Photo Blog | Tokyo, Photographer

If you’re searching for a Tokyo family photographer to capture your loved ones this spring, I’d love to work with you. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone or simply want to preserve the magic of the season, let’s create something beautiful together. Reach out today to start a conversation about your own custom family portrait session in Tokyo, throughout Japan, or beyond. ​

As a family photographer in Tokyo, one of the greatest joys of my work is seeing families grow over the years. So when Jennifer reached out about booking a new portrait session, I was thrilled. The last time I photographed the Choon family, F was a small child—a bright, curious toddler who kept me on my toes. Now, five years later, the family of three had become four with the addition of M. 

Our session, just like our last, started at the Choon's Tokyo home, a bright and welcoming space filled with personal touches that makes it uniquely theirs. I love beginning sessions in a family’s own environment, where everyone feels comfortable, and the moments unfold naturally. As Jennifer and Mark finished getting ready, F and M played together in the living room, their laughter bouncing off the walls.

Once everyone was ready, we stepped out into the warm summer air and made our way to Arisugawa-no-miya Park, just a short walk from their home. The park, with its lush greenery and peaceful walking trails, was the perfect backdrop for the second half of our session. The kids ran ahead, their energy boundless, while Jennifer and Mark followed, hand in hand, sharing a quiet moment together.

We stopped at the stone bridge, where M, a little adventurer, carefully balanced along the edge while F kept a watchful eye on her. At the koi pond, Mark lifted F onto his shoulders so she could get a better view of the fish gliding below, while Jennifer crouched beside M, helping her toss small pebbles into the water. These in-between moments—gentle gestures, shared laughter, the way Jennifer instinctively reached to tuck M’s hair behind her ear—are what make family photography so special. It those kind of moments that feel both ordinary and deeply meaningful.

Photographing families over the years is one of the greatest privileges of my work. Whether you’re looking for a professional family photographer in Tokyo to capture a special milestone or simply want to document everyday moments with your loved ones, I’d love to help tell your story. If you’re interested in a portrait session, starting at home before moving to a favorite outdoor spot—whether it’s Arisugawa-no-miya Park, Shinjuku Gyoen, or a neighborhood street filled with memories—I am eager to help you create a collection of images that truly reflect your family’s life in Tokyo.

Reach out today to start a conversation about your family portrait session in Tokyo, throughout Japan, or beyond. 

As always, I arrived early for my family portrait session in Nogawa, a vast park in western Tokyo, Like any other park in Japan, Nogawa constantly changes with the seasons. Depending on the time of year, weather, or time of day, Nogawa needs to be photographed accordingly. Considering this, I always arrive early in order to make an assessment of how I should best approach the location. 

After surveying the light and finding a few scenes that I knew I wanted to photograph with the Wilcox family, I settled onto a bench near a giant ginkgo tree and felt the crisp air sneak through my tattered sweater. The tree stood tall and proud, its fan-shaped leaves of golden yellow dancing in the breeze. The sound of the tree's sway was strikingly audible. 

The gingko leaves fell gently, one by one, to the ground below. Some fans drifted aimlessly while others seemed to congregate in groups, forming little clusters of yellow upon the ground. If the gingko leaves were starting to fall, I knew that we were just days away from winter.

Soon enough, the Wilcox family arrived and we began our session. I knew Nogawa would provide an ideal backdrop for both candid and posed portraits. We transitioned to the backstreets of Tama, a small enclave in the Tokyo outskirts. The area infused a suburban charm into our portrait session that wonderfully complemented the family’s natural warmth. We stopped at small, neighborhood temples and even managed to swing by the Wilcox's home to make some images with the family's dog. 

In the end, the Wilcox family and I made a loop across the suburban neighborhood in western Tokyo. As our session concluded. we were back in Nogawa Park, right where we began. We said our goodbyes, but instead of heading home, I decided to sit again on a nearby bench, enveloped in the tranquility of the moment. The rustling leaves, the golden hues of the ginkgo, and the crisp autumn air - it was a perfect picture of the season. I felt grateful for the opportunity make images with the Wilcox family, for the moment of respite, and for the simple beauty of the day. 

Working as a family photographer in Tokyo has allowed me to build relationships with some incredible families over the years, and the Schultz family is one I’ve had the privilege of photographing multiple times. Our most recent session, however, was a bit different. It was the last time I’d be able to capture their family portraits in Tokyo before they moved back to the United States, making it a bittersweet and truly special experience.

The Schultz family has been a part of my journey as a Tokyo family photographer for years, and I’ve watched their children grow through our sessions together. Knowing this would be our final shoot in the city that has been their home for so long gave the session an added layer of emotion. We decided to meet in the late afternoon, timing the session with the golden hour light—a Tokyo favorite for capturing warm, intimate family moments.

From the start, the session felt more like a farewell tour of sorts. I found myself wanting to savor every moment, just as they did. The parents, who have always been so relaxed and joyful in front of the camera, seemed to be reflecting on the memories they’ve created here over the years. It was a quiet, unspoken emotion that I tried to capture in every shot.

