A photo mentor once told me the background of the photo was MORE important than the subject itself. At the time, I thought he seemed a bit extreme, but a trip to Nagoya got me to thinking how right he might have been.
—
I had the pleasure of going to Nagoya the other week for a cosplay photo session. There were eight Japanese cosplayers who were very excited to don their respective costumes from their favorite game and anime, Kantai Collection, AKA Kancolle.
Despite being interested in Japanese pop culture, I had no idea what Kancolle was. After researching and binge-watching the show, I’ve got to hand to the Japanese for their sense of creativity. Who else would think of creating a world of characters personified from World War II Navy battleships?
Source: Kantai Collection, English Wikia
Yes, that is a Japanese Navy Aircraft Carrier, if you were curious.
The Background Hunt
To get the 1940s feel of the characters, the photo venue was important to take into account. We used an old community center with rentable multi-purpose rooms. Once I saw the interior of the venue, I absolutely thanked my clients for being so thoughtful of and thorough about our photo session. The interior matched well with the era of our characters.
The venue used was the Nagoya Pottery Center「名古屋陶磁器会館」located 5 minutes from the nearest station in downtown Nagoya. It was built in 1932, well before World War II, making it a pretty authentic location for eight Kancolle cosplayers to get into character for a four-hour photo shoot. Once the cosplayers and I were all set, we were confident about our shoot.
Cosplayers can put hours of effort into their costumes to create the perfect photo of their favorite characters and these eight cosplayers for this photo shoot were no exception. But the most frequent problem with capturing the full package for most cosplayers is pairing their awesome costumes with an equally awesome background!
Con Photos
I’m a bit shy to show these, but I took them at my first and second trips to Comiket in Tokyo a few years back.
Sure, we can see the cosplayers’ efforts in achieving the authenticity and quality of their costumes and yes, they are both in character, but the harsh lighting of the sun and eyesores in the background make these photos unfit as a feature photo for a blog, magazine, or any publication. The Monster Hunter cosplayer on the left could better achieve the full effect of his costume in a more natural area, whereas a dark and urban environment would be ideal for the Watchmen cosplayer to the right.
Meanwhile in Nagoya
Back to the 1940s setting of Kancolle, the background of these photos not only set the mood and story a bit better but also adds authenticity to the costumes.
The background for the gentlemen in the first two photos really enhanced the militaristic mood of admirals whom they were dressed as. The lovely lady in the third photo got fully into her character, Z3, a shy yet powerful character. Using the window perch to rest on, viewers can easily piece together a story of a potential attack!
The last two, I enjoy a lot. As my clients were there with me as we took photos, they explained the similarities the bricked hallway had with a scene in Kancolle. Just listening to their excitement as they pieced together which character should sit with whom and where the Shuri bucket, or Repair bucket, should go allowed me to put the shoot together. Despite not being familiar with Kancolle, I was happy to bring my client’s vision to life.
The efforts to find the perfect background may seem a bit too much effort, not to mention the fact that some amateur cosplay photographers are simply happy to see their favorite characters in the flesh. This makes the desire to find the best background a backburner task. But let’s be fair, there are tons of convention attendees who bring their cameras and excitement to con events all over the world. It’s a pause in life to bring out the fantasies they often enjoy. How often does your average Yuri!!! on ICE fan get to see Victor Nikiforov? As amazing as it would be to photograph a Victor Nikiforov-clad cosplayer in real ice skates on an actual ice rink, it’s not going to be a doable photo at ANY local convention, ANYWHERE!
So, what do you do?
Well you could do what some of these guys do at conventions:
But if bringing the expensive camera, lenses, the reflector, the speedlight and diffuser is a bit too much, bring a business card. Serious cosplayers most likely have their own business cards to exchange with other photographers, cosplayers, and media outlets. So exchange cards and plan out simple and easy to do photo shoots with your favorite characters. Scout out that ideal location or background that would best fit the character and go for it! Most likely, if the cosplayer agrees to a future shoot, they will love the photos as a keepsake to post online and will be open to participating as long as you respects their conditions. The cosplayer might bring a friend, present their own contingencies, or simply decline your request. In the end, it is best to respect the choices of the cosplayer and settle for a simple photo with the best background you can find at the convention site. Like this one:
The walls in Makuhari Messe at Tokyo Comicon created a believable background for Chell at the Aperture Laboratories from the game Portal.
Whatever tactic you decide, whether you are photographing your favorite character or taking snapshots of friends while out and about, do consider what is behind your subject before you press the shutter. You’ll be surprised at how much better the photo looks when taking that bit of extra effort. My mentor will thank you.
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
Tokyo, are you ready?
Our Headshot Marathon Day is happening this Saturday, and I’m beyond excited to bring the magic of last summer’s Charlotte marathon right here to Tokyo. Expect an editorial-style headshot, professional makeup, and that signature Toptia energy you know and love 📸
Can’t make it this weekend? You’ve still got time to join our Kintsugi Reclamation Project — a heartfelt visual journey you won’t want to miss. DM us for details.
Also… can you believe we’re already in the second half of the year? I’m so excited to see what’s ahead for Toptia Photography and the beautiful people we’ll meet along the way.
Stay cool, stay hydrated, and as always keep showing up as your full self.
#photography #art #aestheticphotography #photographer #portaitoftheday #creative #expression #toptia #toptiaphotos #toptiaphotography #japan #photography #photographers #resilience #business #entrepreneurship #creatives #freelancer #headshot