Has anyone done Passport photos before?

[sonshine_rae]

I've been asked to do.. and have scheduled someone for their Passport photos to be taken in my studio.

But I've never done a passport photo before.. so now I'm scrambling around trying to figure out the requirements. Which I seem to have found the basic requirements just by googling..

But is there anyone here with personal experience and/or advice for this? I'm not asking for what to price etc.. I'm using my regular rates.. and have already advised the person how much it will cost.

I'm looking more for advice on what/how to setup things up and get it done easily.

The Passport photo session is scheduled for this Wednesday (the 29th of Aug.) afternoon. So any advice prior to then would be wonderful :)!

~Rae~

[Naturalist]

I googled this: http://travel.state.gov/passport/guide/guide_2081.html

[sonshine_rae]

yep .. that's my main stay.. out of the google pages I've gone to. It has nearly everything of the how-to why'fors and such in it.

But I was hoping for someone with experience doing Passport photos.. to respond/advise me.

For instance.. they simply say to use photo quality 'thin' paper to print on. Which makes me wonder just where I should have them printed? I typically have my portraits printed with mpix.com but that's a fairly thick mat finish paper (Kodak Endura Professional), which is not sounding like what they want.

[cosworth]

Since you didn't state what country you're in I'll assume you're American.

If you google american passport photo size you get this as the first link:

http://americanpassport.com/photos.html

[Gary_Evans]

Since you didn't state what country you're in I'll assume you're American.

I read somewhere that 85% of Americans have never left the US, so there is a good chance the OP isnt!!!

:lol::lol::lol:

[primoz]

It's no rocket science :) Find particular info for specific country where you are (different countries have different requirements) and that's it. It's nothing like real portrait thing. Just flash or two, so you don't have shadows anywhere (at least around here, they are really sensitive about shadows) and that's it. But main point is that photo fits regulations. And that means no smiling, no side looking, exactly right size, exactly right space between top of photo and top of head (same goes for bottom and sides) etc. But as I said, these things are different for different countries, so unless you are in Slovenia or Finland, I can't really help you with that :)

[Bobster]

I read somewhere that 85% of Americans have never left the US, so there is a good chance the OP isnt!!!

:lol::lol::lol:

really?

[bwolford]

I've done passport photos in the use for my family and neighbors. I printed on a ink jet printer using Kodak matte paper. No problems whatsoever.

[cdifoto]

It's quite simple really. I've done several.

White/plain colored light background
2x2" print
No serious/offending shadows
No distracting objects

Here's an example of one I've done. I do a simple quickie print on Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper out of my R2400. No point sending away to Mpix or something for such a small low-importance print.

200832

[sonshine_rae]

I'd have to do a retail (walgreens or something) printing office.. to print locally. All I own is a simple laser black an white printer.. nothing that will print pictures.

Not that I feel it matters but I am in the U.S. ..... and my client is desiring to go to several countries outside of the U.S.

It's quite simple really. I've done several.
Thanks so much cdiphoto .. that's precisely the type of response I was looking for.

[cdifoto]

I'd have to do a retail (walgreens or something) printing office.. to print locally. All I own is a simple laser black an white printer.. nothing that will print pictures.

Not that I feel it matters but I am in the U.S. ..... and my client is desiring to go to several countries outside of the U.S.


Thanks so much cdiphoto .. that's precisely the type of response I was looking for.

I'm in the USA as well. US Passport photos are US Passport photos, regardless of destination. I've had to print at different sizes but that was only one time and for a passport from another country I believe (it was an odd size). Everyone else has used 2x2s.

[sonshine_rae]

thanks.. I only mentioned... that latter part.. because of the joking going on about U.S. people not traveling outside the country :). But it is good to know that anyway.

[cdifoto]

thanks.. I only mentioned... that latter part.. because of the joking going on about U.S. people not traveling outside the country :). But it is good to know that anyway.

The easiest way I've done it is make up a 3x2 grid of 2x2 images, and print that on an Epson 4x6 precut sheet. I then either precut it if they desire or let them cut it themselves. I find it easier and simpler that way. You may want to do the same since it'd be easiest to order a 4x6. They get 6 images but it's not like I can do much with a chopped up 4x6 sheet anyway, and they have multiples if needed. I've put multiple expressions on the same sheet so they have a variety to choose from. Not much difference between 'em, but at least they have them. Obviously up to you though.

