To save time and money, you can try preparing your images for a passport application at home. After the pandemic, it became an especially convenient and common way to create pictures for various documents. So, you can take advantage of modern technology and get a fully compliant photo without leaving your home!
In this post, we are going to share 6 useful tips – they’ll help you make passport photos at home that meet all the required specifications. They include shooting recommendations, common mistakes that you need to avoid, tips for printing passport photos at home, and more. So, let’s begin right now.
1. Shooting Recommendations
The modern cameras and smartphones are quite accessible and easy to use even for Bob-experienced users. But there are still some intricacies you need to take into consideration. These are some shooting tips you can use when taking your passport-size photos.
1. When shooting, you need to stand or sit near a window or find another well-lit area in your home. There should be enough natural light to illuminate the person. A passport photo should not have harsh shadows or uneven lighting on the background and the person’s face.
2. Choose a plain background for your photo: A white or light-colored wall or a bed sheet can work perfectly for this task, so you don’t have to buy any professional backdrop to take a picture at home. You should also avoid busy or patterned backgrounds since they are not allowed for an ID photo.
3. Use a suitable camera: You can only take sharp pictures if you use a reliable camera or a smartphone that provides you with high-resolution images. If you don’t feel skilled enough to adjust settings for taking your shots on a camera, you can use an automatic mode with no problem. But it’s also crucial to avoid any blurriness that might be caused by camera shake. You can use a tripod or find a stable surface for it. In case you take passport photos on your smartphone, keep it steady with a special tripod adapter for mobile devices.
2. ID Photo Requirements
Certain requirements need to be met, but they depend on the specific state and document you’re applying for. So, we’ll talk about some general specifications you need to consider. First, you should be looking straight at the camera with your head facing forward. Normally, you have to keep your lips closed and not smile too much. However, there may be exceptions to these requirements if you’re making a picture for a child under the age of 6. Second, the image should be in color and have a square aspect ratio. In terms of the file format, JPEG and PNG files are usually accepted.
Besides, you should not wear distracting accessories in ID photos. You may be allowed to keep it on only if you wear a head covering for religious reasons. The head covering should be plain, in one color, and contrast with the picture background. You should avoid wearing heavy makeup or clothing that is overly dark or light-colored.
3. Printing Passport Photos
Taking a good picture is not enough to submit a picture successfully. It’s also important to print your passport photos in the size and quality required for your document. You should consider the paper you’re using – it can be matte or glossy paper. You also need to adjust the printer settings for the correct dimensions and quality. If you want to see the steps, here’s how to print a passport size photo. The guide walks you through the printing process and also covers some useful recommendations.
Alternatively, you can visit a local photo printing store or use online services that specialize in printing passport photos. When you’re done, double-check that the printed photos meet the required dimensions and quality standards.
4. Photo Enhancement
You might also need photo editing software for enhancing the quality of your passport size photos. But you need to avoid using any kinds of filters or editing tools that might alter your natural appearance. Otherwise, your image won’t be accepted. So, you should only make minor adjustments: crop a picture, improve quality, etc. With the right image editing app or software, you can also correctly adjust the brightness, contrast, and sharpness of your images.
5. Tips to Store Photos
Once you have your printed passport photos, it’s essential to store them properly. You need to keep documents safe so they won’t get damaged. You should consider using a protective sleeve or envelope specifically designed for passport photos to prevent them from getting scratched or creased. In addition to physical copies, it’s wise to have digital backups of your document photos. We recommend saving them on a secure cloud storage platform or an external hard drive just in case of loss or damage.
6. Avoiding Common Mistakes
There are some common mistakes that people make. They might cause various problems when submitting your passport photo, so let’s see what you can do to avoid them. For example, you need to make sure your hair doesn’t cover your eyes – your facial features should be clearly visible. There shouldn’t be any shadows on your face or background. Also, the camera flash often creates a red-eye effect. But it’s not acceptable for an ID photo, so it’s better to correct it if necessary using a photo editor.
Summary
As you can see, taking document photos at home is a convenient and low-cost way to prepare your images, especially when other services are not readily available. In this post, we’ve discussed the essential information and details that you should consider when submitting a passport photo. Now you can use these tips and easily make your pictures right from the comfort of your own home.