A decade of
Kyoto, in your
photographs.
Premium Kyoto sessions with retouched portraits plus all session photos. I shoot until you have the shots you dreamed of, not until the hour is up.
Premium Kyoto sessions with retouched portraits plus all session photos. I shoot until you have the shots you dreamed of, not until the hour is up.
Photographer Kyoto is my premium service — for clients who want the very best and focus on getting the shots they dreamed of at each location. I'm also behind Photo Taiken Japan, where I've spent ten years shooting Kyoto with travelers, couples, and families from around the world.
Four signature locations, plus a few I keep up my sleeve for the right session.
Thousand torii gates, vermillion paths, the iconic climb. Best at sunrise for soft light and quiet.
Lantern-lit streets at dusk, the heart of old Kyoto. Cinematic, moody, romantic.
Towering bamboo, green cathedral light, the grove everyone pictures — best before the crowds arrive.
Stone paths along the canal, cherry trees in spring, quiet temples nearby. Slow, poetic, uncrowded early.
You're booking locations and finished photos — not hours. Photographer Kyoto is built for clients who want the very best at each location. Every package includes a pre-shoot consultation, location planning, all session photos, and Google Drive delivery in about 7 business days.
Every session includes two types of images:
Each location includes around six hand-retouched portraits — the shots you'd frame or print — plus all session photos with my preset applied. I don't stop when a timer goes off; we keep working the scene until we have what we came for.
The planning window on each package helps us schedule your locations — a sensible guide for the visit, not a hard stop on shooting. Most sessions stay within it, with a little flexibility built in.
Estimated times include shooting and travel between locations — not a strict limit. Larger packages can split across two visit days for different light and atmospheres. Need more time at a spot? We can adjust before you arrive.
Customize any package with the extras below.
| Add-on | Price |
|---|---|
| Extra location (add to any package) | $280 |
| Portrait retouch upgrade | $20 / photo |
| USB stick + all data, shipped worldwide | From $50 |
| 48-hour rush delivery | $60 |
Want more retouched portraits? Any session photo can be upgraded to full portrait retouching for $20 each.
A keepsake USB with all your photos — retouched portraits, session photos, and session files — shipped anywhere in the world. Handcrafted packaging, perfect for anniversaries and gifts. From $50, varies by destination.
Tell me your travel dates, group size, and the vibe you're after. I reply within a day, often faster.
We pick locations, timing, and a few details (kimono, transport) so the day is set before you arrive.
No clock-watching. At each location we work toward your retouched portraits and session photos — sometimes it comes together quickly, sometimes we wait for the right light or a quiet moment. I don't wrap up early, and I won't rush you out when the scene is still working.
You'll receive all session photos (hundreds with my preset applied) plus your hand-retouched portraits via Google Drive in about 7 business days. Need them sooner? Add 48-hour rush delivery.
Standard delivery in about 7 business days — or add 48-hour rush delivery if you're on a tight timeline.
| Delivery | Timeline | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Google Drive delivery | About 7 business days | Included |
| 48-hour rush delivery | Within 48 hours | +$60 |
| USB stick worldwide | +7–21 days | From $50 |
Transportation is not included in session prices. Kyoto's locations vary in distance — some are walkable clusters, others require travel.
These reviews are from my Google Business Profile at Photo Taiken Japan — the same photographer, ten years of Kyoto sessions. Photographer Kyoto is the premium side of that work.
Jens did a great job capturing our engagement! Even in the rain, Jens was able to direct us and take great photos! He was very friendly and great to work with and I would recommend him to everyone!
My family and I got incredible photos and had a great time exploring Gion and the Fushimi Inari areas on Kyoto. We showed up a bit late because we got confused and boarded the wrong train, but Jens was very understanding and flexible! He shared a lot of history about the areas, gave insights about his life in Japan, and helped us navigate through these very touristy areas. He also gave great recommendations for food/mochi/matcha shops to try! I think that photos are the best souvenir you can bring home from a trip, and I definitely recommend booking a photoshoot with Jens!
We wore traditional kimonos for a photoshoot in Kyoto with Jens. He was friendly and cooperative; he spoke flawless English and had an excellent understanding of Japanese culture. He offered many creative ideas for shots and was very patient with us. We received the complete set of photos along with a selection of enhanced versions. Amazing work overall!
I can't recommend Jens enough! We had him for our honeymoon in Japan, and he was fantastic. The price was super reasonable, and he really knew how to make the most of our time. Instead of spending ages in one spot, he took us to some amazing places and got great shots quickly. It was a rainy day, but he turned it into an advantage, capturing some really beautiful moments. We ended up with a ton of gorgeous photos in just a few hours. If you're in Japan and need a photographer, definitely check him out!
We had an amazing time doing a 1 hour maternity/family shoot in the Arashiyama area while visiting Kyoto. We were able to fit in 3 separate locations which led to a variety of backgrounds and shots. We received all of the raw original photos within the same day of the shoot. Very easy to work with, very knowledgeable and exceeded all of our expectations. We can't wait to see how the edited photos come out!
We decided at the last minute to do a photoshoot with traditional kimonos and asked Jens to take our photos. Despite the sudden request, he quickly responded to us. He speaks very good English, so the communication was easy. He was friendly and made the photoshooting a very nice experience. He was willing to propose various locations and poses which helped us. Needless to say that the delivered photos were top quality and now we have many memories of the day. I highly recommend him.
Jens was a pleasure to work with. He knew all the places for the most amazing photos. Worked well with our infant, getting him to smile for the best photos. Highly recommend working with him for all your Kyoto photo needs!
If you are an English speaker Jens is the only way to go! He is not only an amazing photographer, he translated for us and pointed us in the right direction for attractions and food! We had a lovely time and he did exceptional with our little baby getting him to look at the camera. We enjoyed the day spent with him and was blown away with the final product. It was hard to decide which ones were the best. We felt like all of the pictures he took were such high-quality. We could've put any of them on our wall in a frame. The memories will last a lifetime.
Very pleased with Jens because he made us feel comfortable during the shoot which allowed our personalities to be reflected in the photos. Even our children were raving about him with their friends when we got back to Sydney, recommending him to their friends who are going to Japan in the next months. We love the photos and the overall experience. Thanks Jens. Really appreciate the work you do.
We loved our shoot with Jens! We did the Gion/Higashiyama route and it was great. It was nice to be able to walk around and hear about the area. He made us feel very comfortable and natural. It was a really fun time! I would definitely recommend Jens if you're looking for an authentic photographer!
Tell me a bit about your trip and which package you're considering. I'll reply within 24 hours with availability and next steps.
I'll be in touch within 24 hours. In the meantime, feel free to email [email protected] with anything urgent.