Shiho Kusano ( @shiho_kusano )
Based in Tokyo, freelance photographer Shiho Kusano (@shiho_kusano) captures the quiet beauty of everyday family life.
Her photographs are soft and intimate, delicately wrapped in natural light and the emotions of the moment.
With the belief that “the camera is part of daily life,” she doesn’t just take photos—she preserves feelings, memories, and the atmosphere of fleeting moments. You can feel her wish in every frame: to leave behind images that gently warm your heart when you look back one day.
Q.What do you focus on when photographing your children or family?
I try to never miss those little moments—genuine expressions, playful movements—that show who my kids really are.
Rather than staged events, I focus on everyday life—those ordinary scenes we tend to overlook.
I let them do what they want, and I wait for the moment to happen. Instead of directing, I try to follow the natural flow. That’s how I feel I can capture their true selves.
Q.What was a recent moment you were especially glad to capture?
When my kids were playing together, laughing and getting along—it was one of those little moments that felt big. Also, we’re currently living in a temporary apartment, and I realized that this time in our life won’t last forever. That’s why I wanted to make sure to capture it now, before it’s gone.
Q.Do you have favorite locations or times of day to shoot?
I feel most relaxed shooting in familiar places—our home, the path we walk together, or a local park.
At home, I love shooting in the morning when the light is soft and beautiful. Outdoors, I prefer the golden hour in the evening, just as the sun begins to set.
Q.What camera and lenses are you currently using?
I use the FUJIFILM X-E4 and X-T5 cameras, with the XF35mm F1.4R and XF23mm F1.4R lenses.
These days, I’m really drawn to the 35mm lens (which is about 50mm full-frame equivalent).
I love how the 23mm gives me more of the background, but I’ve found that the 35mm hits the perfect distance—it naturally brings focus to the subject, and that just fits the way I like to shoot right now.
Q.Do you have a favorite TOKYO GRAPHER filter? What kind of look or feel does it give you?
I love both the OPF 550-L and OPF 550-S—I use them so much they’re pretty much always on my lenses.
Especially on sunny days, shooting into the light creates beautiful ghost flares that add this emotional, dreamy quality to my images. I absolutely adore these filters.
Q.What kind of emotion or look do you think the filter brings out in your photos?
On clear days, the way light diffuses through the filter creates this soft, almost cinematic glow.
It instantly adds an “emotional” vibe to the scene, and it makes me even more excited to shoot.
Q.A note from Shiho
I work as a freelance photographer based in Tokyo, specializing in family portraits and home visits.
My goal is to capture the full atmosphere of your family in that moment—just as it is—so you can look back and feel the warmth of it all over again.
Shiho Kusano ( @shiho_kusano )
Products Used by Shiho Kusano ( @shiho_kusano )
Featured product
The "550" in OPF 550-L stands for the light wavelength of 550 nanometers, which makes green and blue colors appear vivid, and the "L" (Light) represents the amount of light diffused by the special glass.
The combination of these two elements enables new expressions that could not be achieved before.
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日々のなかでふと心が動く、何気ない仕草や光のにじみ。@mikkk_ko さんがシャッターを切るのは、「今ここにある空気感」をそっと残しておきたいと思ったとき。デジタルとフィルム、ふたつの質感を自由に行き来しながら、写真に刻まれるのは、記憶と感情が重なり合うような、やわらかな瞬間。“写真に恋しているのかもしれません。”——そう語る河合美紀さん（@mikkk_ko）のまなざしとことばに、ぜひ触れ...
すぐには言葉にならないけれど、 見ているうちに、じんわり心に沁みてくる。 関 恵理子さん（@hoshiwonderfulの写真には、そんな力があります。 朝の光、静かな仕草、ふとほころぶ空気── そのすべてに「今、ちょっとまったり幸せ」が映っている。 感情を強く押し出さないのに、気づけば胸の奥があたたかくなる。 写真でそんなふうに伝わることがあるんだと、改めて教えてくれる一枚一枚です。 ...
Shiho Kusano ( @shiho_kusano )
Shiho Kusano (@shiho_kusano) is a Tokyo-based freelance photographer who specializes in capturing families in their everyday moments. Her work gently reveals the atmosphere of home life—soft light,...