PREPARATION & INFO GUIDE

Thanking you for choosing Kai Photography Japan to capture your memories in Japan!

Here are some preparation tips and information to help make your photo session a comfortable and fruitful one.

PHOTOGRAPHY HOURS

The photography hours includes photography time, styling & outfit changes, transportation time between hotel to/fro locations, location to locations, and any planned breaks.

The time taken for the first makeup and hair styling is not included in the photography hours.

However, should you do a hairstyle change or outfit change during the shoot, this will count into your photography time.

The counting the photography time for the photo shoot starts when we depart the hotel.

The more outfits you plan for, the less photography time. Please factor this when deciding the number of outfits. Most clients prepare two to three outfits for a six-hour session.

 CHOOSING YOUR WEDDING OUTFITS

It is recommend that brides keep to wedding gowns with short trains and short veils. Dresses with short trains are easier to handle especially in rainy weather. As the shoots are in public outdoor locations, a smaller dress will prevent us from causing inconvenience to other patrons.

What is considered a long train?

If you require an additional person to help lay your dress or your dress takes up a walking path, it is probably considered long. The longer your dress, the more likely we will cause inconveniences to the patrons or the location, and the more likely the photo shoot will receive complains.

I usually encourage clients to incorporate a causal outfit. This allows a different feel in the images as most clients are more restrained in the wedding outfits.

CAUSAL OUTFITS

Causal outfits are a great addition to your photo shoot wardrobe.

Colors: Color is a key element in your outfits. Select colors that will complement your hair, skin tone and stand out in pictures. Keep in mind your the season, locations and avoid colors that will blend into your surroundings. For example, green may not be the best choice for taking photos in a park full of greens. Choose colors will complement the surrounding colors.

As a couple, your outfits need to complement each other, but not match exactly. If you both wear same color palette, the photos might end up looking dull.

Prints: If you choose to wear prints, create the right balance between outfits or else the photographs will look too busy. For example, if one person is wearing a print, the other person can wear a solid color or subtle pattern.

Silhouette: For the ladies, I’ll recommend wearing something that hugs the waist. This gives a nicer silhouette in pictures.

Bags & Accessories: I encourage couples to not carry any bags with them during the session. If you do need a bag, carry one that matches your outfits so that your accessories will look coordinated with your outfit in the images.

Avoid: While it’s important to be comfortable, avoid wearing clothes that will look sloppy in photos. For example, baggy clothes, cargo pants, sweat pants appear sloppy in photos.

Avoid wearing clothes with large logos or words, unless they have an intended purpose


CHOOSING HAIR STYLES

Please be aware that some locations are very windy. A full down hairdo can become straight or messy even in a few minutes of wind or drizzle.

Unfortunately, the photographer is unable to retouched messy hair or fix any hair mishaps.

If you have booked a stylist, I recommend you have the stylist follow through out the shoot to help you with your hair, and outfits. An extra of hands makes a very big difference in bad or cold weather.

BOOKING A STYLIST

If you require my assistance to book a stylist, please let me know your styling needs. stylist.

⬜︎ Bride’s/Lady’s first hairstyle and makeup

⬜︎ Bride’s/Lady’s second hairstyle

⬜︎Groom’s/ Male's hair styling

⬜︎Stylist to follow on shoot (whole shoot)

⬜︎Stylist to follow on shoot (until second hair styling is completed)

⬜︎Stylist does not need to follow on shoot

Kindly note it is likely that the stylist will be a Japanese. I will help to liaise between client and the makeup artist.

ASSISTANT

In general, I usually shoot alone. For long prewedding shoots, I occasionally, I may have an assistant come on a shoot. Please note that this is not a guarantee.

