Why the Best Time for a Family Portrait in Singapore Is Right Now
The best time for a family portrait is when your kids are still young — not when things finally "settle down." Raising two kids of my own, things never really settle down. Here's why, after almost two decades of photographing families in Singapore, I believe that so strongly.
The best time for a family portrait is when your kids are still young, not when things finally "settle down". Raising two kids of my own, things never really settle down. It is a constant juggling act as we try to make sense of the different seasons of parenthood and work.
As I reflect after almost two decades of being a Singapore based photographer — and a dad as well later on — there's one thing that I have observed over the years; is that family dynamics change. Often, and more than we expect.
I have come to realise there is a particular window in a family's season that works best for family photoshoots. That is when the kids are young — we are looking at pre-school to primary school age. I think that is the best window to capture memories with your loved ones.
What makes that age different
Because that's the age when kids are still unfiltered with their emotions. When parents still have the energy to keep up with them. When love between a family gets expressed so openly — hugs, kisses, and hands held without a second thought.
It's a season where the family feels, for a moment, almost ideal.
But that season doesn't announce itself. And a lot of families hold back on getting a proper photoshoot done — thinking there's always next year, thinking the kids are still too young to sit still, and thinking it can wait until things are less busy.
The moment you don't notice passing
Then one day you notice your kids aren't holding your hand on the street anymore. It's no longer cool. They're reaching for their phones instead of you. They cringe when you ask them to smile for the camera. It is not you, but a phase our children go through. And you realise the closeness you could have captured has quietly moved on without you.
By the time your kids are grown, you've grown older too. You're no longer that younger, more energetic version of yourself. And when you look back, you might find yourself wishing you'd done it sooner.
"Once upon a time, Daddy and Mommy were really, really close to them."
What those photos give back later
But if you did take those photos — if you had a shoot with your family back when the kids were small — something different happens. Those photos become touch points and reminders. My family enjoy looking back at our old photos when the kids were way younger. Giggly toddlers that they even find their young selves cute. And just like that, these old photos rekindle something in our kids. These expressions of love and affection stay in their memories, captured in photos.
And years later, those memories will keep serving your family long after the moment's gone — reminding all of you of the love you once shared openly, which is still the glue that bonds the family through the years together.
What actually happens in a session
A lot of families put this off because they're picturing a stiff, posed studio shoot — everyone lined up, forced smiles, a kid mid-meltdown while everyone waits. That's not how I run a session.
I build the 45 minutes around play, not posing. We start by letting the kids and parents warm up to the studio and the photographer. We chat a bit, let the kids explore, and the camera just stays on the family while that happens. We usually break into the big group photo first while the kids are still excited, then the smaller groups and individual shots. By then we're all warmed up, and the room feels familiar rather than like a photo studio.
So if you've been thinking about it — don't wait. I've photographed many moments of my own kids growing up, and I still go back and look at those old photos often. I'd love to help create that for your family too.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to take a family portrait?
The best time is when your kids are still young, around pre-school to primary school age. That's the window when children are most emotionally expressive, parents still have the energy to match them, and physical affection between family members is at its most natural and unguarded.
How much does a family portrait session cost in Singapore?
At The Portrait Room, Family Moments sessions start from $488 for a 45-minute session with 10 touched up photos, delivered within about a week.
How long does a family photo session take?
Family Moments sessions run 45 minutes. That's usually enough time to get children comfortable, capture natural interaction, and photograph a few different combinations — the full family, parents alone, and each child individually.
What if my kids won't sit still or cooperate?
Sessions are built around play and natural interaction rather than posed stillness — the best photos usually come from the moments in between the poses, not the poses themselves.
At the end of the day, a photoshoot is really a fun family outing to bring the family together. I hope to see you at the studio one day.
