If your family’s anything like mine, then arranging to have cheesy photos taken in a studio probably wouldn’t be a priority.
Heck, my parents paid an amateur photographer $60 for a godawful shot of me collecting my scroll on-stage, my face flushed and puffy — no thanks to the effects of hay fever. Yep, definitely one of my best moments.
Yet you’ll find a slew of studios offering graduation photography and academic dress rental services around Singapore, starting with Serangoon Broadway. Here’re alternatives to consider for those on a budget.
Serangoon Broadway
Did you know Serangoon Broadway began as a wedding photography provider in the ’60s? That’s long since changed; it’s today the official vendor for academic dress rental services for the likes of NUS and NTU.
Apart from gowns, its space — spanning 10,000 square feet — includes four photography studios, the largest of which holds up to 60.
A typical photography session lasts around one-and-a-half hours, though that depends on your chosen package. As with most studios, you’ll find a myriad of backdrops and props for your picking.
Serangoon Broadway also offers a (practically permanent) 20% discount on its packages, which summarised in this table:
| What You'll Get | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Package 1 | One 8R (8” x 10”) framed canvas photo Six 4R reprints | $120 to $80 |
| Package 2 | One 14R (14” x 11”) framed canvas photo Six 4R reprints | $220 to $280 |
| Package 3 | One 20R (20” x 16”) framed canvas photo Six 4R reprints | $280 to $380 |
| Package 4 | One 24R (24” x 20”) framed canvas photo Six 4R reprints | $380 to $480 |
| Package 5 | One 30R (30” x 24”) framed canvas photo Six 4R reprints | $580 to $680 |
Head over to their site for a comprehensive list of packages.
Address: 1365 Serangoon Rd | Tel: +65 6293 3998 | Email: [email protected] | Hours: Tue to Sun, 10am to 9pm. Closed Mondays
Gloria Photo Studio
Since 1986, Gloria Photo Studio’s offered all manner of photography services — whether commemorative convocation shots or family portraits.
If you’re look at academic dress rental services, you’ll find a sizeable number of options from popular universities that’re free for use if you’ve booked a studio photography session. Gowns on offer include those from:
- NTU
- NUS
- Singapore Institute of Management
- Curtin University
- Australia National University
- Stanford University
- Yale University
You’ll also get to choose your trimmings, from hoods and mortarboards to suits, shirts and accessories.
Here’s a closer look at prices:
| What You'll Get | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Package 1 | One 8” x 10” framed canvas photo One 5R reprint | $99 |
| Package 2 | One 11” x 14” framed canvas photo One 5R reprint | $199 |
| Package 3 | One 16” x 20” framed canvas photo Two 5R reprints | $350 |
| Package 4 | One 20” x 24” framed canvas photo Two 5R reprints | $450 |
| Package 5 | One 24” x 30” framed canvas photo Four 5R reprints | $650 |
| Package 6 | One 26” x 36” framed canvas photo Four 5R reprints | $850 |
| Package 7 | One 30” x 40” framed canvas photo Four 5R reprints | $1,050 |
Address: 1 Irving Place, #06-13, The Commerce @ Irving | Tel: +65 6538 4883 | WhatsApp: +65 9298 4276 | Email: [email protected] | Hours: Mon, Tues & Thu to Sun, 12pm to 7pm. Closed Wednesdays
The Beauty Box Studio
Though younger than its counterparts, The Beauty Box Studio’s nonetheless developed a following thanks to its portrait photography services, whether convocation or corporate shots.
Here’s a look at its two packages:
| What You'll Get | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Package A | One 16R (16” x 15”) reprint enlargement with complimentary framing and lamination Three 5R (5” X 7”) colour prints | $288 |
| Package B | One 20R (20” x 16”) reprint enlargement with complimentary framing and lamination Two 5R (5” x 7”) colour prints of family portrait One 5R (5” x 7”) colour print of graduate (solo portrait) One free 10R (10” x8”) framed reprint of graduate (solo portrait) | $488 |
Unlike Serangoon Broadway, makeup and hairstyling services come at an added cost. Like most photography studios, you’ll also be able to rent graduation gowns from major polytechnics and universities in Singapore for shoots. These include academic dresses from:
- Ngee Ann Polytechnic
- Nanyang Polytechnic
- Temasek Polytechnic
- Curtin University
- SMU
- NTU
- NUS
- SIM
- RMIT
- University of London
Address: 452 North Bridge Rd, #02-00, Chan Brothers Building | Tel: +65 6835 3012 | Email: [email protected] | Hours: Mon to Sat, 11am to 7.30pm. Open on Sundays by appointment only.Â
EO Digital Photographics
Here’s a studio whose extensive selection of 14 packages are designed primarily for big groups.
