Rainbow Express Studio

Worst experience ever. The photographer is very rude. Doesn’t listen to your requirements.

This place is a rip off!!! Don’t go!!! I went there for 4 passport photos after reading another review indicating they charged 19.50 for four pictures. It turns out that I was charged $ 39.99 for 4 pictures. Although it was for Hong Kong passport which requires a slight size modification of the digital photo, I don’t see the reason for him to charge me doubled. The most ridiculous thing is that he refused to tell me the exact cost until he printed out your pictures!!! Typical Chinese黑店！
Also, just as indicated in the other one-​star review, that guy just rushed through the process and you’d only have one shot without a chance if reviewing it!!! I’d never trust anyone working in china town!!!

Had my passport picture taken here… good quality, friendly, inexpensive, and under 5 minutes out the door. What else do you need?!
I’m so happy I decided to come here instead of Walgreen’s. Go, go, go local businesses and thanks for your quality business.

Pompous and rushed service (you get one pose/​one shot); resulting picture does NOT meet US passport photo standards. There’s a better place down the street that starts with a K.

Went there just an hour ago for a passport photo. I actually meant to go to a different photographer that was just down the street but twice in a row I had gone and they were closed before it was supposed to be! So too bad for that place. I got irritated cuz you know, I got all glammed up for this damn thing. I wasn’t about to go home after having spent all this time putting on more makeup than usual and fixing my damn hair and having to walk over to the area nearly having my face melt off (because it’s been pretty warm the past few days, you know) twice in a row. No thank you. I really just wanted to get this over with but also not have mediocre photos which is why i didnt opt for a Walgreens or whatever. So I just had to Unilocal and see if there was another place near by. THANKFULLY there was. Rainbow Express was just a few blocks up but the hours weren’t listed so I had to go see for myself and walk up there with fingers crossed. They infact were open…5:30 on a Saturday evening! Woooo hoo! *victory dance*
Walked in there sweating from going up the hill, asked for a passport photo and the man just said ‘yes, of course!’ and walked me over to the photo area and told me where the mirror was so I could fix myself. Since I was sweating like a pig, I needed some tissue and he was nice enough to go find some for me and even asked if I needed a few minutes to relax, haha! But I was fine and went over to the chair and he directed me on how to pose and bam, it was done. No hassle bidazzle. Went back to the front room, he edited my photo even removing wrinkles under my eyes and any visible blemishes (I guess I really sweated off my makeup)!!! He seriously didn’t have to but that was cool! Then he printed them. All of that in under 10 minutes!!! Got 4 prints for about $ 19. You could also get 2 for $ 9. Not bad at all considering that he had a studio set up with that flash umbrella and all. My photo looked pretty professional and the lighting was awesome and even. I was very pleased with my photo and experience!
If you want an inexpensive, professional looking passport photo, come here! I’ve seen some really great wedding photos and portraits hung on the walls too. So if you’re also in need of a wedding photographer, this man is a go to! They do everything. And an A++++for the friendly service! Thaaaanks misterrr!!!

For whatever reason, i lost my passport. With out-​of-​country trips fast approaching, i needed to get my ass in gear and take a new photo for a new passport. I did a quick search for a place nearby, something besides Walgreens or CVS. I found Rainbow Express and decided it sounded perfect for me.
The owner is super friendly and funny. There was no wait at all. He pointed me to a mirror to fix myself up and had me sit down. I appreciated when he said he wanted to make me «look good and find my good side». While i waited to pay, his adorable well-​aged pug came up from his subathing spot to say hello — i fall for those chubby little bastards every time i see one. And before i knew it i was done and out. I went on my lunch break and the whole process from the time i walked in to the time i walked out took about 15 minutes. Fast, easy and cheap.

My daughter and I needed 45 by 35 mm passport photos, and trotted to this place for photos as we urgently needed them for our overseas documents.
The photographer is super nice and friendly. He takes the snaps quickly and pain-​free. I felt when he sat at the computer to process the photos, it took a few moments for him to make adjustments and print.
Now it all went downhill from there. I wanted to literally cry.
He printed our photos on a normal desktop printer, our photos made us looked like ghosts, they were so WHITE! In my opinion they were poor quality ink. We were charged $ 60+ for a total of 8 photos, 4 photos each person.
It was an arm and a leg charge, and horrible photos which I wanted to throw in the bin. They look nothing like the photos which were displayed in the store.
I wished someone had written this review before me because I wouldn’t go back there for all the tea in China!

