Taking your own passport photos?

[bcla]

I was trying to take a photo of my kid last weekend. I use one of those online services that generates a sheet to print to a 4x6" print. Still - I've typically had issues with them - especially shadows which the State Dept says may not be acceptable if they make it hard to tell where the outline of the head is. I've always had a bit of shadow, but I haven't had a photo rejected yet.

I've never tried taking a passport photo outside before but found an off-white wall somewhere and it turned out pretty well. It was actually this granite plaque, but with the back was an off-white stucco. It was just using an iPhone, but the result was still pretty good. I did use the flash (thought it might help reduce shadows), but I don't think it did much. Before I generated the sheet, I copied the photo file and used a simple white balance adjustment similar to what would be generated inside of a digital camera or smartphone. I don't think that necessarily counts as "retouching", but without it the photo was a bit on the dark side. I'm not sure if I could get my kid to reproduce that pose; my kid kept on making faces after that more or less ideal shot.

This is a far cry from when I remember going to a shop with a photo lab where they used a specific system from Polaroid that generated exactly two photos taken simultaneously. And these days the State Dept only needs one photo.

So what do you guys do? I know going to Walgreens, Costco, etc. may be easier. I uploaded my prints to Target and they have a $12.99 service that supposedly generates 4 passport photos. I think that's where you upload the photo and they've got an editing system to properly align the head for the State Dept's requirements. I just hope they're not like some other places that I've heard have rejected anything that looks like DIY passport photo. I've heard claims that Walgreens will reject it, although in the past I've gotten various DIY passport/visa photos done through Target, Costco, or CVS (when they still had a real photo lab) with no problem. I've even done USCIS photos for a friend (they've changed their requirement to passport style) and those turned out pretty well.

 

[Southernmiss]

I know someone who had an amateur photographer take his picture with her expensive camera. That photo was rejected and he had to go to Walgreen's and get their photo.

Make it easy...

Sometimes kids will behave better for others. I bet he'll be fine with someone else taking the picture

 

[OhMari]

Walgreens. $14.
Just renewed mine with no problem.
You do get 2.

My dd saved her other one from over 10 years and resubmitted to renew and she got hers rejected. She was told "picture was to similar." They expect you to age.

 

[Hrhpd]

I was trying to take a photo of my kid last weekend. I use one of those online services that generates a sheet to print to a 4x6" print. Still - I've typically had issues with them - especially shadows which the State Dept says may not be acceptable if they make it hard to tell where the outline of the head is. I've always had a bit of shadow, but I haven't had a photo rejected yet.

I've never tried taking a passport photo outside before but found an off-white wall somewhere and it turned out pretty well. It was actually this granite plaque, but with the back was an off-white stucco. It was just using an iPhone, but the result was still pretty good. I did use the flash (thought it might help reduce shadows), but I don't think it did much. Before I generated the sheet, I copied the photo file and used a simple white balance adjustment similar to what would be generated inside of a digital camera or smartphone. I don't think that necessarily counts as "retouching", but without it the photo was a bit on the dark side. I'm not sure if I could get my kid to reproduce that pose; my kid kept on making faces after that more or less ideal shot.

This is a far cry from when I remember going to a shop with a photo lab where they used a specific system from Polaroid that generated exactly two photos taken simultaneously. And these days the State Dept only needs one photo.

So what do you guys do? I know going to Walgreens, Costco, etc. may be easier. I uploaded my prints to Target and they have a $12.99 service that supposedly generates 4 passport photos. I think that's where you upload the photo and they've got an editing system to properly align the head for the State Dept's requirements. I just hope they're not like some other places that I've heard have rejected anything that looks like DIY passport photo. I've heard claims that Walgreens will reject it, although in the past I've gotten various DIY passport/visa photos done through Target, Costco, or CVS (when they still had a real photo lab) with no problem. I've even done USCIS photos for a friend (they've changed their requirement to passport style) and those turned out pretty well.

Went to Costco last year. Took 15 minutes from taking the picture to them handing me 2 official passport photos. $4.99. Way too easy and cheap to try to do it myself.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

My DH and I did our most recent passports photos at home, prior to that we went to Kinkos or something of the sort. For the photos done at home, we used our theater projector screen as the background, cropped/sized them appropriately, and mailed them in. No issues.

 

[kimblebee]

I don’t understand why you took your own pictures in the first place? Here, you go to a place that takes them, pay the $9.99 and then attach them to your application. No muss, no fuss, no editing needed.

 

[bcla]

Went to Costco last year. Took 15 minutes from taking the picture to them handing me 2 official passport photos. $4.99. Way too easy and cheap to try to do it myself.

