Passport applications require paperwork and photographs. Many places that have photo centers--such as drugstores and some post offices--will take your photo and then print it correctly for you to attach to your application. However, these places charge a fee for the service. If you have a good camera and printer at home, take your own photos and print them, but be careful because the requirements are strict--if you submit an unacceptable photo, your application may be delayed or rejected.
Instructions
Take the Photo
1. Tack a white sheet up against a wall in your house. This will be your background.
2. Arrange your lighting so that diffused light (bright light but not shining directly on the sheet) covers the part of the sheet where the person will stand.
3. Dress the applicant appropriately. According to the Department of State, he should wear "normal street attire, without hat or dark glasses." If the person normally wears a hearing aid, wig or prescription glasses, he should do so now as well. If the applicant is a woman, a headband or barrettes, if they obscure the natural hairline, are not allowed.
4. Place the person whose photo is going to be taken in front of the white sheet. He should stand straight up with arms to his sides. Have him look straight ahead and assume a relaxed, natural facial expression with closed mouth (not smiling).
5. Stand at least six feet away from the sheet and look through the digital camera's viewfinder. Center the person's face in the middle of your frame. Zoom in or out until you can clearly see the person's face and upper body.
6. Take the picture using the camera's highest-resolution setting. Zoom out slightly and take the picture again. Zoom in and take it again. This gives you several photos to choose from in case one is too close or far away to be edited to the correct size. Make sure you have a steady hand and the person's face is clearly in focus--even slightly blurry photos will be rejected.
Edit the Photo
7. Upload the photos to your computer and open them using the photo editing software. Choose a photo that is clear and well-lit without any glare, has no shadows on the subject's face and contains a straightforward image of the subject.
8. Crop the photo so it measures exactly 2 inches by 2 inches. Now enlarge or decrease the actual image until the face measures between 1 and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. If you can't make these adjustments and have a clear image, try another of the pictures you took. This is a trial-and-error process, but be patient and keep working at until you get the ideal picture.
9. Print two color copies of the photo on thin photo-quality paper. View the photos again to ensure that the person's face appears in his natural color and facial expression. Photos that are too dark, overexposed or of low quality will not be accepted.
10. Cut the images out so no white photo paper shows around the edges. Make sure that your cut-out pictures are exactly 2 inches by 2 inches.
11. Attach the two identical photos to the passport application and submit it at a passport office within six months (photos must be retaken if they are more than six months old at the time of application).
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