In seventeen years at 219 River Valley Road, we’ve learned that the truest measure of a portrait studio isn’t the families who come once. It’s the ones who come back — for a graduation, then a sister’s graduation; for a newborn, then a first Christmas, then a second newborn. Quietly, over the years, the studio becomes part of the family’s story — and they become part of ours. We sat down with three families who have returned again and again, to ask what keeps drawing them back up our staircase. These are their words.
Czaryna: The Graduate Who Came Back
Milestones: Graduation Photoshoot (2021) · Sister’s Graduation Photoshoot (2025) · Glamour Portrait Session (2026)
Czaryna Clemente first walked in for her graduation portraits in 2021. She has returned twice since, for her sister’s graduation in 2025, and then for herself in 2026 — and the photographs have quietly tracked her growing up.
Czaryna and her family during their first graduation photoshoot at White Room Studio in 2021.
White Room Studio: When did you first come to us, and what for?
I first came in 2021, for my bachelor’s degree graduation portraits. Like a lot of graduates that year, I never had the ceremony I’d imagined — so one of my favourite images is of me throwing my cap into the air. It became my own little celebration of finishing my degree.
White Room Studio: It was your family’s first professional shoot together. How did it feel?
We were all a little awkward at first — it was new for us. But Yan made us feel comfortable so quickly. What could have felt stiff or overly posed ended up feeling completely natural. That’s what stands out most: we actually relaxed and enjoyed it.
White Room Studio: You came back twice more. What brought you back?
The second time was for my youngest sister Sophia’s graduation — she’d seen my photos and wanted the same experience. The third was a personal shoot before my 28th birthday. By then I felt so at ease with the space and the people that I wanted to do it somewhere I felt safe. Honestly, trust was the biggest reason. After the first time, I knew I’d be in good hands.
White Room Studio: When you look at your first portrait beside your most recent, what do you see?
Growth. In the first, I was a fresh graduate trying to figure out what came next. Nearly five years later, I see someone who’s lived a lot more life — and I see my family’s journey in those photos too.
Czaryna returns back in 2025 for youngest sister Sophia’s graduation
“Beautiful spaces can attract you once. Feeling comfortable is what makes you return.”
Trust like Czaryna’s is something we never take lightly. It is the quiet reason a nervous graduate becomes someone who returns for the milestones that matter most — and being chosen for those moments, across the years, is a privilege we genuinely feel. We remember the families we photograph. Watching Czaryna grow from an uncertain new graduate into the woman who walked in for her own portraits before twenty-eight has been its own quiet reward for us, too.
Czaryna and her family pose proudly, celebrating three graduation milestones and a moment of family pride.
A memory from behind the lens, shared by our photographer Yan:
The joy that day was impossible to miss. Seeing three daughters, all graduates, standing proudly alongside their parents was such a special moment. There was so much laughter throughout the session.
What made the session even more memorable was finding out that one of the daughters was getting married the following week. There was already so much excitement in the air, not just about graduation, but about the next big chapter waiting just around the corner.
One moment that still makes me smile was when her sisters started teasing her about the Christian Louboutin heels their dad had bought for the wedding. They simply couldn’t let it go! The bride-to-be kept rolling her eyes while her sisters laughed and brought it up every chance they got. Meanwhile, Mum and Dad watched the exchange with the biggest smiles on their faces. It was one of those little family moments that wasn’t planned or posed, but said so much about the love, closeness, and joy they share. Those are often the moments I remember most.
Explore more of our Graduation Photography and see how we capture this important milestone for graduates and their families.
Dowan & Michelle: A Family Tradition
Milestones: First Christmas Family Photoshoot (2023) · Annual Christmas Photoshoots (2024–2025) · Newborn Photoshoot (2025)
They arrived in late 2023 as anxious new parents with newborn Harper. Every year since, they’ve come back — for Christmas portraits, and then for a second daughter — turning a single session into a family tradition.
White Room Studio: What first brought you to the studio?
