Taking your own passport photos?

[BLAZEY]

I'm not sure how they handle it for Canadian expats. Obviously it's possible for a photo place to just sort of wing it. There's obviously some professional software that can use settings for passport and visa photo requirements from around the world. Heck - it might even be easiest to just use one of the online systems, print to a common 4"x6" sheet, then trim. But they just need the imprimatur of the studio.

On the Passport Canada website, you can print off their photo specifications (head size and photo dimensions). Any commercial photographer should be able to do it. I have seen templates for other countries (mainly UK and US) at many studios in Canada, you just have to remind the photographer which country you need the passport or VISA for. Digital templates have probably made this even easier.

 

[Squirlz]

Went to the Post Office for passport pictures and to AAA for Concealed Carry Permit pictures.

 

[bcla]

On the Passport Canada website, you can print off their photo specifications (head size and photo dimensions). Any commercial photographer should be able to do it. I have seen templates for other countries (mainly UK and US) at many studios in Canada, you just have to remind the photographer which country you need the passport or VISA for. Digital templates have probably made this even easier.

The software that makes it really easy though. However, there really isn't that much difference between what a person can do at home these days, other than perhaps the quality of the camera. And you don't really need a dSLR for a decent passport photo.

I'm not quite sure why they would require a "professional". I've seen it done at certain places that would meet the "professional" requirements, such as a warehouse store or pharmacy, and often it was just an inexpensive digital camera. The real key these days is cropping/formatting it properly. I think I could teach my 7 year old to do it in a few minutes. The requirement for a "professional" sounds more or less outdated.

As for my case, I picked up the photos today at Target. They were just kind of sitting there on a rack at the machine. I'd gotten a message early this morning saying they were ready. Target says they use an RA-4 wet process, but I think these days most of these machines can't be used to process color film. They seem to be only for making digital prints. I kind of pointed it out to the clerk, who looked at it and said she hadn't seen anything like it before. I paid for three 4"x6" sheets, but it came with an invoice, as well as one ad sheet for passport photos done at Target. It said $12.99 and showed an example of what it would look like, which was two photos printed to a 4"x6" sheet of photo paper.

 

[BLAZEY]

The software that makes it really easy though. However, there really isn't that much difference between what a person can do at home these days, other than perhaps the quality of the camera. And you don't really need a dSLR for a decent passport photo.

I'm not quite sure why they would require a "professional". I've seen it done at certain places that would meet the "professional" requirements, such as a warehouse store or pharmacy, and often it was just an inexpensive digital camera. The real key these days is cropping/formatting it properly. I think I could teach my 7 year old to do it in a few minutes. The requirement for a "professional" sounds more or less outdated.

As for my case, I picked up the photos today at Target. They were just kind of sitting there on a rack at the machine. I'd gotten a message early this morning saying they were ready. Target says they use an RA-4 wet process, but I think these days most of these machines can't be used to process color film. They seem to be only for making digital prints. I kind of pointed it out to the clerk, who looked at it and said she hadn't seen anything like it before. I paid for three 4"x6" sheets, but it came with an invoice, as well as one ad sheet for passport photos done at Target. It said $12.99 and showed an example of what it would look like, which was two photos printed to a 4"x6" sheet of photo paper.

I don't know, but they do have to stamp the back of each photo. Maybe they found professional photos to be of standard quality, uniform paper thickness and have a better guarantee not to be altered in anyway. I'm guessing, but I bet when it comes to rejected pictures most are taken and printed at home. The quality of prints I get from any place that prints digital photos is better than what I can go at home on my computer printer even with photo ink and paper. The cost of the special ink cartridge, and paper is much higher than the cost of a $15 set of photos every 10 years.

 

[cats mom]

Ever since a passport photo we had taken at one of the local drug stores was rejected I've taken ours at home. I knew the drug store pic was bad (can't remember now whether it was CVS or Walgreens), but I figured they were the pro's, so I sent it in anyway. Should have trusted my instincts.

Never had an issue with any of the pics I've taken at home, and I've done them for multiple passports and visas. I don't have a lot of photography equipment, so I find outdoor lighting works best for me.

 

[bcla]

I don't know, but they do have to stamp the back of each photo. maybe they found professional photos to be of standard quality, and have a better guarantee not to be altered in anyway

I looked in the requirements, and they don't specifically say it has to be a rubber stamp. I can't really imagine a photo shop in the US or other countries would have enough business from Canadian citizens to justify it. What might be interesting would be an online tool that does both a combination of a cropped photo on one side, and then a template for an inkjet printer on the back for the stuff you'd see on a stamp. Then simply trim and the message would be on the back in the right place.

