# Passport photo **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 6, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892 "2017-11-06T16:17:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StraightTalk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straighttalk/32/9982_2.png) [@StraightTalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StraightTalk)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/1 "2017-11-06T16:17:07Z")
Where do YOU go to get your passport photo taken? Where do you find they know what they’re doing? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/2 "2017-11-06T16:23:23Z")
We have some fairly strict regulations in the UK regarding[passport photos](https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports) but as we have a decent printer and camera we just got some photo paper and did them ourselves following the guidelines. We didn’t have any problems when we sent them in. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/3 "2017-11-06T16:23:50Z")
The last passport photo I had taken was taken at a U.S. Post Office by a U.S. postal worker. _Passports Thousands of Post Offices™ around the U.S. accept first-time passport applications for the United States Department of State. Post Offices that accept passport applications offer products and services for both first-time and renewal passport applications. Some locations can take your passport photo._ > **[Passport Application & Passport Renewal | USPS](https://www.usps.com/international/passports.htm)** > > Learn how to apply for or renew a passport at Post Offices™ around the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/4 "2017-11-06T16:25:49Z")
I just go to [Walgreens.](https://photo.walgreens.com/store/passport-photos) Quick, cheap, and easy. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/5 "2017-11-06T16:28:19Z")
I had my current passport photo taken at Walgreens, as well. They offer it as a specific service, and assuming that the person at the camera counter knows what they’re doing, it’s pretty straightforward. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/6 "2017-11-06T16:30:42Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > assuming that the person at the camera counter knows what they’re doing, it’s pretty straightforward. My experience is that this is an unwarranted assumption when it comes to Walgreens and passport photos. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/7 "2017-11-06T16:34:35Z")
Walmart is where I’ve gone. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/8 "2017-11-06T16:37:44Z")
The last time I needed one, I went to the Fedex Office location. They use a special camera (I think from Polaroid) that’s designed for the purpose. It takes two photos at once, and I think there is marking on the viewfinder so the operator can frame the photo according to the requirements. It really doesn’t require much, if any skill. (But I know someone who needed a photo for a foreign country and the requirements were non-standard. So she went to a local photo shop with a printout of the instructions. The guy at the counter carefully read them and took photos to meet the requirements.) ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/9 "2017-11-06T16:40:31Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > We have some fairly strict regulations in the UK regarding[passport photos](https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports) but as we have a decent printer and camera we just got some photo paper and did them ourselves following the guidelines. We didn’t have any problems when we sent them in. Nowadays you can just send in a good quality digital photo and they’ll crop it for you. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/10 "2017-11-06T16:42:16Z")
I had mine done at Costco. They did an adequate job. Who was it that said, “When you start to look like your passport photo, it’s time to go home?” ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/11 "2017-11-06T16:45:21Z")
Just had ours done at Costco. Best price, sized to whatever country you want them for. And it was quick too! ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/12 "2017-11-06T16:46:52Z")
**Moderator Action** This is better suited to IMHO, so let’s move it to there (from GQ). ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/13 "2017-11-06T16:55:26Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > We have some fairly strict regulations in the UK regarding[passport photos](https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports) but as we have a decent printer and camera we just got some photo paper and did them ourselves following the guidelines. We didn’t have any problems when we sent them in. Yes, since ~2008, I have done them myself. They are taken with my camera and printed on photo paper with my office or home printer. The use of photo-editing software helps. > **[U.S. Passport Photos](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html)** > > Learn how to submit a quality passport photo if you are applying in person or renewing by mail. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/14 "2017-11-06T17:03:11Z")
My local library is a one-stop shop for passport applications and photos. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/15 "2017-11-06T17:43:07Z")
Either Walgreens or cvs. Those places all look alike to me. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/16 "2017-11-06T17:48:01Z")
Walgreens for me. I can actually attest to their accuracy because I just got my passport last week. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/17 "2017-11-06T17:49:11Z")
Post office. Its handy and the price/cost is within reason. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/18 "2017-11-06T17:50:38Z")
A town hall near where I was staying hosted a monthly one-stop passport clinic where you could submit your application, pay the fee, present your supporting documents and have your picture taken. It would have been really convenient, except that the birth certificate I had didn’t contain all the required information. Luckily, I happened to be a half hour’s drive from the village where I was born. I was able to drive there, get a new certificate, and return to the passport clinic the same day. If I’d been at home, 400 miles away, I would have had to wait for them to mail me a new birth certificate. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/19 "2017-11-06T18:23:46Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > Who was it that said, “When you start to look like your passport photo, it’s time to go home?” [Erma Bombeck](https://www.amazon.com/When-Look-Like-Passport-Photo/dp/0061099813). ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892/20 "2017-11-06T18:23:50Z")
There are a dozen apps on iOS, android for taking the picture. Then have it sent to Walgreens for printing. $.17 total. Stand against a white wall with good lighting in front of you. My children are wearing pajamas in their passport photos which never ceases to amuse me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passport-photo/800892.md?page=2)