We discovered White Room Studio in late 2023, looking for somewhere to photograph our first daughter Harper’s newborn portraits and our very first family Christmas photos. As new parents we were a bit anxious — but the whole experience was seamless. Delun had such a calming presence that it all felt effortless.
White Room Studio: You’ve returned every year since. What keeps you coming back?
It’s become our tradition for annual Christmas photos — and most recently we came back for our second daughter Holly’s newborn session. The consistent warmth, the natural light, and the team’s ease with toddlers and newborns keep us returning.
Dowan and Michelle celebrate their first Christmas photoshoot with little Harper in 2023.
Little Harper is all grown up, ready to welcome baby sister Holly in 2025
White Room Studio: Is there one portrait that means the most to you?
There’s a candid one of Harper, at two years and nine months, holding her baby sister Holly at nine months. Seeing that pure, unscripted love between our daughters in a single frame means the absolute world to us.
White Room Studio: First portrait beside your most recent — what do you see?
The beautiful, chaotic, wonderful evolution of our family. The first was just the three of us with tiny baby Harper; the latest is a bustling family of four.
“Delun and the team feel like old friends who have watched our family grow. They don’t just take photos; they capture our story.”
This is what years in one place make possible. We met Harper as a newborn; we have photographed her becoming a big sister to Holly — and watching a family grow up in front of our cameras moves us as much as it does them. An annual tradition isn’t only about consistent photographs; it’s about a team who remembers your children’s names, notices how they’ve changed since last Christmas, and feels lucky to be trusted with another chapter. We don’t simply document these years. We grow attached to the families living them.
Dowan and Michelle celebrate the arrival of baby Holly during their newborn photoshoot in 2025.
A special memory from our photographer, Delun:
I remember Harper running around the studio, jumping on the sofa and daybed. Such a bubbly and curious little girl! It also warmed my heart that she was so ready to kiss and hug her baby sister Holly when she was asked to and I couldn’t help but capture every possible moment during their newborn session in 2025.
A few words from our photographer, Randy:
Looking back at this 2024 session, the first thing that comes to mind is Harper’s beautiful smile. Her playful energy and curious nature kept us on our toes, while Dowan and Michelle soaked in every precious moment with her. A lovely reminder of how quickly little ones grow.
Michelle: Six Years, One Family Story
Milestones: Newborn Photoshoot (2021) · First Birthday Cake Smash (2022) · Annual Family Portraits · Chinese New Year Photoshoot (2023) · Christmas Photoshoot (2024) · Family Photoshoot (2025)
For six consecutive years, Michelle Ruan’s family has returned, from a newborn session to a first-birthday cake smash and annual family portraits, photographed across the years by Dan, Yan, and Justin.
Michelle’s first cake smash photoshoot for little Etienne in 2021
White Room Studio: Six years running — what keeps bringing you back?
The studio feels less like a photography space and more like a warm family home. From Dan, who photographed our earliest sessions, to Yan, who has lovingly captured the years since, every visit has been filled with kindness, patience and genuine care.
White Room Studio: What do these annual portraits mean to your family now?
As the years pass, the photos become more precious. Through their lens, the moments shared by my son, Etienne, my mother and our whole family have been preserved. No single portrait says everything — but six years of them, together, tell our story.
White Room Studio: What would you say to a family thinking of starting their own tradition?
I’d tell them these become timeless memories that will be treasured for generations. Thank you for helping us freeze the laughter and the love — I hope the studio continues to touch the lives of many more families the way it has touched ours.
Michelle, her mum and Etienne during a a family photoshoot session
“The studio feels less like a photography space and more like a warm family home.”
Six years is a long time to be invited back into a family’s life, and we don’t take that lightly. To have photographed Michelle’s family from a first-birthday cake smash through to today — across different photographers, each one picking up the thread — is exactly the kind of continuity our studio was built to offer. When Michelle hopes we continue to touch other families the way we’ve touched hers, we feel it deeply, because the feeling is mutual. Her family’s milestones have become part of our seventeen-year story, too.
