I was in Sapporo on holiday, a Christmas and New Year break, and my couple shoots weren’t until after the New Year, in Tokyo a few days later.

But earlier that day, I saw a local photographer shooting a couple in the snow. I remember thinking, “This is such a beautiful place and I don't have anything snowy or wintery in my portfolio yet. I wish I also had a shoot here.” And, not even a full hour later, Hao & Fang — honeymooners from Singapore — spotted the Leica on my neck and walked over. Just like that. No plans, no booking. Just presence, timing… and maybe a little qarah.

We wandered through the snow-covered landscape of Moerenuma Park, letting the soft Hokkaido light do its thing. Chill, quiet, natural. No rush. No scripts. It felt more like a walk than a shoot, a serendipitous encounter at that. A qarah moment, maybe, a recurring redsheep trope if you may.

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A cinematic destination couple shoot with Hao & Fang, photographed on location in Moerenuma Park, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan – December 2023. Captured by redsheepphotocinema and @_elsewherelse using the Leica Q3. Color remastered in July 2025.