I’m in the middle of filling out a passport application. It says that I need to attach two color photos, both recent, and both within certain guidelines. Does this mean that I have to go back to the drugstore and get yet another set done?
From the State Department
And just in case you were going to be a wise ass:
IME when you get passport photos taken at the drugstore, they usually take two simultaneously. The cameras I’ve seen have two lenses. The click the shutter once, but you get two pictures.
IIRC passport regulations require the photos to be identical.
If you don’t have two, I would guess that, yes, you have to go back fo rmore.
And I should learn to preview.
I actually got 6 photos, but to me they all looked the same. Perhaps I should take a closer look to see if 3 are different.
Huh. The application I have just says two photos, no mention of identical. I read that as two different photos.
Why two lenses? Why not just develop the negative twice?
In Canada, the photos need to be identical.
If you’ve got six identical photos you have all you need. Just select the two best and send those in.
Basically, they are Polaroid cameras, so no negative to develop/print.
Um…
I’m having trouble coming up with criteria with which to select the two best identical photos.
It can be difficult, I know.
They are also very picky about the dimensions and composition of the photos.
Your best bet is to go to a local photo studio that does passport photos, because they are fully aware of the requirements. My wife and I just had ours done at WalMart for about $9 each.
Oh yeah, I got mine done at CVS. I was just under the impression that I needed two different photos.
My father took mine with his camera and had them developed like normal. They weren’t snapshots in the sense that he did use a camera with adjustable setting, etc., but there was nothing officially passport photo about them. He just made sure he got my head to come out the right size for the guidelines.
All six taken two at a time are close enough.
If you can’t tell the difference neither will they.
They are not going to use them for an Academy Award.
Mail away and forget the agony. 
Any two will do.
They will not be used for an Academy Award, just a passport.
OOOPS :smack: Blame the SDMB? Came up with a “Timed Out”
That’s what IMHO is for.
If you are into digital photography, then that’s the easiest route to follow.
The instructions for the photos are clear enough that you can easily play around until you get a photo you like, and they have several examples of good vs. bad.
Just have someone take a photo of you against a white wall. Try to do it in natural light, or at least with strong lighting. Flash is too harsh.
Once you have a photo, open it in Photoshop, fix the color up (if you did it in indoor lighting), and then crop it, resizing to the precise dimensions they require (2x2, I believe).
Print out two of them, and then Bob’s your uncle!
They have no qualms about accepting printed digital photos. They don’t laminate your photo anymore: they scan it and print it on the passport.
I have performed this service for several family members and friends over the past few years with much success.
The ones I like to do are Brazilian passport photos. For some reason, Brazil insists that you sit for the photo with a piece of paper on your chest, bearing the current date. It’s kind of funny having a woman get all dolled up for her photo and then she ends up looking like a convict in a mugshot because of the silly date pinned across her chest.
The corrolary to this of course is that if you don’t happen to have an uncle named Bob, the State Department won’t be issuing you a Passport.
When I had my Passport renewed last summer, I sent in the required two photos. Had em taken at my local post office. Interesting thing, though. For the first time, the photo did not physically make it TO the Passport. It was scanned into the facing page of the new Passport by the folks who make em. Came out pretty dark, too next to how the original had been shot. There is no raised or thickened area to denote the use of the original shot.
Interesting.
Cartooniverse