I usually recommend that clients opt for the makeup artist to follow on the shoot so that stylist can take care of the bride during the shoot. (Example, help the bride with the dress and your belongings)


DECIDING YOUR TRANSPORT

Kindly note that transportation during the photo session is not included in the photography fee. These are some options you can consider

  • Self Driven Rental car: Please ensure that you rent a car that is enough to fit yourselves and crew. Please also check that you have the appropriate license to drive the car. To save time on finding parking and transportation fee, it is recommended for the couple and crew to travel in the same vehicle.

  • Chartered Tax: It’s a more costly option. However, you can save time and energy as the taxi can drop everyone off near the location, and we don’t have to worry about parking issues.

  • If you prefer for the crew to travel separately from you, please note you will be required to cover any transportation fees incurred by the crew.

CHOOSING HOTELS ( For clients requesting for styling in your accomodation)

There are two things you need to check when booking your accomodation.

1) Whether the stylist can enter your room

Please check with your hotel if the stylist is allowed to go up to your hotel room to do styling. For many major hotels, this is not allowed.

Some clients have booked a separate room for the stylist so that the makeup artist can go up to their room to do styling.

2) Whether there is sufficient parking for the crew

The crew will need to park our cars at your lodging. The lodging must have sufficient parking (usually two lots for the crew- one for the photographer, and one for MUA) or have coin parking nearby.

INSPIRATION IMAGES

If you have requested for a stylist, please send the following images to the photographer at least a week before your photoshoot.

  • Requested hairstyle(s)

  • Request makeup look(s)

  • Picture of yourself barefaced, showing full length of hair

  • Any hair accessories you will be using

  • Outfit(s)

Please if you have any inspiration images with regards to the look and feel of your images, please share it with the photographer. While I will do my best to meet your needs, I’m unable to completely change my shooting style and images. If your requests differ too much from my style, it is best to consider hiring another photographer that matches your needs.

PREPARING FOR RAINY/COLD WEATHER

These are some tips to help cope with bad weather.

  • Thick, nude colored, stockings for the ladies (The highest denier you can find) In Japan, sometimes they sell up to Denier 110. (Depending on the weather)

  • Jackets or shawls that can be photographed in

  • Heat packs (the Japanese convenience stores will sell them.) The heat packs come in two types: Stickable （貼る、貼れる）　and non-stickable （貼れない）. I recommend the stickable ones （貼る、貼れる）(Depending on the weather)

  • Waterproof WINTER boots (for snowy weather) This is very important for winter shoots in Toyama prefecture, Ishikawa prefecture (Kanazawa) and Shirakawago. Usually high cut rubber rain boots are great for the winter weather here.

  • Hot water/ hot water flask

  • If it’s going to be rainy during your session, please prepare two umbrellas. The Japanese transparent umbrellas (sold at convenience stores ) are great for photo shooting.

  • Extra hair pins and strong hairspray (if the stylist is not going to follow on shoot)

RAINY WEATHER

Should it forecast to rain during your photo session, these are the options.

1) Proceed with the shoot with umbrellas (light rain)

Clients will prepare two transparent umbrellas. These umbrellas are sold in the Japanese convenience stores. The transparent umbrellas look more neutral in the photos and also allow light to pass through to light up the faces.

2) Postpone the shoot (heavy rain)

Rainy day shoots are not easy. Should there be heavy rain, clients can consider postponing the shoot.

However, this is subjected to the availability of the photographer and makeup artist.

Clients are encourage to be flexible with their travel plans in the event you might need to postpone the shoot.

SIGNIFICANT ITEMS

Think about your relationship and story. If there are significant items in your relationship that you wish to include in your photo session, incorporate them in your session. (E.g. engagement ring, a letter etc.) My focus will always be about you; your story and your interaction. The use of decorative props like banners or balloons may not go with the Japanese elements in the environment and can take attention away from you and your partner.

BOUQUETS

Should you require a fresh flower bouquet, I can assist in contacting a florist.

To order a bouquet, please send me:

  • Some images of bouquets showing the color palettes you like. It will be difficult to specify particular flowers because the requested flower may not be in season.

