For their trip to Taiwan, Annie and Andrew wanted more than a collection of traditional pre-wedding photos. They wanted to capture what it actually felt like to explore Taipei together—wandering through the streets, discovering little corners, sharing food, laughing, and enjoying each other's company.
Their vision was retro, nostalgic, and cinematic, with photographs that felt spontaneous rather than overly staged.
We spent four hours exploring some of Taipei's most characterful spots, starting around Chifeng Street, stopping for the breathtaking view of Taipei 101 at Takemura Izakaya, and eventually making our way to the neon lights, smell of street food and chaotic energy of Raohe Night Market.
For Annie and Andrew, neither of them had much experience being photographed, and they were upfront about feeling a little socially anxious in front of the camera. My goal was to make the experience feel less like a formal photoshoot and more like going on a date exploring Taipei together.
As the day unfolded, that's exactly what happened.
Wandering through Chifeng Street
We started around Chifeng Street, one of my favorite areas in Taipei for couples who want something a little more relaxed and authentic.
With its old storefronts, vintage character, small shops, and everyday street life, it was a natural fit for the nostalgic feeling Annie and Andrew had envisioned.
Rather than moving from pose to pose, we spent our time walking, talking, exploring, and letting things happen naturally. I gave them small prompts and cues whenever needed, but otherwise encouraged them to interact with each other in their own way.
The result was a collection of photographs filled with genuine laughter, playful moments, and the little quirks that make their relationship theirs.
Slow Dancing Under Taipei 101
As the sun set and blue hour reveals a different side of Taipei, we made our way to the alley beside Takemura Izakaya, where one of my favorite views of Taipei 101 tucks itself between the buildings.
With Taipei 101 lighting up against the evening sky, the narrow alley created a beautiful contrast between the intimacy of the surroundings and the scale of the city behind them.
I asked the couple to forget about the camera for a while—to slow dance, embrace each other, and simply have fun together. There was no need for complicated posing. The night invited them to move naturally, laugh, and enjoy the moment while I captured the little in-between moments.
An Adventure Through Food
As the sun went down, we made our way to Raohe Night Market.
The atmosphere changed completely—neon signs, lanterns, food stalls, crowds, and the unmistakable energy of Taipei at night.
It was the perfect setting to finish their photoshoot.
We wandered through the market, stopped for food, and captured the spontaneous moments along the way. Instead of trying to manufacture a perfect photograph, I wanted everything to feel like a memory from their evening together:
Just two people exploring the night market, where the food tasted better in each other's company, and wrapped up our shoot together perfectly.
Andrew & Annie share their experience:
"From the beginning, we told Ray we wanted to capture a special moment highlighting our engagement together. Neither of us had done something like this, so we made sure to tell him about our lack of experience and some slight social anxiety.
Ray made us feel very comfortable in front of the camera and gave us excellent cues, tips, and feedback; his enthusiasm in conversation made it feel like we were talking to a very close friend which drew out our quirks, smiles, laughter, and romance amongst ourselves.
While the photoshoot itself was four hours long, Ray made sure we had amble breaks in the Taipei heat and took us to multiple locations so it was always a refreshing change of scenery. Because we were visiting from New York, USA - Ray also gave us a small list of recommendations and places to see and visit. 10/10 would recommend working with Ray, again! The photos were delivered to us within a timely manner and they were phenomenal! We loved all the photos and different styles of shots as well as the editing; we felt it portrayed our relationship together perfectly."
A Pre-Wedding / Engagement Session That Feels Like You
If you're visiting Taipei for an engagement, honeymoon, anniversary, or simply want to document your time together, your photoshoot doesn't have to feel formal or heavily posed.
We can wander through old streets, stop for food, explore a night market, discover somewhere unexpected, and let the photographs capture your story naturally.
You don't need to know how to pose.
You don't need to be experienced in front of a camera.
Just be unapologetically you, and I'll take care of the rest.