We report the characteristics of azobenzene-containing self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) which are designed and synthesized for surface photoisomerization reactions. The photoreactive SAMs were composed of unsymmetrical azobenzene disulfides, in which the free volumes for photoreaction of azobenzene moieties are guaranteed by 50% dilution of dye functions at the molecular level on the surface. The photoswitching reaction was monitored in situ through the change of optical film thickness by means of surface plasmon spectroscopy. The influences of alkyl side chain length and contacting medium on the photoreaction were also investigated. The profile of the trans to cis photoisomerization reaction by UV light irradiation exhibited a clear deviation from first-order kinetics, suggesting a steric hindrance effect on the photoreaction process.