jolene & conor
Taipei Pre-Wedding Photoshoot at Huaxi Street Night Market
Jolene and Conor came to Taipei from the States before getting married later this year. Jolene’s side of the family is from Taiwan, so coming back here has always been a part of her life. This trip felt a little different though. They were returning together before starting the next chapter of their lives, and wanted to document that time somewhere that actually meant something to them.
When Jolene first reached out, she told me that Huaxi Street Night Market was the last night market her mom had shown her in Taiwan. I loved that. There are endless beautiful places we could have chosen for a Taipei pre-wedding photoshoot, but having that personal connection immediately made Huaxi feel like the right place.
She also came with a little dream shot list: eating noodles together, something with a temple, neon lights and lanterns, running through the streets, an interesting wide shot, and somehow incorporating a moped.
Basically, all things I would be very happy to photograph haha.
Planning a Pre-Wedding Photoshoot Around the Couple
Something I always ask my couples before a session is what feels special to them and what they are naturally drawn to when they think about Taipei.
It doesn't have to be a famous landmark. Sometimes it's a particular street, a food they always eat when they visit, an old storefront, or even just a feeling they associate with Taiwan.
Knowing those little things helps me plan the photography, but more importantly, it gives us a direction for the story. I don't really want to take a couple to a location just because it's “photogenic.” I want the environment and the things we do there to make sense for them.
For Jolene and Conor, that meant spending the evening exploring Huaxi Street Night Market and the surrounding Wanhua neighborhood, with a short visit to Longshan Temple along the way.
Starting Slowly at Huaxi Street Night Market
It was a very typical Taipei summer night: hot and extremely humid.
We started with a little walk toward the end of Huaxi Street Night Market. I kept the first few photographs really simple. Just walking together, holding hands, stopping for a conversation, and getting used to having a camera around.
I actually like beginning this way. Instead of immediately trying to create a dramatic photograph, I can watch how a couple naturally interacts and slowly give more direction as we go.
Huaxi is especially fun for this because there is so much happening around you. Food vendors, old storefronts, fluorescent lights, scooters passing through, people shopping for dinner. It isn't a clean or controlled backdrop, and that's exactly why I love photographing here. It feels like Taipei.
Taking a Juice Break Became One of My Favorite Sets
The difficult part about a summer photoshoot in Taipei is the heat, especially when one person is wearing a full suit.
Conor was definitely feeling it haha.
We passed a fruit and juice stand and I asked if they wanted to stop for a drink. The stand looked so unmistakably Taiwanese, and against their wedding outfits, the colors and lighting were almost too perfect.
So instead of treating the break as something that interrupted the photoshoot, we made it part of it.
I gave them some time to sit, cool down and actually enjoy their drinks while I walked around looking at the light and thinking about what we could do.
This is where I think candid photography gets interesting.
For me, candid doesn't necessarily mean giving absolutely no direction. I like giving couples something real to do, then stepping back and seeing what happens.
They were already sitting at a fruit stand, so I asked them to look through the fruit together, point out anything interesting, talk about what they would order, have their conversation and mostly forget about me.
The action makes sense because of where we are. They're not performing a random pose for a photograph. They're exploring a night market together.
For me, that's the balance I love between giving direction and giving couples enough space for something genuine to happen.
The Kind of Taipei Moment You Can't Plan
While Jolene and Conor were changing into their second outfits, we were standing outside one of the vendor's storage rooms, very obviously sweating. The vendor noticed us and simply opened the room. He basically told us, “Just help me lock the door when you leave,” and then left us alone.
I love encounters like this. You can't put them on a shot list, and they have nothing to do with finding the “perfect photo location,” but somehow they become part of what everyone remembers about the night. We joked about putting this on the wedding website :)
That's why I personally like treating these sessions less like a traditional photoshoot and more like a little exploration of Taipei. We walk into streets we weren't planning to visit, stop when something catches our attention, have random people congratulate the couple, take a break when we're tired, and make photographs somewhere in between all of it.
Hopefully by the end, you come away with more than just photographs. You actually remember the evening. Remember how hot it was that time in Taipei, remember that photographer taking photos while you are almost dying :)
Night Pre-Wedding Photos at Longshan Temple
Before heading deeper into the street-food side of the market, we walked over to nearby Longshan Temple. Longshan Temple is one of Taipei's most important temples, but it is also personally familiar to me. I used to visit it with my mom when I was a kid, so bringing couples here always feels a little special.
The temple stays open into the evening, which makes it an incredible place for night photography. The red architecture, carved details, lantern light and deep shadows feel completely different once the sun is gone.
Back to Huaxi Street for Bamboo Juice and Noodles
After Longshan Temple, we headed back toward Huaxi Street. And yes, it was still hot. So naturally, another drink break was necessary. This time we grabbed some bamboo juice before looking for a food stall where Jolene and Conor could finally get the noodle scene she had imagined before the shoot.
We eventually found our spot, sat down on the little stools and ordered noodles. This was another scene where I didn't want to over-direct anything. They're sitting at a street-food stand in wedding clothes eating noodles. The situation is already interesting enough.
I photographed some of it using the existing light for the warm, cinematic feeling we'd been creating throughout the evening, then switched to direct flash for a few frames. I love what the flash does here. Suddenly it feels less like a traditional pre-wedding photograph and more like an editorial snapshot from their night out.
A Different Kind of Taipei Pre-Wedding Photography
Looking back at this session, my favorite photographs aren't necessarily the ones we planned most carefully.
They're Jolene laughing over noodles. Conor trying to survive a Taipei summer in a suit. The two of them looking through a fruit display. A scooter crossing the frame at exactly the right moment. A stranger giving us somewhere to cool down. Running through a dark street at the end of the night.
Those little moments are what make a place feel real.
For couples visiting Taiwan for their engagement or pre-wedding photos, I don't think the goal always needs to be photographing as many famous Taipei landmarks as possible.
Sometimes I'd rather choose one neighborhood that means something to you and spend the evening actually experiencing it. For Jolene and Conor, that place was Huaxi Street Night Market.
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.
Planning your own pre-wedding photos in Taipei?
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.
