Portraits

Why is it so hard to show up for ourselves beyond work or our careers? No matter how hard or how difficult it is, you show up at work, work on your business, or go to that audition. But when it comes to taking a moment for yourself, all of a sudden there’s no time.No time to reflect on your personal growth, no time to celebrate your big and small wins. No time to celebrate the promotion, a career pivot, or a resignation. No time to celebrate your new mindset, new boundaries or your upcoming birthday.But your life matters too. As a Tokyo portrait photographer, I wanted to create a space for the moments you want to celebrate and look back on. The kind of captured moments your present self and future self will thank you for. The precious moments that are too important to miss, and that can last a lifetime. Our legacy portraits are a moment to pause and celebrate yourself.DM Self-Love to learn about our legacy portraits.#toptia #toptiaportaits #toptialegacyportraits #photographer #tokyo

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Why is it so hard to show up for ourselves beyond work or our careers? No matter how hard or how difficult it is, you show up at work, work on your business, or go to that audition. But when it comes to taking a moment for yourself, all of a sudden there’s no time.No time to reflect on your personal growth, no time to celebrate your big and small wins. No time to celebrate the promotion, a career pivot, or a resignation. No time to celebrate your new mindset, new boundaries or your upcoming birthday.But your life matters too. As a Tokyo portrait photographer, I wanted to create a space for the moments you want to celebrate and look back on. The kind of captured moments your present self and future self will thank you for. The precious moments that are too important to miss, and that can last a lifetime. Our legacy portraits are a moment to pause and celebrate yourself.DM Self-Love to learn about our legacy portraits.#toptia #toptiaportaits #toptialegacyportraits #photographer #tokyo

3 days ago

1/4

Another Namibia post. This one is a love letter to Cassandra @princess_broccoliCassandra is one of those people who is so full of life that even a small moment in her presence lifts your energy. She’s fiery, has a ten-foot-tall presence and I hope she never ever shrinks or dims her light.The inspiration behind this photo was Angela Bassett setting her husband’s car on fire in the classic film Waiting to Exhale. Angela carried so much rage in that scene. She had reached her “I’m over it” moment and walked away from the car with a sense of liberation. A woman reclaiming herself and saying goodbye to suppression.This photo didn’t turn out exactly like the inspiration, but it turned out beautiful in its own way. What was your favorite scene from Waiting to Exhale?#waitingtoexhale #angellabassett #photographer #portraitoftheday #tokyophotographer

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Another Namibia post. This one is a love letter to Cassandra @princess_broccoliCassandra is one of those people who is so full of life that even a small moment in her presence lifts your energy. She’s fiery, has a ten-foot-tall presence and I hope she never ever shrinks or dims her light.The inspiration behind this photo was Angela Bassett setting her husband’s car on fire in the classic film Waiting to Exhale. Angela carried so much rage in that scene. She had reached her “I’m over it” moment and walked away from the car with a sense of liberation. A woman reclaiming herself and saying goodbye to suppression.This photo didn’t turn out exactly like the inspiration, but it turned out beautiful in its own way. What was your favorite scene from Waiting to Exhale?#waitingtoexhale #angellabassett #photographer #portraitoftheday #tokyophotographer

1 week ago

2/4

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Earlier this year I went to Namibia for a photographer’s getaway. In 2024, it was Cape Town, South Africa, and this time we were in Windhoek, with plenty of time to explore and create. During the trip, I found myself thinking a lot about what it means to be an artist. In Japan, the words kamera man and shashinka are often used to describe photographers. I realized that I don’t want to be a kamera man. I want to be a shashinka.What’s the difference? A “kamera man” is often seen as more of a technical or commodity photographer. A “shashinka”, on the other hand, is closer to an artist. On the day of this shoot, I was feeling really low. Instead of directing Nanje, the model to look sexy or polished, I asked her to reflect how I was feeling. The room feels like it’s swallowing her. Honestly, that’s exactly how I felt. That day I chose to let my art reflect how I was feeling.Through editorial creative portraits, photography becomes a way to explore the deeper emotions we carry. This is the kind of work I like creating as a photographer in Tokyo.Location: Kolmanskop#toptiaphotography #photographer #portaitoftheday #headshot #tokyo

2 weeks ago

3/4

How well do you really know yourself?In our consultations at TOPTIA Photography, one of the first things I ask is: What is your joy? What lights you up? What pulls you forward each morning beyond titles, roles, and responsibilities.Sometimes self-knowledge unfolds slowly through curiosity, experimentation, and the willingness to listen to what feels alive inside you. In this latest blog, I share a personal reflection on rediscovering creative joy. It’s a story about artistic identity, the courage to follow what resonates deeply, and trusting my own voice again.You can read the full reflection here: https://toptia.com/learning-about-your-joy/#tiahaygood #tokyophotographer #photography #photographer #portraitmood

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How well do you really know yourself?In our consultations at TOPTIA Photography, one of the first things I ask is: What is your joy? What lights you up? What pulls you forward each morning beyond titles, roles, and responsibilities.Sometimes self-knowledge unfolds slowly through curiosity, experimentation, and the willingness to listen to what feels alive inside you. In this latest blog, I share a personal reflection on rediscovering creative joy. It’s a story about artistic identity, the courage to follow what resonates deeply, and trusting my own voice again.You can read the full reflection here: https://toptia.com/learning-about-your-joy/#tiahaygood #tokyophotographer #photography #photographer #portraitmood

