Media & Awards
Our mission is to live, love and inspire
Holdinghands Studio was founded in 2009, with the Asian cultural value of ‘Filial Piety’ at its heart. We promote the importance of respecting our parents while striving to live meaningful lives and uplifting others. We work to spread love and charity to those less fortunate, and to inspire others to do the same.
I’m Chin Hock, founder of Holdinghands Studio
In the beginning, I reached people by writing and sharing articles. But as the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. With my growing passion for taking family photos, I wondered - could I use photography to connect, inspire and uplift people?
My light bulb moment
By 2011, I was a new father, obsessed with capturing those precious family moments. I wanted to get better at taking photos, so I read countless photography books, attended seminars and watched YouTube tutorials. By the time our third child was born, my archive had grown to over 100,000 photos – and our home was filled with family photos!
In 2015, those spontaneous family photos became a book, ‘Father (父), Mother (母)’, aimed at promoting ‘Filial Piety’. I’d go on to publish six photobooks, five of them award-winners, with the themes of building strong families and uplifting communities. Foreword writers and reviewers for the photobooks include luminaries, academia and a New York best selling author.
Debut of Father (父), Mother (母) in Kinokuniya
One of my photobooks, ‘SIBLINGS – The Ups And Downs Of Having One’, was awarded ‘Book Best New Talent’ and ‘Gold’ in the book category (Non Pro) at the 2019 ‘Prix de la Photographie’. During an interview with the organiser, I shared my hopes of using photography to improve lives. I had big dreams but no idea how to make them happen.
Cover of award winning photobook 'SIBLINGS'
Seeing the power of photography
Over the years, my family-themed photos have been selected for feature in the Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition, one of the largest photography exhibitions in Singapore from 2015 - 2021 consecutively. I’ve held paid and pro bono photography workshops for hundreds of people, passed on my skills in photo essay creation by developing a top-rated Udemy course (Digital Storytelling - Creating A Compelling Photo Essay) and raised over $30,000 for a local non-profit organisation, thanking the donors with my photobooks.
In spite of these developments, I’d never considered putting a price tag on my work. I continued to pray for an indication from God. Then one of my family-themed photos priced at SGD $2,500 was selected for a private collection purchase. I finally understood how I could use photography for a greater cause :)
2 page feature of photobook 'Memories Of The Circuit Breaker'
on national paper, Zaobao
Photography has changed my life and I want to pay that forward
Today, Holdinghands Studio uses the power of photography to uplift under-resourced communities and drive positive societal change. Providing free access to photography workshops and equipment, we inspire people to discover their untapped creative talents. As their skills and confidence grow, they feel empowered to build a brighter future for themselves and others.
Through photography, I’ve connected with some amazing people; resilient, inspirational, talented people who share my vision. I’m eternally grateful to God and the angels who have guided me on my journey. The journey isn’t over until Holdinghands Studio has reached as many people as possible.
Sharing of photography tips with
foreign domestic workers via Zoom
Our social enterprise wouldn’t exist without the support of our collaborators: the gifted Asian photographers whose stunning artwork you can purchase here. We showcase aspiring photographers alongside award-winners, all of whom are proud to make an impact – not just with their artwork, but with their contributions to our cause. On this record, we like to take the opportunity to thank the following talented photographers who are early supporters of Holdinghands Studio.
1. Kho Ai Kuan (Architecture)
2. Lee Yik Keat (Street | Architecture | Top 10 Instagram Influencers in Singapore 2021)
10. Jumaiti (Nature)
11. Genelyn Mallare Joson (People)
12. Cecilia Lee (Nature)
Recent Media Coverage
SMRT同社企Holdinghands合作 在地铁站和车厢展示客工拍的照片
Singapore, Through the lens of migrant workers (SMRT)
See Singaporean through the lens of its migrant workers
Uplifting migrant workers' lives, one photo at a time
晨光第一线 | 开设免费工作坊 助客工圆摄影梦 (Feature on Channel 8, National TV Programme)
Note of appreciation from a migrant worker
Sharing at Singapore Kindness Movement event
Deputy Life Editor, Kim Hoh meet Chin Hock, an exclusive interview on the 'WHYs'
“They are silent heroes, providing for their families, just like us” quipped Chin Hock
An interview feature by Singapore Kindness Movement
Uplifting our food delivery riders with photobook 'Drenched To Fill You Up'
1st Singaporean interview feature by Prix de la Photographie, Paris (PX3)
Sharing as a caregiver and aspirations to use photography to greater cause
Fundraising with photobook 'Memories Of The Circuit Breaker (Singapore)'
Providing free photography workshops during COVID pandemic
Guest contributor for Families For Life
Contributor to CNA, Asia's leading English-language news platform
1st photobook 'Father (父), Mother (母)' to promote Filial Piety
Awards/Exhibitions
2021 – Photography work ‘Drenched In Sweat To Fill You Up’ awarded ‘Silver’ in the Book (Non Pro) Category Moscow International Foto Awards
2021 – Photography work ‘We wonder how the world will look when “Normalcy’ resumes after Covid-19’ selected for feature in the Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition
2021 – Photography work ‘Who is the story teller in your family?’ selected for feature in the Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition
2020 – First Singaporean interviewed in the Prix de la Photographie, Paris (PX3) photography award contest
2020 – Photography work ‘We wonder how the world will look when “Normalcy’ awarded ‘Silver’ in the ‘People’ Section of Singapore International Photography Awards
2020 – Photography work ‘Memories of the Circuit Breaker’ awarded ‘Silver’ and ‘Bronze’ in the Book (Non Pro) Category of International Photo Awards and Moscow International Foto Awards respectively
2019 – First Singaporean to win the ‘Book Best New Talent’ (Non Pro) in Prix de la Photographie, Paris (PX3) with the photobook ‘Siblings, The Ups and Downs of Having One’
2019 – Photography work ‘My Singapore, My Family, My Grandparents’ selected for feature in the Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition
2018 – Photography work ‘Teaching Ah Gong to use remote control’ and ‘Joy of Motherhood’ selected for feature in the Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition
2017 – Photography work ‘Roaring to a GREAT life’ and ‘Two ladies, two generation apart, enjoying each other’s company’ selected for feature in the Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition
2016 – Photography work ‘A peck on Ah Ma’s cheek’ selected for feature in the Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition
2015 – First photography work on family ‘Helping the elder sister to meet her daily fruit serving intake’ selected for feature in the Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition
