Neptune Photo Inc — Local services in Town of Hempstead

I LOVE to support local business and I only write reviews if service far exceeds expectations or is far below expectations. In this case it was bad. I went in to get some passport photos taken. The associate directed me to stand in a random spot on the shop floor to take the photos. I questioned why the photos weren’t going to be taken against a white background and I was told they would photoshop the background white. Ok makes sense. After the photos were captured, I paid and my contact details were requested. I wondered why but I provided them regardless. I was informed that I would be called once the photos are ready. I figured this was the reason my contact details were needed. I asked what time I could expect the call thinking it would be in maybe an hour max and I was told one week. One week for passport photos?! In 2022 where passport photos are printed instantly! Conveniently or incidentally I was only told this waiting time AFTER I had paid. I exclaimed my shock and was told the photos would be ready in 2 days (the next day being a public holiday). 2 days later I phoned in the morning and I was told the photos would be ready the next day at 10AM. The next day I phoned at 11AM only to be told once again that the photos weren’t ready! I expressed my frustration over how long it was taking and the fact that I wasn’t informed BEFORE I paid, also being that we’re in 2022 and I could’ve gone to Walgreens or the post office for instant photos but I chose to support local business and I was lectured that those organizations have government funding and all Neptune customers are returning customers so they know it’s a one week waiting time. I highlighted that I was a NEW customer and only then did they finally acknowledge my frustration and promised the photos would be ready by 1PM but I had work by then so could only go collect them the next day. I received a call at 3.30PM to let me know the photos were finally ready. I went to collect them the next day and for such a long wait, the photos are disappointing. As a Black woman with Afro hair, the outline of my hair clearly shows the photos have been photoshopped. The lighting is terrible being that the photos were taken in just some random spot on the shop floor. As a specialized photography business, I was expecting a better photography service than Walgreens, a white background at minimum, perhaps some studio lighting or something, but I got a worse service. No consideration for the lighting for my skin tone, a photo taken against the shop floor background and a bad photoshop job my hair looks like it’s copy pasted lol. I’ll now be going to Walgreens or the post office to have my passport photos taken against a white background and printed instantly. My time and my money wasted. So disappointing as I LOVE to support local business but this business...

I brought in some 120 film shot on my 620 camera. While the developing was done correctly and in an expedient fashion, I noticed that my prints were cropped. When you shoot 2.25 x 3.25, it's easy to see what is and isn't in the final product. Unfortunately, I left the store before checking to make sure that what I saw on the negatives was 100% what was on the final print. It's almost as if they cropped my 6x9 shots to 6x7 and made judgements on my behalf as to what to do with the pictures.

Edited after resolution 6-18-2020: I spoke to Ari, Mike, and Sharon, all of whom were very nice and explained that they can scan up to 6x7. They were every accommodating in explaining that they did their best judgement on what to print. They were honest and fair and I would give my business to them again for 35mm and 645 and 6x7. Sharon also does very good color touch up.

Second edit 10-10-2020: removing a star at minimum due to allegations of recently overhauled cameras having identical and inconsistent light leaks. Currently investigating the matter with my tech, my film supplier, and third parties to find source of development issue. Staff has been accusatory, and unwilling to investigate if developing chemistry may have fault in 4 of my rolls, putting the onus on me to find the solution rather than provide more than cursory insight to how developing...

I was going from music production into the filming field and was completely new to the photography world. I've been to other stores on the island, but for some reason Neptune had more of a family and welcoming feel to it, than just another " oh look, another sucker walking through the door" type of feel like some of the other stores I had previously visited before. I had recently purchased a camera and some other equipment when I started this journey from another store on Long Island before realizing that Neptune was 15 minutes away from me, instead of the 45 minutes I travelled to get to the other store. Too make a long story short, I was so disappointed that I gave my first business to the other retailer and not Neptune. I have never returned to the other store after going into Neptune and have no intentions of doing so. The gentleman Robert and his sister were so nice to me, that I started taking classes there after purchasing some lighting equipment and accessories. I have called Robert for help over the phone a few times, and he has helped me out tremendously every single time! Great store, great people and very...