One small, local photo development store has served both San Jose State students and the San Jose photography community, showing it’s nothing to overlook.

Foto Express is a photo finishing company that helps students and enthusiasts alike to print, scan and develop their photos.

Long-time owner Henry Chang, who’s run Foto Express for nearly 40 years, has close connections with photography programs at De Anza Community College and SJSU. 

“We work with a lot of students for photo class,” Chang said in a Zoom interview. “Even college and high school photo classes. We supply them materials and do the processing for them.”

Chang said the amount of customers has fallen to 30% of what it used to be before the pandemic because students aren’t physically present in school.

Some SJSU students are worried about the fate of Foto Express because it’s an important asset for the San Jose photography community.

Communications senior Sean Muniz, a photographer for a clothing company, believes San Jose photographers would be in shambles if Foto Express closed down.

“I don’t know anywhere else to get photos printed and sent in the Bay Area,” Muniz said in a Zoom interview. “There’s one [other] place, but it’s absolutely terrible how they process and do their film photos. Henry will have shit done in like three hours maybe, whereas they will have it done in like three weeks.”

The coronavirus pandemic hasn’t been the only setback for Chang. He  said when digital cameras rose in popularity in the early 2000s, his business wasn’t succeeding so he adapted to the changing technology, but his business never fully recovered. 

“We adapt the technology so we can do digital printing and scanning,” Chang said. “[However], when people use a digital camera or phone they don’t print anymore. They just capture the image and never print it or they shoot 1000 pictures, and maybe print only one or two.” 

He also said he doesn’t understand why some photographers have moved away from film photography because digital photography isn’t as detail-oriented as film. 

“Film photography is a fine art. You need [to be] more careful because you have to buy the camera, load the film correctly and very carefully shoot the composition,” Chang said. “So now digital cameras are like a machine gun, you can shoot really fast, without thinking and then you can do the editing later.”

SJSU alumnus RJ Garcia said he’s a casual photographer and Chang has helped him improve his skills. Chang even remembers Garcia by name whenever he comes into the store.

“There was this one time where I wasn’t sure about my film roll, whether it was working or not, or it might have been exposed,” Garcia said in a Zoom interview. “I went in there and I asked, ‘Could you help me with this? Could you help me figure it out?’ and he did and he gave me pointers and advice.” 

Even with  the setbacks, Chang said his business will continue to bring the San Jose community high-quality, developed photos far into the future. 

Chang has provided customers an experience many community members consider beyond the usual in-store experience. 

Many customers who frequently visit Foto Express address Chang by his first name and showing his dedication to Foto Express and its customers.

“Because we provide a unique service, we can still survive,” Chang said.