Last in town as part of Tang’s Harajuku Pop Up Store, celebrated Japanese fashion photographer Rei Shito took her fashion perspective and style for detail to Singapore. plussixfive had the opportunity to chat with her on  her beginnings, passions, and her driving force. View below for the complete interview, and visit here, for more of her fashion work.

What sparked off your fascination with photography?
Rei Shito: It actually occurred as a chance. One day the editor in chief of a very famous Japanese magazine approached me and asked me if I was interested in starting and focusing on street fashion photography.

Meaning to say you had no prior experience?
Rei Shito: Nope!

Is street photography your first love? Or are there other kinds of photography that you enjoy as well?
Rei Shito: Haha, I mainly enjoy street photography, especially when it focuses on the fashion aspect of things

what makes you take a picture of an individual? Is it the entire outfit, or maybe a particular accessory that makes the individual tick?
Rei Shito: Actually everything in general. Not only the clothes that the individual is dressed in, but also the hairstyle, the way the person is standing, the way he or she is walking. Their dressing is important of course as that primarily is fashion, but I also take into consideration their style. Style to me is an important element as it shows their lifestyle as a whole.

Whenever you ask for permission to take a picture of a  person, how does the person react? Are they normally happy?
Rei Shito: Most of them are usually happy, but there are some who are more reserved and shy. Some of them would also recognize me as a street photographer, thus those would be more willing to let me take their pictures.

For the people that you shoot, do they inspire your fashion sense or dressing as well?
Rei Shito: Of course! I believe that fashion always evolves and there is no hard and fast rule to how one can or should dress. I always look around for inspiration for new ideas.

Rei Shito:  By the way, why is your website called plussixfive?
plussixfive: Oh it is actually Singapore’s country code spelled out in words!
Rei Shito: Ah I see!

Other than taking street photos, how else do you spend your free time?
Rei Shito: I like to read quite a bit, and sleep! Haha, well other than those favourites, I also do model, continuously since 10 years back.

What do you think of the digital revoulution advancements? As technology improves for cameras, anyone can afford a camera now and call themselves a photographer. Do you think it benefits the industry?
Rei Shito:I think it is very good. As when there are choices, the public does not have to be “forced” to choose and see the works of only a handful oh photographers. Also, users can have a mix of the digital and film formats for different results in photography. With advancements, this also lowers the barrier of entry for genuine enthusiasts to start on photography as their passion.

what places have photography taken you to other than Singapore?
Rei Shito: Photography has opened many doors for me. It has recently taken me to Moscow Russia,, invited by their government. I was there for a photography exhibition.

I understand that you have only been here a couple of days, but what do you think of Singaporean fashion as you see on the street?
Rei Shito: Haha, it has been too short a duration so far for me to comment or judge. But today, I will be looking out for Singaporeans who catch my eye in terms of having individuality and style.

Would you consider yourself a new age fashion critic?
Rei Shito: Well I would say I am more of a fashion blogger, and I try to utilize new media in the form of a blog as my platform of choice.

What drives you to constantly source for content, and update your blog as often as possible?
Rei Shito: If I manage to source for good info and content, I naturally feel that I would want to share these new found info with my audience via my blog. That is the main drive for me in constantly updating my blog, as often as possible.

One last question, is this your dream job?
Rei Shito: Yes! I am enjoying every bit of it and there is nothing other I could imagine myself doing.