Over the years, through passion and commitment, we worked very hard and maintained our belief in photography education; treat everyone the same, teach everything we know. This belief of ours has proven by the testimonials from our students coming from all over the world. This is what drove us to be the best photography school in Singapore.
“The best thing about the Street Photography Masterclass is that it changed the way I look at the city I live in. The main object is no longer the physical city, but the people in it. I posted my work on my social media and got some positive feedback from people I don’t know, that’s really nice. Thanks again Alan, it really made a big impact on my view on street photography, in a very good way.
Alan is a great photographer, who knows how to pass on both his philosophy and the technical skills needed to make a good shot. So although taking a picture has become way more difficult – gone are the days I just pressed the button – the results are clearly visible.”
– Diana Guzijan, Netherlands
“I’ve had the pleasure of taking both foundation and advanced 1-on-1 courses with SOP. The sessions are structured in a manner that helps the student understand technical aspects discussed in an easy manner, the practical part and hands-on reinforces the theoretical concepts. Alan’s experience as photographer and artist makes the discussions very inspiring, productive and full of insights; Alan helps you see through the eyes of a photographer and think like a photographer.
After these courses, the way I approached my photography altered with more focus on the story behind the photo, a better understanding of how light works, and what makes a good photo. Another great thing is that Alan caters to all levels of photographers and the sessions adapt to your level of knowledge. As for managing the communication with SOP, Agnieszka did an amazing job from the moment she responded to my first email.
I highly recommend investing in the photography courses with SOP as they are by far the most valuable contribution to my photography journey to date. Thank you Alan & Agnieszka for making this one of the best courses I have taken.“
– Rami Hanna, Egypt
“It has been a great experience and trust with Alan’s way of teaching. He is indeed a patience and good teacher who inspire me to go deeper in understanding the essential of photography. At the end of the 8 lessons, I have fully aware of the tips and tricks of the basic photography technics. Of course to perfect the art of trade you really need to put in effort and time to keep trying taking good photos even though it did not turn out exactly what you want.”
– Jonathan Wong, Singapore
“My partner and I decided to do this photography course to improve the pictures we take when holidaying, we had been travelling to some amazing destinations but not capturing the best pics. We did an 5-session private 1-on-1 course and absolutely loved it! We learnt so many tips and tricks that have really helped us improve the quality of our pictures. The course is a perfect balance between theory and practical and Alan who teaches the course has great energy and has many interesting stories and examples that you learn from.
We highly recommend this course you learn a lot and it’s also a lot of fun.”
– Fiona & Chris, Australia & United Kingdom
“Thank you SOPS!
I really enjoyed the essential photography courses, and now I feel completely comfortable and confident using my camera to its full potential.
Alan is a very patient and knowledgeable teacher. The lessons are well planned, and I enjoyed the mixture of classroom and outdoor based teaching.
I would recommend Alan and the School of Photography to wishing to gain a better understanding of their camera, and how to take better (hopefully great) photos.”
– Megan Jane Evans, New Zealand
“My frequent travels to exotic locations kindled my interests in learning photography. Using a DSLR in “Auto mode” is akin to driving a sports car in auto mode. My appetite to learn photography led to me Alan Lim. Alan’s classes is a heady mix of technical knowledge, photographic nuances, high energy, passion, patience and humour. He makes learning so much more exciting and interesting. The course helped me gained technical insights into a DSLR which I never knew existed. Alan’s mantra of “LESS IS MORE” is a true gospel to capture excellent photographs. My compositions have dramatically improved and this course has changed my perspective of “looking through a lens”.
I am thankful to Alan for introducing me to Lightroom. Managing, editing and making photo books of my travels is a breeze now. A journey which started off as a hobby has inspired me to learn more. I owe this to ALAN LIM for passionately teaching and sharing this craft.”
– Brinda Govindarajan, India
“I first went to SOP and signed up for the “Essential foundation” course as a complete beginner, but after some photography beginner lessons I learned so much from Alan Lim and he opened up a new world for me, such a good teacher!! After a while I followed up with the advanced course, “Essential lighting” and as the “Essential foundation” course this was also very professional done by Alan Lim. The “Essential foundation” course was more specific and had a greater depth regarding light and here again Alan Lim showed us the magic of what you can do with natural light, flash light and a mix among other things.
