We need more stories like this. Singer Kacey Musgraves and her sister stumbled upon the old school photo studio that still uses hand-painted backdrops and film, and posted videos and photos from an impromptu photo shoot.
“We were just in LA and needed to find a One Hour Photo place quick. Sandwiched between little bodegas, my sister randomly found this place on Beverly Blvd in Korea Town called Tom’s One Hour Photo & Lab,” she wrote on Instagram.
“It’s one of those rare mom-&-pop gems that has lasted thru trends coming and going and weirdly has come back around again without even realizing it.”
“He sadly told us his business used to be really busy back in 1991 when he opened but has slowed way down since the digital wave. So, like any good millennials would do we started an appreciation Instagram for him,” she added.
Now her fans are flocking to Tom's One Hour Photo. His new Instagram account, which Musgraves and her team created, has gained more than 40,000 followers in just three days.
Tom Tuong opened the shop on Beverly Boulevard nearly three decades ago and specialized in developing film, taking passport photos and photo restoration.
“He does same-day services and at a reasonable cost,” according to Michelle S., a reviewer on Yelp. “Many of my family members go to him for his services.”
He also offered nostalgic glamour portraits where customers can choose between 30 unique hand-made pull-down backdrops — and that's what caught Musgraves' eye.
“Pick the backdrop of ur dreams,” she wrote, showing off the displays.
Love this.
