We recently connected with Akiko DuPont and have shared our conversation below.

Akiko, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Any thoughts about whether to ask friends and family to support your business. What’s okay in your view?

Word of mouth is is almost everything for my business so asking friends or family that believes in what you do to spread your word/works has been very important. Of course, before asking anyone, you’ll need to believe in yourself/ feel confident enough and love what you do!

Akiko, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a documentary & lifestyle family photographer originally from Japan, now living in Marietta GA (soon a mother of 2!). I am mostly known for my documentary and journalism works (from Burma, Philippines, Japan, the UK…etc) but since few years ago, I slowly began to do family photography and now I very much love it that I would like to do more!!

Since my childhood spent in China, Pakistan, England, and Japan, I have always been interested in the diversity of experience of people around the world. My curiosity drives me to engage with these subjects to develop a rapport, and often a story results about how what makes them tick in the context of the wider world. I aim to use my curiosity as the drive to allow the experience of people to shine through.
My documentary background definitely shows in my lifestyle family photos; that they are very candid, natural, and full of love.

I am a lover of natural lights (I use lighting equipments too if needed), smiles, chocolates and a professional daydreamer.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Word of mouth, then social medias, but the word of mouth is extremely strong.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

If my image, either documentary or family photos, move someone’s emotion, touches someone’s heart, I think that’s rewarding. Few years ago when I had a photo exhibition in London, this couple came to the gallery, who are going through an early stage dementia. They looked through the exhibition, maybe about half an hour or so, again and again. Then he said to his wife “I’m glad that I have you”. Not just because of that episode but that was one of the moments during this exhibition that made me think, and reminded me of how much people sprinkles life to this world / how much people make this world rich.

Recently I did a small photo project on the Ukraine war and after I published them online, I got several responses saying that seeing the project made them want to join the protest, or donate something, or made them want to know more about what is happening, and so on. My mission was to “document” and to send the messages of the subjects’ wishes and hopes to the world but when I read these reactions, I was glad.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.akiko-dupont.com
• Instagram: @akikodupont_photo
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akikodupontphotography

Image Credits
Akiko DuPont Photography