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!
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
Glowing during both Day & Night - capturing it all with Justin! Till next time - TopTia
Created by @qualitea_27
#photography #tokyo #tokyophotographer #travel #modeling #portraitsintokyo #nighttimephotography #photoreveal
Slowing down on the bustling streets of Tokyo with @jouzero ! It was a pleasure photographing you!
Created by @qualitea_27
#photography #tokyo #tokyophotographer #travel #modeling #portraitsintokyo #photography #art #aestheticphotography #photographer #portaitoftheday #creative #expression #toptia #toptiaphotos #toptiaphotography #japan #photography #photographers #resilience #business #entrepreneurship #creatives #freelancer #headshot #photographerintokyo #tokyophotographer #headshotphoto
Life feels easier when things fall into place. When love flows, when your body is strong, and when joy comes naturally.
But what about the moments that test you?
When illness reshapes your reflection.
When loss leaves an emptiness.
When rejection lingers.
When strength is something you have to fight for.
These moments are not flaws to erase.They are chapters of your story.
Kintsugi Reclamation is a portrait experience that transforms resilience into gold. It’s about honoring your story, your strength, and every moment that shaped you — from the quiet battles to the powerful rise. We’d like to invite you into this movement of healing, reflection, and visual affirmation.
Click the link in bio to join the Kintsugi reclamation project.
#kintsugi #japaneseart #photography #art #aestheticphotography #photographer #portaitoftheday #creative #expression #toptia #toptiaphotos #toptiaphotography #japan #photography #photographers #resilience #business #entrepreneurship #creatives #freelancer #headshot #photographerintokyo #tokyophotographer #headshotphoto
To Your Many Selves, To Your Ongoing Becoming.
Do you ever truly hold space for every version of yourself you've ever been? It’s an incredible journey to look back and connect with the younger you who held audacious dreams, and then to witness the powerful, evolving person you are today, actively living or building towards them. Perhaps there were times you received profound wisdom from elders, advice that didn't quite land because you were too young, or simply not ready to hear it. But now, doesn't that ancient insight often settle into your bones, making more sense than ever before?
Think about how your personal soundtrack has evolved, from the melodies that defined your youth to the rich, complex harmonies resonating with your present self. Every single chapter, every phase, every "you"—the triumphs, the stumbles, the quiet moments of introspection—has uniquely shaped who you are right now.
Celebrate your growth, honor the very fires you've walked through and continue to recognize the immense strength and resilience you've cultivated on the other side. This ongoing evolution? It's not a finished story; it's a living, breathing masterpiece that’s just getting started. Imagine who you’ll be a year from now, or even five.
What a remarkable journey to embrace!
Model: Client
Venue: TOPTIA Photography Kawaguchi Studio
Lighting: @profoto
Backdrops: @gravitybackdrops
#photography #art #aestheticphotography #photographer #portaitoftheday #creative #expression #toptia #toptiaphotos #toptiaphotography #japan #photography #photographers #resilience #business #entrepreneurship #creatives #freelancer #headshot #photographerintokyo #tokyophotographer #headshotphoto
#behindthescenes footage from our Headshot Marathon! Whether professional or personal, headshots bring to the surface our internal strengths, hard work, and dedication to life-long passions ❤️
#photography #professionalphotography #portraitphotography #japan
This life was never meant to be experienced alone. Wherever you are, whoever you’re with, remember to connect with intention.
Some of the most meaningful moments in my journey as a photographer in Tokyo have come from building genuine community. Whether it’s fellow creatives, clients, or kind strangers turned friends; the connections we nurture shape who we become.
Not sure where to start?
1. Join a local class that aligns with your hobbies
2. Say yes to that networking event you’ve been eyeing
3. Make time for the people you love
4. Be kind to someone who crosses your path today
And if you're craving something more personal, a portrait session might be the perfect way to celebrate who you are in this season — as a creative, a couple, a founder, or a family. We offer headshots, lifestyle portraits, and so much more.
#photography #art #aestheticphotography #photographer #portaitoftheday #creative #expression #toptia #toptiaphotos #toptiaphotography #japan #photography #photographers #resilience #business #entrepreneurship #creatives #freelancer #headshot