Can I make my own passport photo?

[lozina]

Is there like a standard background I would need to use, like a specific color? I know the size specifications...

Basically, how can anyone tell if I took my photos myself or at a designated passport photo place?

 

[uhohs]

the passport application/renewal form will have a thing where they give you the requirements and sizes for the photo. you can do it yourself.

 

[FoBoT]

you have to make sure it matches the requirements exactly or they'll reject it

it really isn't worth taking a chance to save the ~$15 that kinko's/whoever charges

you really want your application rejected and have to hassle an extra couple of months while you send in a new picture?

http://travel.state.gov/passport/guide/faq/faq_881.html

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

yup yup. Just gotta follow the specs. Personally it may be more convenient just to go to the post office. I think they take passport photos.

 

[miri]

yeah you can, but it has to be to specifications.

my passport has my photo that was taken on my digital camera and I think it looks good, to bad my dmv pic is bad lol

The advantage to making your own pic for your passport is that you can take multiple shots and pic one you like.

 

[lozina]

cool, actually I just found a site that details the specifications very clearly. This will be easy. thanks!

 

[OulOat]

The answer is yes. At Walgreens, they just take your picture in front of a white background with any digital camera they have laying around and then crop it to the right dimensions. I had my picture taken there and felt it was a ripoff.

This has some good info
Official Site

 

[OulOat]

This online tool sounds good, never used it though

 

[jimmyjam]

You can make it black & white also. It looks much cooler than a color photo on the passport. It's also important to make a tough guy face for the photo, foreigners don't like smilers coming into their country.

 

[Matthias99]

The advantage to making your own pic for your passport is that you can take multiple shots and pic one you like.

I went to CVS and paid the $8 or whatever and they took several photos and let me pick one.

They just used a regular digital camera, so it's definitely not like you need to use some "official passport camera" or anything like that. You will probably have to use a good-quality photo printer and print on photo paper if you're doing it yourself, though. Frankly I'd just go to a drugstore with a photo lab and pay the fee unless you have a good digital camera and printer.

You can make it black & white also.

Not true. From the official site linked above:

Do the photos have to be in color?
Yes, the photos to must be in color.

No B+W photos. Maybe you used to be able to, but new passports are in color.

 

[puffff]

i've always made my own passport photos. it's not hard to meet the requirements.

When i was traveling i made a bunch before I left home and used them to apply for visas and stuff. they were never rejected.

 

[jimmyjam]

Originally posted by: Matthias99

You can make it black & white also.

Not true. From the official site linked above:

Do the photos have to be in color?
Yes, the photos to must be in color.

No B+W photos. Maybe you used to be able to, but new passports are in color.

That must be a new rule, I just did it a few years ago and still use the passport. Sorry for the misinformation.

 

[radioouman]

Yep. I made my own last year.

 

[sdifox]

Not up here in Canada. Unless you are a photographer with a shop yourself. They need a stamp and signature from the photographer telling the government when and where the picture is taken.

 

[illusion88]

go to your local mall, pay the $5 or whatever it is to get inside one of those photo booths and get 4 pictures taken. End of decision.

 

[randalee]

Originally posted by: sdifox
Not up here in Canada. Unless you are a photographer with a shop yourself. They need a stamp and signature from the photographer telling the government when and where the picture is taken.

...Socialists.

I went to Walgreen's and paid the 10 bucks for a "passport photo" set and then got denied when I showed up at the Post Office to apply. They didn't meet the requirements (my head was too small). Got my 10 dollars back. Had the post office do it.

 

[drnickriviera]

I made my own and used photoshop to put 6 of them on a 4x6. I sent that to walmart online photo printing. Cost me less than a dollar to print them for the enitre family

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: randalee

Originally posted by: sdifox
Not up here in Canada. Unless you are a photographer with a shop yourself. They need a stamp and signature from the photographer telling the government when and where the picture is taken.

...Socialists.

I went to Walgreen's and paid the 10 bucks for a "passport photo" set and then got denied when I showed up at the Post Office to apply. They didn't meet the requirements (my head was too small). Got my 10 dollars back. Had the post office do it.

lol, I got it done at Walmart... funny thing is you can't smile on the picture...

 

[Hannover]

Originally posted by: randalee

Originally posted by: sdifox
Not up here in Canada. Unless you are a photographer with a shop yourself. They need a stamp and signature from the photographer telling the government when and where the picture is taken.

...Socialists.

I went to Walgreen's and paid the 10 bucks for a "passport photo" set and then got denied when I showed up at the Post Office to apply. They didn't meet the requirements (my head was too small). Got my 10 dollars back. Had the post office do it.

My Walgreens photos were rejected twice. Once for my head being too small and once for a glare on my glasses.

I'm supposed to leave the country in 16 days and my passport still isn't here.