Behind the Scenes with BoConcept Singapore

Introduction

When you look at a beautifully photographed interior, it's easy to admire the furniture, decorations and overall atmosphere without thinking too much about how everything came together. What you see in the photographs may be quite different from how the property looked before the photoshoot.

One of my favourite experiences in interior photography was working with BoConcept Singapore. I had the opportunity to collaborate with Chloe Chee, who coordinated the projects, and Cheryl Koh, an interior designer and visual merchandiser. They were responsible for preparing and styling the interiors, while I handled the photography.

Unlike many of my usual residential assignments, these projects involved a considerable amount of preparation. The team would bring decorations to the properties, rearrange the existing furnishings and carefully style the spaces before I photographed them. I enjoyed the experience because I could concentrate on producing good photographs while working alongside people who were equally passionate about their own work.

Working with BoConcept Singapore

I've always enjoyed working with people who take pride in what they do, and Chloe and Cheryl were wonderful to work with. We had different responsibilities, but our work complemented one another. They understood how to arrange furniture and decorations to make a space look attractive, while I considered how those arrangements would appear through the camera.

It was refreshing to have a dedicated styling team involved. During many residential photoshoots, I have to work with whatever is already in the property, sometimes making small adjustments myself to improve the compositions. With BoConcept, the ladies could bring in suitable decorations and make more extensive changes before I started photographing.

I appreciated the opportunity because it allowed me to work on projects with a level of styling that I wouldn't normally encounter. It also gave me a chance to observe how experienced professionals approached the presentation of an interior.

The Work Before and After Photography

For every assignment, Chloe and Cheryl would bring along large bags of decorative items, including vases, books, utensils and other accessories. There were so many things to transport that BoConcept arranged a van and deliveryman to help move everything to the properties.

I would usually meet up with the team so that we could head to the location together. I wanted to be ready whenever they finished styling a space, rather than making them or their clients wait for me to arrive. Sometimes, I even reached the property much earlier than necessary, but I preferred that to holding up the schedule when everyone was ready to begin.

Once we arrived, Chloe and Cheryl would assess the interior and start making changes. They might rearrange the furniture, temporarily replace some of the homeowners' belongings or introduce decorations they had brought along. A room could already look perfectly attractive, but changing the arrangement of a few items could make it look more balanced and appealing in photographs.

I found the process fascinating because it showed how much thought went into details that people might otherwise overlook. Something as simple as the placement of a vase, a book or another decorative item could affect the overall appearance of a composition. The ladies would work through these details while I prepared to photograph the completed arrangements.

The work didn't end when I finished taking photographs. All the decorations had to be packed away, and the homeowners' belongings had to be returned to their original positions. I would stay behind after every shoot to see whether there was anything I could help with, rather than simply packing up my camera equipment and leaving the team to finish everything themselves.

With the time needed for transportation, styling, photography and restoration, these assignments could easily last many hours. Although the preparation was demanding, I enjoyed being part of the process and appreciated how much effort Chloe and Cheryl put into every project.

Photographing the Interiors and Homeowners

Once an area was ready, I would begin photographing it, looking for compositions that showed the furniture, decorations and overall layout at their best. Because the styling had already been carefully considered, I could spend more time concentrating on the lighting, camera angles and smaller details within each photograph.

The assignments also included portraits of the homeowners. This made the work particularly interesting to me because I enjoy both interior and portrait photography, even though the two require different approaches.

For the interiors, I concentrated on the arrangement of the space and how the different elements worked together. For the portraits, I had to consider the people themselves, their expressions, poses and how they fitted into the surroundings. Sometimes, the interior could also become an important part of the portrait, helping to tell a little more about the homeowner and the place they lived in.

I enjoyed having the opportunity to apply both sets of skills during the same assignment. It made the projects more varied and allowed me to create photographs that documented not just the interiors, but also the people associated with them.

Some Memorable Projects

Photographing Tommy and Evelyn at Their Home

One of the projects involved photographing Tommy and Evelyn at their home in Tiong Bahru. I remember arriving early and meeting the couple before the BoConcept team was ready to begin. They were friendly and welcoming, and I enjoyed chatting with Tommy while Chloe and Cheryl worked on the interior styling.

Their home was interesting because the spacious living area had been created by combining rooms. This provided plenty of opportunities for interior photography, as well as a comfortable setting for the couple's portraits.

What made the assignment memorable wasn't just the property or the styling, but also the people I met. I enjoyed the conversations and the relaxed atmosphere, which made the long working day more pleasant.

You can view the photographs in my portfolio album, Indoor Lifestyle Couple Photoshoot with Tommy & Evelyn.

An Impromptu Portrait of Cheryl

Another memorable experience involved photographing Cheryl herself. During one of the projects, an impromptu request came up for an environmental portrait that would show her within an interior related to her design work.

Unlike a conventional portrait where the person is the main focus, an environmental portrait uses the surroundings to tell viewers something about the subject. In Cheryl's case, the interior was an important part of the photograph because it helped communicate her profession as an interior designer.

Fortunately, I had brought suitable lighting equipment with me, so I was able to work on the portrait. I enjoyed the opportunity to combine my experience in portrait and interior photography, particularly because the composition needed to give sufficient attention to both Cheryl and the surrounding space.

I've shared the photographs in Environmental Interior Designer Photoshoot with Cheryl.

Why I Enjoyed the Collaboration

What I enjoyed most about these assignments was working with a team that genuinely cared about the results. Chloe and Cheryl were dedicated to preparing the interiors properly, and I wanted to do justice to their efforts through my photography.

Although our responsibilities were different, I never felt that my involvement should begin and end with pressing the shutter button. I was happy to arrive early, wait while the styling was being completed and stay behind afterwards if there was anything I could help with. We were working towards the same goal, and I felt it was only natural to be considerate of the people working alongside me.

The experience also helped me appreciate how much professional styling could contribute to interior photography. A photographer can use lighting, composition and camera techniques to present a space attractively, but the arrangement of the furniture and decorations matters just as much. Having experienced people handle that part of the work gave me opportunities to produce photographs that would have been difficult to achieve on my own.

Unfortunately, Chloe eventually left BoConcept, and I no longer had the same opportunities to work with the team. I missed those projects because I had genuinely enjoyed the collaboration, the people I met and the photographs we produced together.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, my collaborations with BoConcept Singapore remain among my favourite interior photography experiences. I was fortunate to work with people who took their responsibilities seriously, enjoyed what they were doing and were willing to put considerable effort into preparing each property.

The final photographs were only one part of the experience. Behind them were hours of transporting decorations, arranging furniture, preparing the rooms, photographing the interiors and restoring everything afterwards. It was demanding work, but I enjoyed the teamwork and was grateful for the opportunity to contribute my photography skills.

For homeowners, interior designers and businesses planning a photoshoot, I hope this story offers a better understanding of the preparation that can go into professional interior photography. Even an attractive, well-furnished property may benefit from thoughtful styling before the camera comes out. I've shared more practical advice in How to Prepare Your Home for Interior Photography.

Some of my favourite photography experiences weren't just about the photographs I produced, but also the wonderful people I had the opportunity to work with.