
This summer I had the opportunity to shoot a new kind of Day In The Life session.

My good friend Brittney, who was also my next door neighbor in Nagoya, asked me to document her day as she performed her last tea ceremony in Japan before moving home to the states.

(This is Brittney above^^).

I was really excited about this opportunity, even though it would be in the middle of our moving madness, just two weeks before our departure from Japan.

I was thrilled to try something new, something uniquely Japan, something important to a few good friends of mine.

Tea ceremony is a very important and unique experience in Japan, a tradition held dear to them which has lasted for many many years.

Japanese women study for their whole lives to perform tea ceremony.

My expat friends had the opportunity to study with their wonderful sensei, Noriko, to learn tea ceremony performance.

Many of these expat ladies are friends of mine, and they all helped serve tea ceremony and most dressed in kimonos they made themselves. Or, I should say, many of these expats were dressed by Japanese women in the kimonos made with Noriko's help.

Three of my friends were able to perform in the June Ajisai tea ceremony. They had reached the point in their study where Noriko felt they were ready to perform--a huge honor.

I absolutely loved documenting them dress in kimono, serve tea, perform tea, and interact with the guests and each other.

The ambiance was so unique and beautiful. From the ajisai (hydrangeas) to the old tea house to the calm water and lily pads to the koto music... It couldn't be more beautiful.
















I hope to return to Japan to document more tea ceremonies in the future, and I'm so grateful that Brittney and the others wanted this beautiful day documented!

Here's the slideshow: