Personal Consumer Issues • Cheap Passport Photos

Anyone used any of these sites or apps successfully to take a baby passport photo?

Maybe I'm being too nit-picky with it, but I'm having a hard time.

I think our intake center doesn't even require masks anymore, so we want to minimize time baby is there (they do offer photos for $10, plus I think baby will be crying if they are taking it).

Just find a white background (we used our wall) and take a bunch of pictures. Find the best one and used a website like this one (https://www.idphoto4you.com/) to crop the photo to the proper size. You can either use your own photo printer, or take the photo on a thumb drive and print it out at any number of retailers that offer photo printing (pharmacies, etc.).

I tried doing this and there were always shadows and lighting issues. I walked a block to Walgreens and it was taken care of quickly. I don’t think it’s worth the risk to save $30.

Make sure the flash is forced on with the phone/camera and you're standing pretty close to the subject in order to get the photo up to spec anyway. Flash will fill out any shadows. Passport photo apps will help you compose the picture properly.

Been thru 5 passport renewals DIY with print at CVS/Walgreens with no issues from State.

Shadows have been the thorn in my side while doing this! Any additional tips for dealing with shadows?

Maybe additional lighting from another light source (such as another phone) but of course you have to have them stacked closed to the picture taking phone to minimize shadows...or invest in an "light ring" that Youtube bloggers/photographers use (will pay for itself eventually).

At the end of the day, IMHO, the acceptance criteria is not as tight as one is lead to believe from a literal reading of the photo requirements when you consider the actual quality/size of the photo printed on the passport.

Shadows have been the thorn in my side while doing this! Any additional tips for dealing with shadows?

One way is not to use flash. Phone cameras are quite good nowadays with no flash.

Have subject stand 5 to 6 feet in front of light-colored featureless background such as a non-textured painted drywall. Lighting can be diffuse from across the room behind and perhaps above the camera. Pro might bounce flash off a featureless white ceiling, but one doesn't have to do that.

Anyways avoid subject being close to the background featureless wall.

I agree. Last photo and application I submitted was two years ago I vaguely recall not even turning on the phone flash and just having applicant move closer/further from the wall and overhead bright white LED light until shadows were minimized.

Statistics: Posted by seawolf21 — Tue Dec 05, 2023 9:59 pm — Replies 82 — Views 7933

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