Your subject, barely clothed and vulnerable, waits for your instructions. How do you start?
What lighting, what pose, what expression?
What to shoot?
How to guide?
“I googled Kelvin’s work when I was sent a brochure for his workshop. I immediately thought – I love his style and that’s the standard that I aspire my own work to be one day!
Fast forward a few months and I find myself in his studio, camera in hand, a gorgeous model waiting, the single light source fired up. I am struggling to think about how to start. I fire off a few tentative shots, hoping to warm up. The results are ok only.
Kelvin observes me from the shadows. He walks across the room and softly makes a few points. Suddenly something clicks on me and I adjust the light and adjust my approach.
That day, I probably had the best fun shooting someone and produced some of my favourite portraits I have taken. Not because the pictures are technically perfect (many of the ones I like are not), but because I learnt something invaluable about myself, my photography style and about capturing a mood in an image.
Kelvin does not instruct in a formal sense, nor does he overwhelm. He stands back and lets you do your thing; he observes, and then he comes in and makes a few points that make you feel comfortable and say just enough to help you move toward in the direction that you want.
You end up learning something about yourself and your photography. To me, that is the most valuable lesson and the best way to get better at what we love to do.”
~ Ming
“Kelvin is an artist and a painter.
“As a result, he has achieved a different approach to photography.
While observing your style, he will strive to take you out of your comfort zone and take your photography to the next level.
“He pushes you to shoot with intent, see shapes, tell a story, and train your eyes. It is easy to take good pictures, but it takes vision and practice to become an artist.
“Kelvin will make you want to go towards “Fine-art photography” in order to express your creative idea, message, or emotion unique to your style.”
~ Ludovic
“With too many other courses and workshops, we are taught specific lighting techniques or how to set up specific shots, but beyond replicating those shots, there is very little learning value.
“With Kelvin, I’m learning a whole new framework and guiding principles to design and compose great photographs.
“Most importantly, with his vast knowledge and experience, he both allows you to explore your own ‘voice’ and style, while being able to spot technical mistakes and offering ways to work around them.
“In my couple of sessions with him, it feels like a whole new level of seeing, thinking and exploring. Even the technical aspects of photography and my camera usage has been challenged and improved.
“Thank you so much Kelvin! I have learnt so much and I continue to learn and see the world and photos differently now.”
~ Eugene
“A great workshop. It included a good mix of both theory and hands-on, resulting in an experience that you can’t get from books or video courses.
“Both Kelvin and Elaine were extremely friendly as well, answering all students’ questions candidly and advising on how we could improve.
“Most valuable learnings for me included seeing how Kelvin approaches the shoot from scratch, soft skills when interacting with clients/models and tailored advice on finding my own voice.
“Highly recommended!”
~ anon
“Usually I don’t write reviews often but this review must be written! I attended the course last week and I must say that I learnt so much from Kelvin. The course really shaped me up and picture things so differently that what I did in the past. Kelvin’s sharing on his experience is really priceless, not something you can read up in a book or youtube.
“I strongly recommend anyone to reach out to Kelvin for his photography services, and I am sure you will like his photos just like what I do!”
~ Daniel
Kelvin Lim has been awarded Best Portrait Photography by Singapore Tatler, and listed among the country's finest services.
Copyright Kelvin Lim 2002 - 2023
