From the post office to Kinko’s, AAA to local camera supply stores, there are dozens of places that’ll be happy to snap your passport photo-—for a fee. If you are looking to save money on the travel expense you could take the picture yourself; however, know that there are several important guidelines that must be followed in order for your image to be accepted by the government. According to the U.S. Department of State, proper passport pictures must:
*Be color photos only with a plain white or off-white background
*Measure exactly 2 x 2 inches
*Feature a full head shot minus hats and other headgear that obscure the hairline
*Be taken within the past six months and match your current appearance
*Include prescription glasses, hearing devices, wigs or other articles that are worn daily
Also, note that uniforms cannot be worn in passport photos, except for religious attire that is worn daily.
In regards to photo quality, the government has a list of stringent rules it requires hobby shutterbugs to adhere to. For example, the State Department mandates that all digital passport pictures be printed on high-quality photo paper, not standard copy paper. Images that contain excessive pixilation, visible dots, blurring, inaccurate colors, or other distortions in tone or clarity will be rejected. In addition, at least two copies of the same photo must be attached to passport applications or the application will not processed.
If you are determined to snap your own passport photo, consider the following tips authored by the U.S. Department of State:
1. Groom yourself properly; making sure that your hair is not obstructing any of your facial features.
2. Use as much natural light as possible. If the space in which you are shooting does not feature a window or door, then supplement it with artificial lights, such as lamps or overhead lights.
3. Place your camera on a tripod at eye level roughly four feet in front of you.
4. Make sure the camera is zoomed in so that only your head and the tops of your shoulders are visible in the shot.
5. Be sure there are no visible shadows in the shot.
Finally, keep in mind that the government does not permit edited, re-touched or altered images to appear on a passport.
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