A Valentine’s Week Proposal in Shinjuku Gyoen

Valentine's Day in Japan is a perfect opportunity for a grand gesture, don’t you think?

Sampson and Jennifer were visiting from the US for a vacation that would soon become even more meaningful.

Two weeks before their trip, Sampson reached out to check my availability, as he was planning to propose the day before Valentine’s Day. For him, it felt right to take this next step during this time. We immediately began planning!

I shared galleries from past shoots at Shinjuku Gyoen, particularly around Tamamo Pond, describing its classic Japanese garden aesthetic with a bridge, stone lanterns, and open spaces that allow for a variety of photos. Sampson mentioned that Jennifer loves blossoms, and he was excited to hear that early cherry blossoms had already begun appearing and would likely be more abundant by the time of their visit.

He decided on Tamamo Pond as the proposal location, followed by photos featuring the blossoms in the background.

I also suggested a second location in Shinjuku for street-style images with neon signs, giving them a mix of traditional and modern Tokyo in their gallery.

Before the proposal, I visited the park to scout the area and found a beautiful tree filled with blossoms. I sent Sampson a photo of the spot via WhatsApp so he would know exactly where to position himself, while I waited discreetly nearby.

When they arrived, everything unfolded perfectly. Sampson got down on one knee, and Jennifer’s expression said it all.

I gave them time to take in the moment before we continued with more portraits around the garden. Later, we stepped out into the city for street-style shots, including a fun and unique photo in front of a Lawson store.

Sampson chose the standard package, which includes coverage at two locations. After the shoot, I sent them a few edited previews on the same day via WhatsApp. He had mentioned that they preferred natural tones without too much bloom effect and were not keen on black and white photos, so I edited accordingly. The final images felt authentic and true to them. We did not just capture blossoms in bloom, but a love story entering a new chapter.

If you are planning a proposal in Japan and want a seamless experience from start to finish, I would be happy to help. You focus on the question, I’ll take care of the rest.