  • Your budget (Kindly note that bridal bouquets are quite costly in Japan. Usually in the range of ¥30,000 - ¥60,000)

  • Hotel name, full name in which room was booked under, check-in date (for delivery purpose)

If you can pick-up on your own, I can also offer you the contacts and you can liaise directly with the florist.

For clients staying in Toyama city, you can consider the following florists.

Mimi Eden https://www.instagram.com/mimieden326?utm_source=qr

Atelier Anorm https://www.instagram.com/anorm__/

OUTFIT CHANGES

As much as possible, we will try to go back to the hotel for outfit and styling changes. However, it may not be possible in most cases.

If we are unable to return to the hotel, we will change in a public toilet or in the car. Kindly note that the Japanese frown upon changing outdoors (E.g. Makeshift Changing Tents). Please kindly do not change outfits in the open.

LINE APP

If you have opt for a stylist, please kindly download the LINE App. A group chat will be created between clients and stylist. Please send your requested hairstyles and makeup looks to this group chat. This app is purely for styling purposes. For communication with regards to locations and other logistics, please contact me via email or Whatsapp.

AFTER CHECKING IN (For clients requesting styling in hotel room)

After you have checked-in into your hotel, please kindly send a message in LINE group chat

  • Your room number

  • Does the stylist require the room card to go up to your room?

  • Is there a mirror in the room

  • Send a picture of the mirror.

Please hang up your outfits to remove wrinkles. (This includes the wedding veil)


THE DAY BEFORE PHOTO SHOOT

Self-care: Exfoliate, moisture, shave and be well-rested to prepare for your photo session. Photo-taking and traveling between locations can be tiring and it is important that you are well rested.

Refreshments: Depending on the schedule, we may not be able to have a proper lunch at a restaurant. If such cases, please prepare some food and drinks to eat on the go.

Packing: Make sure you have packed all the necessary outfit changes and accessories if you are bringing them on the shoot.

DAY OF PHOTO SHOOT

Styling Time: Wear a button down shirt during your styling so that you won’t mess up your makeup and hair when changing.

Touch-up Kit: If your stylist is not going to follow you on your session, bring a small, basic touch-up kit (E.g. powder, lip gross, hair pin, fake eyelash glue, safety pins)

Comfortable shoes: If your fancy shoes are not comfortable for walking, please bring a pair of comfortable footwear.

MANNERS & RESPECT

The Japanese people are exceptionally particular about manners and etiquette. To have a pleasant shoot that is also comfortable for the locals, please be mindful of the following.

  • We will always give way to other visitors, pedestrians etc.

  • A bow and “arigatou” (Thank you) goes a long way in showing appreciation to the locals.

  • All farmland, flower fields are painstakingly cared for by farmers and gardeners throughout the year. Please refrain from touching flowers and stepping into flower fields. (In certain gardens, stepping into some parts of fields is allowed.)

  • Refrain from touching things owned by locals. While some items may look like good photography props, it’s property of others.

It is very common for Japanese people or other photographers to want to photograph beautiful brides. If you are not comfortable with the attention, please feel free to politely decline.

MAKING PAYMENTS

Please kindly pay the photographer in Japanese yen cash, in exact change.

If you have engaged a stylist or taxi, please make payment to them directly.

We will appreciate if you could put the payment into an envelope too! (Japanese people are not very comfortable accepting money directly.)

REQUESTS

If you have any requests for the images, please let me know. However, please understand I’m unable to accept a long list of requested shots or poses. This highly limit the creative progress and some poses may not necessarily suit client personalities or outfits. In addition, many of the images you see on portfolio are taken in seasonal views which may not be present during your session. If you have any requests, please choose images from only my portfolio (Instagram, website etc.).

PHOTOGRAPHER’S CONTACT INFORMATION

You can contact me via e-mail (info@kaiphotographyjapan.com) or Whatsapp (+080-3741-9010).