What a year! Many of us are sitting down to soba and tempura to welcoming the new year. Take a look a some of our memorable event, branding, headshot, and portrait sessions during our difficult yet hopeful 2020 year.
TOPTIA’s Memorable 2020 Moments
Kicked off the new year In Nagano with Mirai no Mori for their annual Winter CampI finally found this Instagram gem and got to photograph their colorful spaceA closer look at the colorful doorsMy goal for 2020 was to really put myself out there in the photography and creatives space. Right after I captured the colorful doors in Odaiba, I ventured to Shibuya and met this intriguing up and coming model and her mother at a models x photographers’ meet and greet party.Later the next month, the Asian University for Women asked if I could photograph a screening of the Oscar-winning documentary, Period. End of Sentence, directed by Rayka Zehtabchi who was there to discuss it with the audience in Azabujuban.The up and coming model from the photographer x model’s meet and greet wasn’t the only model I met. We spend the early evening shooting in Roppongi Hills in February.Something that really made me feel proud of what my profession offers were being a part of an international team of women photographers photographing executive women at each branch of Western Digital in preparation for their International Women’s Day feature. Here is Emi Hatano, one of the female executives featured for WD Japan.Before my trip to the US, I was able to do a fun and a bit artistic session for two corporate gentlemen. I couldn’t believe how amazing their stories were and couldn’t wait to catch up with both of them to hear more. Finally in the US for the first time in 4 years, I got to visit Las Vegas for the annual WPPI convention and photographed this nice woman among the many passersby and models at the hotel. I still can not believe Payton is shy about posing! We had a simple session with some fun music in the background ready to enjoy the shoot.I don’t think I’ve ever met a MEXT scholar before. But low and behold, Patrick from the Congo was my first! He’s also phenomenal in PR as well as acting. I had this idea that would not leave my head and he graciously (among the COVID precautions) came to the studio to bring my idea to life!I captured this headshot of him as a thank you for coming!And one for a long-time friend who was helping out as well.Angela was so phenomenal when she came for her headshot session with her daughter. It was bittersweet knowing it would be the last session done at the Ginza Hub Co-working space For it would be closed due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rose of condolences and remembrance for my mother who passed away too soon. My mother gave me so much and I thank her for the person I have become this year. One thing I felt in my heart I must capture was the 3600 people who marched in Shibuya in protest of the George Floyd killings in Minnesota. It amazed me how many non-black marchers there were. I had been to the previous Black Lives Matter march 4 years ago and it paled in comparison to the support that braved the weather, COVID and anti-protesters in June. Though few, there were some black marchers among the thousands of BLM supporters.Later in the month, I felt honored to photograph the president of FEW, For Empowering Women. I’ve always been in awe of the women who keep this organization thriving and communal for global-minded women living in Japan. It was also great to see a familiar face for the first time since the lockdown had lifted.Covering an event for another familiar face, pre-lockdown, I met a guest and his mother who was very shy. I thought he would make a great model and asked to take his picture. Needless to say, mom approved!For the first time since the lockdown ended, I got to reconnect with my friend and assistant, Nathalie. We were doing a branding session for a friend of mine with two businesses, Tracey. This session was such a fun and hilarious shoot! I can’t wait to see how both her businesses are doing.Founder of Black Lives Matter Tokyo, Sierra Todd. She and an art student and I teamed up for a fashion project Jamie Smith is also an activist and model just like Sierra Todd. She helped me with a final project I was working on for the New York Institute. One of the things that affected many this year with the pandemic was couples who were planning on marrying this year. This international couple wanted to invite their friends from Japan to their wedding in New Zealand. Sadly with the international travel ban, they could only have a small reception celebration with their Japanese family and friends. Yet to be deterred by the pandemic, this dynamic consulting duo wanted to brand their business and website with new profile and headshot images in Roppongi. This young kid had a big goal. To grow his hair as long as he could so he could donate it on his birthday a week later. His motivation came from his favorite professional wrestler who had battled an illness months before.Remi has been a friend that always messages me to check-in and see how I’m doing but to