I can truly recommend taking the “Essential foundation” course if you are a beginner or the “Essential lighting” if you want to deepen your skills! Also it’s lovely to have a teacher that is so passionate about his work and teaching! The arrangement and organization around these courses were also very nicely done by Agnieszka Ragazzini who is the coordinator and she was always quick to answer any questions I had.”
– Carin Cuvier, Sweden
“Alan is a committed photographer who has the eye to acquire vital elements for street photography. I have learnt a great deal from Alan despite attended many online courses prior. Photography is indeed an endless learning journey.”
– Jasper Ong, Singapore
Singapore “I was looking for a private photography class to improve my photography skills and coming to SOP was the right choice! We went through a very personal and easy going theory phase and right after that we hit the streets to put everything in practice.”
“The good things about having private photography lessons with Alan Lim is that you get the answers to all your questions right on the field, with real situations and challenges. To me the highlight of the class was the night session, I got wonderful results and it was a truly learning experience!”
“Alan is not just a teacher, he has become a friend and a mentor to me.”
– José Antonio Nigro, Venezuela
“Initially I signed up with SOP only for the Camera Craft course but to be honest, Alan’s teaching was so fascinating that I ended up taking the full course including Night photography!”
“What makes SOP different from any other photography school is the tutor himself, Alan Lim! To my surprise, the course literature was so simplified that it allowed me to quickly grasp the technical aspects of photography. I was pretty impressed by the way the course module was designed, it was straight to point. Moreover, Alan’s photographic style is quite narrative that induces an immense interest in the viewer.”
“Alan is ‘the tutor to go to’ for anyone who is passionate about the craft and he will guide you on how to ‘paint with light’ aka photography!”
– Vineetha Sara Jacob, India
“The beginners photography course was very informative and inspirational, Alan makes learning interesting and engaging. He has reignited my passion for photography.”
– Laura, Lithuania
“I enjoyed the courses alot. Alan is very passionate in teaching, sharing his experience and knowledge in photography. I am able to control my camera better now in different situation. Thank you so much Alan, I will always remember your teaching ”to make photo” & “less is more”.
“I would highly recommend SOP and Mr Alan Lim to be your photography mentor.”
– Estella Yoon, Malaysia
“I did the course with 3 friends and must say I was really impressed with the whole organisation and particularly our teacher Alan who kept us engaged and interested the whole time. I got a lot out of the 4 sessions and its taken my photography onto a new level. ”
– Thomas Brydon, United Kingdom
“I met Alan thanks to the wonderful corporate photography he has done for my brother. I had already some technical knowledge before meeting him, but what I learnt during our private sessions was, beyond the technique, to look at Life.”
“His motto is… his name… LIM for Less Is More… I learnt to stop on the essentials, keep pictures simple and look at my environment on a different way! Thanks Alan!”
– Sandrine Capdouze, France
“My interest in photography started to grow after my daughter was born. Being only able to capture her photos using an iPhone and not a DSLR camera, I have decided to take up a 1-on-1 Private Photography Course with Alan.”
“I was quite nervous initially as I have practically zero knowledge with the DSLR camera and I have always been intimidated by the fancy gears. But Alan was very patient throughout the course and he shared his knowledge without any reserve. Thus, I was able to enjoy the course and gained a deeper understanding of what photography is about.”
“Thank you Alan, for your patience and guidance!”
– Teo Hoon, Singapore
“Classes were easy to understand and fun, I truly enjoyed both the theory and outdoor sessions, all thanks to a professional and friendly teacher, Alan Lim! I am very happy that I have signed for the Basic Photography Course, I have learned so much about composition and lighting, and also made lovely friends there.”
“プロフェッショナルでフレンドリーな先生のおかげで、クラスは分かりやすく理論も野外実習もとても楽しかったです！
構図やライティングなどの様々なことが学べ、また素敵なお友達にも出会えてとても嬉しいです。”
– Mayo, Japan
“As a consequence of leading a busy life and having to work most evenings, I had problems signing up for photography courses in general, so it was with much gladness that I found the school offering one-on-one private photography tutoring with Alan Lim.”
“The Documentary Photography lessons I had with Alan were most comprehensive, it began with classroom lessons on street photography and culminated with an assignment on the streets to capture environmental portraitures. Very quickly, we moved on to the social documentary project. I was tasked to submit six to ten images that were to tell the story of a particular subject, then through editing session we selected the requisite images from the several hundred taken, it was challenging. Through Alan’s quizzing and instructions on the photos I had chosen, I began to understand a little of how a photoessay is edited in order to tell a story. The whole experience was very hands-on, allowing me to apply certain overlooked practical skills. These helped improve the composition and story-telling aspect of my images.”