As the sun began to set and the golden light wrapped around them, I felt the weight of this session. It wasn’t just another portrait session—it was a way of documenting the closing of a chapter in their lives. We wandered into more peaceful spots, where the kids could slow down and the family could simply be present together. There was a sense of calm in these moments, as if they were fully absorbing their final days in the city they’ve called home.

By the end of the shoot, as the light faded and dusk settled in, we talked about their upcoming move and what lay ahead for them in the U.S. It was clear how much Tokyo had meant to them, and how much they had grown here as a family. I felt honored to have been able to capture those moments over the years, and this last session was a fitting send-off—filled with laughter, warmth, and the quiet understanding that things were about to change.

Family photography in Tokyo is about more than just capturing images—it’s about preserving memories, emotions, and connections. This session with the Schultz family was a reminder of how powerful photography can be, and how it can hold onto moments that will soon become part of the past.

Are you searching for a relaxed family portraiture session in Japan? If so, learn more about my portrait package offerings and then reach out today to schedule your custom portrait session in Tokyo, throughout Japan, or beyond. ​

This was the first spring the O'Connor family had been in Tokyo to see the sakura for a decade. Considering this,  Mark wanted to make this spring extra special by treating his wife Kaori to a family portrait session as a birthday gift. I got to work and created Kaori a custom made an e-gift certificate. Mark let me know that she was thrilled and eager to schedule our session. 

For years the O'Connor family have lived outside of Japan. But now, with a son and new opportunities in Tokyo, the O'Connors decided it was time to move back "home." Luckily, the O'Connors made it back to Japan at the perfect time of the year. Tokyo is a special place during the early spring (late March). The pink and white sakura blossoms are just starting to bloom. The air is still crisp. For many, this part of spring is a signal of rebirth and new beginnings. For sure, this time is an auspicious one for the O'Connor's return to Japan. 

Since the cherry blossoms were not yet roaring, we decided to head to Shinjuku Gyoen, one of my favorite private parks in Tokyo. We would have a stroll, see the sakura beginning to bloom, and celebrate both Kaori's birthday and the O'Connor family's return to Japan.

In the end, our plan was perfect. We created a wealth of imagery that would serve as a birthday gift for Kaori. But more, the images are a document of a forward transition for the O'Connor family. I was honored to take part.  

When the Meinholds reached out and scheduled their family portrait session date, we knew there was a chance that we would miss the peak bloom of Japan's famous cherry blossoms. The Meinholds, however, were okay with that. It had been three years since the family had created any family portraits and they were well past due for a fresh set of family portraits. Cherry blossoms or not, the family was more than ready to get outdoors and capture their evolution since their last photography outing. I loved the Meinhold's attitude and, as a father, know how important it is to capture families in different stages of life. 

On our shoot day, I met the Meinhold at their home in western Tokyo. Our plan was to capture the family in their environment. It seemed only natural for our portrait session to incorporate elements of the Meinhold's daily life in Tokyo. The kids could play in the park and then we could navigate the streets of Tama that the family has grown to enjoy over the past years. 

Even though the majority of the sakura blooms had dropped and spring leaves were mostly in, we still managed to find a couple of groves in Nogawa, a vast park in western Tokyo. We spent a lot of time relaxing the park and making portraits on the street close to the Meinhold's home. For the rest of our portrait session, the family and I explored an area along the Sebu-Tamagawa line, popping into local temples, and meandering through the neighborhood that the Meinhold's call home.

​I couldn't have asked for a better day as a photographer in Tokyo, Japan.

Late in 2020, the Vriend family inquired about a family portrait session. Like most of my portraiture clients who live in Japan, the Vriends wanted to capture a slice of their actual life, away from the clichés that are easily attached to the Japanese capital.  They wanted to be photographed in "their Tokyo."

The Vriends don't live downtown in Minato where the Tokyo Tower stands tall. Nor do they live in Shinjuku City where the bustle and buzz are the defining characteristics. The Vriend's live, as most Tokyoites do, in a suburban enclave where the streets are narrow and the shops are more likely closed than open.

The Vriend's call Chofu home. This area in western Tokyo is known for large green spaces, a tiny airport, and easy family living. The neighborhoods of Chofu, like other suburban clusters, are authentic. They are void of neon glare, throbbing J-Pop, and massive pedestrian crossings. There is a calming current here. Over the years, I have come to appreciate this typical suburb more and more and could understand why the Vriends wanted Chofu to be their portrait session location.

Our goal, of course, was to capture a glimpse into the Vriend's quiet life in the suburbs, to photograph the family in the spots they frequent. In their own words, the Vriend's hoped that the session would produce images that, years from now, would transport them back to the places they grew together as a family in a Tokyo that only locals could recognize.

With neighborhood streets, mom-and-pop store façades, expansive parks, and Shin-Koganei station nearby, our two-hour family portrait session flew by.