{"id":3507,"date":"2013-07-10T13:35:22","date_gmt":"2013-07-10T18:35:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/blog\/?p=3507"},"modified":"2019-08-27T20:50:30","modified_gmt":"2019-08-27T20:50:30","slug":"passport-photo-tips-common-mistakes-to-avoid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/blog\/passport-photo-tips-common-mistakes-to-avoid\/","title":{"rendered":"Passport Photo Tips &#038; Common Mistakes to Avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Unlike other photos you have taken, your passport photo won\u2019t be about finding your good side or taking the shot from the most flattering angle. Your passport will have to adhere to a very strict set of government regulations to make sure that it will be approved by the State Department.<\/p>\n<p><img wpfc-lazyload-disable=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-3508 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/passportphotos2.jpg\" alt=\"photos of a man and woman against a camera\" width=\"260\" height=\"194\" \/>Some of the most important rules for passport photos include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Full color only<\/li>\n<li>Final size 2\u201d x 2\u201d with head measuring between 1\u201d and 1\u00a0<sup>3<\/sup>\/<sub>8<\/sub>\u201d from bottom of chin to top of head<\/li>\n<li>Use a recent photo taken within the last 6 months<\/li>\n<li>Use a white background<\/li>\n<li>Take facing directly ahead at the camera for full-face view<\/li>\n<li>Eyes open \/ neutral expression<\/li>\n<li>You may wear glasses if you normally wear them \u2013 but no dark or tinted lenses &amp; no glare from glasses in photo<\/li>\n<li>No hats or head coverings<\/li>\n<li>No shadows on your face<\/li>\n<li>No uniforms<\/li>\n<li><strong>As of November 1st, 2016, you are no longer allowed to wear glasses in your passport photo.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is important to understand these regulations before submitting your passport photos. If your passport application is delayed because of unacceptable photos, it can take up to three weeks to receive notification by mail \u2013 and you may not have time to take and submit new photos before your scheduled trip.<\/p>\n<p>Here are the top 6 reasons passport photos are rejected:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Incorrect Size \u2013 Photo must measure exactly 2\u201dx2\u201d without a white border.<\/li>\n<li>Over-Exposure or Lightness \u2013 Glare in the photo or light reflecting on face, eyes.<\/li>\n<li>Shadows and Dark Spots \u2013 All facial features must be fully seen and recognizable.<\/li>\n<li>Blurred Focus \u2013 Standard distance for shooting is about 3 feet. Otherwise, facial features may be blurred.<\/li>\n<li>Glasses and Hats \u2013 do not wear things that obscure the face in any way. Glasses are allowed only with a medical certificate, so most people will have to remove them. Even then, they may not shade your face.<\/li>\n<li>Improper Profile \/ Camera Angle \u2013 Face the camera full on, looking directly into the camera. Even a subtle head tilt can result in your picture being rejected. Picture must include your entire profile from crown of head to tops of shoulders.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>A valuable service of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/newlp\/\" title=\"RushMyPassport\">RushMyPassport.com<\/a>\u00a0is knowing right away if there is an issue with your passport photos. \u00a0If there is a problem, you\u2019ll find out that same day so we can expedite the process.<\/p>\n<p>Passport photos can be taken at a local Wal-Mart or a local drug store chain like CVS, Walgreens or Rite Aid. Prices average about $7 to $8. Some local post offices also offer passport photo services priced at about $15. If you\u2019re more concerned with having an attractive photo, you can also opt for a professional photographer to take the photos. Just remember that professional photos will cost a lot more than you would pay elsewhere \u2013 and make sure that the photographer is aware of all the regulations for passport photos. \u00a0If you decide to take the picture yourself, be sure to follow the government guidelines and make sure the final photos measure exactly 2 inches x 2 inches. You may print the photos on a photo-quality color printer using special photo paper.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unlike other photos you have taken, your passport photo won\u2019t be about finding your good side or taking the shot from the most flattering angle. Your passport will have to adhere to a very strict set of government regulations to make sure that it will be approved by the State Department. Some of the most [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[358,359,360,25,361],"class_list":["post-3507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-passport-photos","tag-applications","tag-government-requirements","tag-mistakes","tag-passport-photos","tag-rules"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3507","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3507"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3507\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11017,"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3507\/revisions\/11017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rushmypassport.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}