READING TIME: 2 min 45 sec
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/20/2025
UPDATED: 11/20/2025
Before he ever held a camera professionally, Star Mijan creative world was already rich with color, design, and imagery.
“I used to be a graphic designer after graduating from university,” he shares. “But I have always loved taking landscape photos with film.”
Film taught him patience. Design taught him clarity. Together, they formed the foundation of an eye that notices the quiet things — a breeze on fabric, a fleeting expression, the texture of morning light.
Everything changed with one opportunity: a request for portrait photography. That single moment, he recalls, “set me on a professional path as a portrait photographer.” Ten years later, that path has evolved beautifully into capturing weddings with intention and authenticity.
Star’s visual style isn’t born from trends, but from his childhood — from the dramas, films, and characters that shaped his emotional instincts.
“I love the unique sense of fresh, everyday life captured in Japanese films,” he says.
I watched a lot of Japanese TV dramas growing up, and that influenced my preference for a natural, candid style.
His work feels like a breath of air — gentle, unfussy, quietly expressive. Every frame reflects his belief that beauty lives in small, unguarded moments: a touch, a glance, a laugh that wasn’t planned.
Star may prefer natural storytelling, but his process is anything but casual. He shoots with a Sony A74, combining modern reliability with his own artistic eye.
For post-processing, he blends two worlds:
“I use LR for color grading and then PS for detailed retouching,” he explains.
Lightroom shapes the atmosphere. Photoshop refines the emotion. And Star’s sensitivity ties everything together.
Photography has never been his only form of expression. Recently, another medium has found its way into his hands.
“I’ve developed a love for painting,” he tells us. “I take photos of natural scenery during a shoot and then go home to turn them into paintings. It has become a recent source of healing for me.”
Painting deepens his ability to see — the way colors lean into each other, the softness in shadows, the silence in empty space. These discoveries flow back into his photographs, creating work that feels both grounded and dreamlike.
Though many of Star’s couples are based overseas, he has mastered the art of digital communication.
“We usually use LINE to set up a group chat and discuss all the details,” he explains. “We typically only meet in person on the actual day of the shoot.”
This structure allows couples to feel supported, informed, and connected — even from thousands of miles away. It’s a system built on clarity, comfort, and trust.
And when clients need something tailored?
“Of course,” he says simply. Flexibility is part of his philosophy.
If Star could speak to the version of himself who was just beginning this journey, he would offer gentle advice:
“While it’s important to keep shooting and learning, adequate time for rest is crucial.”
Growth, he believes, doesn’t come only from hustle — it also comes from stillness, observation, and choosing moments of calm.
For couples preparing for their session, his message is equally grounded:
“Relax and enjoy your important day. Live your life to the fullest.”
It’s a reminder that emotional presence creates more meaningful images than any pose ever could.
Star’s work has taken him across borders — each place adding its own atmosphere, culture, and charm.
“Yes, I do destination weddings,” he confirms. “I’ve traveled to Singapore and Japan for wedding shoots.”
And one destination has captured his heart:
I really enjoy working at Japanese wedding venues; they are beautiful and incredibly well-organized.
Japan aligns perfectly with his artistic voice — structured yet soft, refined yet deeply emotional.
Star Mijan doesn’t chase spectacle. He doesn’t seek perfection. Instead, he searches for truth — the gentle, unrepeatable kind that makes wedding photography feel timeless.
His work lingers like the final scene of a favorite drama: understated, honest, impossibly evocative.
