How we work
Natural light only
We do not use flash or artificial studio lighting. Every session runs in the soft, directional light that comes through the north-facing windows of our studio, or outdoors in the garden when the season allows.
Small sessions, unhurried
We take no more than three bookings per day. That keeps the studio calm and gives each sitting the time it needs. Most portrait sessions run between 60 and 90 minutes, with no clock-watching.
Film and digital, your choice
We shoot on a Fujifilm GFX medium-format digital body and on a Mamiya RB67 loaded with Kodak Portra 400. You can choose one or ask for both. Film scans are included in the film session price.
Gentle retouching only
We remove dust spots and correct exposure. We do not reshape faces, smooth skin beyond what a good light does naturally, or apply heavy presets. What you look like is what we photograph.
What people have said
"We came for a family portrait before my mother-in-law returned to Osaka. Natsuki was so calm with the children that they forgot they were being photographed. The prints arrived exactly when she said they would."Yamamoto RieFamily session, spring 2025
"I had never had a proper portrait taken of myself. I was nervous. By the end of the session I had forgotten to be. The film prints are on my desk now."Tanaka ShojiFilm portrait session, autumn 2024
"The newborn session was so gentle. We stopped four times and nobody rushed us. The images are exactly what I wanted to remember about those first days."Okamoto YukiNewborn session, winter 2024
News & Announcements
How Natural Light Changes a Portrait Session
When people ask what makes a portrait feel different from a snapshot, the answer is almost always light. Not the camera, not the lens, not the editing. The light. Specifically, where it comes from, how soft it is, and what time of day it arrives. At Spruce Cove Path we have worked in natural light only since 2017, and these are the things we have learned.
Read more →Film or Digital: What to Choose for Your Portrait
We shoot on both film and digital at Spruce Cove Path, and the question we hear most often from new clients i…
How to Prepare for a Portrait Session at Spruce Cove Path
Most people arrive at a portrait session a little nervous. That is completely normal and it usually passes wi…
About the work and the worker
Natsuki Hara
Natsuki Hara grew up in Nagano and moved to Kamakura in 2013 after finishing a two-year photography course at Nihon University's College of Art in Nerima. She spent four years as a second shooter for a Yokohama wedding company before opening Spruce Cove Path in 2017. She learned to print in a darkroom above a camera shop in Koenji that has since closed, and still prefers the smell of fixer to almost anything else. She plays Satie on a small Bluetooth speaker most mornings while she sets up the studio. Her longest-running regular, a retired schoolteacher named Fujimoto-san, has been coming in every spring since 2019.
Common questions
How far in advance do I need to book?
Most people book two to four weeks ahead. Summer and the autumn foliage season fill up faster, sometimes six weeks out. If you have a specific date in mind, it is worth getting in touch early. We keep a short cancellation list and occasionally have same-week openings.
What should I wear?
Wear what you actually wear. Solid colors tend to work better than busy patterns in natural light, but we have photographed people in everything from yukata to hiking gear and it has always been fine. If you are unsure, bring two options and we will look at the light together when you arrive.
Can I see the studio before booking?
Yes. We are happy to show you the space on a Tuesday, which is our closed day but when we are usually here doing admin and printing. Send us a message and we will arrange a time. There is no obligation to book.
Tell us what you have in mind
Fill in the form and Natsuki will reply within one business day with available dates and any questions she has. No automated responses.