Canadian Passport Photos are the BEST

Tampa's Canadian citizens really do have options when it comes to updating their Canadian passport photo.

• they can go to Canada to have it made (not very economical); 
• they can go to a drug store (they'll tell you they do them, but they don't really know the specs and will very likely just give you a US passport photo which will be rejected); 
• they can go to a package shipping company (who will try, bless their hearts, but have no more business offering photos than I do of offering overnight shipping);
• or they can come to Newsome's Studio of Photography (and be guaranteed to get a high quality, perfectly exposed Canadian passport photo, that will match the Canadian passport specifications to the millimeter).

So consider your options, and employ a little common sense (something our neighbors to the north are famous for), and call us at 813-968-2810 to schedule your ten minute appointment to update your Canadian passport photo. Serving all of Tampa, St Pete, and indeed - the entire Central Florida population for all foreign and International passport, visa, citizenship, permanent residency, and ID photos for the entire planet.

Located at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa, FL 33618

International Passport Photographer Tampa

Hey, you're an International traveler, how awesome is that? If you're a US citizen, you'll need an updated US passport (one that won't expire within the next six months). And if you're a citizen of a foreign country, or a US citizen who plans to be traveling to China or some other country where a special visa photo is required, you're going to likely need a visa photo measured in millimeters.

That's where Newsome's Studio of Photography comes in. We are experts at producing customized passport and visa photos for all countries, regardless of size or specs. We've darn near seen it all, and we've got a great track record for making bureaucrats around the globe very happy.

Whether you need a 33x48mm Chinese Visa photo; a 35x45mm Australian passport photo, or a 50x70mm Canadian passport photo, we can take care of you in less than ten minutes. Just give us a call at 813-968-2810 and schedule yourself a ten minute appointment and get it right the first time!

DV Lottery Photo Photographer

It's that time again! November 17, 2017 is the deadline to submit your application for the Electronic Diversity Visa Lottery (aka DV Lottery).

You're going to need a passport size image that conforms to the size requirements similar to the US Passport, however, it isn't printed, it's submitted digitally, online only.

Essentially, that means you'll need to come to a photography studio (drug stores don't supply digital passport photos), and get a 600 pixel x 600 pixel JPEG, with your head sized properly for to their required specifications.

For your custom DV Lottery photo, all Tampa and St Pete area residents should call Newsome's Studio of Photography, located in Carrollwood (North Tampa) at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa (in Cypress Point Office Park, behind Starbucks at the corner of Linebaugh and N. Dale Mabry Hwy).

Call for an appointment, 813-968-2810.

US Passport Photographs

You might not know it, but the specs for a US Passport Photo have changed dramatically in recent years. Even I hadn't noticed it, but recently, I came in possession of all my mother's old passports. The style of the passport itself hasn't changed much, but the photo in it has.

Her oldest one was from the 1960's when she and my dad took a trip to Paris. Her passport photo was black and white (naturally), but it wasn't a close up, square to the camera, no glasses, and no smile. In fact, it was taken at an angle, sitting in a chair, 3/4 length (to her waist), and smiling like she'd just won a game of Monopoly!

As the years went by (every 10) her photos slowly began to conform to what we're all used to seeing today; they were slowly getting closer to the camera, more square to the lens, in color, but still smiling (smiling is something that is not allowed in foreign passport photos, and the US is starting to "frown upon" as well).

Nowadays, people practically look like they'd look if they'd just gotten off a nine hour plane ride full of screaming children, eaten nothing but peanuts, had no sleep in the last 24 hours, and were ready to kick a puppy! I suppose the custom agents just want us to look like we're going to look when we reach the customs desk, ya think?

US passport photos don't HAVE to look horrible, but evidently the border patrol WANTS them to.

Make the best of it and call Newsome's Studio at 813-968-2810. We'll help you look your "passport best!"

Greek Passport Photographer, Tampa

Fortunately for our Greek friends who live in the Tampa, St Pete area, the Greek Consulate is located in downtown Tampa at 400 N Tampa St, Tampa, FL 33602. This is important because in order for a Greek citizen to renew their Greek passport, they must appear in person at the Consulate.

And again, fortunately for them, Newsome's Studio of Photography in Tampa is on the Greek Consulate's "preferred photographer" list for providing the 40x60mm Greek passport photo they're required to have.

What that means is, Greek citizens from all over the state of Florida will make two appointments that day, one to visit Newsome's Studio to have their Greek passport photo made, then another, just 30-60 minutes later at the Greek Consulate to renew their passport (it's only 20-30 minutes from the studio, depending on traffic/time of day).