“Alan is not only inspiring through his portfolio of images but equally impassioned in his style of teaching! I had a great time being challenged and instructed by him in this aspect of photography.”
– Low Sze Sen (Dr), Singapore
“I have taken the Essential Foundation Photography Course and strongly recommend it to anyone who wishes to acquire better knowledge of photography. I really enjoyed the sessions as they provided me with much needed technical and theoretical know-how while still being interesting and fun thanks to Alan not only being an impressive photographer but also a person who is able to share his passion for it.”
– Caroline Schaedler, Liechtenstein
“Alan Lim, an established artist with so much passion and knowledge for his craft. Brimming with energy and vitality, Every sessions with him is enjoyable learning experience with lots of humour thrown in.”
“Follow him to photography destinations to discover the beauty of the place, culture and people turned into art with his inspiration and skills. Get lost in time during the trip of Adventure and having a good time learning, meeting new people and most of all, while doing photography.”
– Yuss Lona, Singapore
“I can honestly say that before learning from Alan, I knew almost zero about photography. Sure I could frame a shot or two, maybe compose it a little bit but the course really opened me to a different level of photography. The philosophy, the reason and art behind it, the mechanics and basics and most importantly the fun of painting with light.”
“Alan is a great teacher and I learned the discipline and patience of waiting for the right moment. Till today I still remember his saying, LIM (Less Is More).”
– Aidyl Abadi, Malaysia
“I thoroughly enjoyed the course – it struck a good balance between teaching us the basic skills required to take good pictures and putting these skills into practice by going out in the field with the camera taking shots.”
“Alan knows his stuff and is a great coach as well as an entertaining guide. Well worth the money and I intend to use the techniques I learned for years to come.”
– Tom Stott, United Kingdom
“Alan is a great instructor with the knack of illustrating concepts using real life examples and hands-on demonstrations, which really made things easy to understand.”
“I also appreciated his guided shooting sessions which not only helped me see things in a new light but also allowed me an insight into how professional photographers work.”“Alan’s lessons are fun, and he is funny to boot. Enjoyable.”
– Tan Keng Yao, Singapore
“I am extremely glad and satisfied with Alan and the course I took (Essential Foundation Photography). The course taught me practically everything I can learn about the camera and light. On a scale of 0-10 (10 being the highest) the classes were a 10!”
– Rhea Agarwal, India
“I took up Available Light Portraiture during my short visit to Singapore in the summer of 2016. Even though I only had just a few hours of 1-on-1 private lesson, Alan gave me various insights that would enhance my photo shooting skills. His lecture in a class-room environment was very helpful and
taught me some of techniques that he actually used to take each picture. During hands-on Alan also observed how I usually approached my subjects and pointed out what I did wrong which was very helpful. Before coming to School of Photography I was not confident in photographing my friends in outdoor environment, but after meeting Alan I feel more confident now.”“I was also able to register in the course very easily from overseas. If my photo-loving friends visit Singapore in the near future I would definitely recommend learning from Alan’s session. Many thanks to Alan for making my Singapore trip even more special!!”
– JS, Japan
“It is an enriching course which combines both theory and hands-on experience to enhance one’s photography craft through extensive explanation and guidance from professional photographer Alan Lim. After the course, I am able to think and see deeply into a scene before I click the shutter button. Thanks a lot for your guidance which led me to another level in photography.”
– Joshua Yap, Singapore
“I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop that was put together for my friends and I and it has rejuvenated my love for photography.”
“Alan Lim presented the course in an extremely innovative and comprehensive manner which was pitched at the perfect level. I haven’t been able to put down my camera since”
– Richard Dare, United Kingdom
“My two hours private photography workshop in Street Photography with Alan Lim in Singapore last year was a great learning experience for me. Alan taking so much interest and having so much patience in explaining how to make pictures better was an experience I will always keep in mind whenever I pick up my camera. Thanks again!!”
– Madhushrree Birla, India
“My sons thought that after my retirement, taking up a hobby like photography would be a nice thing to do. Later I was told that the camera could become handy at one of my son’s wedding which was in February the following year.”
“What the hell am I supposed to do, I don’t even know the basic operations of this big Nikon.”
