Author | Carmelle Wilkinson
As a young boy growing up in Kuala Lumpur, Kid Chan would often beg his mother to take him to the local bookstore.
There, among towering shelves, he would find a quiet corner on the floor and flick through glossy international magazines. Iconic imagery of influential figures – Mother Teresa caring for the sick in India and Princess Diana embracing dying children in Africa – stirred something deep within him.
Kid became fascinated with the power of photography to shape public opinion, evoke emotion and connect humanity across borders.
In a single photograph, he realised, moments could be preserved forever – snapshots of our shared human experience.
What he didn’t know then was that decades later, he would discover another medium capable of doing something remarkably similar – not through a camera lens, but across a pickleball court.
Kid shares his experiences in photography in his new book Kid Chan’s Guide to Business of Photography.
Several years after those bookstore visits, Kid picked up a camera and went on to become one of Malaysia’s most sought-after celebrity photographers.
Named by Tatler Magazine as one of the Top 100 People You Must Know in Asia, Kid has photographed royalty, politicians, business leaders, movie stars and sporting icons through his world-class Kuala Lumpur studio, Kid Chan Studio.
“I never knew I was going to be a photographer. Sure, it was something I loved, but I decided to study business instead,” he said.
Despite an impressive list of accolades and high-profile clientele, Kid remains grounded- a devoted husband and father of three who speaks openly about the challenges that shaped him.
Born into a wealthy family, Kid enjoyed a privileged childhood surrounded by some of Malaysia’s most influential families. But at just 14 years old, everything changed when his father’s business collapsed, bringing financial hardship and the breakdown of his parents’ marriage.
“It was a very traumatic and dark time,” he said.
“At school, many of my friends already had clear futures ahead of them. Meanwhile, I felt like I had nothing.”
Kid with his classmates at a prestigious private primary school in KL.
Supported by the generosity of sponsors who helped him complete his schooling, Kid credits this period with building the resilience and determination that would later define his success.
With a renewed sense of purpose, he moved to Perth after high school to study a Bachelor of Commerce at Curtin University – an experience he describes as life-changing.
“My university days were some of the best days of my life. I made lifelong friends and created memories I still cherish today,” he said.
After graduating from with a Bachelor of Commerce, Kid returned to Kuala Lumpur and built a successful corporate career before taking a bold leap into photography.
Over nearly three decades, Kid has built an internationally recognised brand, authored bestselling books and stood shoulder to shoulder with global icons including Jackie Chan and Academy Award-winning actress Michelle Yeoh.
Kid strikes a pose with Crazy Rich Asians actress Michelle Yeoh.
But behind the accolades and achievements was something far less visible.
Pressure.
Expectation.
Imposter syndrome.
“When Malaysia Tatler named me one of the ‘100 People You Must Know in Asia’ at 26, I couldn’t believe it,” he said.
“I was on a list with billionaires and corporate giants. For a week I felt on top of the world – then the doubts crept in.”
Those doubts lingered quietly for years.
When Kid first started out he photographed several weddings, including a royal wedding.
Like many high achievers, Kid carried the invisible weight of performance and responsibility – work, family, leadership – with no real outlet.
Then, two years ago, something unexpected entered his life – Pickleball.
“At first it was just me, a paddle and a plastic ball,” he said.
“I wasn’t playing to win. I was playing to release everything I had been carrying.”
What began as personal restoration quickly evolved into something far greater.
Soon his 73-year-old mother joined him on the court. Then his teenage son.
Siblings followed. Three generations playing side by side- laughing, competing and reconnecting in ways everyday life rarely allowed.
“That’s when I realised this isn’t just a sport,” Kid said.
“It’s a lifeline.”
Today, pickleball has become far more than a personal outlet for Kid.
It has become a platform.
Certified Pickleball Coach, Kid Chan with friends at the Leapmotor APP, Kuala Lumpur 2026.
Through coaching, community sessions and digital content, he has helped grow one of Malaysia’s fastest-rising sporting movements – using the game to bring together business leaders, young people, families and retirees in equal measure.
Under his leadership and advocacy, pickleball initiatives have:
- Contributed to National Youth Day programs, engaging young Malaysians in active, positive community sport.
- Raised six-figure funds for St John Ambulance Malaysia, proving the court can be a catalyst for philanthropy.
- Earned recognition from the Malaysia Parliament Backbenchers Club, acknowledging the sport’s growing national impact.
- Reached global audiences through digital content and a podcast that connects players and advocates from around the world.
Around the globe, pickleball may be one of the fastest-growing sports – but for Kid, its power lies beyond participation numbers.
“It brings together people who would otherwise never meet,” he said.
“CEOs, students, parents, retirees. On the court, everyone is equal.”
Despite his expanding role as a community builder and advocate, photography remains Kid’s first love.
Grounded by faith and gratitude, he continues to approach every client with the same belief: everyone deserves to feel seen.
“We live in a time where we are exposed to thousands of images a day,” he said.
“But powerful moments — whether in a photograph or on a court — still have the ability to move you and change you.”
From capturing royalty behind the lens to building grassroots movements on the court, Kid Chan’s journey is a reminder that purpose evolves.
Sometimes success is measured in accolades.
And sometimes it is measured in community impact, mental wellbeing and the quiet joy of three generations rallying together.
For Kid, the camera may have built his career — but pickleball is helping build something even bigger.
A movement.
A community.
A legacy beyond the lens.
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