With the pandemic hovering since 2020, the lockdowns or ‘circuit breaker’ (as we call it in Singapore) started to affect our usual routines, travel/study plans, livelihoods and our daily lives. One of the positive things that came out of it is that it helped family members to eat together, checking in with parents, siblings, relatives to make sure they have the necessities, extending a helping hand to help others who are in need. On top of that, many get to do some self-reflecting, read that book that they always wanted to, and also to test one another’s patience in the same household.
Having said that, we can’t deny that the family bond have somehow, somewhat strengthen during this time. Family who have been looking out for you. Having higher number and frequency of text exchanges between family. So it brings us back to the topic of family!
Over the years of photographing families of all shapes and sizes at Bambini Photography, we have come to realise that these families that make time to do a professional family portrait come, because of various events that triggered them to do so. The ultimate objective is always the same, portraying the idea behind “One Happy Family”. This idea though sound simple, there are many permutation to this.
The trigger events however is varied between each individual or family.
We have compiled the Top 8 List of Reasons Why Families Do Professional Family Portraits.
1. Celebrate Life’s Major Milestones
Birthdays, Anniversaries, Graduations.
One of the most common reason why people come to have a professional family photoshoot is “Celebration”, its to celebrate the milestones of a person’s life such Birthday… Child, Mum, Dad, Grandparents, Anniversary, 10, 15, 25, 50 years wedding anniversary, New addition to the family, Wedding, Having a newborn baby, or someone’s graduations. If you’ve missed your Graduation photoshoot at the time you graduated in the past, its never too late to get your graduation / family shots done. Our studio does have a small collection of graduation gowns that clients can use if they need that special shot:)
Not forgetting the baby milestones where they can lift their heads and be on their tummy around 3 months; sit up, cruise or stand around 6-9 months, their 1 year old big party and when they’re walking and running while parents chase after them with joy albeit frantically at the same time!
Once babies hit the next milestone, most prefer to chase the next big milestone. For example, once they can roll and be on their tummy, they will do it again and again until they can sit. Once they can sit, they’ll chase the next millestone instead of going backwards to lying down or be on their tummy unless they are super tired…..when they can stand, they will want to try to crawl/walk instead of being on the tummy and so on.
Often, we have a 1 year old in the studio and parents want us to take the tummy time shot… However, whenever parent put baby on the tummy, they turn around and sit up and stand again. The baby simply is not interested to go back to where they were before and its totally understandable and totally natural for them to do that. Therefore, if you are planning on capturing these special baby’s photos in their 1st year, some form of planning would be necessary to get the specific shots you want during baby’s first year.
These are the moments people want to remember their life with and usually its one of the top reason why people contact us for a family photo shoot. It can be done in our studio, outdoor or at your home.
2. Someone in the family is ill or dying.
Life is beautiful until we received a death sentence by our sickness. After the sadness passed, the only thing we all want to do is to have everyone in the family around. Majority of time, it is the time to do the shots that immortalised what it means to be a family. And that includes the family pet too!
We have done plenty of family in this setting… what makes or breaks the shoot is the ability to be sensitive and be professional to get the best shots of everyone and the individual. Yes, it will come a point where someone in the family need that one photo. Many make it in time to get the portrait done but some sadly don’t.
In shoots like these, we often get hinted by the ‘organiser’ to get a proper and nice individual shot of the individual to stand-by for the ‘Lorry Photo’. It’s something everybody wants deep down but nobody wants to talk about. It is never too early to get it prepared. We have professional experience that we know for sure how to navigate and make it pleasant for everyone. Furthermore, for the convenience of the elderly with mobility concerns, our studio is wheelchair friendly with no stairs.
So next time you arrange a family photography, include the grandparents and let us get you the “shots” in the most pleasant way.
After spending weeks researching for a family portrait photoshoot we’ve chosen Bambini Photography and did not regret doing so!
Lydia coordinated the photoshoot arrangement and recommended packages for a family of 12 pax. She was very prompt on my many queries asked via Whatsapp, very efficient and hassle-free.
