The best way to take a US passport photo is by using Smartphone iD. You’ll be keeping your passport for a good ten years, so it’s no wonder that everyone wants to know the best way to take passport photos. Nobody wants a photograph that makes them look grumpy, ill or older than they really are.
Fortunately in addition to the many places you can have your passport photo taken, you have the option to take it yourself from home. This is one of the best options for ensuring you get a great US passport photo that you can be happy with for years to come.
In this article you will learn about all of your different options of places that you can take passport photo. Additionally, we will go through a few tips and tricks for getting a great photograph including what you can and can’t wear.
How to Take Passport Photos with Smartphone iD?
It is a wonderful opportunity to be able to take a photo from the comfort of your own phone, where you can benefit from as many takes as you would like. Simply use our online passport photo tool Smartphone iD.
The app assists users in taking compliant photographs for all countries using customized templates for the different regions requirements. This means that by using the app your photos are guaranteed to be accepted by local authorities.
After you have taken your own picture, Smartphone iD will send two different types of photo formats to your email – one that can be used directly and one in “plaquette” style. It is also possible to order printed versions through the app and these will be delivered to your door.
With Smartphone iD, you can use the digital photo an unlimited number of times, for student cards, company profiles and much more. What’s more is that the app is one of the cheapest solutions for passport photos in the whole of America.
How to Take Passport Photos with Professional Photography Studios and Stores?
Professional photography studios are going out of fashion, but they can still assist you in taking a compliant passport photo. One of the only issues is that it can feel awkward posing in front of a perfect stranger, and so you might ultimately prefer to take your passport photo yourself at home using Smartphone iD. Photography studios tend to be more on the expensive side of the spectrum.
How to Take Passport Photos with Big Retail Stores?
You can take passport photos at big retail stores like Walmart, Target and Costco. You can upload passport photographs onto the Walmart website so as to collect prints later at your local Walmart. To upload and print your photos at Target, you’ll have to register on the website first. You’ll pay $12.99 at Target for a set of two photos. If you want to go through Costco, you’ll need to get a membership first. Costco members pay an additional $4.99 for 4 passport photos on top of the membership fee.
How to Take Passport Photos with Passport and Post Offices
While US passport offices have dwindled in the last decade by more than 10%, there are still more than 8 thousand in operation. The majority of these offices offer to take passport photos, but not all of them so it’s best to call ahead and double check.
How to Take Passport Photos with Pharmacies and Delivery Companies?
There are thousands of pharmacies including Walgreens, CVS and Duane Reade brands which offer passport photo services. You can take photographs there at the various departments and booths. At Walgreens it will take 1 to 2 hours to process and print your photographs. All three of these pharmacies sell their photos for $14.99, making it pretty pricey if you need pictures for a whole family.
In terms of delivery companies, you can choose from UPS, FedEx and USPS (and there are more). When going through UPS, you will need to make an online appointment ahead of time. UPS passport photos cost $11.99. FedEx pictures cost $14.95 and USPS costs $15. You can apply for a passport from you USPS offices.
Do’s and Don’ts When You Take Passport Photos from Home
- Do use a passport photograph app like Smartphone iD so that you don’t have to worry about dimensions.
- Don’t wear glasses, as these frequently cause photos to get rejected due to the glare on the lens.
- Don’t wear headwear such as scarves, hats or headbands. You may wear religious headwear if you wear it on a daily basis, but your face must be completely visible and you’ll need a letter of explanation.
- Don’t wear any type of uniform. You need to be dressed in casualwear.
- Do go forbusiness attire although this is not a rule it is simply a good idea as you often need to present your passport at work.
- Do choose a dress or shirt with a high neckline that shows in the final image so that you don’t look naked when the picture is cropped.
- Do consider wearing black or colored clothing so that you don’t blend into the white background.
