Idol Photo Session
I heard the word “Satsuei Kai” (撮影会(さつえいかい)) among the otaku community and didn’t really know what it was apart from the literal translation roughly meaning “group photo session”. After further investigation, I find out that one can go and participate in an event where one can take as many photos as one desires of an idol without the 60 second time limit.
Berry Waffle is an organizer of idol photo sessions and I decided to go and find out moar about these Satsueikai.
I’m still not too sure how everything works but it seems that the organizer rents a photo studio (in this case it was Roppongi Digital Photo Studio) and makes their money from getting punters to pay to take photos.
The day is divided up into four segments – each segment divided into three photo sessions. I attended the first segment of the day. The first photo session was outdoors in a nearby park. The second and third session was in the studio.
The cost depends on how popular the idol is. Costs could go up to more than 10,000 yen per segment. I paid 5,000 yen for the first segment and then had to shoot off to another event. One segment lasts about 1.5 hours - but then again this would depend on which organizer you choose to go with.
The type of photo session depends on the idol but the one I attended had civilian clothing in the park and bikini for the studio shoot. If you were worried about the idol getting cold in the studio running around in a bikini – then don’t because the lighting was hot enough. As for the men – I think they got hot just by being in front of the idols...
What you have to do is to book in advance to save yerself some money – if you go along on the day to register then it will cost more. Depending on the organizer you choose, you will be given a member card. Collect up to 18 stamps on the back of the card and you get to go once for free - you get one stamp per visit.
The studio was in Roppongi and the car park was right next door which was rather convenient. Got to the reception, registered, quick chat with the manager and headed down to the basement.
This is where you can put all your crap and adjust camera settings etc.
The first session is out doors. There is usually a wait-in-line-and-take-shots-for-20-seconds thing which rotates. At the end of each session, all the blokes crowd around and one of the organizers makes sure that the idol gives each camera a glimpse.
Reflectors are used to adjust the light so you don't have to bother bringing your own.
When the idol does a particularly cute pose, the blokes break out in a sweat and all jump out of their place in the queue. Their cameras are poised within 0.2 seconds. I'm sure these guys used to military members at one point in their life.
This is Ai Shinozaki who is gathering incredible popularity in the idol otaku community – more of the outdoor shots in another post.
This is Chihiro Ueno - another gravure idol.
Back in the studio. This is to adjust the white balance - but because I still don't know how to use my camera, I had to set the WB to bulb ToT
Ai-chan in bikini battle gear.
Chihiro-chan in bikini stealth gear.
Inside the studio.
Signed goodies left by previous idols.
One of the sets has strobe lighting where they attach a dongle or something to your camera that causes all the strobe lights to flash when you take a photo.
You get to listen to some groovesome background music to get you into that charisma photographer mood as you wiggle your bottom.
The idols get together for some reverse docking action.
The downside of armor - cant feel any soft eyes that may rub up against it.
Please excuse this pose but their manager insisted.
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Sales, Retail
http://www.geocities.com/ace-chan
Nice! A most interesting, fun learning experience... to see how an idol photo session goes...
Sales, Retail
http://www.geocities.com/ace-chan
Nice! A most interesting, fun learning experience... to see how an idol photo session goes...
Sales, Retail
http://www.geocities.com/ace-chan
Nice! A most interesting, fun learning experience... to see how an idol photo session goes...
Sales, Retail
http://www.geocities.com/ace-chan
Nice! A most interesting, fun learning experience... to see how an idol photo session goes...
http://yuuwaku.wordpress.com
haha nice poses!
Gazer
http://www.luvcute.com
A nice post of you ^^
I have ever watched some photograph-session movies (gravures too hihi) on japansuki.haru.tv , a japanese streaming videos for all japanese freak!..anyway, I know much better since you wrote this ^^ ...nice post!!! arigatou... Danny Choo is the best!!!
University Student
Ai-chan doesn't look too happy.
nothing
rawr
lecherous wretch
http://graeble.deviantart.com/
thats a great idea!
銀河帝国五〇一軍团 TK/TD 8316 M.E.P.D. Police Sergeant
http://gordonator.com/
oh yes. i remember seeing this post last year.
love it. stormtrooper and bikini babes goes well together. ^^;
freelance
Man you are one lucky guy hehe like the pose with the arms up danny nice pics. Thanx for sharing! Those idols are hot!
U.S. Army Officer
http://www.forum.the554.com
Gotta love the bunny logo on 'approved' persons
Conscript
http://raven87.blogspot.com/
Danny, won't Auto White Balance (AWB) function on the camera help to get the settings right?
Have not been able to play with a proper camera since I finished my studies. So I might have forgotten functions >.<
Recording Engineer, Musician, IT Technician
Love your Idol photo shoot posts. Keep up the great work.
Musician
I glad that all the photographers were happy (in pic #6 from top to bottom).
hahahaha LOL
Marketer
amazing breasts for Asian girls, especially natural ones
don't you think ?
btw, Asian girls don't need to be skinny skinny to be pretty
NEET part-time - Technical Support Officer - Network security engineer
http://burugureibi.blogspot.com/
oh wow
more nostalgia - im starting to love reposts
銀河帝国五〇一軍团 TK/TD 8316 M.E.P.D. Police Sergeant
http://gordonator.com/
i miss these posts too.
Supervisor
Mmmm kawaii!
But the "strength" pose is funny, sorry Danny =P
http://pantsukudasai.deviantart.com/
These reposts always get to me. =P
Takes me a few seconds to realize that I've already read this.
