Snap & Print! How To DIY Passport Photos At Home

Oh, the horror of getting your passport photos taken at a drugstore then seeing the worst version of yourself plastered onto something you have to use for the next ten years! I’ve been there, 1,000 times and over!

The good news is, there’s something we can do about it now. DIY is about taking control! Read more on the US state government’s requirements, meanwhile I’ve come up with a few simple steps to taking and making your own passport photos at home!

All you need: a friend, a digital camera, your computer and a printer. (I wouldn’t recommend taking your passport photo with your phone since state.gov’s website specifically says “the image must be in color in sRGB color space which is the common output for most digital cameras, but I would recommend Epson printers and Epson wide format printer inks because of their superior performance.”)

Step 1: Pick a white color wall inside your home, then set up lighting if there aren’t any natural sunlight.

Step 2: Have your friend do a few test shots with your camera. Adjust the lighting so there aren’t any shadows or glares on your face.

Step 3: No fancy clothing and no accessories! The US government has pretty strict guidelines about this. Make sure you’re not wearing uniforms or sunglasses. Prescriptions glasses are okay but make sure they’re not tinted!

Step 4: Photos need to be cropped below your shoulders, and framed in 2 inches x 2 inches. Keep this in mind, and start snapping away. Remember, smile in the most natural way possible! Don’t make any funny faces or don’t look too serious. If you don’t lose your passport, this photo is likely to stick around for awhile. So be natural and look like…YOU! PS. Girls – leave your hair down. It frames your face better and it gives you a higher chance of getting the photos approved. (Follow more guidelines here)

Step 5: Upload the photos on your computer, then crop them on statve.gov website.

Step 6: Print them out on matted or glossy paper!

Voila! You just saved yourself a trip to the drugstore and 15 bucks! So easy and so fun!

Please note: if you’re not a US passport holder, the photo guidelines will differ. Please check with your country’s passport regulations.

Wendy Hung

CEO, FOUNDER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As the founder of Jetset Times, Wendy is an avid traveler and fluent in five languages. When she's not traveling, Wendy calls Paris and Taipei home. Her favorite countries so far from her travels have been: Bhutan, Iran, and St. Bart's because they were all so different!