Walk together

Photos of a couple in love walking together are picturesque, aren’t they? If you have a friend who can take the photos, it’s great to have them shoot from a distance, like a candid, to capture the two of you naturally.

Tree-lined streets, crosswalks, or unnamed slopes make wonderful backdrops for natural shots of the two of you.

If you can go a bit farther, temples and shrines are also recommended.

I’m sure the solemn approach paths and historic stone steps will make for striking photos of you two.

If there’s no one to take the photos, the seaside is a great option.

The shadows of lovers cast on the sand have a postcard-like beauty.

Shadow photo

In dramas and movies, there’s a technique that heightens tension by showing only the culprit’s shadow.

Sometimes it’s even more thrilling than showing the culprit themselves.

In the worlds of haiku and tanka, countless shadows appear too, creating wonderful realms of poetry.

Shadow photos can also be an essential motif for two people in love.

Shadows on a crosswalk, on a sandy beach, on a school building—just changing the background where the shadow falls can completely alter the feel of the photo.

Morning shadows and evening shadows each have their own mood as well.

Holding hands, leaning back to back—have fun striking emotive poses while you shoot.

Moonlight

Moonlight brightens the dark night sky and carries a strong image of offering support.

And because the moon cannot shine without the sun’s light, it also conveys a message of being able to shine because someone else is there, as well as a sense of trust.

A photo that seems to show the two of you supporting the moonlight together would likely emphasize the affection between you.

It’s also important that the moonlight isn’t too strong; by creating a sense of fragility, it expresses a gentle kind of love that resides in the heart.

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pinky photo

The pinky finger carries meanings like the red string of fate and promises made between two people—it conveys their bond and trust.

Try expressing the love between the two of you with a photo where your pinkies are nestled together.

The individuality that comes through from each hand, and the way those different personalities lean into each other, can also evoke a sense of mutual support.

Even a simple photo of hands with pinkies raised can convey affection, but adding expression to the pinkies can help create an image that feels more storytelling, which is also recommended.

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holding (a baby/child), being carried; “pick me up” (as said by a child)

This is just my own speculation, but I feel like “dakko” (holding someone in your arms) is one of those cultural things that came from the West.

“Onbu” (carrying someone on your back) seems like it’s been in Japan since long ago, but lifting someone up and hugging them to your chest isn’t something the typically shy Japanese do very often… What do you think? Photos of a couple in love doing dakko are nice, too.

It might be even more heartwarming when it happens in a place where you wouldn’t normally expect it.

Just be sure not to bother the people around you.

Think of a sweet, just-for-the-two-of-you kind of dakko—like hugging face-to-face like a koala, or a princess carry.

sea

When it comes to classic couple photos, the beach is a must, right? Sometimes it feels like all you need is the ocean and two people in love, nothing more.

But with one extra idea on top of the beach, you can get an insanely emotional shot.

For example, take normal portraits of each person with the ocean as the background.

Then print the two photos, cut them with scissors, and put the two lovers together so they form a single picture—how about that? It turns into an art-like photo that symbolizes two people who will never be apart.

Another stylish idea is to visit the same spot at the same beach in each season, take photos, and display them side by side.

Make good use of the sand and the sun!

mirror selfie

Actresses and TV personalities often take mirror selfies when they show off their outfits on social media, don’t they? When there’s no one to take your photo, mirror shots are super handy! It’s also fun to snap them in a hotel’s full-length mirror or in front of a big school mirror, even while feeling a bit self-conscious about people around you.

Lining up a bunch of mirror selfies and saving them might make for great memories, too.

If there’s no mirror around, you could use the surface of a pond, the edge of a fountain, or even a shop window as a substitute.

I think the slightly blurry silhouettes of two people can actually look nice, too.