For a Whopping $25, This Unassuming Chinatown Shop is the Go-To Destination for Passport Photos - and the Internet Can't Get Enough.
In an era dominated by digital everything, Bolton Brown opted for something old-school when he needed a new passport photo. He headed to Eliz Digital, a small film shop in Chinatown that's been around for 35 years. The result? A portrait so good, it went viral on social media, racking up over 1.1 million views.
Brown wasn't surprised by the attention. "It looks really good every time," he said of his photo. But what makes Eliz Digital - and its proprietor, Chunika Kesh - so special? According to customers, it's all about the care and expertise that Kesh brings to her work. "She just seems to enjoy trying to take a nice shot of you," says one regular customer.
Kesh's setup is decidedly low-key, but she knows exactly what she's doing. She uses an older DSLR camera, along with a few carefully placed Styrofoam boards and a diffuser, to create soft, flattering light. And when it comes to direction, she offers gentle cues - "Tilt your head," "Roll your shoulders back" - that seem to put even the most nervous subjects at ease.
But what really sets Kesh apart is her ability to capture the essence of her subjects. "She's really perfected the craft, and you can tell she is very deliberate and knows what she's doing but makes it look effortless," says one recent customer. And it's not just Brown who thinks so - Kesh has been taking passport photos for years, without ever calling herself a professional photographer.
So why does her work stand out? Maybe it's the simplicity of her approach, which seems to be resonating with people in an increasingly digital age. "I think people like to go to organic stuff," Kesh says. "They don’t want to change too much. They don’t want [me] to make them look too pretty or whatever, just as it is, more real - and maybe a better angle of themselves."
Whatever the secret, Eliz Digital has become something of a sensation online. And for Brown and countless others who've discovered Kesh's work, there's no going back to digital photos anytime soon. "The one I just had from her probably isn't even my favorite picture of myself," says one recent customer. "But I think it captures like this era of my life that I'm in really well because it is just a white background and then me. It's just very clever."
In an era dominated by digital everything, Bolton Brown opted for something old-school when he needed a new passport photo. He headed to Eliz Digital, a small film shop in Chinatown that's been around for 35 years. The result? A portrait so good, it went viral on social media, racking up over 1.1 million views.
Brown wasn't surprised by the attention. "It looks really good every time," he said of his photo. But what makes Eliz Digital - and its proprietor, Chunika Kesh - so special? According to customers, it's all about the care and expertise that Kesh brings to her work. "She just seems to enjoy trying to take a nice shot of you," says one regular customer.
Kesh's setup is decidedly low-key, but she knows exactly what she's doing. She uses an older DSLR camera, along with a few carefully placed Styrofoam boards and a diffuser, to create soft, flattering light. And when it comes to direction, she offers gentle cues - "Tilt your head," "Roll your shoulders back" - that seem to put even the most nervous subjects at ease.
But what really sets Kesh apart is her ability to capture the essence of her subjects. "She's really perfected the craft, and you can tell she is very deliberate and knows what she's doing but makes it look effortless," says one recent customer. And it's not just Brown who thinks so - Kesh has been taking passport photos for years, without ever calling herself a professional photographer.
So why does her work stand out? Maybe it's the simplicity of her approach, which seems to be resonating with people in an increasingly digital age. "I think people like to go to organic stuff," Kesh says. "They don’t want to change too much. They don’t want [me] to make them look too pretty or whatever, just as it is, more real - and maybe a better angle of themselves."
Whatever the secret, Eliz Digital has become something of a sensation online. And for Brown and countless others who've discovered Kesh's work, there's no going back to digital photos anytime soon. "The one I just had from her probably isn't even my favorite picture of myself," says one recent customer. "But I think it captures like this era of my life that I'm in really well because it is just a white background and then me. It's just very clever."
. In an age where we're all about instant gratification and digital convenience, Kesh's old-school approach to taking passport photos is like a breath of fresh air 
. The fact that she still uses a DSLR camera and carefully places Styrofoam boards and diffusers to create soft light is just genius 
. And it's not just the technical skills that set her apart, but also the care and attention she gives each customer - it's like they're an old friend coming in for a photo shoot 
.
. We're all about curated social media feeds and airbrushed perfection, but Kesh's work is refreshingly unpolished and genuine 
. And that's what makes it so appealing - it feels like she's capturing a real moment in time, rather than trying to manipulate us into looking a certain way.
. We're all about tapping away on our screens and swiping through our feeds, but Kesh's shop offers a chance to slow down and connect with someone in person 
. And the fact that her passport photos have become some kind of sensation online is just proof that people are craving something more authentic and meaningful in this digital age 
.
. Kesh's shop may be small, but it's making a big impact on people's lives, one passport photo at a time 
i need to try eliz digital for passport pics ASAP!!! 
they're offering 25 bucks which is super reasonable considering the quality of photos they must be taking 
plus kesh seems like a total pro 
, not at all surprised that her pics went viral 
i mean who needs filters when you can get a real photo that's actually flattering and doesn't look like you just rolled out of bed 
anyway lol guess eliz digital is like the analog alternative to all those digital photographers out there 
No thanks! 
Give me someone like Kesh who knows how to make you look and feel great without trying too hard. 
And btw, $25 is totally worth it for that perfect passport pic 
they're literally using an old-school dslr camera and styrofoam boards to create those gorgeous passport photos 
and chunika kesh is a total genius 
i need to go to eliz digital ASAP 
I need to try Eliz Digital ASAP!!! 
. And that vibe, man... she makes you feel so comfortable and at ease 
. The fact that people are going crazy for her passport photos says a lot about our generation's desire for something genuine in this digital age 
. Plus, who needs filters when you've got the natural light and expertise of Kesh working for you? 
. I'm definitely going to check out Eliz Digital next time I need a new passport photo - thanks for sharing this awesome story! 
The resurgence of physical passport photos from Eliz Digital is quite fascinating, don't you think? 
Chunika Kesh seems to have mastered the art of capturing authentic portraits, and her no-frills setup actually adds to the charm. It's refreshing to see someone who values simplicity and lets their subjects shine through. I think people are craving something more genuine in a world where selfies and filters dominate 
. Eliz Digital is a breath of fresh air!
. People like getting real, natural photos, right? It's all about capturing that "authentic" vibe. And now everyone's on social media obsessing over her pics 
. I'm not sure if I'd go to her for a photo just yet, but hey, it works for some people.