CNA speaks to the owners of Ruby YE Photos and learns about their history, which began with a modest store along Orchard Road, while the craze for films and vintage cameras grows.
By: Siti Zulaiha & Mira Sorfina
Taken on a 8 by 10 inch Victorian camera. To get the perfect shot, Mdm Yoke and Eng had to stay very still till the picture was taken. (Image source: Ruby YE photos)
Aim. Snap. Roll. On a film camera, there are only three easy steps to taking a photograph.
WHAT MAKES A FILM CAMERA DIFFERENT?
Till you develop the film, you would never know if a mistake was made. It lets you live in the moment and be present. Unlike mobile phones or digital cameras, the freedom to check what your photos look like will not be there.
That's the part that makes it exciting.
Films were first invented in 1895 by the Lumiere Brothers in France. Being adopted in many countries including Singapore, films help preserve a part of our culture.
Today, there are only a few film processing stores in Singapore since society has started to become more technologically advanced. It is a niche society. Although recently, a rise in trend may be the saving grace to this dying trade.
Ruby Photo at their store in Cuppage Plaza. (Image Source: Ruby Photos)
THE HISTORY OF RUBY PHOTOS
Established in 1945, along Orchard Road, Ruby Photo has come a long way. Founded by Chan Heng Fook (preferred to be known as Uncle Ruby), a film enthusiast who wanted to share his passion with the rest of the world, the store has long established itself as a film processing store in Singapore.
Mdm Yoke(preferred to be known as Yoke) became an apprentice under Uncle Ruby when she was just 17-years-old in 1976. She joined when the store was still along Orchard Road as a sales girl and soon became interested in the film photography industry.
“Back in the day, film was a huge industry that pays well,” Mdm Yoke recalls.
In the 1980s, Ruby Photos shifted to Cuppage Plaza, as business started to get better. That was when Mdm Eng (Preferred to be known as Eng) joined Ruby Photos to start learning more about film and its processes.
Mdm Eng and Yoke who were still in their 20s both went for a black and white film course so that they are equipped with the skills needed to process films and help customers in their general enquiries. This was when both of them were working for Ruby Photos.
They shared that Uncle Ruby had encouraged them to do so, as film was becoming a rising trend back in the day and it was an important skill to equip both of them with.
“Back in the day, film was cheap, so everyone was doing it,” shared Mdm Eng.
In 1992, after complaints from customers that the shop was too small for their growing business, Ruby Photos shifted to an office at Golden World to better cater to their customers' needs. There it was when their business grew even bigger.
“Customers would come in and complain to our boss on why the shop was too small for them to even move around as we had film equipment everywhere,” Mdm Yoke recalled.
After moving to the office, Ruby Photos was able to hire 10 new employees and gain its credibility for being a recognised color lab.
With the new influx of employees, they were able to develop and process films for their customers at a much higher rate. They were able to bring in more film equipment, tools, chemicals to be recognised as the color lab that they are known for.
“Ruby Photos was popular then. Everyone knew and looked for us if they had questions about films or cameras,” Mdm Eng recalled.
After almost 10 years being in the office, Uncle Ruby then decided that they needed a store of their own so that customers could easily come and visit. In 2015, that is when they moved to a store at Peninsula Plaza.
A picture of Uncle Ruby (headshot of the man in red) is still being hanged as the duo believed he brought them good luck. (Image source: Siti Zulaiha)
Shortly after their move, Uncle Ruby, the owner of Ruby Photos passed away. When their family did not want to continue his legacy, Mdm Eng and Yoke felt the responsibility to preserve the film culture and his hard work over the years.
That was when they rebranded to Ruby YE photos.Y for the “Yoke” and E for the “Eng”.
When CNA asked why they decided to carry on with the business, their answer was easy, “Passion”.
“We had many of our previous customers coming back to us because they are familiar with Ruby Photos,” shared Mdm Yoke.
The transition process from Ruby Photos to Ruby YE Photos was easy as we had many customers who had been with us over the years, coming back to us.
