we were quite photographed out. Wet, tired, but definitely feeling satisfied.
Photography is an experience. As much as it was an experience for Stephanie and Sam, it was also one for me. The experiences Stephanie and Sam created for us were very much unforgettable. Thank you for letting us be part of your wedding celebration, and we hope these photographs will be part of you.
Special shout out to Angie Make Up for the hair and make-up.
If Japan is not your place, here is our pre-wedding in Santorini.
