High School Days: Photography Started with Fashion

Regarding my career as a photographer, I didn't study photography at a specialized school or university. When I was in high school, I shared photos I took myself on social media, and a stylist reached out to me. From there, it gradually led to fashion photography. I would say that for me, photography started with fashion.

Also, many of my friends skateboard, so I originally shot videos and film cameras. I would then silk-screen those photos onto T-shirts to earn some pocket money.

What I Want to Shoot, What I Want to Convey

The amount of work I have now is completely different from back then, but it's a continuation of what I was doing, and the essence of my work hasn't changed much. When I shoot my own personal work, I think there are about three themes. One is "the passage of time." For example, the musician Shuta Hasunuma used a work of mine featuring windows at different times of day as the visual for his approximately 12 personal songs. In that work, I conveyed the passage of time by choosing locations that had an atmosphere where people weren't present, but felt like they had been there or would be there. Another theme I've continuously shot is "landscapes." And finally, "people's backs." I'm very drawn to backs where you can't see the face, so I want to keep collecting those shots. I think shooting people is what I enjoy most right now. In any case, rather than clearly depicting something, I think I'm taking photos that evoke a certain "presence."

When doing client work, I usually prepare two or three patterns of mood boards or references that convey an image, including the subject and location I've decided on, and where people will be. However, sometimes they might say, "None of these are quite right," and I'm not necessarily trying to shoot exactly according to them. I see it as a form of self-introduction. It's like a communication tool. For example, I might include photos of my favorite landscapes or album covers by my favorite musicians in the references. From there, conversations and ideas can expand with the staff, perhaps starting with "What kind of music do you like?" That's why I value bringing my own proposals to the table first.