also invite me to his performances. Oftentimes, I can’t make them but this time, I was able to come and see him perform in Azabujuban. I have a secret, Shichi-go-san during the autumn season is my favorite time of the year. Kids in kimono do some of the darndest things that are so fun to watch and see. Rain and a curious son won’t stop our Shichi-go-san session here. Fun-loving yet perceptive children. These headshot sessions are very significant to me because they were done in the new studio spaces TopTia now uses after Ginza Hub went away. The worry and stress I felt about moving to a new studio plagued me constantly. But seeing how both the clients and I connected with each other during our sessions in the new Shinjuku and Aoyama studios, I think it’s safe to say TopTia has found a new home. It was so relaxing spending the day in Hayama for a relaxing pre-wedding session. Getting a chance to look at the ocean for hours before -and after- the session really helped me get over a lot of the stressors that 2020 brought. It was so fun reconnecting with an old friend and his fiance, I think we all enjoyed putting 2020 out of our minds for a couple of hours on the beach.Closing out the year on a higher note than when we entered it. This couple’s wedding day was the day before Japan locked down its borders. They hurried back to Japan from the US just in time however without a wedding ceremony. Still, their happiness with each other was infectious to me and my assistant, Annette.Yet here I am. Like many others, we carry a lot of baggage from 2020 yet hoping to let off a few weights one bag at a time. I’m cautious yet, hopeful. I’ll see you on the other side everyone!
Sometimes, Letting Someone New In Changes Things for the Better
I said yes to having an intern but I hesitated at first. Why would a student coming all the way from California want to intern at a small boutique photography studio in Tokyo? But with a gentle nudge from my good friend Tracy Northcott, I decided to take the leap and welcome a summer intern to work with me at TOPTIA Photography.
And I was wrong to doubt it.
Bringing on an intern gave me fresh perspectives from a younger generation, new creative ideas, and a daily spark of energy in the studio. Having someone to collaborate with day-to-day expanded the possibilities of how I could grow both creatively and within the local community.
One of the greatest gifts was having someone available for daily test shoots instead of relying on myself or, much to his dismay, my very reluctant husband. It was a godsend. Suddenly, trial-and-error became fun again. Spontaneous trips to new locations, sparked by simple curiosity, highlighted an amazing sense of freedom. Gone were the limitations of coordinating with models and schedules because I had an in-person team member who was not only present but constantly ready to learn.
For solopreneurs and creatives, this is the part I want to highlight: onboarding an intern can expand your world and your work. It’s not always about scaling up, but sometimes about scaling out creatively, artistically, or even just reframing a challenge from a new point of view.
I’ll absolutely be bringing on more interns in the future. If you know a student eager to learn, grow, and build content, I’d be happy to connect with them. Because as much as I hope to enrich their journey, they end up enriching mine just as deeply.
Venue: Stella Studios
Do you dare to be seen?
This is for those who step beyond the familiar. The creatives, the dreamers, the leaders, and anyone ready to see themselves elevated, celebrated, and truly captured. Step into a portrait session that reflects your vision and the brilliance you bring to every space.
We guide you through a transformative photography experience: editorial-inspired lighting, professional hair and makeup tailored to your style, and every detail curated to highlight your presence, confidence, and individuality.
If you want to express yourself and feel empowered, this session is for you. It’s perfect for your personal brand, professional profile, or simply to celebrate you.
Step into our Tokyo studio and be seen as you’ve always wanted to be.
Sometimes, the greatest journeys are the ones that bring us back to each other.
For Sherry, that journey meant returning to Japan for the first time in over 30 years. Life had taken her across the ocean, where she built a new chapter in the U.S., but part of her heart always remained here—with family she hadn’t seen in decades.
Through AARP’s Wish of a Lifetime program, Sherry’s dream was fulfilled: to embrace her cousins again, to hear their laughter, and to feel that sense of belonging that only family can bring.Photographing this moment was precious.Witnessing the beauty of time folding in on itself, of love enduring despite distance, of family ties that never truly fade.
Because in the end, home isn’t only where you live, it’s where your people are. And when you’re ready to preserve the moments that matter most, working with a Tokyo family portrait photographer can help you hold onto them forever. Just like I did for her and her family.