Located in Carrollwood's Cypress Point Office Park, at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa (behind Starbucks at the corner of Linebaugh Ave and N. Dale Mabry Hwy), Newsome's can provide your 40x60mm images in about 10 minutes.

We work by appointment only, so call 813-968-2810 and try to schedule it an hour prior to your appointment at the Consulate.

Why the Sad Face?

There's a prevailing theory on why government officials do not want you to smile in your passport photos...

They want you to look like you're going to look after traveling all night in a packed airplane, surrounded by screaming children, irritated travelers, being fed peanuts for dinner, and crammed into a seat meant for a short, skinny, waif.

You need to look angry, hungry, tired, frustrated, disheveled, and worn out.

Okay, maybe not quite that bad, but you get the idea. They want your photo and your face to look similar once the machine at the customs counter tries to match you to your passport photo. But that doesn't mean you REALLY have to look that way. In fact, here at Newsome's Studio, we pride ourselves on providing you the very best passport photo on the market. We light it properly, we make it razor sharp, and we allow your eyes to smile without forcing your mouth to follow suit. It's the best of both worlds!

Located at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa, in Cypress Point Office Park behind Starbucks at the corner of Linebaugh and Dale Mabry Hwy.

By Appointment Only... 813-968-2810

Chinese Visa Photos for Travel Groups

More and more, we're getting calls for Chinese Visa and Chinese Passport photos. I suspect there's a big push for tourism there, because many of the calls I'm getting are from people who are registered to go visit China with a tour group.

The Chinese Visa photo is an odd size, 33x48mm, making it impossible for drug stores to accommodate (they basically only do US anyway, and that's measured in inches - or 51x51mm). To ask them to cut a 2x2 down to 33x48mm is akin to asking a barber to only trim three millimeters off your hair, and then attempting to measure it to see if they did correctly.

If you're part of a tour group, or know of one that is planning a group excursion to China, give us a call. We can easily accommodate the Chinese Visa photo for them in less than 10 minutes and they'll walk out with their finished images in hand.

Newsome's Studio is located in North Tampa (Carrollwood), at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, in Cypress Point Office Park behind Starbucks, at the corner of Linebaugh and Dale Mabry.

Call for an appointment, at 813-968-2810.

Central Florida's Passport Photo Experts

The most experienced Passport Photographer in Central Florida... right here!

Canadian Passport Photographer St Petersburg

To find a good Canadian Passport Photographer in St Petersburg or anywhere in the Tampa Bay area is no easy task. In fact, an incredible number of Canadians will travel from all over the state, some from as far away as Miami, Orlando, and Jacksonville just to find a professional photography studio like Newsome's Studio of Photography that can successfully create a Canadian Passport Photo.

After all, a 50x70mm image is a very precise measurement. The US passport photo is a 2x2 inch image, or 51x51mm metrically. A typical drugstore only has the ability to create the US size, not the metric Canadian passport size, so finding a quality passport photographer in St Pete or Tampa means finding Newsome's Studio!

In less than ten minutes, you will walk out with your finished images, precisely measured and cut to spec that conforms to the Canadian Consulate's requirements for a Canadian passport photo.

Located at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa, FL 33618 in Cypress Point Office Park at the corner of Linebaugh Ave and N. Dale Mabry Hwy (behind Starbucks, one block north of Busch Blvd).

Please call 813-968-2810 for an appointment.

Canadian Permanent Residency Photos

At one time, the Canadian Permanent Residency photos were required to be 35x45mm. That changed a while back and now matches the photo size requirements of the Canadian Passport photos, 50x70mm, with a head size of between 31-36mm.

The studio's name, address, and date taken, along with the subject's name and birthdate are required on the back of one image for the Canada permanent residency photo.

They are very specific that the image has a white background with no shadows, meaning that only a professional lighting system that utilizes a background flash will pass. It's very dicey asking a drug store employee to cut the images down to an exact size in millimeters, because they're very likely going to be using a paper cutter or a pair of scissors, neither of which are very accurate. At Newsome's Studio, we use a tool that has been custom built to cut Canadian Permanent Residency photos and Canadian Passport photos to the exact size of 50x70mm.

Don't waste precious time and money going anywhere but Tampa's Best Passport Photographer - Newsome's Studio of Photography, Inc.

Located at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa, FL (in Carrollwood, at the corner of Linebaugh Ave and N Dale Mabry Hwy behind Starbucks).

By appointment only, 813-968-2810.

