Are you looking for a great portrait photographer for family or work shots? Here we speak to one such man, BOBAN JAMES, about his life and work specialising in creative corporate photos in Singapore.
Tell us about the path that led you to become a professional portrait photographer.
As a boy, I instinctively took over the Agfa camera that my mother had bought in Germany in the ’70s. I was also the daydreamer in school who’d forget to get off at the right bus stop because my nose was buried in a book. Then life and societal expectations caught up. I worked a corporate career for 12 years, where I largely found myself an unhappy misfit. The one saving grace was that I travelled a lot for work.
Back in 2012, I went on a business trip to Detroit. To escape from the tyranny of Microsoft Excel, in the evenings I would roam around the city photographing abandoned buildings that harked back to the Gatsby-esque grandeur of the 1920s and ’30s. I took photos inside a famous boarded-up hotel by jumping into a hole in the ground and finding my way up into the grand ballroom through the flooded, ruined basement. Standing inside that once-proud hotel ballroom now covered in graffiti, I felt the same way divers coming upon the Titanic wreckage must have felt. The dopamine hit I got from this experience convinced me that life as a photographer was far more exciting. With encouragement from my incredibly supportive wife, I quit and became a “professional” photographer.
What types of photography do you specialise in?
My work is spread across advertising, editorial and corporate photography with special emphasis on corporate portraits, personal branding portraits and editorial assignments. I’ve taken corporate photos of a diverse spectrum of people, from CEOs to classical musicians, to authors and DJs. I also sell prints to collectors looking for something different from architectural/ cityscape prints. I recently got into filmmaking, and last year was the cinematographer for an indie feature film shot in the Indian Himalayas.
How would you describe your individual creative style as a portrait photographer?
Many photographers chase light. But I go looking for shadows because that’s what I feel gives depth to a personality. As I’m growing older and coming to terms with my own vulnerabilities and insecurities, I want to create personal work that leaves a lot more to the viewer’s interpretation.
How do you make people relax so you can capture standout images?
Most people who walk into my studio tell me how they’re nervous about being photographed. I can totally understand why – I hate getting my own photo taken! Because I’m naturally curious about people, during the shoot I enjoy having a chat with clients about their life. I find people to be more relaxed when they talk about themselves!
Tell us about some of your projects including corporate photos in Singapore.
A few years ago, I did a project on Tibetan refugees along with a writer friend. We were moved to tears when we heard they had to leave home very young and trek over the mountains to India. Back in Singapore, I’m proud of the corporate photos I’ve done for companies such as IBM, BCG and Softbank. And I’m always delighted to take photos of artists in the local literature, arts and music scene.
What do you love about your work?
A famous photographer once said that the camera is a passport into people’s lives. I’ve found that to be very true. I’ve had the privilege of photographing many interesting people in interesting places. And there’s always the thrill of waking up and finding an exciting assignment in your mailbox.
Boban James Photography
100 Eunos Avenue 7
8202 2965 | boban@bobanjames.com | bobanjames.com
This article first appeared in the October 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
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