Still - it seems to be something that rubber stamp companies in Canada are used to producing. Something like this place in Ontario:

https://www.tstrubberstamp.com/custom-rubber-stamps/passport-photo-stamp/

 

[runwad]

I got mine free at AAA and I smiled, naturally.

Thing is I was thinking my passport expired this year but it's not till next year, so I'm gonna save my picture and send in my paperwork after the new year.

 

[bcla]

I got mine free at AAA and I smiled, naturally.

Thing is I was thinking my passport expired this year but it's not till next year, so I'm gonna save my picture and send in my paperwork after the new year.

I looked up the AAA thing. At least for my regional affiliate (AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah) it's only free at certain membership levels, and there may be a yearly limit for free photos. I'm not sure about how they photos for family members who aren't on the membership, although I'm thinking if they charge for it there's no problem.

 

[Skippy918]

Good to know about the AAA passport photos. Mine expires next year so I’ll renew by mail. When we got the kids passports we went to the county passport office and got the pictures done there.

 

[runwad]

Yep you have to have the Plus Membership and all family members have to be on it too to get their photos free.

AND I learned a few months ago that not all AAA branches have the same benefits, they are all franchises and can offer different things. So don't just assume your AAA has this benefit they may not.

 

[sam_gordon]

The cost of the special ink cartridge, and paper is much higher than the cost of a $15 set of photos every 10 years.

Our printer is ~7 years old, inkjet, we use the ink for other printings (nothing "special" about them). We got a stack of 4x6 photo paper (and I'm talking 50-100) with the printer. We're still going through it.

 

[hpsauce]

I believe the Canadian requirement is to ensure there is no manipulation of the photo, and the photographer signs off on the date to ensure it's current (it has to have been taken within the six months of the application date). They also want the specific crop, lighting etc. so that it works with facial recognition software.

 

[wgeo]

I used a free app called Passport Booth. It was incredibly easy, they have all the instructions and there is no cropping needed. I took shots of my entire family using my iPhone and then paid the 25 cents or whatever it was to print them at Walmart. So my total cost for the family was $1. All of them were approved.

 

[4kids4karen]

There is always a $2.00 off passport photos on cvs website.

 

[bcla]

Yep you have to have the Plus Membership and all family members have to be on it too to get their photos free.

AND I learned a few months ago that not all AAA branches have the same benefits, they are all franchises and can offer different things. So don't just assume your AAA has this benefit they may not.

I believe the term you're thinking of is "affiliate". Mine is AAA of Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (formerly California State Automobile Association). The branches are not independently owned and operated as franchises. But yeah - each affiliate may have its own benefits that differ. The one I like the most from mine is DMV services where there's pretty much no line.

 

[design_mom]

I have taken ours at home for myself, my husband, my kids, my parents, my sister, brother-in-law and their daughters. None have ever been rejected.

I always read the info carefully and try to conform. The best backdrop I've found is my dad's old slide projector screen (solid white), outdoors, in the shade. I'm pretty sure when we did the kids it said "neutral expression" which I took to mean no smiles (I realize that's not what it says *now*). My poor daughter's looks like a mug shot, and she's naturally one of the smiliest people I know. ;-)

 

[Tuffcookie]

Since I have quite a bit photography equipment, I took my own photo for my passport and also for a couple of other people. When I took it to the post office, the lady that took my application was very impressed.

TC

 

[Tuffcookie]

I have taken ours at home for myself, my husband, my kids, my parents, my sister, brother-in-law and their daughters. None have ever been rejected.

I always read the info carefully and try to conform. The best backdrop I've found is my dad's old slide projector screen (solid white), outdoors, in the shade. I'm pretty sure when we did the kids it said "neutral expression" which I took to mean no smiles (I realize that's not what it says *now*). My poor daughter's looks like a mug shot, and she's naturally one of the smiliest people I know. ;-)

I used my dad’s old slide projector screen too!

 

[sam_gordon]

Since I have quite a bit photography equipment, I took my own photo for my passport and also for a couple of other people. When I took it to the post office, the lady that took my application was very impressed.

TC

When we first did it and went to the post office, that lady said our pictures don't match the sizing requirements. I made her get out her little template to show me what was off and I was perfectly on.

 

[gillep]

AAA was free and easy. I am also in NorCal, but I have the highest membership so it is free for me, they also did my husband's for free even though he isn't on the membership, but that is likely dependent on the office/person since I have not seen anything that specifically addresses this.