ID Photo Prices in Japan: 3 Options Compared & How to Choose
The price of an ID photo depends on where you take it and whether the digital file and retouching are included in the fee. The trick is to compare not just the listed price, but also what you actually receive.
If you want job-hunting or career-change photos taken in Shinjuku, you can check available times on the 19Studio booking page. Same-day reservations are also available.
- What affects the price of ID photos?
- Comparing the 3 ways to get your photo taken
- 4 points to check when comparing prices
- Don't choose job-hunting or career-change photos on price alone
- How pricing works at 19Studio
- Summary
Contents
What affects the price of ID photos?
The price is mainly affected by these three things:
- Where you take the photo (an ID photo booth, a photo studio, or your own smartphone)
- Whether the digital photo file is included in the fee
- Whether retouching or resizing is needed
Even if the listed price looks low, separate charges for the digital file or retouching can change what you end up paying.
Comparing the 3 ways to get your photo taken
Here are the main features of each option. Prices vary by season and location, so we focus on the differences here.
| Method | Pricing characteristics | Best for | Things to watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ID photo booth | Pay per session; quick and easy | When you're in a real hurry | Check the conditions for receiving the digital file and for retakes |
| Photo studio | What's included (shooting, retouching, digital file) differs from studio to studio | Job hunting, career changes, or any time your impression matters | Confirm in advance whether there are extra charges |
| Smartphone shot + printing | No shooting fee | Uses with relaxed size or format rules | You have to adjust the background, shadows, and size yourself |
4 points to check when comparing prices
- Is the digital photo file included? More and more online job applications (called “entry sheets” in Japan) require a digital file.
- Is retouching included? Check whether adjustments such as skin brightness or stray hairs are covered by the fee.
- Is resizing included? The required size differs depending on where you submit the photo, such as a paper resume or an online application.
- What are the retake conditions? Whether you can keep shooting until you're happy with the result makes a big difference to your satisfaction.
Looking at these four points shows you the difference in what you actually receive, even between shops with similar prices.
Don't choose job-hunting or career-change photos on price alone
The photo on your resume or entry sheet is one of the first things an interviewer sees. A photo that conveys a good expression and a clean, neat look helps shape how people see you.
Retaking photos many times, or reworking them for several different applications, also takes extra effort. Choosing a method that gives you everything you need in one session will make things easier in the end.
How pricing works at 19Studio
At 19Studio Shinjuku, the digital photo file, retouching, and resizing are all included in the price. There are no extra charges afterward.
- Location: 2-minute walk from Shinjuku-gyoenmae Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line (also within walking distance of Shinjuku Station)
- Booking: same-day reservations available
- Photos we take: ID photos for job hunting and career changes, plus visa and passport photos
If you're worried about separate charges for the digital file or retouching, it's easy to see what's included here, so you can choose with confidence. You can check availability on the 19Studio booking page.
Summary
- The price of an ID photo depends on where you take it and what is included, such as the digital file and retouching.
- When comparing, look at the digital file, retouching, resizing, and retake conditions in addition to the price.
- For job-hunting and career-change photos, the impression you make matters as much as the price.
If you're getting job-hunting or career-change photos taken in Shinjuku, please consider 19Studio, where the digital file, retouching, and resizing come as a set with no extra charges. You're also welcome to just look at available times on the booking page.
- I love cameras and changed careers from a different industry. Because I used to be the one in front of the camera, I know how nervous people feel. In my articles I share how much a photo can change with a little difference in lighting or the angle of your face.
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