Kaori Mitani

Born in Osaka, Japan.
After graduating from high school, I wanted to build a practical career, so I became an eyelash technician.
I was fortunate to gain many loyal clients and find success in the beauty industry. However, due to chronic back pain—a common issue in that line of work—I had to make the difficult decision to step away.

Starting from scratch, I taught myself design and eventually launched my own business.
Around that time, I also began to dive more seriously into photography, something I had loved since I was eight years old.

Now, I use photography as a way to express what I want to share with the world, and my goal is to bring happiness to others through my work.
Whether it’s portraits or branding photos, I focus on creating visuals that capture the true essence of individuals and businesses.

I mainly shoot with film and Polaroid cameras.
I’m drawn to the nostalgic textures and the unique atmosphere they create—something digital photography just can’t replicate.
I also love how they can capture the raw emotions of a moment.
I hand-print my photos in the darkroom as well, carefully finishing each one by myself to give it even more depth and character.

In May 2020, during the pandemic, I started a photography-focused Instagram account called iedemo graphy.
It’s now grown to over 40,000 followers, and I’m grateful to have fans not just in Japan, but across Asia as well.

My personal motto is “Ichigo Ichie”—cherishing every encounter as a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
With that in mind, I do my best to capture those fleeting, unrepeatable moments through my lens.