There are plenty of reasons to visit Taiwan, but for this birthday trip, tea was at the heart of it all.
Olimpya was a passionate tea enthusiast, and one of the main reasons she had chosen Taiwan for her trip was her love for tea and Taiwanese tea culture. So rather than simply choosing landmark locations for her photoshoot, she wanted the session to feel like an extension of her trip — something that reflected who she was and what she loved.
For her birthday solo photoshoot in Taipei, we chose two very different locations: the quiet, zen atmosphere of the tea house/cafe 浮生避難所, where she could slow down with a cup of tea, and the historic streets of Dihua Street, where she changed into a traditional qipao and became part of the old Taipei scenery.
But for me, the locations were only part of the story.
The real goal was capture her time in Taipei, in her very best self.
Getting to Know the Person Behind the Photos
I think solo portrait sessions are often misunderstood.
It can be easy to think that a portrait photographer's job is simply to find a nice location, put someone in front of a camera, and tell them where to stand.
That's not really how I approach it.
Before I start thinking about poses, lighting, or compositions, I want to get to know the person I'm photographing.
What brought you to Taiwan?
What do you enjoy?
What makes you feel confident?
Are you naturally playful, quiet, elegant, energetic?
And perhaps most importantly — what version of yourself do you want to see in these photographs?
Everyone has a different side of themselves that they want to bring out. My job is to create an environment where that side has room to come through naturally.
A Quiet Afternoon With Tea
Our first stop was 浮生避難所, a peaceful cafe/tea house that immediately felt fitting for someone whose love for tea was such an important part of her trip to Taiwan.
Rather than treating the tea simply as a prop, we incorporated it into the experience itself.
She could sit, slow down, enjoy her tea, and take in the surroundings while I photographed the little moments around her.
The steam rising from the cup.
The way she poured her tea.
A quiet moment between sips.
The details of the space around her.
Through our conversation, I could feel her genuine love and passion for tea.
I couldn't have been happier to have shared that moment with her, watching her eyes light up as she talked about the different types of tea she tasted in Taiwan.
As she talked, I captured her doing her thing.
No posing, no performance, just documenting a tea lover in her element.
Dressing Up for Her Birthday
For the second half of the shoot, we headed to Dihua Old Street, where she changed into a beautiful qipao — a chance to dress up, feel beautiful, and do something a little different for her birthday.
The traditional architecture and old shopfronts made the perfect backdrop, allowing her to immerse herself in a different side of Taipei.
We played with different moods throughout the shoot, to show the different sides of her, from elegant and graceful to whimsical and quirky, all that makes her for who she is.
Rather than making it all about posing, we wandered through the streets and let the setting guide us. I gave her direction when needed, while leaving plenty of room for her to simply enjoy the experience.
Sometimes the best birthday photos are about feeling beautiful, trying something new, and seeing yourself in a different light.
More Than Just A Birthday Shoot
What I loved about this session was that it felt deeply connected to her reason for being in Taiwan.
Tea was one of the things that brought her here.
But on top of that, what made this shoot even more special was finding out that the trip and the photoshoot were a birthday gift from her husband — which I thought was incredibly sweet.
It wasn't just about taking beautiful portraits. It was a thoughtful gift that gave her the chance to celebrate herself, experience something new, and create memories from a trip that was clearly meaningful to her.
For me, that's what makes a solo portrait session so rewarding: capturing someone in their best self, while creating photographs that remind them of how they felt during that moment in their life.
Planning Your Own Solo Photoshoot in Taipei?
Whether you're travelling to Taiwan alone, celebrating a birthday, building a personal brand, updating your dating profile, or simply want some beautiful photographs of yourself while you're here, I'd love to create something that feels personal to you.
Before we pick a location, I want to know you — what you enjoy, what you're comfortable with, and what you want your photographs to say about you.
Then we'll build the shoot around that.
Because the best portraits don't just capture how you look. They capture who you are when you feel like your best self.