Luise and Ruby’s Tokyo family photo shoot began with a question I hadn’t expected to ask: how did I get a family portrait booking when I didn’t have a single family portrait entry in my portfolio?
Luise had started by asking ChatGPT for a Tokyo family photographer. It presented the usual options, including established local studios, but she was looking for something a little different: cinematic, candid, with more of a street-photography feel. When she refined the search, ChatGPT pointed her in my direction. Even without a family portrait gallery, it somehow connected the dots. I’ll take that. Hehe.
The original plan was Akihabara. I had mentioned Jimbocho Book Town during our email exchange, but it was almost a last-minute change when Luise decided they wanted somewhere a little less overwhelming after their first few days in Tokyo. I had taken a bit of a gamble suggesting it, and thankfully, Jimbocho turned out to be exactly what they were looking for. Bookshelves, quiet side streets, Japanese paper-shop signs, vending machines and an ice cream pause: plenty to explore, without asking the city to perform for us.
Ruby is a child actress back home in Köln, Germany, and had appeared in a number of episodes. I’ll admit, it was tempting to take the easy route and ask her to pose, emote or pretend for a nice shot. But I wanted to take a more photojournalistic approach and let her be present with her mum. The little exchanges, the laughter and the things they noticed along the way were more than enough.
Jimbocho also gave me a few precious hours of daylight. My Tokyo night portfolio had backfired in the best possible way: everyone was asking for night shoots, even for family portraits. I hadn’t done a daytime shoot in Tokyo in years, and deep inside I kept thinking, “But guys! Tokyo also looks great in daylight!” I pointed out that Jimbocho might not be quite as compelling after dark, and the change in plans gave us time to see it before the light went.
The forecast had been overcast, so I was almost brought to tears when a warm setting sun appeared between the buildings along the main road. After hoping for a little Tokyo daylight, there it was, wrapping itself around Luise and Ruby as they held hands. Totally God-orchestrated. A small answered prayer, with a rather generous amount of golden light.
We still made our way to Akihabara, taking the Tokyo Metro toward Iwamotocho. There was a quiet bridge, and then Electric Town: the lights, the crowds, the capsule toy machines, and Luise and Ruby seeing it all for the very first time. Their reactions were completely candid. No acting required, Ruby. Hehe.
Before the shoot, Luise had shared in an email that this session was the highlight they were looking forward to on their activity-filled trip. I was so honoured to hear that. Somewhere along the way, we also made room for Luise’s solo portraits, letting them happen within the flow of the afternoon. But this story belongs to the two of them: a mother and daughter discovering Tokyo together, with a little Jimbocho sunlight I won’t soon forget.
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A cinematic Tokyo family photo shoot with Luise and Ruby, photographed across Jimbocho Book Town, the Tokyo Metro and Akihabara Electric Town. Captured by redsheepphotocinema using Leica cameras, with a candid, available-light approach shaped by bookshop streets, golden-hour sunlight, vending machines and their first evening exploring Electric Town.