#hamarikyugardens
The Month that Made My Smile
Breaking out of your daily routine can be the spark you didn’t know you needed. That’s exactly what I did! Instead of spending the day in the studio, I took a drive from Saitama to Mt. Fuji for the Oishi Park Lavender Festival. For more than three years, I’d been dreaming of photographing the lavender fields with Kawaguchi Lake and Mt. Fuji in the background. Finally being able to just pick up and go was both refreshing and fulfilling—and the drive itself was a joy.
One of the highlights of having Jenai as an intern this summer was having a muse to photograph. What I didn’t expect, though, was that Oishi Park had so much more than lavender. Hydrangeas were still in bloom, roses filled the garden, and the golden hour light tied everything together beautifully. Battling the bees, on the other hand, wasn’t quite as magical!
Let this be your reminder to step outside, breathe fresh air, and spend time with people who bring you joy. Life is so much bigger than our daily to-do lists.
And if you’d like to create your own memories outdoors, we also offer outdoor lifestyle photography in Tokyo. Whether in a blooming garden, a quiet park, or with Tokyo as your backdrop, we’ll capture the moments that make you smile too.
#kintsugi #kintsugiportraits #toptia #healing #strength #resilience #beauty #empowerment #golden #photography #art #tokyo #japan #tokyophotography #photographerintokyo #photography #art #aestheticphotography #photographer #portaitoftheday #creative #expression #toptia #toptiaphotos #toptiaphotography #japan #photography #photographers #resilience #business #entrepreneurship #creatives #headshot #lavender #oishipark #mtfuji
Every person who steps in front of my lens carries a story waiting to be seen. My role is to uncover it—not with forced poses or rehearsed smiles, but through a process that allows you to feel at ease, understood, and authentically yourself.
Too often, photography can feel transactional: quick poses, harsh lights, and a result that doesn’t reflect who you are. At TOPTIA Photography, I believe in something entirely different. I take the time to understand your vision, your energy, and the story you want the world to see. From the first conversation to the final reveal, every step is intentional, personal, and crafted with care.
It’s never about molding you into a version that feels outdated or generic. It’s about creating an environment where you can drop the performance and step fully into your own presence. That’s when your confidence surfaces naturally, and the images become more than portraits—they become affirmations.
For those looking for a photographer in Tokyo who values process as much as outcome, I offer an experience designed to make you feel seen, celebrated, and unforgettable.
@emilyspeaksgold
When I first discovered the art of Kintsugi, I felt inspired to create a space where others could reconnect with themselves and embrace their own stories. I wanted to help people move past the fear and discomfort of seeing their past reflected on their bodies and instead see it as a marker of resilience.
Fast forward to 2025, and I am honored to continue this work, holding space for those who wish to reclaim their bodies, their sense of self, and visually process what they have overcome. The past few months have been truly beautiful, witnessing the vision of Kintsugi come to life once again. This portrait experience continues to be as empowering and transformative as ever.
A heartfelt thank you to my incredible team, @qualitea_27 , @makeupfromkanako , and to everyone who was part of this journey. This was the memorial photo we captured at the completion of our last Kintsugi model shoot, with @volodumurzybkiv choosing it as a personal keepsake.
The Reclamation is Always Within You. Ready to work with a Tokyo photographer? Link in bio.
Who has been your gold?
Tag someone who carried you through a tough time, or share in the comments what helps you keep afloat when life feels heavy.
Do you rest and recharge?
Go to therapy?
Call a friend who always understands?
Pour yourself into a hobby or project?
Enroll in a course to shift and grow?
Your answer might be the reminder someone else needs today.Because just like Kintsugi, healing isn’t about erasing the cracks. It’s about finding the people, practices, and inner strength that fill them with gold.
Model @rie.purin.muffin
#kintsugi #kintsugiportraits #toptia #healing #strength #resilience #beauty #empowerment #golden #photography #art #tokyo #japan #tokyophotography #photographerintokyo #photography #art #aestheticphotography #photographer #portaitoftheday #creative #expression #toptia #toptiaphotos #toptiaphotography #japan #photography #photographers #resilience #business #entrepreneurship #creatives #headshot
Some challenges arrive uninvited. We don’t choose them—they choose us. What we can choose is how we face them, how we endure them, and how we rise beyond them.