Definitely the place to go for a passport photo! It’s a professional studio, and the lively owner/​photographer elicits your best pose before shooting (he takes two photos, then lets you view them on the computer screen and choose your favorite). All for ten bucks and change. Sure, maybe you could save a couple dollars at Walgreens, but remember this is a photo you’re going to be stuck looking at for ten years — it’s worth the modest investment! And they were open on a Saturday afternoon!
The only downside is that the awesome pug dog isn’t for sale. I tried.

Came here to have my passport photos taken. It was done within 10 minutes!
The good thing I like about this place is that the staff lets you inspect your pictures before it gets printed out. It also costs slightly less than Walgreens.

I was in the area and needed a place to get a photo for a work interview. The owner greeted me brightly right as I walked in, and after I told him the reason why I came in, he said, «Ah, we must make you look beautiful!» (I had just come in to SF that morning after an overnight bus from LA, so I guessed it showed :) He made me pose accordingly and took some shots until he found one that satisfied him and me, and then proceeded to work a little bit of photoshop magic. In only about 10 minutes I got my photos (2 passport sized photos for about $ 10), and was out the door to explore more of SF!
Quick, cheap, friendly service. I’m glad I went here instead of going to a CVS to get those photos. The owner actually cares that you look your best in the photo!

Stopped in here to get an old slide (yes, slide — from like the 70’s) get put on a CD. An hour later and for $ 15 it was done! He even cleaned up the coloring. Would be cheaper if there were multiple slides but I only wanted to make a copy of one in particular. Great service!

I stopped by on my way home from work around 6.
Since I need photos for a non-​US passport, he (the owner I am guessing) actually referred me to another shop that specializes in German passport photos so that I could have them done to the strict specification required.
Now that is service. Even though I did not actually use the photography service, I was very happy with my experience.
I’m not sure of their hours — they aren’t posted. (Or at least not that I saw)

I come here for passport photos. The owner is super super super nice! My parents come here all the time! For any photos besides passport photos. The owner is an actual photographer so you won’t just sit and get your photo taken, not exactly rather. He spends time telling you to tilt head and getting a good few photos. Once the photos are taken, he’ll show you them and you get to choose which shot you like the best. I don’t remember the pricing exactly but they weren’t expensive. Also, he has a pug! An adorable pug you can pet while talking to him :)

Great place to go for a quick passport photo. Trust me, it’s worth coming here rather than having your photo taken at Walgreens or Rite Aid. The owner is a nice guy, takes his time to pose you to your best advantage, and offers you a couple of shots to choose from.
And, the absolute best part is the shop dog, a grumpy old pug. He’s always snoozing in the sun when I pass by, and one of the reasons I came here for my new photos was so I could pet him. Yeah, I’m a sucker for dogs like that.
Just think — some good looking photos and some pug pets. Doesn’t get much better than that!

The ladies at Classic Travel directed me down the corner to Rainbow when I popped in there looking for passport pictures, ASAP.
Pricing as follows: 2 passport sized photos: $ 9. 4 copies: $ 14.
The process was quick and easy and it took only ten minutes to pose and wait for them to be printed. Unfortunately, I didn’t know I could’ve saved myself both a hike to Chinatown and about $ 7 by going to any Walgreens and having them done there. Oh well, live and learn.
Anyway, Rainbow Express served their purpose well and I was able to have my expired passport and pics shipped off the very next day.
Added bonus was getting to know what looked like a store fixture, the owner’s adorably grumpy pug, Stitch.

the best photographer in town! love wedding pictures, very romantic and modern! the digital work is amazing! Raymond has great suggestions and places to take your most memorable pictures. Great guy with a big heart! Go by the store and check out his work!

Raymond took beautiful and memorable pictures of my cousin’s wedding. He was very patient, very professional, and very knowledgeable. His color pictures were all amazing (over 1000!) but I especially love his techniques for the black and white ones. My cousin loved her outdoor pictures saying that they are his specialty! Most importantly, he successfully made everyone in our large family feel at ease and comfortable while capturing the essence and beauty of every moment.
After the wedding, my cousin showed us albums/​CDs/​movies to share with family and friends. Thank you for so many valuable memories!