[sonshine_rae]

Oh that's a great idea.. I was just trying to figure out how to find a company that would make 2x2 prints!

So I can just essentially do a collage with space between them.. for the prints to be cut apart?

[cdifoto]

On a 4x6 there's no room for space. I just butt 'em up next to each other and slice right down the middle with a metal ruler and razor blade.

[sonshine_rae]

thanks .. btw I'm still loving that flash bracket :D

[cdifoto]

No problem.

Cool. :)

[bwolford]

If you take your prints in 2 up on one 4X6 the passport office (Post Office, what have you) has a punch that will cut out the correctly sized images if you sized them properly when you post process them.

Here's a guide to using Photoshop for Making Your Own Passport Photos (http://thewolfords.com/POTN/MakingYourOwnPassportPhotos.pdf)

You should be able to find the link to the original web site in the PDF for full credit to the original author.

I followed these instructions exactly after taking my pictures (I just found a white wall in my house. Used a nice large diffused light to take the pictures with the subjects away from the wall to eliminate shadows, and then used this technique). I think I said earlier that I printed them on my ink jet. My wife has corrected me, as they are known to do, and reminded me I had them printed at Shutterfly. You could do the same at Walgreens.

Good luck. It's not rocket science.

[bluesoul]

If you still have burning questions and you want a face-to-face answer most Office Depots are equipped to do passport photos and they can tell you what they do (and are required to do), if nothing else.

[sonshine_rae]

Dumb question .. but how do I make a square aka 2x2 crop of my image? It says that a 2 x 2 inch photo or a 4cm by 6cm photo is required.

When I try to crop it.. my program (the gimp) automatically wants to even out the aspect ratio so it doesn't crop square? So if I can't get it to a square 2x2 should I just go for 4cm by 6cm?

I've already taken the photos this afternoon.. now I'm trying to get them cropped properly for my client.

[cdifoto]

http://docs.gimp.org/en/gimp-tutorial-quickie-crop.html

[sonshine_rae]

This is the closest I can get to a 4cm by 6cm

I can't get anywhere near a 2 x 2 for some reason? Err I've been using the Gimp as my main image editor for quite some time.. but I've never had to change the aspect ratio... can't figure it out?

ETA wanders off to read the gimp tutorial.....

[freaking102]

Most (maybe all) Kinkos does passport photos for cheap, cheap. Point your customers to Kinkos - they will get them cheap, and you'll not have to waste a lot of time learning proper specs to make acceptable photos.

[sonshine_rae]

I know you all mean well.. but I wasn't asking for advice to send my clients elsewhere.

And in the case of my most recent client, he needed 12 copies of his visa/passport photos. He will be traveling to many countries and needs to apply for visas in several, plus have work id photos etc. He told me that walgreens or other typical places that do passports only give you 2 prints for $15, and they told him it would be $15 for EVERY 2 prints...... which was going to be very costly for him.

As well as the company he works for specifically requested professional photos.

[bwolford]

Did you read my post? I offered a PDF to show you how to size the images and I only suggested off site printing, not for them to take the images.

I think if you use the PDF I provided you, you can get this done.;)

[Digitally_Altered]

turned out easier for me to just go to Sams Club and pay 5 bucks...

[theextremist04]

In GIMP, go to rectangular select > fixed aspect ratio > 2x2 > inches as units.

[Karl Johnston]

3 years too late :D

[theextremist04]

EDIT: way for me to comment on a linked thread. woohoo.

[Bobster]

oh, and that is a heavily under exposed photograph ;)

[Karl Johnston]

I hate these. I refuse to do them

[msfvirginia]

Passports are easy and easy money. :) But people are more likely to go to walmart or walgreens and get a horrible pic to save a few dollars. oh well. :) ive priced around and the places around here dont even use a flash on the background so you get a horrible shadow on the right side of the image *flash is on the left of the lens from thier point and shoot camera*.

[cdifoto]

I don't do them anymore. They started to eat my soul.