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
4 days ago
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.
6 days ago
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
7 days ago
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
2 weeks ago
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
2 weeks ago
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.
2 weeks ago
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
4 weeks ago
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
4 weeks ago
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
1 month ago
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
1 month ago
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
1 month ago
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
1 month ago
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
1 month ago
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
1 month ago