Pre-Wedding Photoshoot in Kamikochi, Nagano

I recently had the pleasure of shooting a pre-wedding photoshoot in Kamikochi. Kamikochi is a popular tourist destination and a beautiful natural area located in the Hida Mountains, in the western part of Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It is part of the Chubu Sangaku National Park and is situated in the Northern Japan Alps. The couple, from Hong Kong, chose this spot as it’s known for its breathtaking scenery, crystal-clear streams, and stunning mountain views. It was an absolute dream location and the couple, Monique and Terence, were such a joy to work with.

We started our day at the Taisho pond, which was where Terence surprised Monique with a super cute proposal. Although the shoot was planned, Monique was unaware that she would be proposed to at this exact location, so it was an amazing opportunity for me to capture all the emotions when it became all official. The proposal was magical!

We were joined by the talented makeup artist Yasuko, who is based in Nagano and did an incredible job with Monique’s makeup. Not only did she do an incredible job on Monique’s hair and makeup, but she was so kind and was there to assist with anything anyone needed - including me! Her Instagram handle is @moani_hair.make if you’d like to check her out. 

After taking some gorgeous photos at Taisho pond, we continued our journey to Kamikochi Bridge. On our way, we stumbled upon a spot with mountains in the background that was too stunning to pass up, so we took a few more shots. 

While we were shooting, we even saw a monkey strolling by casually, which was quite the unexpected surprise.

Once we arrived at Kamikochi Bridge, Monique and Terence had an outfit change, and we took advantage of the beautiful river scenery to capture some more amazing shots. This is where I decided to get up close and personal, taking a mixture of medium and close-ups.

Overall, the pre-wedding photoshoot was a huge success and we got some truly breathtaking photos in Kamikochi. I feel so grateful to have been a part of this special moment in Monique and Terence’s journey, and I wish them all the best for their future together as husband and wife. If you’re looking for a beautiful, natural setting for your pre-wedding photoshoot, Kamikochi is definitely worth considering.