Michelle and Etienne, another beautiful moment preserved in their family story.
A lovely memory from our photographer Justin:
During the photoshoot, Michelle shared that she wanted to capture a special moment of her son running towards her, a reflection of how much he has grown over the years.
I understood that it was more than just a photo. It was a beautiful way to celebrate their bond and the journey they have shared. After seeing the final image, Michelle was thrilled with how it turned out, a simple embrace that captured a meaningful moment between a mother and her son.
Meet the Photographers Behind These Families
These returning families are not photographed by a rotating cast of strangers. They are looked after, year after year, by the same small team who know their faces and their stories.
Yan
A photography career dating back to 2005 has given Yan years of experience specialising in family and children’s portraits. Her natural connection with children and attention to detail allow her to capture genuine expressions and meaningful family moments.
Delun
With a background in journalism and wedding photography, Delun brings a thoughtful and artistic approach to every session. His strong eye for composition and storytelling helps him create timeless portraits for families, couples, and individuals.
Randy
Drawing from 11 years of photography experience, Randy brings creativity and a strong sense of storytelling into every family session. His warm personality helps families feel at ease while capturing natural expressions and connections.
Justin
A background in corporate photography and a passion for family portraiture shape Justin’s technical expertise and creative approach. His friendly nature helps families, especially little ones, feel comfortable while capturing genuine moments.
Start Your Own Family Story
Every one of these families began with a single session. Whether you’re marking a graduation, welcoming a newborn, or simply gathering everyone in one place while you can, we would be honoured to capture it — and to be here, year after year, as your family grows. That is the part we love most: not just the first portrait, but all the ones that follow.
Family sessions start from $390, in our heritage shophouse studio at 219 River Valley Road, just five minutes from Fort Canning MRT. Explore our family sessions, or get in touch below to begin.
Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a family photoshoot at White Room Studio?
Family sessions at White Room Studio start from S$390, which includes the session in our heritage shophouse studio and a selection of professionally retouched images. Optional hair and makeup is available at S$200 per person. Many families return year after year, and each session is booked individually.
Can I book the same photographer each year?
Yes. Many families request the same photographer for their annual sessions, and we do our best to accommodate this. Others are photographed by several of our photographers over the years as they return — including senior photographer Yan, who has captured many returning families across multiple sessions.
Is it worth doing a family photoshoot every year?
For many families, the value of an annual photoshoot only becomes clear over time. A single portrait captures one moment; a series taken year after year becomes a visual record of children growing up, families expanding, and relationships deepening. Families who have returned to White Room Studio for several years often say their later portraits became more meaningful because of the earlier ones.
How often should we do a family photoshoot?
There is no single right answer — it depends on your family. Many families at White Room Studio return once a year, often around the same occasion such as Christmas or a child’s birthday, so the changes from year to year are clear when the portraits are seen together. Others come back to mark specific milestones: a newborn, a graduation, a significant anniversary. Both approaches work; what matters is returning often enough that the years are visible across the photographs.
Where is White Room Studio located?
White Room Studio is at 219 River Valley Road, Level 2, Singapore 238277, in a conserved 1927 Peranakan heritage shophouse, about a five-minute walk from Fort Canning MRT station.
Do you keep our previous photographs for future sessions?
Yes. We keep records of our returning families’ previous sessions, which is part of what makes coming back feel seamless. It allows us to reference your earlier portraits, maintain a sense of continuity across the years, and help your collection of family photographs feel like one ongoing story rather than separate, unrelated shoots.
How far in advance should I book a family session?
For weekend sessions, we recommend booking around one to two months ahead, as weekends are in higher demand. Weekday sessions are usually easier to secure and can often be arranged one to two weeks in advance. If you are planning around a specific occasion — a graduation, a newborn’s age, or a family gathering — earlier is always better, and you are welcome to let us know your preferred dates when you enquire.
