The Advanced Guide to passport photos

Posted by Eyman on July 18th, 2021

There could be many reasons why one would need passport photos. A passport size photograph is basically a portrait photograph of a human face showing prominently apart from a part of the upper torso in particular the shoulder. As the name suggests, the first place you may need one of these is a passport. There are very strict specifications provided in all countries as to the size of the passport photographs to be attached. Not meeting the specifications could lead to rejection of the passport application. There are other instruments of information which also require certain specific shapes and sizes of passport photos viz. a school yearbook, or a college application form, or even a document required as a part of a yearly government procedure.

Resizing Doubts?

However, in case one needs to make passport photos, it would mean one may have to visit a photo studio to get it clicked. Normally, what passport photos a studio does to create a passport size photograph is to click a larger photograph to get better resolution and then resize it to make a smaller passport size photo as required by you. But how do you ensure that these photo studios meet the required specifications? One mistake and the application or document is rejected, thus ending up wasting hours or even days of efforts. So how do you ensure the correctness of a passport photo?

Resizing Photos Of Your Own

What if you could create and resize your own perfect and standard passport photos without having to step out of home? What if you could resize a perfect photograph on your own, which meets all required specifications with no worries of rejections?

Getting a high-quality passport photo doesn't need to be an arduous and time-consuming process. A simple solution is to take the photo yourself to avoid the time and expense of using the automatic machines at airports and train stations. Here are a few tips for taking a passport photo:

Daylight is best

The best time to take the passport photo is in the day when there is a lot of natural light. Stand somewhere that gives plenty of natural light to avoid shadows on the background or face. It is important to use flat lighting to minimize the risk of a photo being rejected due to shadows.

Facial expression

Take the photos while holding a natural, relaxed facial expression. Make sure to avoid blinking, smiling, passport photo or any other expressions. Use the camera's self-timer and take several snaps and choose the one that is most appropriate.

Plan what to wear

It helps to keep it professional and wear a collared shirt or blouse. Try to avoid the loose-fitting clothes that don't give the best look in photographs. A light-colored shirt is great for those with dark hair, while a dark top is practical for light hair. Also, it may be practical to groom yourself. Get the hair cut if necessary and wear neutral make up to stop a photo looking unflattering and garish.

Your surroundings

It is essential to have neutral surroundings when taking the passport photo. A light-colored background is the preferred option. Avoid dark or bright colors for your surroundings. For instance, a red background can create a luminescence effect that is likely to reflect back onto you. Try to recreate something similar to a photo booth with the clean and light background.

Use passport photo software

The passport photo software makes it really easy to click and select a preferred picture and have it printed out in a matter of minutes. The actual photo can be taken using a digital camera with a timer feature, or have a family member take the appropriate picture. The software gives the option to edit, crop or rotate the image to match the exact criteria of the passport. However, it is essential to avoid any post production that manipulates your appearance because this will likely mean the photo gets rejected.

Once the editing is done, use a high-quality photo paper with a decent resolution at the same onscreen size. The photo must be free of marks, creases and tears, so make sure to avoid using low-quality paper.

So you've spent weeks and months planning your vacation when you realize that your passport has expired. What can you do? First, don't panic. Next, expedite a passport renewal online. It is very easy to expedite passports online. And if you take the time to get your paperwork ready beforehand, you can have your passport renewed in as little as 24 hours.

In order to expedite your passport renewal, the first thing you need is to get is a current passport photo. The best way to do this, if you are in a hurry, is to go to your local camera or photo lab and tell them you need a passport photo. You can typically get passport photos taken and printed in a matter of minutes for around -. It is important, if you have a need to expedite you renewal, that you have a professional take your new photo. The biggest cause for delay in renewing passports is an unacceptable photo. The State Department has very strict guidelines for new photos, and it is important that you have this done correctly the first time.

Once you have your new and proper passport photos in hand, you need to fill out passport renewal form DS-82. This form can be found by following the links at the bottom of this article. DS-82 is a simple, one page, passport renewal form.

With this information in hand, find an online passport expediting company to take care of the rest. If you file through the mail, it could still take six or more weeks to process your passport renewal. But, using an online company that specializes in expediting passports, you can have your passport in as little as 24 hours.

Passport renewal online is safe, secure, and guaranteed. And when you have planned a big trip overseas, you passport is not an area where you want to cut corners and hope that they will be done on time.