Your candid and documentary wedding, couples and maternity photographer

Do you know how much I do not like being in front of a camera? 

I’m introverted, shy…sometimes I feel an awkward person in my OWN private life.  

That’s why I love being behind the camera. But I’d never tell my clients to “Say Cheese!” I capture candid moments by telling them about my story or giving little instructions like, “walk slowly talking to each other what you really wanted to say after your first date.”   

Couples talking and giggling, a small girl twirling her dress, people just looking at something or someone they adore.  

A quick click of a camera catches that moment that may be missed if I was not quietly observing. 

Maybe that’s why I’m shooting surprise proposal photos [link to proposal at Wendy’s Garden blog] like ninja. 

So why did I name my studio Sydney Sakura Studio? 

First, let’s put a face to the name:

Hi! I’m Nao, founder of Sydney Sakura Studio where I am a candid photographer who loves capturing documentary-style portrait photos.

From the name Nao, and the reference to sakura (cherry blossom), you may be able to see that I am Japanese. I’m originally from Japan, then moved to Australia 20+ years ago. 

I am bilingual in Japanese and English, so if you have a partner or family from Japan, you’ll get to see my bilingual skills in real time!

You may also know me as :

• A mom to 2 cats – one is named Sakura, yes you can see my love for sakura
• An artist (watercolours) and classic piano lover (and I play a mandolin too) 
• Someone who can’t decide with too many hobbies (knitting, watercolour painting and calligraphy, classical piano….oops) 

I started taking photos since my geeky dad gave me my first film – I think it was a Minolta- camera at 10 years old.  He loved taking photos and videos, but I think he loved new techs, so we had so many cameras in our house, which my mom did not like. 

I’ve explored many different photography styles over the years. I don’t know how many photography Instagram account I have in the Internet grave— landscape, portrait photography, you name it!

But I loved a quiet, candid photography like landscape and street photography in the beginning.  I felt like I couldn’t approach people and take portrait photos.  

…and it took a long time for me to realise that just wasn’t the case.  

Why being an introvert led me to candid photography

You know the person who hides when a camera /phone comes out? That’s me. 

 I was looking through photos of me on my phone and online albums one day.  

I noticed how stiff I looked, and didn’t look like myself.  Also, I realised how few photos I had of me. 

Yeah….I was overweight and didn’t like photos and selfies AT ALL but that’s so sad looking back.  

My street photos capture someone smiling, deep in thought or talking with each other. 

So, the question is: 

Can I be a candid and documentary photographer? 

I also thought that an introvert me meant that I shouldn’t be taking portraits, but should take landscapes, street and buildings. 

You know the person who hides when the camera comes out?

 

That’s me.

 

One day, I was looking through photos of me on my phone and noticed how /stiff/ I looked.

 

I felt like I didn’t look like myself. I also realised how few photos I had of me.

 

At the time, I was overweight, so I didn’t like photos and selfies AT ALL. 

 

But then, I would look the photos I would take of other people: my nephew smiling but deep in thought, or my friend Sandra looking at me, or my family members talking with each other. 

And I thought,

These are the types of pictures I would love of myself.

I think the reason why everyone loves photos taken by phones is /because/ they are so candid. 

Japanese are big on studio and posed photographs, so that’s what I was used to.

But it’s really not the stiff photos that move me when I look at the photos I have of me, my friends, or my family.

It’s the ones where people are just laughing and having fun, just as they do in their day to day life ….or even crying  

It’s the ones where your bridesmaid starts crying from seeing you in your wedding dress for the first time.

 

Those are the moments I capture with candid photography.

 

How I take candid photos

I take candid photography because I photograph by: 

 

1. Paying attention during the loud moments

As an introvert, I’m used to being a wallflower.

But it’s where I shine.

It’s how I notice the small details like the flower girl twirling on the dance floor or you laughing at the terrible dad joke your uncle just told you. 

2. Plandid photos

We can do a picture of planned AND candid photos!

Like this one from Wedding:

So, we were taking a “heirloom” photos in front of the Vaucluse House, but I caught the moment that she was in the moment by herself thinking about the day.

3. Cinematic moments

Want a photo like the one you saw in a movie?   It’s not just the time during the shooting that matters.  I discuss with you what, if any, inspiration ‘you’ may have and will make it happen.  That’s not just clicking the camera.  It’s planning and then editing afterwards that make the moment look cinematic! 

If you’re sick of stiff photos and want photos of you that feels like YOU … hi, I’m Nao. And I’m your girl.