Feel your day. I'll photograph it quietly
Pyrmont. 23 guests. One deep exhale.
Documentary Wedding & Maternity Photographer Sydney | Intimate, Unposed Moments
Sydney Harbour • Blue Mountains • Hunter Valley • Central Coast
Photos delivered Within 8 Weeks Using Film-Inspired Documentary Style
(Zero Clients Report Feeling Over-Photographed)
YOU Don't need to stress about your photographs
Most camera-shy couples dread traditional wedding photography because constant direction and posing makes them feel exposed and unnatural. We use quiet observation and gentle film-inspired direction instead, so you actually enjoy your day while getting authentically beautiful photos that finally show who you really are.
For introverts (cat people welcome) who’d rather be reading than planning a seating chart. I specialise in intimate ceremonies under 50 guests — though I’ll photograph a bigger wedding when your mum won’t let you elope.
Saturday afternoon in Pyrmont. A registry ceremony. Twenty guests, maybe thirty. Vows that catch in your throat because everyone’s watching. And then the part I love most: the moment right after, when you finally breathe out and think—oh. we’re married.
Then it’s lunch somewhere local, backyard drinks, or a picnic at Observatory Hill.
No choreographed timeline. No performance. Just a day that feels like yours.
I photograph small weddings, elopements, and maternity sessions for people who want to remember their day — not manage 200 guests like a project plan.
Maternity sessions are quieter. Usually golden hour at Coogee or North Curl Curl. We’ll walk, talk, and let the moments arrive naturally. Gown optional. Always.
On weekdays, I’m also a solicitor — which means I’m early, prepared, and I’ll tell you (kindly) if your schedule is mathematically impossible. I speak Japanese and English, shoot digital and film depending on the day, and work throughout Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley, and Central Coast.
You’ll get a few portraits your mum can frame.
Then I’ll disappear and let you enjoy your celebration.
Sharp is the baseline. Craft is the difference
Modern cameras make it easy to get sharp, well-exposed images. What they don’t do is turn a real day — changing light, mixed indoor colour, fast moments — into a gallery that feels consistent, cinematic, and unmistakably yours.
That’s the work: matching skin tones as light shifts, correcting mixed lighting, removing distractions, and shaping hundreds of frames into one calm, coherent story.
I hand-edit every image for weddings and maternity sessions, and I tailor the finish to suit you: film-inspired, bright + clean, or moody (the quiet kind).
A wedding isn’t a practice shoot. You get one chance.
This is what editing does. Drag the slider. Same approach, same care — maternity included.
Sydney Maternity / motherhood Photography Services
Maternity, but make it quiet.
Usually golden hour at Coogee or North Curl Curl (or Centennial Park if that’s closer). We walk slowly because you’re eight months pregnant and tired. Your partner doesn’t know what to do with their hands at first. I tell them to stop trying so hard. You laugh.
And then something shifts — you lean into each other, you forget the camera exists, and I photograph that: the quiet moment before everything changes.
Just you. Almost not just you anymore. 🤍 The only way to get to the heart of this important time in your life is to capture it for what it is: raw, heartfelt, chaotic and uniquely beautiful.
And if you’re wondering who’s behind the camera — hi, I’m Nao.
Motherhood photographer. Artist. Rooted in emotion.
You can relax. That’s the whole point
はじめまして.
I photograph small weddings and maternity sessions for people who feel awkward the second a camera appears.
(Unfortunately relatable. 😄)
--- By mixing genres and embracing the imperfections. I’ll read the room and carefully observe the moments that make your wedding a rare occasion.
My approach is documentary-first: gentle direction when you need it, then I step back and photograph what’s already there — micro-expressions, quiet confidence, the moments you’ll want to remember after the blur has passed.
What you’ll get:
- Photos that feel like memories, not content
- A cohesive gallery with consistent, hand-edited colour
- No performing. No stiff posing. No hours of “what do I do with my hands?”
- A photographer who understands camera-shy nerves (and won’t make it weird)
I’m bilingual (JP/EN), based in Sydney, and I work across the Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley, and Central Coast. I’m also a solicitor during the week — which means I’m early, organised, very good at reading timelines and “close enough” isn’t really my personality.
Quiet doesn’t mean boring. It means real.
See the work → or say hello → read more about me here!
couples /ENGAGEMENT
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newborn
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maternity
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FAMILY
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Weddings
Explore my work: Weddings, Couples & Engagements, Families, Maternity and Newborn sessions. Click any gallery to view photos, or reach out for a no‑obligation chat.
galleries
Nao, Japanese candid portrait photographer's
From our first message to your final gallery, I offer a calm, personal and pressure‑free process. I reply thoughtfully because the way we begin shapes how you’ll feel in front of the camera. On your wedding day, I move quietly, giving gentle direction when needed and stepping back to let moments unfold. You won’t be posed—you’ll be witnessed. My goal is to create a safe space so you can forget the lens and enjoy genuine, film‑inspired moments. This is the experience: gentle guidance, honest connection and Sydney wedding photography that feels safe.
NEED a LAst minute photographer?
Contact me anyway! I will do everything, if possible, to help you. There is also nothing wrong about a last minute photoshoot too.
She was able to capture the most authentic photos, which showed our personalities and all of the small details that let us relive our special day.
Every photo turned out much better than expected!
The Experience — Gentle Guidance, Honest Connection, Sydney Wedding Photography That Feels Safe
Your Wedding Photographer in SYDNEY & the East Coast
Sydney Wedding & Maternity Photography Packages
01
Wedding photography package
Not every couple wants a big, traditional wedding. Some love stories are best told simply—honest, relaxed and focused on what matters. Just to give you an idea, my typical wedding coverage is $2,500 for 6 hours. For full‑day coverage, decide whether you’d like getting‑ready photos or just the ceremony; I can help you choose the right package. My pricing is all‑inclusive with no hidden extras so you can focus on your day. I also accept last‑minute bookings when available. All packages are customisable; reach out for a chat about simple, all‑inclusive pricing. If it's a smaller wedding or an elopement, that's a different package. Elopement can be in the city! or one off the beautiful beaches in Sydney like Maroubra or Blue Mountains.
Creating memories that last a lifetime—let’s work together to preserve your story in beautiful, film‑inspired images.
Planning a simple elopement with under 10 guests?
I offer a 3-hour Simple Elopement package starting at $1,500. Contact me for details.
02
MATERNITY AKA Motherhood Photography
Package
A laid-back session for you. My Sydney maternity photography honours the in‑between stage before you become someone new. I work slowly and quietly, letting you breathe, move and forget the camera. Guided by a Japanese sensibility, each session is patient, observant and gentle—ideal for camera‑shy parents‑to‑be. Packages start from $340 with custom options available. Contact me for more details and will send you information straight away.
03
SYDNEY Engagement &
Surprise Proposal Photography
in Sydney — Quiet Planning, Real Emotion
Your proposal should feel natural, not staged. I’ll quietly help you plan the timing, light and location so the moment is unforgettable. With a calm, Japanese‑inspired approach, I photograph from a discreet distance, allowing emotions to unfold organically. Sydney proposal sessions start at $340. Need more time or portraits around the city? Custom packages are available. Every proposal is unique, but the goal is always to preserve the moment before everything changes. Contact me if you want studio photoshoot for engagement photos in Sydney.
No confusing packages. No surprise costs. Just clear and transparent options that include everything you need — and nothing you don’t. I also take last-minute bookings when I can. EVERYTHING is customisable. Please feel free to reach out for a chat.