Joy was our photographer on 11 Aug, she was extremely warm and friendly and created a nice environment for my family to settle in. Not only did she provide clear directions but she also sought our opinions on what we liked to do for the photoshoot.
She was also very brilliant with the children. My nieces and nephews were between 1 to 4 years old and she worked very well with them, engaging them and making sure they provide eye contact with her camera. We were a group of 12 and I’d said she managed our family very well.
We had an indoor photoshoot and the studio is very spacious and clean. Additionally its very kid-friendly, many props and toys for the young ones to be entertained. My young nephew even had an emergency diaper change in the studio and Joy was perfectly fine with it. She also gave us some freebies for the little ones!
Bambini’s after sales service is very commendable. The basic edited photos for selection were provided very promptly in 2 days on Dropbox. What impressed me was that Joy was very available when I contacted her to discuss and seek her opinion on how to edit some of the photos and recommendations for further printed products.
Overall, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Bambini to friends who want a fun and stress-free photoshoot with good service. And it’s not difficult to see why they have established so many regular customers. – Dominic Mak
3. Frustrated for Not Being In The Shots.
It is all nice and good when you have tonnes of the images of your spouse and kids. If you look through your phone and don’t see yourself. What makes you think that people know that you exist? No one want to be in the position to be known as “the person who is not there”.
Sure, occasional selfies or wefie might be great, how many of that is printed, showed and appreciated like an art? That’s right… it stays in the phone until something happen to it and it is all gone.
I am not saying that you shouldn’t take pictures yourself, but merely wanted to bring awareness that even professional like ourselves get people to do a portrait for our own family every now and then.
It may sounds superficial to have “that” family photo, but the fact is, it is about the family connection that we are trying to portray.
Some are happy being out of the picture as they feel they need to lose that extra few kilos to get back to pre-child weight before considering to be in front of the camera. You know it… if you are one of the few lucky ones who can achieve it within 3 months, we congratulate you and we are filled with envy. However, the reality is the majority of us do take quite a while to get back to pre-child weight or shape (fingers crossed). Your child it not going to know how big or small you were before child birth, they see you as you. The only critique is yourself:)
There is a tipping point where enough is enough. This tipping point is usually a time where you scroll back the photos and realise you’re not in it most of the time and when your kids ask ‘why aren’t you in the photo’ or “I remember where we were at xxx place this photo” and starts to describe what they remember of that day the photo was taken…. with no mention whatsoever of mummy’s weight or looks at that time.
This tipping point varies and some take many years to realise, some see it within the first year or so. And this is when they decided to look around for recommendations for a family photographer that they believe will get beautiful pictures of their family, with YOU in it.
One of our long time client mentioned that they love photographing and videoing their kids on their mobile phone but would still want to have at least ONE PROPER family and sibling photo a year and religiously made time to schedule in their family shoot every year. It’s their form of getting the kids to remember they are ONE Family and they do have lots of love and fun with one another. Others, simply love to have their family photos done at multiple milestones like the Rinihartini family.
This my 3rd photoshoot wif bambini and this time is wif Mag. She interacts alot wif my kids and patience while my younger gal was cranky. Thanks for the photos taken. And lydia for the great communication to make the whole process much easier. Lastly thanks shawna for rushing the edits and print out which arrived before the end of 2019. – Rachel
4. When Everyone is Back Home
Globalisation has made travel easier, living in different countries and places for your immediate family seems to be a norm nowadays. Even in normal life, how much time do you really come together as one family and do something together?
You wake up, go to work, come home late, dinner, play with the kids, sleep and tomorrow is another groundhog day and before we know it, our kids are grown, our parents getting old.
Festive season gives a reason for everyone to sit back, relax and reflect on their achievements, creating some bonding time.
This is a perfect time and perhaps the “excuse” that you are looking for to get those important but not urgent kind of family photoshoots done once and for all.
Leave it to professional like us as we make it simple for you and all you need to do is turn up and walk away with beautiful shots of everyone.