I do like it though, nice kick of nostalgia.
Are reposts bugs or just traffic drivers?
This was a classic post though.
Don't forget http://www.dannychoo.com/adp/eng/703/Ai+Shinozaki.html has more pix
Daigakusei [Consular and Diplomatic Affairs]
http://dixinfernal.wordpress.com
idol photoshoots, another reason why i should go to Japan^^
Nekophilia
Did you feel anything through that thick armor? ^^;
And I think for your case, Danny, is the heat from lightning, idol + armor. triple heat uhh..
System Design Engineering (UWaterloo)
http://robostrike.wordpress.com
I understand the roles of idols, but not too infatuated with them. There's a limit to my enjoyment and I'd much prefer to spend the time doing other things like work cuz I tend to slack often and write on the DC walls ^_^
Student
http://shockerz.wordpress.com/
It's quite interesting to find this kind of service in Japan. You must be sweating Danny from all the heat around you. Idol+armor suit+lighting=sweat + Steam.
Hikikomori in the making
http://supermariabros.deviantart.com/
Japn, the place where you can snap pictures of pretty and cute girls for a price^^;...
Hikikomori in the making
http://supermariabros.deviantart.com/
Ah, typos... They really make people lose their minds^^;...
http://twitter.com/phossil
http://www.animoe.net
great outdoos pictures!!
Too bad some studio pictures the background was falling apart...
^_^
Consultant
It definitely seems like something I'd be interested in doing, but I'm not quite sure how much photography would be going on; too busy ogling the lovely idols. Then again, if I paid an exorbitant amount then I better be sure to take some lasting memories.
Student
Haven't heard about this type of events before you described them, thanks:)
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
http://xspblog.com
I gotta get in a professional line of work that has opportunities like that... any suggestions? XD
Also, I was just taking my eyes for a walk on DC.com when I saw "Toylet Collectibles"... WTF!?
College Freshmen
Not really interested in paying money for pictures with people I've never heard of. That's what wax museums are for. ^^;
Mad scientist
Actually I thought the internet would be the place to go if you want cheap/free pictures of strangers :)
Wax museums can be quite interesting though.
Otaku / Student in Networking
http://hayasaki-kun.blogspot.com/
LUCKY!!1 I would to to be in ^^
BioResearch Assistant
My dad is a professional photographer, a very big Canon fan as well which isn't bad. We used to live near a military base and when he used to own a studio many of the customers were the wives or girlfriends of soldiers.
This article reminds of seeing all these young beautiful ladies walk in for their photos, even though it's the opposite of an idol session.
Mad scientist
Sounds interesting. I'm sure you have quite a lot of great photos of your childhood.
I saw a professional photographer on TV once. She said that half of the customers wanted a picture of themself to send/give to a girl/boyfriend. She said that she thinks musicians tend to be the most perverted because quite a lot of them want nude or semi nude pictures with their instruments. Is that your experience too?
BioResearch Assistant
Seeing as their boys were in the military the girls would tend to cute it up in what they wear for the photo shoot.
They sometimes would bring in and wear their soldier's army fatigues and/or pose with military props or weapons in hand. Basically anything short of nude that would otherwise make the picture very memorable and valuable to the husband or boyfriend.
Compared to idols in this photo shoot article the girls generally wore more clothes but it was still generally still loose.
The one photo that stood out the most I remember was this very very cute brunette, in her early 20s I think, who wore just panties and her boyfriend's field jacket which was only buttoned once in the middle of her chest. She posed twice, one with an AR-15 and one without.
From then on I developed a penchant for brunettes/dark-haired girls. Yea, she was that beautiful.
Student
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dramacd/
Paying to take photos? To each his own, I guess.
Physiotherapist and Teacher
http://luisasantiaga.blogspot.com/
Ai- Chan has a pretty face :), i lied the clothes they were wearing ;)
student
agree!
???Confused???
I wouldn't mind taken photos with lovely girls...
Student
http://nauxolo.awardspace.com/
interesting venue to take photos... guess natural busts beats nature photos in terms of enjoyment?
Student
http://blackcomet.pcriot.com/
haha i wish i was in japan. So how does it actually work then, people just sign up to come and just take pictures then (and pay of course)?
Hotel - Night Audit
You should be allowed to get in free if you are used as a prop! I bet the manager has snaps of the idols+stormtrooper and it will appear in the next photobook. Are you kidding me? I would totally buy it if there were cute girls in bikinis with guns accompanied by stormtrooper . . . and I'm a strait girl. Imagine how much $$$$ (or yen I guess) they'd made off Otaku males . . .
IT Expert / System, Network, Security Administrator
http://www.digitalanime.com.br
She is too fatty to my taste, but editable, yes.
Photographer Wanna-be
[quote]Back in the studio. This is to adjust the white balance - but because I still don't know how to use my camera, I had to set the WB to bulb ToT[/quote]
Hello Mr. Choo,
You need to get Expodisc. Your camera gets really great shots. All you need is the expodisc. It works exactly as advertised.
Even more motivation for me to become a photographer. lol ^_^
Student!
http://zh3us.wordpress.com/
erm "girl kiss girl = cut?" may have, but like 30 years down the road X_X
http://twitter.com/phossil
http://www.animoe.net
I think being surrounded by beautiful idols was enough..
Lazy College Student
lol... I was just thinking... "This much be every nerd... no every man's dream"
I'm sure Danny can die happy nowxD
Japanese Pussy
http://www.jp-pussy.com
Lovely girls, so excited Japanese models!!