When you’re young, surgeries feel like a distant thought. It’s something that belongs to another lifetime. Youth is “supposed to be” about friendships, adventures, laughter, and living one day at a time. Rarely do we imagine that saving our life might become part of our story.
For @stephanyyuri , that moment came sooner than expected. A lung procedure changed everything and it was the difference between life and loss. She faced it with bravery, walked through the uncertainty, and emerged healthier and stronger. Her journey is a reminder that obstacles don’t define us. It’s the way we meet them, endure them, and grow from them that becomes our gold.
Be part of the Kintsugi experience. Link in bio.
#mua #muatokyo @makeupfromkanako |📍TOPTIA Kawaguchi Studio
#kintsugi #kintsugiportraits #toptia #healing #strength #resilience #beauty #empowerment #golden #photography #art #tokyo #japan #tokyophotography #photographerintokyo #photography #art #aestheticphotography #photographer #portaitoftheday #creative #expression #toptia #toptiaphotos #toptiaphotography #japan #photography #photographers #resilience #business #entrepreneurship #creatives #headshot
To my body,
Thank you for carrying me through places and across years. Thank you for being the living expression of who I am.
Your knowledge is vast.
You know how to hold me.
You know how to be strong.
You know how to grow.
You know how to be resilient.
You are full of beautiful contradictions.
Strong, yet soft to the touch.
Independent, yet still in need of my care.
Wise, yet imperfect in your own ways.
I want to celebrate you, simply because you exist.
I want to celebrate your beauty.
I want to celebrate the scars you carry.
I want to celebrate you in every season.
Even when the past leaves its mark on you, you remain worthy of love, worthy of appreciation, worthy of being cherished.
With love,
Me.
Inspired by Kintsugi | Model @rie.purin.muffin | Be part of the Movement.
#kintsugi #kintsugiportraits #toptia #healing #strength #resilience #beauty #empowerment #golden #photography #art #tokyo #japan #tokyophotography #photographerintokyo #photography #art #aestheticphotography #photographer #portaitoftheday #creative #expression #toptia #toptiaphotos #toptiaphotography #japan #photography #photographers #resilience #business #entrepreneurship #creatives #headshot
If everyday people are expected to be “perfect,” with flawless skin, smaller bodies, and the right features, imagine how much more these pressures weigh on those in the entertainment industry.
This is @rie.purin.muffin , a model and actress based in Japan. She shared her adventurous stories of how she scarred her face and body, yet never allowed those scars to stop her from pursuing her dreams.
How often do we tell ourselves:
“I don’t look the part to be an actress.”
“I don’t have the right story to be a speaker.”
“I want to apply for that job, but I’m not qualified enough.”
It’s so easy to stop ourselves from reaching for what we want because we feel we don’t meet the standards or the unrealistic expectations set before us. Sometimes we think, “I’m not healed enough yet… once I fix this, then I’ll be ready.” But the truth is, your “flaws” are not flaws at all. They are your perfect imperfections, often the very thing that others see, admire, and connect with.
You are worthy as you are. Strength is not born from perfection, but from embracing the stories etched into us. Thank you, Rie, for sharing your light and courage through the Kintsugi Portrait Experience.
If you feel called to celebrate your own story in this way, I’d love to hear from you. Send me a message or visit the link in bio.
#mua @makeupfromkanako
#kintsugi #kintsugiportraits #toptia #healing #strength #resilience #beauty #empowerment #golden #photographt #art #tokyo #japan #tokyophotography #photographerintokyo #photography #art #aestheticphotography #photographer #portaitoftheday #creative #expression #toptia #toptiaphotos #toptiaphotography #japan #photography #photographers #resilience #business #entrepreneurship #creatives #headshot #profoto
The TOPTIA Photography Kintsugi Reclamation Portrait Experience is very close to my heart. It is a reminder of the powerful resilience that lives within us all.
Volodymyr carries a story of profound strength, a journey marked by loss, survival, and new beginnings here in Japan. His portrait will be part of our 2026 exhibition. It stands as a testament to how beauty and meaning can emerge from even the deepest fractures.