190119 was the day we decided to take an overdue Family Photoshooting that my parents had long waited for.
Although I have enquired with Bambini on Jun 18 and Dec 18 before I finalise the date. Lydia had been very patient and prompt reply.
The photoshooting experience was wonderful. I was almost in tears when I saw my parents getting close again when posing for the shoots. The laughter and joy filled up the studio. Tks for our photographer Illiyin to make this happened and she handled kids so well. Our boys missed her the moment we left the studio.
We are over joy that Bambini have featured 3 photo of us in their Bambini page. Which means not only we are satisfied with the photos turnout, Bambini Photography also love it.
Thank you, Bambini Photography to create such a sweet and awesome memories for our family. – Sabrina
5. When you have visiting family from back home (eg. grandparents)
For many expat families, Asia is an interesting place and Singapore is one of the major city that many people want to visit.
When you have families who come for a visit, wouldn’t be nice to create memories that they can be proud of for many years to come?
Grandparents are people who treasure memories and a gift of photograph is perhaps the most valuable one that you can give them.
A lot of our expat clients told us that, doing a shoot like this allow them to kill 2 birds with one stone. Present for the grandparents and present for their own family.
The UNESCO site of Botanic Garden, The wonder of Cool Flower Dome at Garden By the Bay, The relax area of East Coast Park, The heritage Peranakan houses in Joo Chiat, Emerald Hill and Club street, The Marina Promenade of the futuristic urban Singapore’s landscape… Or it can be as simple as your home and its surrounding.
Whenever it is, it is as easy as a phone call to our studio and we will assess which locations would suit your family if you need some professional input.
Had a lovely shoot and an even lovelier service afterwards. Received my edited pics today and a big thank you for capturing so many sweet moments. (Even working thru this CB period and I’m sure it is difficult on your end dealing with all the affected shoots). I’m spoiled for choice to pick my fav pic as there are so many nice shots! – Elaine
6. Before someone leaves home for work/studies/NS
Travel has become more affordable and we can easily take a flight to other countries. Furthermore, many jobs nowadays would require some form of travel near or far, short or longer term.
It’s easy to know of someone whose brother or sister, son or daughter who will be moving abroad for work or studies. Maybe someone who is going to be enlisted to national service and wants to have the family portrait done before the guy goes botak.
This is one reason that many come through our studio.
7. Update Family Portrait
Last one was taken 10-15 years ago?
Many a times, we walk pass the hallway and see that the family portrait every day. One fine day, you walk pass and realised the much younger you on the photo and realised the shot was taken perhaps 3, 5, 10, 15 or 20 years ago. Holy moly… you don’t look like that anymore, your children now are taller than you, shoe size bigger than yours… that bald baby is grown with a full head of hair or perhaps there is another addition to your household.
Grandparents are from the era that they need to save save and save… life was not as easy or as accessible as it is today. So they won’t ask BUT deep down, you know that they love to have another a proper big family portrait taken… how long would you like them to wait? Learn about the Top 5 Tips on Choosing A Photo Studio For Extended Family Photoshoot.
If this is your situation, drop us an email at info@bambiniphoto.sg or call/WhatsApp us at +6587171558 or simply Message Us so we can chat further about creating your family moments.
8. Know someone who fits in Points 1-7 above?
I know, I know… this is not the year… maybe next year… we hear that way too often.
Many times, finding the perfect gift to give is a challenge especially when the recipient already have most material things that they need… so what else would be meaningful for them? Perhaps going to a family photoshoot to have some fun and enjoy the experience while getting beautiful images at the end of it all and having tangible memories framed and displayed at the family home or work place.
You can easily purchase the voucher through our website and offer them to someone who you care about.
We’ll be more than happy to answer your queries, simply drop us an email at info@bambiniphoto.sg or call/WhatsApp us at +6587171558 or simply Message Us so we can chat further about creating your family moments.
A legacy takes building, and we love to make these memories with you. Just you and in the moment and us, take the shot.
