Travel Portraiture in Kyoto Japan
Environmental portraiture in exotic and difficult situations is our specialty. Andrew strives to find balance and harmony of people in the scene with the beautiful views around them. Andrew is mostly based in Nagoya & Kyoto Japan or Melbourne Australia, but in the cherry blossom and Spring season he will be in Kyoto from late March to June each year. See Schedule & Bookings for more details.
Kyoto Portraits
Memories fade; but photos won't. Selfies are fine for sharing "here-and-now" moments, but they are not the photos you print out, they're not the photos you hang on the walls. Smartphone print quality is usually so bad, it's not even worth trying. With our professional experience, we will make a travel magazine or photo book to help you remember and value your special getaway, engagement photos, or once-in-a-lifetime trip. We will take high quality photos and collate the best ones into a magazine or book that you will be proud of, and will be the centre-piece of memories and conversations for decades to come. Wall prints (framed or unframed) are options too.
Details
- Meet at Tully's Coffee in Gion Kyoto (near Gion-Shijo subway station and Yasaka Shrine, Google Map ref; other locations may be possible).
- Part-day shoot, starting in the morning at 9am, or at 10am if you are renting a kimono (please visit and get dressed up at your kimono rental store before our meeting if you plan to dress up for the shoot).
- Typically over a hundred to three hundred photos are taken, but only the best 10, 15, or 20 (depending on package and options) are included in the magazine / album.
- Individual or group photos in plain clothes or in kimono. If in plain clothes, it's best to wear solid colours, and white shirts are usually best for not looking dated.
- Best locations include the lanes around Gion, Yasaka Shrine, Ginkakuji, and may be Kiyomizu Temple area (depending on the crowds on the day). If available, photos with rickshaws may be possible.
- Photos will include some context of place including any key buildings, and may include other people in the background (we'll do our best to crop them out, often waiting is the best option).
- A 'magazine' (a soft cover photo album, 20x25cm (8x10") thick 148gsm paper on lustre or matte) will be delivered to your address of choice (a pdf version can be express made at a small additional fee). Printed by our US based vendor, and delivered witin four weeks.
- Other requests can be accommodated.
Costs includes: Shoot time, equipment, editing, post processing time, travel time and expenses (national or international will be listed seperately in the invoice), photo album or magazine design and delivery, and long term digital storage.
Upgrades and extras can include*
- Additional people (+ USD$50/person).
- Additional shoot time & images (+ USD$100/hr; up to 5 extra images; includes additional post processing and editing time).
- Additional or reprints of your magazine or album (softcover + USD$48 ea.; harcover + USD$85 ea.).
- PDF versions can be delivered (great for showing on iPads and tablet computers; + USD$25).
- Change to image-wrap hard cover (album instead of "magazine", + USD$30).
- Prints framed or unframed (additional postage fees apply; depends on size, quantity, delivery fees, etc).
- Expert retouching (calculated on per person and complexity).
- Additional locations can include Kinkakuji Pavilion, Fushimi Inari, Nanzen Temple, and other locations (+ USD$100/hr; includes additional post processing, editing, and travel time; travel costs may be charged extra).
- Additional local, national, or international shoot locations.
- Packages can be upgraded for professional uses like commercial or sponsored social media licensing, and more (calculated on industry averages and usage details).
Contact us to learn more| Schedule & Bookings
The hard cover version of a photo book / photo album that will be made for you.
Policies
Payment: Sadly, there's a few people who spoil it for all of us. Consequently these policies must be adhered to. A non-refundable 50% deposit must be paid within 12 hours after bookings are confirmed, and the remainder by the day of the shoot. All private individuals must pay via PayPal or in-person using our Square payment system (accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Australian EFTPOS; paid in Australian dollars). Corporate may pay by bank transfer. *Additional fees may apply.
Weather: All attempts will be made to do the shoot taking advantage of all kinds of weather conditions. However, if the weather is so bad, the shoot will be postponed. If the client cannot attend the postponed date and time, all fees except the deposit will be refunded.
No-show: Uncool. Just uncool. Please contact us if you are late, delayed, or other; we usually can help you out some how. The deposit is non-refundable.
Liability: We are not responsible for any accidents or injuries that may occur during the shoot. Whilst all care is taken by us, we expect you to also put safety first. We also expect you to operate your equipment within your compentency level.
License: Photos in these packages are not available for commercial or professional uses, unless agreed to and specified in the invoice.
Above: Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion; one of the postcard-perfect photos that will be included with yoru protraits.
Portraiture in Tokyo on a rainy day.
Learn more about the photo books.
Package Options
Here are the Portrait Package details, these are the four main options (charged in Aust dollars):
- Premium Portrait Package. Prices from JPY¥94,320 (about AUD$1209 or USD$850).
- Standard Portrait Package. Prices from ¥49,900 (about AUD$640 or USD$460).
- Budget Portrait Package. Prices from JPY¥27,400 (about AUD$355 or USD$250).
- Digial Only Package. Prices from AUD$220 (about JPY¥17,300 or USD$158).
- Social Media Package. (special discount rates apply).
Contact us to learn more | Schedule & Bookings.
Sample photobook cover pages (pdf 4.4mb) | Sample interior pages (pdf 83mb).
Cover Options
We occassionally update your cover options. Make a note of which one you prefer and tell us. The final cover design you receive will be a little different, because it will have your own portrait on the front, and so text will have to be adjusted according to the picture used. More details about Photo Books here.
Design: 20190403-A | Portrait orientation Bilingual text, including place names & headline text; you may include a short quote of your experience of Kyoto. |
Design: 20190403-B | Portrait orientation Bilingual headline text only |
Design: 20190403-C | Portrait orientation Minimal text; with your name |
Design: 20190403-D | Landscape orientation Traditional photo album style; with your name |
- If you rent a kimono, usually the kimono rental store can do your hair, but you will need to do your own make up.
- All men, women, and children can rent kimonos or summer yukata.
- the kimono rental store may suggest a good location for a photo shoot, and look at our suggestions, but it's your decision because it's your book we are making.
Contact us and get a once-in-a-lifetime photo book made just for you.
Above: Fushima Inari; a postcard-perfect photo that may be included with your portraits in the photo book.