We shoot all over Singapore, and “where should we go?” is always a good first question. Here are the spots we keep coming back to: what each one is good for, when the light is kind, and the honest bit about crowds, rain and permits.
Two things hold everywhere. The light is softest in the first hours of the morning and from about 5.30pm, with golden hour around 7pm, and those are the coolest times too. And from November to January the afternoons are the wettest, so we'll suggest a morning slot then.
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Good for: couples and families, maternity and graduation photos.
Swan Lake, the Bandstand, old trees and wide lawns: shade and green in every direction, on flat paths that are kind to anyone expecting and to anyone's grandparents.
- Best time
- early morning, before the heat. Late afternoon is lovely too.
- Getting there
- Botanic Gardens MRT (Circle and Downtown lines) is at the Bukit Timah end of the Gardens.
- Crowds
- quieter on weekdays. Weekend mornings bring families, joggers and other shoots.
- If it rains
- the Bandstand and the shelters along the paths.
- Permits
- the Gardens say casual photography sessions, such as family portraits and graduations, don't need a submission. (Singapore Botanic Gardens: Use our space)
Gardens by the Bay
Good for: couples and families, and personal branding with a bit of drama.
The Supertree Grove and the paths around Dragonfly and Kingfisher Lakes are free to walk, with the city's skyline behind you.
- Best time
- from about 5.30pm, as the light softens. Early mornings are cooler and much quieter.
- Getting there
- Gardens by the Bay MRT (Thomson–East Coast Line), or a walk from Bayfront MRT.
- Crowds
- busy in the evenings and at weekends, especially around the Supertrees.
- If it rains
- the domes are the dry option, with tickets. Outdoors, we wait out a shower under cover and carry on.
- Permits
- inside the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest you'll need tickets, and Gardens by the Bay runs its own early-morning bookings for personal photoshoots there. If you'd like one, tell us early and we'll arrange it with them first. (Gardens by the Bay: personal photoshoots)
Fort Canning Park
Good for: maternity, couples and SMU graduations right next door.
Old brick walls, the Fort Gate, huge rain trees and the tree tunnel you look up through. It feels like a secret garden in the middle of the city.
- Best time
- early morning. The tree tunnel gets a queue later in the day, especially at weekends.
- Getting there
- Fort Canning MRT (Downtown Line), or a short walk from Dhoby Ghaut.
- Crowds
- weekend mornings are the busiest.
- If it rains
- the verandahs of Fort Canning Centre.
- Permits
- Fort Canning asks for an application before a photoshoot, so tell us early and we'll sort it out with NParks. (NParks: filming and photography permits)
Tiong Bahru
Good for: couples and friends, personal branding and relaxed family photos.
Curved art deco flats, spiral staircases, the market and a kopi to hold. Warm, lived-in and very Singapore.
- Best time
- weekday mornings, when the streets are quiet and the light bounces off the white walls.
- Getting there
- Tiong Bahru MRT (East–West Line), then a short walk.
- Crowds
- weekend brunch fills the cafés and the pavements.
- If it rains
- the covered five-foot ways along the blocks.
- Good to know
- these are people's homes. We keep doorways and staircases clear, and our voices down.
Joo Chiat and Katong
Good for: couples and families, maternity and anyone who loves colour.
The pastel Peranakan terraces along Koon Seng Road, with their tiled fronts and carved doors, and the shophouse streets around them.
- Best time
- early morning, before the sun is high.
- Crowds
- Koon Seng Road is a favourite for photos, so at weekends you may wait a minute for the best houses.
- If it rains
- the five-foot ways of the shophouses nearby.
- Good to know
- these are homes. We shoot from the pavement, never on the steps or through the gates.
Haji Lane and Kampong Glam
Good for: friends and couples, and personal branding with colour.
Murals, painted shopfronts and narrow lanes, with the golden dome of Sultan Mosque a street away.
- Best time
- morning, while the lane is quiet and before most shops open.
- Getting there
- Bugis MRT, then a short walk.
- Crowds
- busy from late afternoon into the night, and at weekends.
- If it rains
- the five-foot ways.
- Good to know
- the shops are people's livelihoods and the mosque is a place of worship. We keep entrances clear, ask before using a shopfront, and photograph the mosque from the street.
Marina Bay
Good for: personal branding, couples and ROM portraits after the Registry.
The waterfront promenade, the skyline and the Merlion across the water.
- Best time
- early morning, before it gets busy and hot. The blue hour after sunset is lovely for the skyline.
- Getting there
- Bayfront, Marina Bay or Esplanade MRT, depending on which side of the bay you start.
- Crowds
- busy in the evenings and at weekends.
- If it rains
- the covered walkways around the Esplanade.
- Permits
- URA looks after Marina Bay's public spaces and asks for an application for commercial or corporate filming and photography, and for anything that sets up equipment. We keep the kit small, and if your shoot is for your business we'll check what it needs when we plan. (URA: Marina Bay filming and photography)
Jurong Lake Gardens
Good for: maternity and families, especially with little ones who need room to run.
Open lawns, the lakeside boardwalk and big skies in the west.
- Best time
- late afternoon into sunset, when the lake turns gold.
- Getting there
- Lakeside or Chinese Garden MRT (East–West Line).
- Crowds
- quieter on weekdays.
- If it rains
- the shelters along the paths.
- Check before you go
- it's an NParks park, so we check its rules for your date when we plan. (NParks: photography in our parks)
East Coast Park
Good for: maternity, and families and couples with bikes, a picnic mat and sand between your toes.
The beach at golden hour, with the ships waiting on the horizon.
- Best time
- the last hour before sunset.
- Crowds
- weekends are busy with cyclists and barbecues. Weekday evenings are calmer.
- If it rains
- the shelters along the park.
- Check before you go
- another NParks park, so again we check its rules for your date.
Permits, plainly
Most of the time you don't need to think about permits: that's our job. Here's what each place says on its own pages:
- Singapore Botanic Gardens
- casual sessions such as family portraits and graduations need no submission.
- Fort Canning Park
- an application first, so tell us early.
- Gardens by the Bay
- tickets for the domes, and their own early-morning bookings for personal photoshoots inside.
- Marina Bay
- URA asks for an application for commercial or corporate shoots, and for anything with a set-up.
- Jewel Changi Airport
- Jewel asks for approval before a photoshoot there. (Jewel Changi Airport: FAQs)
Check before you go. Rules change, and each place has the final say. We check the official page for your date when we plan your shoot, and the links above go straight to them.
Not sure where to go?
Tell us who's coming and what you love, and we'll suggest two or three spots that fit, with the best time for the light. See every session, or check a date.
