6 great portrait photography studios!

Considering having a professional portrait done for work or a family photoshoot? Here’s our shortlist of some of the best portrait photography studios in Singapore who will help you get that perfect shot. There’s still time to get family portraits made for Christmas presents to send to family back home!

Best portrait photography in Singapore

White Room Photography Studio for family portraits

Steeped in natural light thanks to its tall and elegant windows, the 2,400-square-foot White Room Studio space has an almost nostalgic character. Located in River Valley and spanning two floors of a colonial Peranakan shophouse, it’s one of the most established photography studios in Singapore. The team of family photographers have over 70 years of experience in portraiture, and are known for their candid and relaxed portraiture style – so it’s little wonder that families come back year after year to have their memories captured!

A word from a client:

When we wanted to do a family photoshoot, we searched on Google and found White Room Studio. Our neighbours and friends said that the studio came very highly recommended and had won several awards. We did two newborn photoshoots with them and were made to feel totally comfortable during both. Ahead of the shoots, we sent our ideas across and the photographer was extremely adept at recreating the photos we were looking for.

We were particularly impressed with their ability to make the children feel comfortable – we were given plenty of time to take breaks, breastfeed and pass snacks around when needed. They really went the extra mile to capture the photos we were hoping for. We will be returning for further family shots in the future!

– Sarah, Matt, Millie (5), Barney (2) and Monty (newborn) are a British family who have been in Singapore for four years

219 River Valley Road, Level 2
6235 7037 | whiteroomstudio.com.sg

Tomato Photo Studio

Tomato Photo Studio was established in 2007 by Hart Tan, whose passion is in family and newborn photography. Hart is a multi-award-winning family photographer and as the master photographer of Tomato, he oversees all aspects of your photoshoot. The current studio’s location and purposeful design were all selected with families in mind – there is a sheltered carpark and a lift landing, and it’s accessible for strollers and wheelchairs. Hart loves helping families find happiness through photography and continues to find fun ways to make the experience easier and more relaxing for the family. His photos have been seen in Expat Living, Tatler Singapore, MoneySmart, Australian & New Zealand Association, Spirit of Enterprise, Singapore’s Finest and more.

A word from a client:

A friend’s social media post introduced me to Hart’s remarkable work; I was instantly drawn to his unique photography style, which captures the authentic essence of families and individuals. The black and white portraits, in particular, resonated with me – they’re a beautiful and artistic way to showcase one’s personality.

Hart made each of my three photoshoots – one individual and two group sessions –  relaxed, enjoyable and fun. He encouraged me to try new poses and angles, which helped me feel natural in front of the camera. His approach is far from traditional, and that’s what makes his work so exceptional. Hart’s expertise in photographing both individuals and groups is impressive.

His flexibility with locations and additional services like editing and framing made the entire process seamless. My experience was nothing short of amazing and the photos are truly stunning. I’ll treasure these memories for years to come!

– Vanessa Ong, Singaporean

62 Ubi Road 1, #10-23
8858 0088 | info@tomato.sg
tomato.sg

Samantha Tracey Photography family portraits

As a mother and wife, Samantha understands how quickly moments of life fly by. The award-winning family photographer aims to help you capture and preserve your family’s natural moments and interactions through her photography. Photoshoots are done at your home or outdoors at a spot or background that speaks to you. All you have to do for the photoshoot is to enjoy the interactions with your children and family members, and Samantha will capture your beautiful moments. She also offers bespoke artistic portraits of your family, complete with a briefing session, concept origination, shoot and post-processing.

A word from a client:

We heard about Sam from a British friend who also had a shoot with Sam. The shoot took place on an early Saturday morning this April at Bukit Timah Railway. Sam thought through every detail and made the whole experience a joy such that our family had a seamless shoot.

Noting that Mike and Marni aren’t keen on having their pictures taken, she rose to the challenge. In advance of the shoot, Sam advised on wardrobe and also discussed our girls’ favourite music artists; she wanted to ensure the girls were relaxed and would have lots of fun. Mike and Marni had to admit that they enjoyed the experience and it was a memorable day.

Sam captured natural and engaging pictures of the whole family. She then arranged to send the pictures that I had selected and shared all the digital images. Sam is a joy to work with, extremely professional and lots of fun. Prices are reasonable and the after-service is outstanding.

