Singapore’s first Virtual Selfie Studio
Neoprints were all the rage in the early 2000s – there was just something about huddling together to take pictures and doodling on them afterwards that made it so enjoyable.
Sadly, with the age of smartphone selfies and Instagram, Neoprint booths have been phased out. Enter Palfie Pix, Singapore’s first Virtual Selfie Studio that’s reminiscent of old-school photobooths, but with a modern twist.
Whether it’s snapping pictures of yourself under cherry blossom trees or living the life in a fairytale castle, this studio has got over 60,000 customisable backdrops for you to pick from. Here’s how our day at Palfie Pix went:
Our experience at Palfie Pix
The sign-up process was a breeze since we’d already made reservations online. All we had to do was mention our names at the counter before we were brought into the photo studio.
Pick out free costumes and props for your photos
All outfits can be rented free of charge!
There’s a good variety of themed costumes available, ranging from animal onesies to traditional costumes. Palfie Pix also has a good selection of outfits for kids, so families can look forward to donning matching outfits for a fun family photoshoot.
Korean drama lovers will be pleased to know that there are a number of hanboks to choose from.
Choose from the available props, or feel free to bring your own.
Girls (and guys), be prepared to be awed by the massive array of makeup products available for you to use – all for free. We’re talking loose powders, foundation, eyeshadow, blush and even contour from high-end brands like Tarte, Laura Mercier and Too Faced.
But if you want to go full glam, you can book a makeup artist and professional hairstylist for $80. Be sure to do so at least 2 days in advance online, and arrive 1 hour earlier on the day of your photoshoot.
Brushes, cotton swabs and Q-tips are also provided.
Choose from over 60,000 fun backgrounds
With over 60,000 scenes to pick from for our photos, we were spoilt for choice. Thankfully, the backdrops were well categorized so we were able to sift through them and choose our favourites easily.
If you’re going with a partner, take a look at the Romantic and Landscapes folder where you’ll find flower fields and scenic backdrops. If you’re with family or friends, check out the Adventure or Movie for backdrops from iconic films like Jurassic World.
Pro-tip: It’s best to steer clear of blue or green clothes – unless you want to appear as a floating head in your end photo!
Snap your photos with a remote control
There’s a screen with live camera footage, so you can be sure that you’ve got your most flattering angle.
The staff briefed us on how to take our own pictures and switch between backgrounds – all it takes is a few clicks of the remote control. While there isn’t a self-timer feature, there’s a 2 second lag time for you to confirm your poses – and hide that remote! – before the picture is taken.
Most of us might feel shy or awkward in front of a photographer, so we loved that we could take the photos ourselves. At the same time, we were able to get the full photo studio experience complete with professional cameras and flash photography. No need to worry about the camera picking up our blemishes either – the photos had a nice ‘smooth’ effect without making us look overly air-brushed.
We had a blast experimenting with the 2 green boxes in the studio on which we could move sit, lie, or even hide behind to achieve the desired effect in our pictures.
There’s an entire series of backgrounds for trippy shots with cool effects for you to try, like cloning yourself, floating in mid-air, or sitting upside down in an inverted room.
Fair warning though, the floating pictures do require quite a bit of ab work!
Couples looking to take photos together won’t have to travel far to snap some romantic pictures. With a wide selection of scenic backgrounds to choose from, you can even consider having your pre-wedding photoshoot at Palfie Pix. We grabbed a fruit basket at the props section, and with a press of a button, found ourselves having a picnic under a cherry blossom tree.
They also have backdrops inspired by popular games like Super Mario and movies like Captain America and The Lion King.
Once your session is up, view the pictures you’ve taken on the touchscreen panel outside. You can then download them instantly on your phone via your Palfie account, which can be signed up for on the spot.
You can opt to have your photos printed, with prices starting from $0.60 per piece (2R). The biggest size available is 12R which costs $18.
Making new memories at Palfie Pix
Palfie Pix is located conveniently in town, which makes it easy to meet up with friends for a fun activity together. And whether you’re dropping by to celebrate a birthday, take graduation shots, family photos or wedding photography, Palfie Pix has you covered.
You can also purchase DIY scrapbooks (from $29.90) that make for a fun post-photoshoot activity. You can spend a good hour decorating your scrapbooks and pasting your pictures with the attached kit of scissors and materials.
We loved the versatility offered by the studio as we were able to take a whole bunch of different pictures ranging from romantic shots to trippy effects without having to choose just 1 theme. The price of $48/person for a 1-hour session (maximum of 6 people) is also pretty affordable, considering the extra services like free costumes and make-up that come along with it.
You can make a booking online via their website or SISTIC. Walk-ins are accepted, but this depends on the studios’ availability as there are limited sessions per day:
- Blue-screen studio: 10 sessions
- Green-screen studios: 20 sessions
From 8th-31st March, present this article during your first visit to Palfie Pix to get a second session* free-of-charge!
*The second session will need to be used by 30th April 2019
Make a reservation at Palfie Pix here
Address: 181 Orchard Road #04-07 Orchard Central, Singapore 238896
Opening hours: Daily: 11AM-9PM
Telephone: 6954 3724
This post was brought to you by Palfie Pix.