When your brother visits Singapore with his family, you have two options.
Option one: act normal. Option two: take advantage of the skyline and pretend this was not always the plan.
Obviously, we chose the second one.
Casey knows the drill by now. He’s been in front of my camera enough times to understand that “just be normal” is both the full brief and, somehow, still too much to ask. Sharon was game, Avery had that slightly cooler older-kid energy from the jump, and Mirei brought exactly what every family session needs — full-hearted chaos.
Perfect.
Marina Bay, Showing Off Again
Marina Bay is one of those places that really has no interest in being subtle. Skyline, water, weirdly flattering light, enough clean lines and open space to make everybody look like they planned this better than they actually did.
For a family visiting Singapore, it’s hard to beat. You get the obvious landmarks, the good light, and enough room for kids to move without the whole thing turning into crowd control.
We didn’t overthink it. Started by the waterfront, wandered through the promenade, followed the light, followed the mood, and let the session figure itself out from there.
That usually works better anyway.
Casey and the Kids
Casey is easy to photograph, which is annoying for everyone else but helpful for me.
What I liked here was how different he felt with each kid. Avery had that older-kid energy — a bit more self-contained, a bit more quietly observant, already carrying himself like he has options. Mirei was the opposite in the best way. Bigger reactions, bigger smile, no interest in holding anything back.
Put Casey in the middle and the whole thing settles into place. No complicated direction needed. Just a dad fully enjoying his kids, and two kids who are very clearly obsessed with him even if they’d never phrase it like that.
That’s the stuff you can’t fake, which is handy because I wasn’t interested in faking anything anyway.
The Two of Them
Avery and Mirei have that useful sibling combination where one brings the calm and the other brings the spark.
Avery has the quieter confidence. Mirei is all movement and feeling. Side by side, they make each other look even more like themselves, which is usually the best thing siblings can do for a photo.
No big performance. No over-directing. Just the two of them being exactly who they are.
Ideal.
Grass, Trees, and Everyone Finally Relaxing
At some point we found a big tree, dropped onto the grass, and the whole session exhaled a bit.
That’s usually the part I trust most. Once people stop trying to “do well” at the photos and start sitting the way they’d actually sit, leaning the way they’d actually lean, and letting the kids pile in however they feel like, the whole thing gets better.
Sharon has a really calm presence in photos. No fuss, no performance, no extra effort to look a certain way. She just lands in the frame properly, which tends to settle everyone else down too.
There’s always one person in a family who keeps the whole thing from floating off into madness. It’s usually mum.
The Solo Minutes
I always like stealing a few minutes for individual frames, mostly because the years move fast and kids change on you without the decency to ask first.
Mirei had that full-face grin that basically does half the job for me. Avery brought the quieter kind of presence that doesn’t need much dressing up. Both completely different, both very themselves.
That’s all I want, really.
Not “perfect.” Just recognisable.
Back to Regular Family Chaos
Then we got to the climbing structure, which is where the session properly turned back into family life.
Avery upside down. Mirei climbing everything in reach. Casey nearby, fully involved but also carrying the energy of a man who knows this is not even close to the wildest thing his kids have done all week.
That frame felt about right.
Same with the jump shot later. Every family has a different relationship with the jump shot. Some treat it like a military operation. Mine, apparently, does it first try and then acts like that was inevitable.
Slightly annoying, honestly.
The Real Reason It Matters
The skyline was great. The light was great. Marina Bay did what Marina Bay always does and looked expensive.
But that wasn’t really the point.
The point was Mirei wrapping herself around her dad. The point was Avery doing the older-sibling thing where he looked half above it and fully in it at the same time. The point was Sharon holding the middle of the whole thing without making a show of it. The point was that none of this needed much dressing up. It was just family.
My family.
Which is probably why I like these photos as much as I do.
Thanks for visiting, Case. Same nonsense next year.
Visiting Singapore?
If you’re bringing your family to Singapore and want something better than 400 phone photos plus one chaotic group selfie, I’d love to shoot with you.
Marina Bay is still one of the best places to do it. Get in touch, and we’ll make a proper evening of it.
And if you want to see more family work, the Tribe gallery is waiting.