We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Aika Taguchi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Aika below.
Aika, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.
When approaching my photography or any creative work, I always begin with a period of thoughtful brainstorming. I ask myself what I want to express and determine a theme or concept to center my project around. Once that core idea is established, I move on to considering how I can effectively bring it to life. A method I often use during this phase is the bubble map technique. In this method, the main theme sits at the center of the page as the primary bubble. From there, I expand outward by adding surrounding bubbles containing words and phrases that are inspired by the central idea. I repeat this process for each sub-bubble, allowing the web of thoughts to grow until I get the idea of the visual I want to create. I usually do this by hand with pen and paper, though sometimes I work digitally on my iPad.
For example, in my most recent photography project, the given theme was “Black on Black (B.O.B),” meaning both the subject and background had to be black. Upon hearing this theme, the idea of “Emergence” immediately came to mind—a vision of a girl launching herself upward. With this concept at the center of my bubble map, I began branching out, writing down related words and sentences. Through this process, I was drawn to the idea of a girl emerging from the earth and starting to grow as all plants do. Of course, I did get other ideas from this brainstorming process, but I chose this one because I felt it represented the theme the best and it would be the most visually appealing.
Once the concept is in place, I begin planning the practical elements—what props, materials, and equipment I’ll need to bring the idea to life. Often, limitations around access to certain locations or items require me to adapt. This was the case with “Emergence.” Originally, I envisioned the girl rising from soil (earth), but bringing soil into the studio posed logistical and cleanliness issues. As a result, I pivoted and reimagined the subject emerging from a book instead. While this was a departure from my original vision, it felt personal and meaningful—symbolic of my own growth as someone who spent much of their childhood reading books. This adaptability, finding challenges and seeking a way to overcome them, is a cornerstone of my creative process.
After the planning stage, the rest becomes hands-on execution. I schedule the shoot or build time, and as I work, I remain open to changes. If something isn’t working visually, or a new idea strikes me at the moment, I’m always willing to adjust.
In conclusion, I believe that flexibility is the key to creativity. Being open to possibilities during brainstorming and adaptable when faced with challenges allows me to fully explore ideas while still bringing them to life in practical and meaningful ways.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Aika Taguchi. I am a photographer/filmmaker based in Los Angeles, originally from Hokkaido, Japan. As a photographer, I have been doing a lot of event photography, portraits, and BTS photography on film sets for about 1.5 years, as well as street photography as a hobby. Whether working in natural environments or studio settings, I look out for lighting, color, and people’s expressions, and always try to provide the highest quality of many precious moments that should last longer as a memory. As a filmmaker, I’ve done some cinematography work for music videos, commercials, and industrial explainer videos. I love shaping scenes with lighting and camera work to enhance their visual appeal.
My dream of becoming a filmmaker in Hollywood started very naturally, as I watched a lot of Hollywood movies when I was in high school in Japan. I think many fantasy movies, such as Harry Potter, Avatar, Now You See Me, and many Disney and Pixar films, influenced me. I loved being in a different world from my real life as I watched those movies, and I started feeling that I wanted to make movies like them, movies that can take people to a fun, exciting world and bring joy to them.
I started my learning at Santa Monica College. It was a great learning start since I knew absolutely nothing about filmmaking. I learned the basics of many aspects, and I discovered my deep passion for lighting and camera. It was actually through a required photography class in the film production program there, and that ignited my passion in photography, and cinematography. After taking that class, I bought my first camera, a Nikon Z6, which I still use today, and I started taking pictures on the street often, which eventually led me to get work as a photographer and even as a cinematographer. I am grateful to everyone who has trusted my eye for lighting and color through the lens.
Currently, I am completing my Film Production degree at California State University Northridge. Upon graduating later this year, my next step is to break into concert photography. One of my greatest hobbies is attending concerts of my favorite bands, and those nights are THE BEST in my life. I hope to capture the raw energy and emotion of these performances to share the passion of both the artists and the audience. Additionally, I am exploring a future as a director or working in film development. I would still love to continue doing cinematography if there are any opportunities, but I would like to focus on stories more from now on.
I consider myself to be a very sensitive person. I’m an introvert, so I don’t talk much, but instead, I observe people and my surroundings and reflect internally. I think this is a very advantageous trait of mine, so I can notice a story of people and the scene that I want to share both as a photographer and filmmaker. My journey has just started, and while I don’t know exactly where it will lead, I can’t wait to chase my dream and struggle, being creative.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My goal keeps changing from time to time, so I’m not sure if there is a clear goal or mission to pursue for the rest of my life. However, I think my passion for visualizing my love and emotions keeps me creative. My current aspiration is to become a concert photographer while continuing my journey as a filmmaker. As I mentioned in my introduction, I have a deep love for music and attending live performances. In terms of photographic style, I’m drawn to bold, saturated colors and dynamic movement. Concerts, with their dramatic lighting and the raw energy of both performers and audiences, provide the perfect canvas to capture images that reflect both my aesthetic and my personal connection to music.
At the same time, I’m not ready to let go of the dream that brought me from Japan to Los Angeles in the first place: making movies in Hollywood. While I’ve found myself increasingly captivated by the world of photography, my love for storytelling through visual media remains strong. Films still move me in profound ways, and I want to continue being part of the filmmaking process. In the near future, my goal is to find a balance—pursuing concert photography professionally while also seeking opportunities to contribute to film projects, whether through cinematography or narrative development.
Beyond photography and filmmaking, I’d love to explore other art forms as an extension of photography and filmmaking. Recently, I created a physical artwork based on my photos for an exhibition titled Home and Escape. Preparing for this exhibition gave me a chance to reflect deeply on what “home” and “escape” mean to me and how those feelings can be expressed visually. Although I hadn’t initially planned to create something physical, the piece naturally took on that form—it felt like the most honest and effective way to express the concept. The process was unexpectedly fulfilling. As someone who is naturally shy and has often found it difficult to express myself through words or behavior, this artwork allowed me to communicate something deeply personal and authentic. I’m genuinely grateful that the piece will be on public display at the Manzanita Hall Gallery at CSUN from April 21st to May 19th, 2025.
Ultimately, what drives me is the ability to express myself through visual storytelling—primarily through photography and film. That ongoing pursuit of self-expression is what fuels my creative journey, no matter how my goals may continue to evolve.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
There are two most rewarding aspects: fulfilling my own desire to create/express and entertaining others.
As I mentioned earlier, creating something visual and full of my emotions and love is one of the most meaningful ways I can express who I am. That act of creation is deeply fulfilling. So, basically, I’m making purely because I want to. And I hope to always hold onto that sense of authenticity in my work.
At the same time, if it’s only for myself, it’s so selfish and lonely. What makes the process truly special is when others engage with my work—when they can see it, connect with it, and even find enjoyment or inspiration in it. That exchange brings a profound sense of purpose. The biggest reason I aspire to be a filmmaker in Hollywood is because so many Hollywood films moved and inspired me when I was growing up. They sparked my imagination and gave me a dream to follow. Now, as a filmmaker, I want to create something that can offer that same kind of joy or inspiration to others—something that allows someone to dream.
The same goes for my photography. If my concert photos, landscapes, or portraits can capture someone’s attention and bring even a brief moment of visual satisfaction or emotional connection, I would be truly honored.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aikataguchi.myportfolio.com/
- Instagram: @taguchi_aika
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068917343993
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aika-taguchi-4353bb21b/