While most studios typically only offer prints for one image per package, EO Digital Photographics goes beyond that. Its priciest family package — which comes in at $1,498, for a group of three to ten — includes a framed family photo, individual portrait shot and four additional free images.
We’ve highlighted several for your picking:
| What You'll Get | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Package | One 8” x 12” framed laminate Six 4R reprints One soft copy | $98 |
| Couple Package | One 11” x 14” framed laminate Six 4R reprints One soft copy | $198 |
| Family Package (3~5 pax) | One 11” x 14” framed laminated family portrait One 8" x 12" framed laminate (solo graduate portrait) Six 4R reprints OR three 5R reprints Two soft copies | $298 |
| Family Package (3~5 pax) | One 11” x 14” framed laminated family portrait One 11" x 14" framed laminate (solo graduate portrait) Six 4R reprints OR three 5R reprints Two soft copies | $398 |
| Family Package (3~5 pax) | One 16” x 20” framed laminated family portrait One 8" x 12" framed laminate (solo graduate portrait) Six 4R reprints OR three 5R reprints Two soft copies | $498 |
Address: 271A New Bridge Rd, #02-00, Chan Brothers Building | Tel: +65 6536 3267 | Email: [email protected] | Hours: By appointment only
Bespoke Photography
Bespoke Photography’s specialty lies in outdoor photoshoots, although studio photography’s also available if more formal shots take your fancy.
Popular locations include on-campus shots, CBD locations or Singapore’s more scenic parts, such as the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Packages are priced per hour, as follows:
| What You'll Get | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Package 1 | ~50 photos | $200/hour (min. one hour) |
| Package 2 | ~100 photos | $150/hour (min. two to three hours) |
| Package 3 | ~200 photos | $120/hour (min. four hours) |
Unless you’re planning a larger scale shoot — in which case choosing Package 3 could work out to be cheaper than other photography studios — four hours really could prove to be excessive, so do the math before committing.
Address: 125 Geylang East Ave 1 | Tel: +65 8338 1249 | Email: [email protected] | Hours: By appointment only
Werkz Gallery
Another affordable option this way comes — with graduate packages at Werkz Gallery going for $150 and $250.
| What You'll Get | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Package B | One 8” x 10” canvas print with frame Six complimentary 4R preview prints | $150 |
| Package A | One 11” x 14” canvas print with frame and six complimentary 4R preview prints One 8" x 10" digital print and six complimentary 4R prints | $250 |
While jackets and ties are available for the shoot, you’ll be charged a fee for academic dresses — although it’s subject to availability. Appointments should also be made two weeks ahead of time, and will require a $50 downpayment.
Address: 140 Paya Lebar Road, #05-13, AZ @ Paya Lebar | Tel: +65 6324 2202 | Email: [email protected] | Hours: Tue to Sun, 10am to 7pm
Portrait Gallery Photography
Its full host of services include commercial and corporate photography — plus portrait shots for families and newborn babies.
But if you’re just looking to capture graduation shots in academic dress, prices start from $438. That’s because Portrait Gallery’s three photographers each helm their own areas of expertise.
Extras include graduation gowns, which you’ll need to request for when making your appointment; a selection of over 200 photo frames to choose from, plus the option to have your photos printed on canvas.
(Note: We’ll update this space with prices soon as they come in.)
Address: 315 Outram Rd, #02-10, Tan Boon Liat Building | Tel: +65 6220 9757 | Hours: Mon to Sat, 10am to 8pmÂ
Nick Goh Photography Studio
Rounding up the list is Nick Goh Photography Studio, run by the namesake photographer and his team. With a focus on graduation portraiture shots, there’s a package for every budget.
These are the studio’s basic packages:
| What You'll Get | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| B-10 Basic Package | One 10” x 8” laminate | $180 |
| B-12 Basic Package | One 12” x 10” canvas One 5R reprint | $280 |
| B-15 Basic Package | One 15” x 12” laminate Two 5R reprints | $380 |
| B-20 Basic Package | One 20” x 16” laminate Three 5R reprints | $480 |
| B-24 Basic Package | One 24” x 20” laminate Four 5R reprints | $580 |
Address: 115A Commonwealth Dr, $05-22, Industrial Block | Tel: +65Â 9380 6946 | Hours: Daily, 11am to 8pmÂ
Is Serangoon Broadway your go-to for graduation photos and gown rentals? Tell us on Seedly’s Personal Finance Community page!Â