“The older customers would bring in their children or younger friends and introduce them to film, and this was how film was able to pass down through generations,” shared Mdm Yoke and Eng.
Mdm Yoke then shared with us that her own granddaughter has started to take an interest in vintage films and cameras.
“It brings me joy that the younger generation has started to take an interest in films,” shared Aunty Yoke.
For customers who wish to develop their own films, Ruby YE provides chemicals and equipment for their convenience. (Image source: Siti Zulaiha)
Ruby Ye Photos has also started to sell chemicals and instruments needed for their customers to develop their own films as well. They realized that many of their customers have been wanting to “DIY” (do it yourself) their films.
Mdm Yoke and Eng, although highly recommends that customers do thorough research before purchasing their own chemicals as it can be a tricky process.
Universities such as National Technology University (NTU) and several polytechnics in Singapore have also started to purchase their chemicals for their own dark room in schools, as shared by Mdm Eng and Yoke.
“We had customers coming in wanting to buy chemicals to develop their own films, we would always ask them about their experience doing so to prevent wasted films,” says Mdm Eng.
FRIENDSHIPS THAT LAST A LIFETIME
The duo shared that they often keep up with their customers through social media when customers post their films.
“One of our regular customers loves flowers, so she would go to Gardens by the bay just to take pictures of flowers on her film camera and come to us to develop and replenish her films,” shared Mdm Eng.
Over the years, they have built a close relation with all their customers.
“Sometimes, we would message them to ask how they are doing if they have not been coming down to the stores,” shared Mdm Yoke.
Being one of the last few processing stores in Singapore, they share their hopes that the younger generation will be interested in learning about the history of the original films.
Whampoa Colour lab, Shalom Colour lab, KT color are some of the last few film processing stores in Singapore that are recommended by Mdm Yoke and Eng. Being in the same niche industry for generations, the owners of each store are well acquainted with each other.
For customers who are heading to the stores, you will be greeted by the film gallery right outside the store. (Image source: Siti Zulaiha)
The owners have noticed the recent rise in trend as they have had more customers eager to learn and start diving into film photography. They shared their excitement that youths nowadays are being exposed to a part of history.
The process of developing the film is also an experience on its own. With only a few film processing labs in Singapore, it caters to a niche community.
The dark room like you see in movies actually exists in real life. A place where films are being “washed” to produce the pictures that you see in person.
It holds on and reminds us of our history. It has evolved over the years. From black and white to now color, the technique and ways to produce the film has remained the same.
Mdm Yoke and Mdm Eng then shared their experience with the different types of vintage cameras they have used over the years.
“Cameras are not as big as they were in the past. Old people like us now suffer from back pain because we used to carry big and heavy cameras around,” Mdm Eng jokes.
Mdm Yoke and Eng shared that they have seen a rise in youths coming to their stores recently to develop and purchase films. These new customer profiles that they have been seeing in the stores have also purchased equipment and chemicals which allows them to develop their own films.
“The experience is different. You can take as many pictures as you want on a mobile phone but on a film camera, one shot is enough,” shared Mdm Eng.
Although, they do share their worries that the cost of films have been increasing over the years.
In the past, as mentioned by Mdm Yoke and Eng, a roll of film can cost on an average of three dollars but today, prices of films can go up to about seventeen dollars per roll.
They have also started to sell disposable cameras that have started to be in trend as it's easy to use and dispose of. They have continuously been adapting to new trends to keep up with our society while still keeping the essence of their business. The love of photography.
“Nowadays it's popular for youths to purchase disposable cameras for their weddings as well. Sometimes the photos taken by guests can even be nicer than the wedding photographers,” Mdm Yoke jokes.
Mdm Yoke and Eng who are now in their 60s shared the importance of preserving this historical hobby before it becomes a dying trade.
“Youths today should be taught the essence of film and carry on this preserved part of our history,” shared Mdm Yoke.
As with films, memories last a lifetime.
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