“In desparation, I found School of Photography Singapore. I said to Alan, ” You have to teach me somehow I could take some wedding photos in one week.” It was an intensive one on one learning, consisting of the basic theory of Photography, camera operations, and actual shooting in various environments. At the end of the week, Alan’s patience paid off, I was able to take some decent photos.”
“Thanks to Alan at the wedding I took many photos of my son and the future daugher in law. Some photos turned out to be really nice!”
– Fred Hagino, USA
“Like anyone who loves to travel would take photos of the places they visit, and after I had learned the craft of photography from Alan Lim of SOP two years ago, my approach of photography have totally changed. I’ve now able to have more good photos while taking less, coz each photo that I take has came with more thought of what I want the picture to be.”
“I will continue with what I have learned from Alan.”
– Han Hoe Juan, Singapore
“Everything I expected to learn from a good photography course I achieved them all, AND more! I can say I really have a great experience in School of Photography, everything is perfect!”
“Alan is a great teacher, his style of teaching is no waste of time and straight to the point. Both the Basic Photography course and Advanced Photography course outline are well designed, good balance of theory and practical.”
“What more can I say.. Thank you again Alan”
-Nacim Zahouani, France
“I took up photography as a hobby some 15 years ago, I learned my photographic skills through reading various books and magazines. When I finally retired from work two years ago, I took up a one-on-one Private Photography Course with Alan Lim on the finer points of photography. I would like to say that I learned much from Alan’s pointers especially in composition and how to tell a story with the picture I take.”
“Thank you Alan for your enlightenment and friendship.”
– David Hwang, Singapore
“I thoroughly enjoyed your photography course – as you shared a huge amount of personal insights, knowledge and experiences, which made it that much more memorable. You certainly have a passion for the art, and your tips and information have made a huge difference to the way l approach a photographic opportunity. Thank you very much”
– David Christodulou, Australia
“I joined the Essential Foundation Course conducted personally by Alan Lim in September of 2014. The course far exceeded my expectations. Alan often went beyond his “designated” lesson hours to share his knowledge and skills. His passion for the subject is always apparent in his sharing. The lessons also covers a good mix of essential topics such as composition and technical handling of the camera. Drinking sessions after outdoor shoots made the entire experience with SOP even more enjoyable!”
“I would definitely recommend SOP Photography Courses to anyone who has an interest in taking up photography!”
– Lim Bing Yao, Singapore
“I highly recommend School of Photography Singapore (SOP) whether you are new to photography, amateur, or aspiring to be a professional photographer. I’ve enrolled in SOP’s several courses over the years from basic photography to specialist photography courses to expand my understanding and improve my skills in photography, and I would say it greatly helped me to become a better photographer. I find Alan Lim, the owner who was my instructor for most if not all of the basic photography and advanced photography courses I attended as very knowledgeable and very easy to understand. He was clear and concise in explaining the concepts & how to apply them during the hands-on sessions. He was also very patient in answering questions.”
“Overall I’ve learned not only how to best utilize my camera & equipments but also had great insights on how to take amazing and meaningful photographs.”
– Jose Mari Policarpio, Philippines
“The beginner photography course at SOP has given me a great insight into photography.”
“If there is one tip I had to remember from Alan, that would be -Less is more! Looking forward to my next course.”
– Felicia Chua, Singapore
“I highly recommend anyone with slightest interest in photography to go to SOP for one of its lessons. I took the basic photography course and thanks to it and also to Alan, who knows how to pass on his passion for photography, I discovered a new way of travelling and also a new way of not only looking, but seeing what is around me.”
– Norma De La Fuente, Spain
“We have taken the Basic Photography classes in SOP early 2014 and we really enjoyed it. The classes are small and well sized, Alan Lim our photography instructor displayed such an enthusiasm in photography it made you couldn’t wait to come back for the next lesson and learn more.”
“We had some basic knowledge of photography before taking the course, but there was still so much to learn. Before taking the course we were able to take photos of great seceneries under good lighting conditions, but after the course we are able to take great photos of normal situations under less than optimal light conditions.”
– Guido Bornemann & Mary Lopez, Holland
“I fully enjoyed my photography class with SOP, where the class was well structured and the experience was both fun and practical. Alan is an excellent teacher, communicator and he made photography relevant to each of our learning objectives.”