Florida Medical Marijuana Card Photos

Cancer sucks! God Bless those who must fight this battle personally. Great strides have been made for those on the front lines, and one thing that has made a difference in the battle is Medical Marijuana.

The State of Florida, like many other states, is slowly warming up to the idea that Medical Marijuana is a genuine remedy for those suffering from the effects of cancer treatment. To that end, they now have a system in place to assist them, and it requires plenty of governmental bureaucracy. One very small but important piece to that bureaucracy is a government issued ID card, verifying your legitimate need for Medical Marijuana.

On this ID card, goes your photo. That photo must conform to a set of standards laid out by the state government. Newsome's Studio of Photography can provide the photo that properly adheres to those standards.

To obtain your ID card, this photo must be uploaded to the state website that issues the card. We can assist with that right here if necessary, or we can email you the image to upload on your own.

Newsome's Studio of Photography is located in North Tampa (Carrollwood) at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa (Cypress Point Office Park, behind Starbucks at the corner of Linebaugh Ave and N. Dale Mabry Hwy).

All photography is by appointment, but only takes 10 minutes. Please call us at 813-968-2810 to schedule a convenient time for you.

All the best,
Newsome's Studio

In a World, Where Professional Passport Photographers Rule...

If I were King of the World...

• All drug stores would stick to selling hairspray and toothpaste. and forget trying to sell passport photos.
• All auto clubs would stick to selling car and travel insurance, and forget trying to take passport photos.
• All on-line websites that claim to be able to convert your poorly lit, out of focus, cell phone selfie into a passable passport photo for any country, would just go away - maybe just become telephone solicitors, because they're just as annoying.

When it comes to passport photos, they're rarely described as "art," however, there IS an art to nailing the proper specifications for creating an Australian passport photo that the Australian government will accept. Same with the Canadians. There's a bureaucracy in place that is guaranteed to confound most citizens into supplying the wrong photos for their foreign passport nearly every time. That's because foreign passport photos are not measured in inches (the common measurement of US passport images supplied by drug stores and auto clubs), they're measured in millimeters (the prevailing standard of measurement everywhere on the planet except the US). 

So, when it comes to obtaining a properly sized passport photo for anywhere - INCLUDING the US, you'd be best served contacting a PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER, not a dime store clerk or a travel agent!

Newsome's Studio of Photography - by appointment only - 813-968-2810.

Russian Passport and Russian Visa Photos

Hey, speaking of Russians...

They sure seem to be in the news a lot lately, but leave it to the circus, formerly known as "the media," and you'd think Russians are just a bunch of Boogeymen. Fact is, I've met many, and nothing seems to be farther from the truth! 

The Tampa area has plenty of ex-pats from Russia, as well as plenty of current Russian citizens. I know, because they come HERE to update their Russian Passport photo and their Russian Visa photo. 

A Russian citizen cannot go to the local drugstore, the auto club, or the post office for those photos, because the size of the photo is very specific - and it's measured in millimeters, not inches. A Russian Passport photo must be 35x45mm on the outer edge, with a head size of 30mm from the chin to the crown of the head. It must have a white background and you're not allowed to smile - closed mouth only. This looks NOTHING like the standard US passport photo, so our Russian friends are forced to go to someone who is an expert at creating foreign or International passport photos that adhere to a given foreign government's stated requirements.

Newsome's Studio of Photography, located in North Tampa (Carrollwood), at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, has been providing high quality passport photos for Florida's foreign residents for over 30 years. 

Don't waste your money and precious time going anywhere else for your passport photo, come to the experts and get it done right the first time!

By appointment only, 813-968-2810.

Specialty Passport Photos

At Newsome's Studio, we're not fond of saying "we specialize in..." because it's overused terminology in the photo industry. HOWEVER... when it comes to specialty passport photos, such as those required by foreign countries... Australia (35x45mm), Canada (50x70mm), Greece (40x60mm) or even Chinese Visa Photos (33x48mm), Newsome's Studio of Photography is not shy, nor exaggerating, when we say "we specialize in specialty passport photos."

If you're a citizen of another country, living or temporarily posted here in the US, and you're in need of updating your foreign or international passport photos, you might as well save time, money, and aggravation, by having your specialty passport photos taken by Tampa's Foreign Passport Specialist! There, I said it. And I've got the track record to back it up!

Located at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 2019, Tampa, we work by appointment only, so call 813-968-2810 and you'll be in and out in less than ten minutes with your finished specialty passport photos.

"Australian Passport Photos are HARD"

They really aren't, not if you know what you're doing and what the Australian Consulate expects from you.

