It’s Spring, and the cherry blossoms are beautiful, amidst the very dreary weather the past weeks. They don’t last a long time, so despite the very drizzly day, we decided to go out, and take advantage of their presence before they are gone for the season. Braving the rain and being the very otaku-hearted people that we are, we went out to immortalize the very Japanese-ish scenes around the town and in Olympia.

During my last visit to the Philippines in November, I met up with Japanese culture enthusiast Archie Gavina Belardo, a mainstay and often exhibitor at local bazaars and conventions selling authentic Japanese merchandise. To my surprise, he presented me with kimonos. I wore one of them for this photoshoot.^_^

Just to test out the lighting, we took a couple of shots near the neighbor’s fence. Can you tell? 😛

This shot was taken at South Puget Sound Community College, after which we headed to the quaint Yashiro Japanese Garden, where the rest of the following shots were taken.^_^

It was a Sunday, and the weather wasn’t friendly, but somehow that turned into a blessing in disguise (I suppose) for us. There were no people around to disturb our mini photoshoot, it felt as if the places we went to were reserved especially for us. ^_^ I am pleased with how this turned out, and so I plan to do more season-inspired photoshoots in the future. Hope you enjoy this set.

Kimono set: Archie Gavina Belardo
HMUA: ME^_^
Tama-kanzashi and earrings set: Charles Murray
Editing: None
Camera: Canon PC1309

Hairstyles are based on the videos below, posted in the order I did them.^_^
1. CuteGirlsHairstyles: Lace Fringe Braid
2. Binosusume: French Braid Updo