– Joelyn Ong, Singapore
“I started in beginner photography course since middle of 2013, and before the lessons, I was not able to handle DSLR camera. Let alone ISO, shutter speed, F-stop, and metering, I completely had zero knowledge of Photography skills, I could only put my imagination by sketching, until Alan opened the new window for me.
“I always remember what Alan said, “Photographers tell stories with photos, they paint and draw with lights”…. “Those who can cook well is not because they have a good cooking pot. Once you know the function, no matter what camera you buy, you could play it well.”
“Unlike some photographers being inscrutable or speak an incomprehensible domain language, Alan has easily taught me all those useful skills successfully.
“This school is a truly magical place and I can not give a higher recommendation. I will cherish the lessons and experiences for the rest of my life.”
– Shevonne Zheng, Malaysia
“Being an enthusiast and hobby turned full-time photographer, I’ve always been upgrading my skills for better knowledge. I enrolled in SOP because the teaching ratio, hands-on practice, close guidance and knowledge of the instructor, these are the key factors in putting bucks. This is the only course that gave me all the key factors! I was practically rubbing shoulder with my mentor throughout the whole course. Alan Lim wasn’t just teaching, he was sharing his experiences and tips which no other instructors would want to reveal.”
“It was a very well arranged course and would like to thank Alan for his eager to share his knowledge and experiences.”
– Brandon Chua, Singapore
“Since I was a small child I’ve always been around photography since my father is great photographer. Back in the days he had a dark room and developed pictures in the traditional way. I’ve always been intrigued and inspired by his work and the the fact how he sees things differently.”
“Many years later in Singapore I got to know Alan and was very impressed by his work and portfolio. He made me realise that I have to up my skills and explore photography at the next level. In a very informal but yet professional way he managed to engage with the small group and whizz through a lot of theoretical and practical material. Both in the classroom and out in the field he provided a lot of professional insight and assisted us individually when needed. I still use his very useful tips and tricks he thought me.”
“I would strongly recommend him as a photographer teacher, and his photography courses will definitely elevate your knowledge and skills with regards to photography.”
– Marcel Padmos, Holland
“I attended the basic photography class(Essential Foundation Photography), this course provides avid photographers with the relevance knowledge in the fundamentals of photography, the basic foundations to explore further into the world of photography, and lastly to paint wonderful pictures with light. In order to dedicate time to all students, the class is conducted with the appropriate size giving each students ample time and space for interaction and queries.”
“With the photography skills equipped, Alan has given me the courage to take the first step into the photography industry. Thank you Alan.”
– Jay Teo, Singapore
“I’ve learned Creative Flash Photography from Mr. Alan Lim. In so many ways, he made me love the craft even more. Besides the technical stuff, he also taught me the value of capturing the vibe, never letting light corrupt what’s real. He inspired me to explore in photography and see beauty within an ordinary subject. Under his mentorship, I got a better grasp of my personal style and developed my passion in photography further.”
“The whole time I was so amazed at how his clever analogies and fun personality broke the language barrier between us. I can’t wait to finish my Photography degree and continue my training at the SOP.”
– Eunice Sanchez, Indonesia
“Even as a professional photographer, I believe I can never stop learning and Alan was able to push me to another level with my skills. He is a great confidence builder and communicator and I would recommend him to beginners and advanced photographers alike. I often quote him as an example and he really challenged me to try out some new techniques. He and Agnieszka make a fantastic team, really complementing each other. Alan’s background and experience in Singapore and overseas were invaluable to me as a relative newcomer on the Singapore photography scene.”
– Lis Ho, United Kingdom
“Alan is a great teacher who makes the concepts clear and easily understandable. Also the format of practical photography juxtaposed with classroom sessions helps one get a good handle of the concepts. Alan’s passion for his craft shines through as he helps novices like me to put one’s camera to better use! I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking for solid foundation in photography!”
– Madhumita Goswami, India
“I had 5 private sessions with Alan during which I have consolidated my skills and technics for taking photos. Alan is very professional but extremely down to earth and fun to be with at the same time. He shared his expertise of and passion for photography without any reservation. I thoroughly enjoyed my time learning from Alan and am certainly inspired on the path of becoming a better photographer.”
– Ian Deng, China
“Really great lecture. I signed up for Private One-on-One Basic Photography course, not only my camera knowledge and photography skill have improved drastically,
but I also got a lot of inspiration and creative insight from Alan.”
– Fuji Tomohiro, Japan
