Portrait of a Maiko

This rare-access experience is a private photoshoot with a real Maiko — a young woman apprenticing to become a Geisha. Maiko are renowned for their colorful kimono, elaborately styled hair, and refined manners. Most visitors are lucky to catch even a fleeting glimpse of them as they move quickly through Kyoto’s streets between appointments. Recent regulations protect Maiko from unwanted attention from tourists. But in this experience, you’ll have the privilege of spending relaxed, uninterrupted time photographing and engaging with a Maiko. The photo shoot takes place at Chionsha, a one-of-a-kind heritage house in Kyoto – the perfect, atmospheric backdrop for the session. Under the guidance of a professional expert photographer, you’ll learn how to use both natural and artificial light to create evocative portraits. You'll also practice how to work with a live subject — learning and practicing how to pose and frame your subject to evoke emotion and tell a story through your lens.

This fully private session offers an extraordinary opportunity to interact with a Maiko while learning professional portraiture techniques. An entire historic house in Kyoto is reserved exclusively for your session — offering creative freedom to explore light, setting and subject. You’ll learn techniques unique to photographing a Maiko, and portraiture skills you can apply to other subjects in the future. Your host will bring professional lighting equipment and teach you how to use it alongside the soft natural light within the space. Throughout the workshop, you’ll be able to engage the Maiko in conversation through an interpreter — learning about her life and aspirations, her rigorous training and daily schedule, and skills she must master before becoming a full-fledged Geisha. Whether you’re an experienced photographer or enthusiastic amateur, this experience offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with a cultural icon and take home lasting memories of Kyoto.

Your host Paul is an American photographer who has lived more than 24 years in Kyoto. A former daily newspaper photojournalist with more than 30 years of professional experience, Paul specializes in portraiture and slice-of-life photography and has photographed Kyoto's beauty and heritage from a variety of perspectives.

To get the most from your workshop, your host recommends bringing: A DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual controls An 18–55mm zoom lens (for crop sensor cameras) or a 24–70mm zoom lens (for full-frame cameras) A fixed 50mm or 85mm lens (full-frame equivalent) — ideal for portraiture A zoom lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or wider, if available Note: A tripod is not necessary. Bring a bottle of water or coffee, as the heritage location is not set up for food or beverage service