For couples who want to celebrate their love with intention and care
WELCOME TO MY WORLD OF PHOTOGRAPHY
If you've ever felt like your relationship deserves to be documented in a way that's real, intentional, and completely yours — not whatever the industry says it should look like or what other people expect from you — you're in exactly the right place ❤︎
Why this work matters to me
This might come as a surprise since I’m a BIG advocate for healthy love and take engagement/wedding photos for a living… but I actually grew up with a pretty negative view towards marriage and starting a family.
My parents separated when I was in 5th grade, and I never really got to experience what it means to be a happy family. On top of that, I realized as I got older that both sides of my family come from a long history of generational trauma. Seeing how I was struggling in my own relationships throughout my 20’s, I was fearful that it was going to be my future as well.
But life works in mysterious ways. 2 things happened right after the other that changed my life trajectory forever.
In the beginning of 2022, I officially launched my website and started offering photography services for couples as my main focus. I learned over the years that I prefer candid, documentary-style photos where the couple is clearly in their own world together. There’s a certain type of energy you can feel from the couples who have that purest form of love, and it’s such a honor to be the one to capture it (‘: It’s deeply fulfilling because I get to be of service for other people’s emotions, connections, and memories — everything that makes life worthwhile. Doing this work heals my inner child over and over again (‘:
And I also met the love of my life. The universe really blessed me with the “right person, right time”.
My partner and I have been together for 4 years now, and we just moved in to our first place together (:
On the wedding industry
I believe your wedding day should reflect your values, and
The wedding industry is known to overcharge with the “wedding tax”. There are good reasons why people charge what they do and I’m not here to criticize others on how they do their business. But you know something is wrong when suddenly a celebration of love costs more than a car.
Here’s something tons of couples won’t say out loud: Even though they had a great time at their big, traditional wedding, if they can re-do it, they recommend to do it small and only with the people you care about most. I can 100% see why couples say that. As the photographer I’m with the couple the entire day, and it’s not what people think it’s going to be. I’ve had too many people share that they wish they didn’t listen to other people’s expectations, including family.
After 4 years of being in this industry, I decided to specialize in elopements and intimate ceremonies because I genuinely believe that smaller, more intentional celebrations produce more meaningful memories — and therefore better photographs. Not because they're easier and cheaper. Because they're more honest and aligned with what I believe a celebration of love should be about.
In order for me to practice what I preach, my pricing is transparent, my packages are fair, and everything included is there because it adds real value to your experience — not because I can charge for it and make more money. There’s too many people who do this for the money at the cost of the couple’s experience, and I’m here
Why I shoot the way I do
The reason why I ask my couples to not look at the camera and to just be present with each other is because I love capturing real moments and emotion. I prefer that over perfect poses that require a lot of faking the moment for the shot. When you’re alone together and feeling the most connected, are you overthinking how to show affection? Probably not, you just do what feels right to you!
Expressing that in front of a photographer might feel intimidating because it requires intimacy and a little bit of courage. But I promise, those are the photos you’ll end up loving the most because it feels so sweet and genuine!
Here’s the basic run-down: I’ll help set you two up in a good backdrop and lighting, then stepping back while I have you interact with each other with an open-ended prompt that incorporates movement. These prompts are meant to be interpreted in your own way, so you two can get creative and come up with something that feels natural to your dynamic. I’ll offer gentle guidance and move around to get all the angles, and share a variety of images in the final gallery so you can have plenty to choose from.
You might be exactly who I'm looking for.
Not every photographer is right for every couple, and that’s ok!
Here's the type of couples I do my best work with:
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You want photos that feel like your relationship — not a styled shoot you found trending on TikTok or Pinterest. The experience matters as much as the images.
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You prefer elopements, intimate weddings, and quiet celebrations. You're not here to perform for a crowd or please family members. You're here to be present and intentional with how you celebrate your love.
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That usually means it’s your first time getting professional photos taken, and you don’t want to perform for the camera. Don’t worry, my whole approach is built around making that feeling disappear, and it always does! The best feedback I get from my clients is how comfortable I made them feel, and how it was so much easier than they thought (:
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You've talked countless times about what you want your life together to look like. You care about building something real and long-lasting. That confident energy towards your relationship shows in photos, and that’s what I hope to capture during our session!
A GENTLE NOTE
If you're looking for highly styled, editorial shoots with heavy posing and direction, I'm probably not your photographer — and there’s nothing wrong with preference. There's a style for everyone!
The values behind my work
LOVE IS COURAGEOUS
Choosing someone intentionally, showing up for them daily — that deserves to be documented with the same care it's built with.
EMOTIONAL SAFETY FIRST
You should feel completely at ease before I ever pick up a camera. The experience has to feel right before the images can.
PRESENCE OVER PERFORMANCE
The best moments happen when you stop thinking about the camera. My job is to create the environment for that to happen.
MEMORIES DESERVE PERMANENCE
Digital files get lost. Printed photo books get passed down. I care about where your photos end up, not just how they look.
SENSITIVITY IS A STRENGTH
I work best with people who feel things deeply. That emotional depth is exactly what makes certain photographs more special.
INTENTION IS EVERYTHING
From planning your session to designing your photo book — every detail is chosen with care. Nothing is an afterthought.
The person behind the camera
ERIKA AOKI // 青木恵利華
✦ My family is from Kyoto, Japan and I can speak Japanese fluently
✦ I’m a homebody that also loves to picnic, hike, and camp
✦ My favorite video games: Expedition 33 and Baldurs Gate 3
✦ My favorite animes: Attack on Titan, Kaiju #8, and Blue Lock
✦ My astrology signs: I’m a cancer sun, scorpio moon, and pisces rising
✦ My partner and I met on Hinge and have been together for 4 years!
If any of this resonates
— even a little —
I'd love to hear from you.
Or email directly: hello@aokierika.com