Thank you @volodumurzybkiv for trusting me to share your story visually with the world. Through your light, others find the courage to see themselves with strength and dignity.
If you feel called to be part of the Kintsugi Portrait Experience, I’d love to hear from you. Message me or visit the link in bio.
#MUA : @makeupfromkanako
Venue: TOPTIA Kawaguchi Studio
#kintsugi #kintsugiportraits #toptia #healing #strength #resilience #beauty #empowerment #golden #photography #art #tokyo #japan #tokyophotography #photographerintokyo #photography #art #aestheticphotography #photographer #portaitoftheday #creative #expression #toptia #toptiaphotos #toptiaphotography #japan #photography #photographers #resilience #business #entrepreneurship #creatives #headshot
What if the way you’ve been taught to see yourself… isn’t the truth?
You’ve spent a lifetime looking at your body — picking it apart, judging it in still frames, holding it to impossible standards. But what if the parts you’ve been told to hide… are actually the most breathtaking?
Like Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, your body carries stories that aren’t meant to be erased, but celebrated. Every scar, every shift, every change is proof of your resilience.
Join the Kintsugi Reclamation Movement! https://zurl.co/Cglzy
A one-of-a-kind portrait session that celebrates your body, your story, and your strength — with gentleness, truth, and gold. A photo doesn’t define your worth, it’s only a moment in time. But when that moment reflects who you are and how you want to feel, it becomes something more. A mirror. A reclamation. A reminder of how far you’ve come. A celebration of who you are, fully and honestly.
📹by @qualitea_27
📍TOPTIA CYK Studio
#kintsugi #japaneseculture #japaneseart #photography #art #aestheticphotography #photographer #portaitoftheday #creative #expression #toptia #toptiaphotos #toptiaphotography #japan #photography #photographers #resilience #business #entrepreneurship #creatives #freelancer #headshot #photographerintokyo #tokyophotographer #headshotphoto #tokyoportraitphotographer
Kintsugi Reclamation – Your Story, Your Strength, Your Gold
The scars we carry whether on the surface or within are not flaws to hide, but chapters of who we are. Just like Kintsugi, where broken pieces are mended with gold, these lines of living become reminders of resilience, beauty, and strength.
We all carry marks! Childhood falls, unexpected moments, life's inevitable breaks. In the Japanese art of Kintsugi are seen as beauty. Gold flows through breaks, creating something more magnificent than what came before. Through our powerful portrait session we reimagine fractures as art — giving you space to see yourself not in spite of your story, but because of it. Every line holds power. Every mark tells of survival that refused to shatter completely.
Book your own Kintsugi Session and reclaim every moment that made you.
Thank you @olga_nasiedkina for being part of the Kintsugi Portrait Experience.
#MUA @kennfk.makeup.artist
#kintsugi #kintsugiportraits #toptia #healing #strength #resilience #beauty #empowerment #golden #photographt #art #tokyo #japan #tokyophotography #photographerintokyo #photography #art #aestheticphotography #photographer #portaitoftheday #creative #expression #toptia #toptiaphotos #toptiaphotography #japan #photography #photographers #resilience #business #entrepreneurship #creatives #freelancer #headshot
You know that feeling when someone really gets you? That's what I'm after in every single session. I've photographed everyone over the years from CEOs to rising actors, and they all come in with the same worry: "What if I look awkward? What if I don't know what to do with my hands?"
But honestly? The best shots always happen when we drop the masks and let authenticity shine through. I've intentionally created a space where you can simply be yourself. You don't need to pretend or perform for an imaginary audience. The executives, professionals, and creatives I work with in Tokyo all have one thing in common – they light up when they feel genuinely comfortable. That's when the real magic happens.
Send me a message or comment below to experience what that feels like.
#photography #art #aestheticphotography #photographer #portaitoftheday #creative #expression #toptia #toptiaphotos #toptiaphotography #japan #photography #photographers #resilience #business #entrepreneurship #creatives #freelancer #headshot #photographerintokyo #tokyophotographer #headshotphoto
