Paula & Joey
A Cinematic Pre-Wedding Session on Dihua Street in Taipei
Paula and Joey have been together for years, and whenever they visit a new country, they make a point of hiring a local photographer. They have documented trips throughout Europe this way, but they had never created that kind of experience together in Taiwan.
For this session, we wanted to make something that could only have been photographed here. We built the shoot around details that feel unmistakably Taiwanese: old storefronts, narrow alleys, traditional shops, fluorescent market lighting, red lanterns, scooters, metal tables, street food, and the everyday movement of the city.
That made Dihua Street in Dadaocheng feel like the right place to begin.
Why We Chose Dihua Street
Dihua Street is one of Taipei’s most recognizable historic shopping districts. The neighborhood is filled with traditional businesses selling tea, dried foods, Chinese medicine, fabric, household supplies, decorations, and ingredients used in Taiwanese cooking. It is also where my family usually gets snacks for mahjong, especially for my grandma, who prefers more traditional Taiwanese snacks.
What makes the area especially interesting for photography is the contrast. Older shopfronts sit next to renovated cafés and creative businesses. Quiet alleys connect to busy markets, while traditional signs, scooters, lanterns, and everyday street life all exist together.
Paula and Joey’s session took place during the Lunar New Year shopping period, when Dihua Street becomes especially lively and packed. It is also one of the busiest times of the year to photograph there. Before the shoot, I told them to expect people watching, noise, scooters, and constant movement. I also told them not to worry about controlling any of it. Let people photobomb because they are part of the scene, and we need that energy in the photos. I would watch the surroundings, find clean moments within the crowd, and guide them whenever they needed direction. Their job was simply to walk around, explore, and enjoy the experience together as if it were a date.
Starting Somewhere Quiet
We did not begin in the busiest part of the market. Instead, we started in quieter corners around Dadaocheng so Paula and Joey could become comfortable before walking into the main crowd. This is something I often do with couples who are nervous about being photographed.
You do not need to arrive knowing exactly how to pose or what to do with your hands. The beginning of the session can simply be time to adjust to the camera, try a few movements, and understand how I give direction. We used narrow stairways, covered passages, old walls, and quieter storefronts for the first portraits. I guided them when needed, but I also gave them time to talk, look around, and settle into the experience.
People passing by were surprisingly encouraging. Some smiled, watched for a moment, or complimented their outfits. Instead of making the shoot feel more stressful, the attention became part of the fun.
Exploring the Market Like a Date
Once they felt more relaxed, we began walking toward the main section of Dihua Street. I like to approach couple photography almost like a small tour. We walk, explore shops, stop when the light or background feels interesting, and allow the neighborhood to give us ideas.
I will help with posing, but I do not want every second to feel posed. Sometimes I ask a couple to stay in a moment a little longer while I move around and look for the right frame. Other times, I step back and photograph what happens naturally.
At Dihua Street, the crowd became part of the photographs. We worked around scooters, storefront reflections, shoppers, signs, parked vehicles, and tightly packed merchandise. Instead of removing all those details, I used them to make the photographs feel more connected to Taipei.
One of my favorite images places Paula and Joey quietly in the background while a scooter passes directly in front of the camera. Their faces are only a small part of the frame, but the image captures what the street actually felt like that day.
A Different Kind of Pre-Wedding Location
Many people imagine pre-wedding photography taking place in a garden, formal building, or empty scenic location. Dihua Street offers something very different. It is textured, crowded, imperfect, and full of ordinary life. A traditional household shop may not seem like an obvious photo location, but the stacked products, handwritten signs, fluorescent lighting, and narrow storefront created a setting that felt distinctly Taiwanese.
We also photographed inside a parking garage beside an older van. It was not a famous Taipei landmark, but the light, muted colors, and slightly unusual setting gave us some of the most cinematic images from the session.
These less obvious locations are often where a session begins to feel personal. The photographs become less about proving that you visited a landmark and more about remembering what it felt like to be in the city together.
Ending the Session With Taiwanese Food
Near the end of the shoot, we stopped at a local food stall with metal tables, handwritten menus, fluorescent lighting, and the familiar atmosphere of a traditional Taiwanese restaurant. Instead of pretending to eat for the camera, Paula and Joey sat down, ordered food, and took a real break together.
This is one reason I enjoy including food near the end of a couple session. By that point, most couples have stopped thinking so much about the camera. Sitting down gives them something natural to do, and the photographs begin to feel like part of an actual date. They shared noodles, laughed across the table, and created some of the most playful images of the day.
The food scene also completed the story. The session was not only about dressing up and walking through a beautiful neighborhood. It was about shopping, exploring, eating, and spending time together in Taipei.
How to Prepare for Your Dihua Street Couple Session
Dihua Street is lively, layered, and full of movement. Even on a regular day, there may be shoppers, scooters, deliveries, and people moving through the background. That is part of what gives the area its character.
For this style of session, the goal is not to make the street look empty. It is to create photographs that feel connected to Taipei.
Hi, I’m Francis, a Taiwanese photographer based in Taipei.
Born and raised in Taiwan, I spent several years building my photography career in Los Angeles before finding my way home to Taipei. Inspired by cinema, I’m drawn to the quiet, honest moments in between. I’ll guide you when needed, but mostly I want you to feel comfortable and enjoy being yourselves.
Let’s Turn Your Taiwan Story Into a Film
Tell me a little about the two of you, when you’ll be in Taiwan, and the atmosphere you’re drawn to. I’ll reply within 1 to 2 business days with availability and the next steps for planning your experience.