– Ali, Mike, Marni (10) and Freya (9) are a Scottish family who have lived in Singapore since October 2021

IG @samanthatraceyphotography | samanthatracey.com

Oh Dear Studio Photography for family portraits

Housed in a conservation shophouse with signature full French-style glass windows, Oh Dear’s studio space is bathed in natural sunlight throughout the day. Vintage colonial-style furnishing and an abundance of potted plants creates an old world charm throughout the studio. Together with a private rooftop, there are many spots for capturing family memories. Run by a mum of two with an all-female team, the studio has been featured by the National Heritage Board, Singapore’s Finest Services, Tatler Singapore and Expat Living, among others. Customers return repeatedly for their range of photography services including family, maternity, newborn and couple portraits.

A word from a client:

Our first shoot with Oh Dear was in November 2020. We read about them on Facebook when we were looking for Christmas photos that weren’t the average Santa photos. When we arrived at the studio, we were warmly greeted and everything was prepared. Our daughter had just turned four and our son was two but Melody knew how to work well with young children and captured shots that were natural.

Our latest shoot this June was a K2 graduation/family shoot at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Melody prepared a cap and gown for Andrew, and ensured we took regular water breaks and that those who weren’t actively shooting stayed in the shade. She took us to a part of the Gardens we’ve never been to before and we ended up with gorgeous photos. From holiday shoots to intergenerational and graduation shoots, Oh Dear knows how to capture the moments. We absolutely recommend them!

– Roselle, Jimmy, Allison (7) and Andrew (6) are an American family who have lived in Singapore for over five years

87 Kampong Bahru Road, #02-01
97383447 | hello@ohdearstudio.com.sg
ohdearstudio.com.sg

Theresa Olesen Portraits photography studio

Theresa specialises in corporate profile pictures and headshots of women and men from all backgrounds. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or an employee, she can create the right profile picture for your website and social media. Every headshot session with Theresa is tailored to your style, so your profile pictures fit in with your brand. It starts with a free consultation where you’ll discuss the look you wish to achieve. Theresa will also give you advice on what to wear, and talk you through every step of the shoot from posing to getting the right expression. The headshot session itself is stress-free. Professional hair and makeup is included for women – all you have to do is turn up! After the shoot, you’ll get a selection of shots, and you can choose the ones you’d like fully edited. You end up with a selection of headshots to upload anytime you need them.

A word from a client:

I’d left it to the last minute to update my headshot, and when my new company asked me to submit a profile picture before the end of the week, I was super stressed. I called Theresa, and within a few hours she had booked me in for the next day.

When I arrived at her studio, her makeup artist sorted me out within an hour, and Theresa was then ready with her camera and three different background colours. The whole process was smooth. I’d been worried about posing, as I hate being in front of the camera. But I almost forgot it was a photoshoot! Theresa didn’t have a time limit and I could use all three outfits I had brought for the shoot.

When I had to select my images, I wanted all of them! I can’t recommend Theresa enough. She’s fun and professional, and makes you feel extremely relaxed. The whole process, from booking to delivery of images, was effortless.

– Claire is an English professional working in Singapore

6A Berrima Road
9754 1759 | theresa@olesenportraits.com
theresaolesenportraits.com

Boban James Photography Studio

Boban specialises in portraiture, editorial and commercial, having photographed people from all walks of life such as corporate high fliers, CEOs, actors and celebrities, musicians, actors, authors and more. His work has made it into the pages of Harper’s Bazaar Singapore, Tatler Asia, Gulf News, Conde Nast India, The Straits Times, BLLNR and more. The personality of his subjects shine through their portraits, an aspect that his clients attribute to his engaging personality and the trust he builds with them during the shoot. Whether it’s a personal portrait, a professional shoot or some images for branding purposes, Boban is able to get it done in an enjoyable way. While he has a studio for portraiture photography, he’s able to do the shoot at the office or outdoors. He is also available for commercial and editorial assignments.

A word from a client:

I’ve known Bob personally for many years. He did my family portrait some time back and we have some lovely pictures of my kids. When it was time to update my corporate portraits, he was my first choice. I was super impressed with how well the entire session ran.

When I arrived at his portrait studio, it was already set up and Bob was ready to get started. We discussed the look I was going for; I wanted my portrait to look like me in real life. I tried a couple of poses and the shoot took about an hour. Throughout, Bob was chatting with me and ensured I stayed relaxed. His experience working with people really showed through – he kept chatting with me and ensured I stayed relaxed.

As he was able to put me at ease, he was able to bring out my personality and keep the photo authentic to me. I would definitely recommend him!

– Preeti Shivane, an Indian who has been in Singapore for more than 10 years

100 Eunos Avenue 7
8202 2965 | boban@bobanjames.com
bobanjames.com

This article on family portraits, portrait studios and photography in Singapore first appeared in the September 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy! There’s always plenty of things to do in Singapore with the family, including having a picnic! To make the most of living in Singapore, read our latest City Guide here for free!