Kedai Foto Pak Tai in Petaling Street
KL’s Petaling Street has always been abuzz with activity. These days, it feels louder than ever, as tourists flood the streets and shiny new businesses take over the century-old shoplots.
Still, a handful of resident businesses that have been in the area long before it was transformed into a tourist hotspot have managed to survive in their own ways. One of these is Kedai Foto Pak Tai, or Pak Tai Photo studio, KL’s oldest traditional photo studio that continues to exist quietly in Petaling Street.
We spoke to the owner and the man behind the lens to uncover the role he played in shaping the visual memories of generations of Malaysians.
The oldest photo studio in Petaling Street
Step off the busy path of Petaling Street, and you’ll find Kedai Foto Pak Tai. The establishment has been around since the 1960s, once occupying a lot on the ground floor that’s sandwiched by fellow traders. Today, the photo studio operates above its original location, past carpeted steps lined with rows of photos – a reminder that in this place, it is all about photography.
Image credit: Rakan KL via Facebook
At the helm of the whole show is 81-year-old Mr Low Kok Kee. Born and raised in KL, Mr Kee carries the warmth of an everyday uncle. Yet, behind the familiar exterior lies a skill that few in this digital age can claim to have.
Without asking, it’s easy to guess who his loyal regulars are: police officers. Most of the shop’s time-worn walls are covered with their headshots, like a portfolio of sorts. Mr Kee shared with TheSmartLocal Malaysia why this is the case – “It is about quality, trust, and that one perfect shot that every officer needs for their identification”.
Since its early days, the studio has seen generations of customers, mostly police officers. After all, it’s located just a stone’s throw from the Kuala Lumpur Traffic Police Station on Jalan Tun HS Lee.
Young recruits came for their first portraits, and later returned as senior officers to update them. “Some came when they had satu paku, now already tiga paku”, he recalled with a laugh. “They’ll send me their pictures on WhatsApp and I’ll edit them”.
Take a closer look at his space, and you’ll find a MacBook Air on the desk, laggy but loyal. “It is old, but I have been doing my work with this laptop [for a long time]. I don’t want to change it”, he said with a smile.
Watching him edit photos, you realise that his slow but steady rhythm is unique to him, a sign of someone who has mastered his craft. Far from the misconception that photo editing is a modern concept, he holds onto the age-old craft of lightly doctoring images to bring out the best of its subjects.
Aside from police officers, Mr Kee also serves tourists who need visa photos. “Since many stay around this area, it is easy for them to drop by”, he added.
A photo studio suspended in time
Business is no longer what it was during its golden days in the 1990s, but according to Mr Kee, it is just enough to keep his show running. Today, Mr Kee keeps the photo studio running through his weekday routine of taking the train from his home in Cheras to Petaling Street.
Given how easy it is to create a picture these days, with cameras on our phones and photo booths, the experience at Kedai Foto Pak Tai is what sets the shop apart. Here, having your picture taken is not a rushed click, but a journey in the hands of an experienced photographer who’ll capture your likeness in an authentic and flattering light.
When asked what he might have done if he hadn’t embarked on this career path, Mr Kee answered simply, “Probably just a common man’s work. I learned this, and it pays for what I need. So I will do this for as long as I can”.
There is a softness in the way Mr Kee moves through his space. The studio is quieter now, but he continues his work with care. Each portrait he takes still carries the weight of his craft – the lighting, the backdrop, the way he positions a chair. In this room, photography remains an art of intention.
With neither his son nor daughter keen on continuing the business, the future of Kedai Foto Pak Tai feels uncertain. And yet, hope still lingers within its walls.
More than just photographs at Kedai Foto Pak Tai
Stepping into Kedai Foto Pak Tai carries no illusions that the studio will last forever. But with the doors to it still open, Mr Kee offers more than just photographs.
Each time he takes a picture, he works as though he knows the single second will not last, and that is the very beauty of his legacy. A reminder that photography, at its heart, is not just about images, but about holding on to time itself.
Address: No.29, 1st Floor, Jalan Sultan, 50000, Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm (Closed on Saturdays & Sundays)
Contact: 03-2078 5491
For more unique spots in KL, read:
Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal Malaysia
Some quotes have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Photography by Sarah Aminllah.