My wife did it that way before, even though it was for visa photos where it was close enough - at least the main image. I've actually done it for 13 cents (not sure what they charge now) by printing at Costco. But our membership lapsed.

The State Dept has a photo cropping tool, but all it seems to do is produce a single 600x600 pixel image. It doesn't seem too hard to use, but once you've got the cropped image I'm not sure what you're supposed to do with it. Most online passport/visa generators create tiled images for a 4x6" print.

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/passports/content-page-resources/FIG_cropper.swf

That single image may only be useful for online applications, and the only time I remember the State Dept having that was when they had a pilot program for passport cards where they required a photo upload.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I don’t understand why you took your own pictures in the first place? Here, you go to a place that takes them, pay the $9.99 and then attach them to your application. No muss, no fuss, no editing needed.

1) Too lazy to leave the house.
2) This way I can take as many pictures as needed to get the one I’m happy enough with to have plastered across global broadcasts when I cause an international incident.

 

[ronandannette]

1) Too lazy to leave the house.
2) This way I can take as many pictures as needed to get the one I’m happy enough with to have plastered across global broadcasts when I cause an international incident.

Are you allowed to smile in yours? We’re not. I cringe every time I have to present my passport. DH’s and DS’s are similarly ghastly.

 

[bcla]

I don’t understand why you took your own pictures in the first place? Here, you go to a place that takes them, pay the $9.99 and then attach them to your application. No muss, no fuss, no editing needed.

Because it's cheaper, and the editing tools are pretty easy. Once the photo is uploaded, it's easy enough to resize the box and then center it to meet the head-size requirements. Some of the tools use an oval, but others just place bands to place above the chin and top of the head.

I remember one time we needed a two sets and it cost maybe 30 cents for two 4x6" photos at Costco. This is going to cost more (expired Costco membership), but still less than $1 including another sheet of photos sized for a particular country's visa requirements.

And often my wife wants the "perfect" image. I remember taking about 70 photos once until we had one she liked after reviewing each photo. I wouldn't try doing that when someone else is taking the photo.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Are you allowed to smile in yours? We’re not. I cringe every time I have to present my passport. DH’s and DS’s are similarly ghastly.

No, I had to settle for a sexy duck face.

 

[NHdisneylover]

They have little photo booths all over Germany that take passport style photos for passports/train passes/ID cards, visas etc.
Those usually charge 4-5€ for a set of four photos. Most train stations or large grocery stores and city halls have the photo booths.

I stick the extras in a file to pull out for the next time we need to submit a photo
(DS needs one every year for the train pass, for a while there we needed them every year or two for residency permits, DH ends up needing one for a visa most years, etc).
I don't own a printer, so that is far faster and easier for me than taking my own, and we've never had one rejected. They actually have a machine inside the embassy---but I always get mine ahead of time as I would hate to go through all the hassle of getting an appointment and waiting for entry only to find the machine were broken or something. Though, DS finally has an adult passport, so we will probably all renew by mail for the ret of forever anyway.

 

[mummabear]

We have for the last 2 rounds of photos, here they are $25 "professionally" and for a family of 5 that adds up. We haven't had any problems getti g them rejected.
But here we apply online and upload our photos, it will tell us immediately if they are any problems with them

 

[sunshinehighway]

I get mine done at AAA. It's free with membership.

 

[Meriweather]

I get mine done at AAA. It's free with membership.

AAA member and so it is free

 

[soccerdad72]

This is one of those things where I pay whatever the RiteAid/CVS/Walgreens/etc is going to charge me - it's a one time expense every 5 or 10 years, so I'm not looking for a bargain, especially if it could mean delays in processing.

 

[Mermaid02]

Another vote for Walgreens. They know all the dumb rules...no smiles, can't have hair tucked behind one ear, "both ears or no ears"

 

[mnrose]

Not worth the risk. Go to Costco. I think it's under $6 for two.

 

[smiths02]

I keep hearing no smiles??? I smiled in my picture, which was taken at CVS (and no one told me not to smile). Got my passport in 2 1/2 weeks (and it wasn't a rush).

ETA: I have to look, but I even think I'm showing teeth.

 

[sam_gordon]

Not worth the risk. Go to Costco. I think it's under $6 for two.

Plus the Costco fee (not everyone is a member. ).

I've taken our pictures in 2011 and when the kids renewed in 2015. I've even retouched a little (clearing background). 8 pictures so far and none have been rejected. I also print at home.

As far as why I do it and not go somewhere...
1) I'm cheap
2) I like being able to do it myself.