Q&A

What kind of photography do you provide?

My typical client is a large corporation that needs one of the following: executive portraits, video interviews, or images for an advertising campaign. I specialize in people – interacting with them, getting great poses, expressions, lighting, in a way that captures their identity and also promotes the brand identity of the company they work for.

How long do sessions last?

My many encounters with famous people – from Tokyo Governor Koike-San to the Dalai Lama – have taught me to work quickly when necessary. Depending on the shoot, the time required could range from ten minutes to ten hours.

What factors influence the fee?

Time spent shooting, preparing, traveling, and editing are all obvious factors. Another one is 'creative complexity' – how much art direction and planning is required from my side. And a further consideration is usage – where, how, and for how long the images will be used by the client.

What kind of editing/retouching is possible?

I have worked on many types of projects, some involving a more raw, simple editing style, and others involving more complicated and detailed retouching. On the video end, I have a great deal of experience editing various types of corporate and advertising videos, sometimes under intense time pressure.

Do you work with partners?

Although I typically work alone, it's not uncommon for me to work with makeup artists, hair stylists, clothing stylists, and a wide variety of video assistants (sound technicians, camera people, producers, etc.).

Can you assist with logistics, for more complex shoots?

Numerous times, I have handled the logistics of a shoot – procuring models, arranging locations, preparing an itinerary, and so forth. In cases where the logistics are too complex for me to handle, I work with partners who are specialists in this area.

What language are shoots conducted in?

My Japanese speaking ability is intermediate-level, meaning that I'm perfectly comfortable doing an entire shoot in Japanese, and communicating with a model, instructing them on how to pose, etc. in Japanese. As an English-speaking Canadian, I'm obviously best at this language.