How I turned a passion for photography into a dream job in Myoko, Japan

Less than two years after my first-ever day on snow in New Zealand at the age of 23, I found myself in a dreamlike blur: working as a snowboard photographer in Japan. It was a wild detour from my corporate career back home in Melbourne, but one where my passion for photography and the mountains finally converged. Armed with my camera and a quiver of snowboards, I traded the office for the legendary Myoko powder, embarking on a truly life-changing adventure. In the process, I proved to myself that it was possible to blend what may seem like contradictory paths.

For years, I’d strived to strike a balance between a traditional career path and my passions. My time in Myoko proved that seemingly opposing paths can actually complement each other. I hope this story inspires you to pursue your own balance, no matter how unlikely it may seem.

Image: yugenvisuals.com.au

My journey strapped to a board

Never saw snow when I was younger, so moving to a tiny but gorgeous town in New Zealand for a whole season was a massive leap. My first two days snowboarding? Utterly humbling. I almost quit, thinking it wasn’t for me. But I stuck with it. Once I let go of the fear, the stoke exploded, and now snowboarding consumes my thoughts daily (sometimes hourly). That feeling – a mixture of being deep in the mountains with mates, the flow state, and pure adrenaline – is something I wish everyone could experience. By the end of the season, I’d qualified as a snowboard instructor, ready to share that joy with others.

My journey behind the lens

I took a gap year (that turned into almost two) between graduating university and starting a ‘real’ job, where I lived in and travelled through some of the most beautiful places in the world. Places where it’s almost impossible to take a bad photo, including the Dolomites, Himalayas and the Southern Alps of New Zealand. My snaps started getting a bit of traction online. After a few contract gigs, I decided to code my own website. I mostly just wanted to share the sheer awe and wonder I felt in these incredible spots.

Image: yugenvisuals.com.au

How it all came together

Back from New Zealand, I was utterly obsessed with snowboarding. My fancy office job felt less exciting when I was constantly watching snowboard edits, researching gear, and trying to convince my mates to join me in the mountains. The Japanese Alps, with their legendary powder, started calling my name – especially after experiencing only a couple powder days the whole New Zealand season.

Then, some cosmic alignment. A super kind Aussie couple who’d just bought a lodge in Myoko asked if I’d be interested in caretaking it for the season. I owe them big time; without them, none of this would’ve happened.

I then snagged a couple months of unpaid leave from work – this was too good to miss. That’s when the lightbulb truly flickered: why not combine my two biggest loves and try working as a snowboard photographer? So, I whipped up some posters, polished my website, and hit the gym for those crucial leg days. Still, nothing truly prepared me for the epic 2024/25 Myoko season.

The magic of Myoko

Myoko truly welcomed me with open arms – arriving in mid-December, with the legendary Japanese powder already puking down. An old friend helped me snag a tiny, but mighty, Suzuki kei car (I dubbed her Chihiro, a 4WD beast with winter tires that met no match all season). Being early season meant the usual crowds hadn’t descended yet. I was genuinely blown away, scoring huge powder days where it felt like I had entire runs to myself and I couldn’t stop grinning. That’s when the ‘holy crap, this is peak life’ feeling truly sank in. This feeling never got old over the season, no matter how many times I repeated the same tree runs or how many ‘face shots’ that left me squealing like a kid.

Image: yugenvisuals.com.au

Living in one of the snowiest places on earth definitely had its challenges – like never-ending car park clearing, a lack of sunshine, early nights and Japanese stink bug invasions. But honestly, these pale in comparison to the joy of watching the snowfall by a window and the sheer excitement of anticipating another epic powder day ahead.

Myoko just nails the perfect blend of everything I love about Japan: traditional onsens, family owned Japanese restaurants, lively nightlife, easy access to Tokyo, and, most importantly, world-class powder without the crowds. Having briefly considered busier spots like Hakuba and Niseko, I’m convinced Myoko offers an unparalleled, authentic Japanese experience.

“I was genuinely blown away, scoring huge powder days where it felt like I had entire runs to myself and I couldn’t stop grinning. That’s when the ‘holy crap, this is peak life’ feeling truly sank in.”

Combining the powder and pixels

Being one of the only photographers in the Myoko–Madarao region gave me a head start, along with some (perhaps overly) aggressive pricing — I still couldn’t quite believe people would pay me to shred alongside them and take photos.

Image: yugenvisuals.com.au

Word-of-mouth spread among local Aussie powder hounds, and suddenly clients were lining up. I also worked with a few independent lodges, shooting for their guests and creating promo materials. A stroke of luck with a large real estate agency, who contracted me to shoot numerous lodges, really fueled the business. Soon I was turning down work, spending days shooting and nights buried in editing – even when friends and family visited. Paradise? In many ways, yes. But it was also a reminder that even dream gigs have their ups and downs, and that shared happiness with the people you care about is what truly matters.

But then, on those truly magical days (of which there are many in Myoko) – like surfing through chest-deep powder on a guided tour where you get to capture people deep in the trees – a profound sense of gratitude and achievement washed over me. It was a reminder that sometimes, all it takes is some courage to bring a vision to life.

Image: yugenvisuals.com.au

The memories forged with mates, clients and locals, the sweet pictures I took back home with me and that blessed Japanese powder are treasures I can’t wait to rediscover on future Japanese winters in magical Myoko.