If I could give Berry Flash 10 stars, I would. Truly exceptional service, quality, and value…read more
I had a very special 5×7 print made as a wedding gift, and from my very first phone call, I knew I had found the right place.
Selene answered the phone and could not have been warmer, more welcoming, patient, or helpful. I had a number of questions about paper, finish, and printing methods, and she answered every one of them thoughtfully and knowledgeably. She never made me feel rushed or as though I were bothering her. She also made excellent suggestions about what would best suit this particular image and explained why their photographic/laser-exposed printing process would be a better fit than inkjet for what I was trying to achieve.
The price was almost unbelievable. Another highly reviewed specialty printing shop in the Culver City area had quoted me $25.99 for one 5×7 print and said they could probably have it ready within about eight days. Berry Flash charged $4.99 and told me that if I submitted the file that day, it would be ready the next afternoon. And it was. They called me right on time to say it was finished.
Then I met Mario, their printing technician, and the experience somehow became even better.
Mario had already printed three versions of my image so I could compare them and choose the one that looked best. I had brought the small frame with me because the visible opening was slightly smaller than 5×7, and once we placed the print inside, we realized that the delicate white border in the artwork was sitting too close to the edge of the frame and losing some of its visual impact.
This is where Mario went so far beyond anything I would ever have expected.
He immediately began thinking through how he could adjust the image so it would sit beautifully in this particular frame. The normal printing setup did not allow him to create the exact uneven margins I had originally envisioned, so he devised his own solution: reducing the artwork slightly and extending the black surrounding area so the white border would remain completely visible and properly framed.
I offered to pay him for the additional work and reprinting. He simply said, essentially, "No, no, I've got it," went into the back, and within about ten minutes came out with several new versions for us to compare.
We put them into the frame together, and one of them was absolutely perfect. The black margin, the fine white line, the stars, and the reflective silver frame suddenly all worked together beautifully. Mario even commented that the silver frame gave the piece a kind of telescope effect, as though you were looking out into the night sky. He understood exactly what made the piece work visually.
And he still wasn't finished.
When I asked whether he could help me get the print positioned properly in the frame, he treated this little wedding gift as though it were his own. He took the glass into the back and cleaned it immaculately, carefully blew every trace of dust from the glass, the print, and the frame, positioned everything perfectly, assembled it, and handed it back to me completely finished and ready to give.
All of this -- the consultation, multiple test prints, custom adjustment, additional prints, meticulous handling, and help framing it -- for a $4.99 print.
The shop itself is small, tidy, pleasantly cool and comfortable, with easy free parking, and the atmosphere is exactly what you hope a local specialty business will be: knowledgeable, personal, creative, and genuinely kind.
There are very few businesses anymore where people take this much ownership and pride in their work, especially on such a small order. Selene and Mario treated my project as though it mattered simply because it mattered to me.
I cannot recommend Berry Flash highly enough. Five stars genuinely do not feel sufficient. The quality, kindness, creativity, speed, and extraordinary value were all exceptional. If you need photo printing in the Culver City area, go here.