2 weeks ago

4/4

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Why is it so hard to show up for ourselves beyond work or our careers? No matter how hard or how difficult it is, you show up at work, work on your business, or go to that audition. But when it comes to taking a moment for yourself, all of a sudden there’s no time.No time to reflect on your personal growth, no time to celebrate your big and small wins. No time to celebrate the promotion, a career pivot, or a resignation. No time to celebrate your new mindset, new boundaries or your upcoming birthday.But your life matters too. As a Tokyo portrait photographer, I wanted to create a space for the moments you want to celebrate and look back on. The kind of captured moments your present self and future self will thank you for. The precious moments that are too important to miss, and that can last a lifetime. Our legacy portraits are a moment to pause and celebrate yourself.DM Self-Love to learn about our legacy portraits.#toptia #toptiaportaits #toptialegacyportraits #photographer #tokyo

3 days ago

1/6

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Another Namibia post. This one is a love letter to Cassandra @princess_broccoliCassandra is one of those people who is so full of life that even a small moment in her presence lifts your energy. She’s fiery, has a ten-foot-tall presence and I hope she never ever shrinks or dims her light.The inspiration behind this photo was Angela Bassett setting her husband’s car on fire in the classic film Waiting to Exhale. Angela carried so much rage in that scene. She had reached her “I’m over it” moment and walked away from the car with a sense of liberation. A woman reclaiming herself and saying goodbye to suppression.This photo didn’t turn out exactly like the inspiration, but it turned out beautiful in its own way. What was your favorite scene from Waiting to Exhale?#waitingtoexhale #angellabassett #photographer #portraitoftheday #tokyophotographer

1 week ago

2/6

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Earlier this year I went to Namibia for a photographer’s getaway. In 2024, it was Cape Town, South Africa, and this time we were in Windhoek, with plenty of time to explore and create. During the trip, I found myself thinking a lot about what it means to be an artist. In Japan, the words kamera man and shashinka are often used to describe photographers. I realized that I don’t want to be a kamera man. I want to be a shashinka.What’s the difference? A “kamera man” is often seen as more of a technical or commodity photographer. A “shashinka”, on the other hand, is closer to an artist. On the day of this shoot, I was feeling really low. Instead of directing Nanje, the model to look sexy or polished, I asked her to reflect how I was feeling. The room feels like it’s swallowing her. Honestly, that’s exactly how I felt. That day I chose to let my art reflect how I was feeling.Through editorial creative portraits, photography becomes a way to explore the deeper emotions we carry. This is the kind of work I like creating as a photographer in Tokyo.Location: Kolmanskop#toptiaphotography #photographer #portaitoftheday #headshot #tokyo

2 weeks ago

3/6

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How well do you really know yourself?In our consultations at TOPTIA Photography, one of the first things I ask is: What is your joy? What lights you up? What pulls you forward each morning beyond titles, roles, and responsibilities.Sometimes self-knowledge unfolds slowly through curiosity, experimentation, and the willingness to listen to what feels alive inside you. In this latest blog, I share a personal reflection on rediscovering creative joy. It’s a story about artistic identity, the courage to follow what resonates deeply, and trusting my own voice again.You can read the full reflection here: https://toptia.com/learning-about-your-joy/#tiahaygood #tokyophotographer #photography #photographer #portraitmood

2 weeks ago

4/6

Hey, I know you’re working on your goals, trying to meet deadlines and book projects.
There’s a lot on your shoulders because you care deeply about what you do. But before the weekend begins and the next week rushes in, take a moment to pause and reset.Here are a few questions to sit with at the end of the week that can help you realign and prepare for the week ahead:1. What made you feel most alive in your work this week?
2. When did you feel most like yourself while creating or building something?
3. Where did something feel heavy or resistant?
4. How can you take care of yourself better next week?
5. What are you ready to release?#photographer #portaitoftheday #photograperintokyo #tokyophotopgrapher #tokyo

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Hey, I know you’re working on your goals, trying to meet deadlines and book projects. There’s a lot on your shoulders because you care deeply about what you do. But before the weekend begins and the next week rushes in, take a moment to pause and reset.Here are a few questions to sit with at the end of the week that can help you realign and prepare for the week ahead:1. What made you feel most alive in your work this week? 2. When did you feel most like yourself while creating or building something? 3. Where did something feel heavy or resistant? 4. How can you take care of yourself better next week? 5. What are you ready to release?#photographer #portaitoftheday #photograperintokyo #tokyophotopgrapher #tokyo

2 weeks ago

5/6

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Are you scared of AI replacing your job? Or wondering if your profession will still exist in the future? It’s a conversation happening across many industries right now.Emily Kamata @emilyspeaksgold is a Japanese–English conference interpreter. Like many language professionals, her field is beginning to navigate the growing presence of AI translation and interpretation tools. But spending time with Emily, it becomes immediately clear that what she brings to her work goes far beyond what AI could replace.She is deeply personable, stylish, knows how to build trust, and has a unique way of connecting with people from completely different cultural and professional worlds. So if you find yourself wondering if AI will replace what you do, the answer is not so simple.Hi, I’m Tia Haygood, a Tokyo photographer who helps entrepreneurs like Emily stand out visually. If you’re thinking about updating your portraits, send me a message.#photographer #portaitoftheday #headshot #business #tokyo

3 weeks ago