Here is what I experience for my passport renewal recently.
1. Take photo at photoshop. Tell them to prepare additional copy for online application. They will crop out one copy from the original follow the online portal requirment.
2. Open the online portal, fill up details, upload picture and make payment. Print the receipt.
3. After got the receipt, just walk in to the immigration office. No need to wait for their email. As per my observation, they just start to prepare your passport only after you come to the immigration office. Some people in front of me who walk in without receipt, has been advised to go to nearest printing shop to make the online application and payment. No receipt, no deal. Payment Receipt is the most important here for you to get the queue number.
4. Wait for 1 hour and can collect the passport already.

Most photoshop can email the softcopy to you. Then proceed to do at home la.