Founder & photographer
Kate Belova
Every guide on this site is written or reviewed by Kate: a working portrait photographer who founded Photo Japan and personally vets every photographer on the platform.
Kate Belova is a professional portrait and lifestyle photographer with over 10 years of experience, based in Lisbon, Portugal. Known for her "soul portrait" style, Kate has a rare ability to make people feel completely at ease in front of the camera โ revealing authentic emotions and genuine personality in every frame.
After years of shooting family and lifestyle sessions for travelers far from home, Kate kept running into the same problem: visitors want beautiful photos of the trip, and finding a trustworthy local photographer is surprisingly hard. She created Photo Japan to solve this โ a curated marketplace where every photographer is personally vetted and every session delivers an exceptional experience.
Latest articles
Pre-Wedding and Wedding Photos in Tokyo: gardens, hotel interiors and the city at night
A dress, a suit and one day of photographs is a reason on its own to fly to Tokyo. Which gardens need permission, where the city works at blue hour, and how a two-location day actually runs.
Planning Wedding Photos in Kyoto: shrine ceremonies, venues and permissions
In Kyoto the hard part is not finding a beautiful place, it is permission. Who may photograph the shrine ceremony, what venues allow, and why the portraits are usually moved to a separate morning.
Winter Elopement in Japan: snow at Shirakawa-go, Takayama and the Hokkaido weeks
Japan's most photogenic winter is in the places nobody visits in winter. Shirakawa-go's thatch, Takayama before the buses, Kenroku-en's roped pines โ and how to build a day around four hours of light.
Solo Travel Photoshoot in Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto and Kanazawa on your own
Japan is the easiest country to travel alone and the hardest to photograph yourself in. Where a solo session works โ Kanazawa, a Kyoto dawn, Tokyo neon, Nara โ and how to be comfortable in front of a camera.
How Much Does a Photoshoot in Japan Cost? What sets the price and what is included
There is no single price for a photoshoot in Japan, because every photographer sets their own packages. Here is what sits inside one, what moves it up or down, and what you still pay for on the day.
Where to Propose in Tokyo: eight spots and how to plan a photographer who stays invisible
Tokyo is the easiest city in the world to hide a photographer in, because a tourist with a camera is invisible here. Eight places that hold up, the rules that stop a session, and the signal you agree in advance.