Here's the thing... An Australian Passport photo is required to be 35x45mm - not that unusual - very similar to most of Europe. The head size must fall between 32-36mm from the chin to the top of the skull and taken on a white background. Again, not hard if you're an experienced professional photographer who specializes in foreign or international passport photos.

The "hard part" is the print resolution that Australia requires. They want your passport photos to be printed at 450 to 600 dpi. They will view it under a loop, or a very strong magnifying glass. If the image shows any sign of banding or ink jet printing (a no-no), they will flat out reject the image in a millisecond (because... millimeters, remember?).

Newsome's Studio resolved this by investing in a special printer, just to accommodate Australian and New Zealand Passport Photos. Since then, we've been successfully creating and providing passport photos for our Aussie friends in the Tampa/St Pete market, some coming from as far away as Miami and Jacksonville.

The Australian Consulate in Washington, DC has declared Newsome's Studio of Photography in Tampa as a "Preferred Photographer" for providing Australian Passport Photos.

Located in North Tampa (Carrollwood) at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219 in Cypress Point Office Park (corner of Linebaugh and N. Dale Mabry behind Starbucks), you can receive your high quality passport photos in a matter of minutes.

All work guaranteed, and by appointment only. 813-968-2810

Will the US Ever Accept the Metric System?

When it comes to stubbornness, the good ol' USA has GOT to lead the pack. Nearly the entire planet uses the Metric System as their standard tool of measurement. The only countries still clinging to the Imperial Measurement System are the US, Burma, and Liberia!

LET IT GO!

The Metric System is easier! One of these two Presidents attempted to force the US to change, Ford or Carter, I don't remember which, and it failed miserably. The closest thing we got to it was a two liter bottle of COKE! Of course, our medicines are all measured in grams and milligrams, but as consumers, we have no idea what the heck that really means.

Now, what does any of this have to do with ME? Well, as a professional photography studio that offers passport photos, we're called on regularly to create passport photos for citizens of foreign countries that live here in the US. Their country's specs for passport photos are measured in millimeters, not inches, therefore, the drugstores and auto clubs cannot accommodate them. Those folks haven't got the time nor inclination to learn the specs on some 200 countries around the planet, they can barely get a 2x2" US passport correct, much less a 33x48mm CHINESE VISA photo!

So that leaves our foreign citizen friends with little to no choice on where to go... ALMOST! Because Newsome's Studio of Photography has been providing foreign and International passport services for over 30 years, we've perfected the process. Don't waste another second calling someone who stammers just trying to SAY the word "millimeters." Call Newsome's now!

All work guaranteed, and by appointment only. 813-968-2810

International Passport Photos in Tampa

So, you're in the market for a photographer in the Tampa area that can accommodate your home country's requirements for creating a passport photo that is measured in millimeters. Well, look no further... Newsome's Studio of Photography is Florida's foremost expert in the creation of passport style photos for ALL countries across the globe.

Whether yours is a British, Greek, Australian, Nigerian, Kuwait, or Canadian passport, we can handle it. All countries (except the US, Burma, and Liberia) measure their photos in millimeters. We have the specs. We know what to do. We do them every day.

Newsome's Studio is located in north Tampa (Carrollwood) at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa, FL 33618 (in Cypress Point Office Park at the corner of Linebaugh Ave and N. Dale Mabry Hwy, behind Starbucks).

Please call for a 10 minute appointment - 813-968-2810.

Canadians in the Tampa Area

It's always been my understanding that our friends and neighbors to the north who live in Florida part-time, typically arrive here around Labor Day (first week of September) and go back north around Easter (April). 

Not sure if the April 16th Easter weekend has anything to do with it, but the uptick in Canadians renewing their passports had jumped dramatically since February. I suppose if you're needing to update your Canadian Passport before crossing the border, now is as good a time as any!

Newsome's Studio of Photography routinely provides 6-10 Canadian passport photos per week. And considering how difficult it is for many photographers to create an acceptable Canadian passport photo of 50x70mm, with a head size of 31-36mm, in focus, and well lit, it's comforting to know that Newsome's has such a stellar reputation with the Canadian Consulate, that we're on their preferred photographer list for photos.

Give us a call, 813-968-2810 and schedule your ten minute appointment.

Why Does It Cost SO MUCH?

Short answer... "It doesn't."

Back story...
Occasionally, I receive a call from someone who needs a foreign passport photo taken. Foreign passport photos are measured in millimeters, not inches. Therefore, the drug stores and auto clubs can't do them - their abilities stop at doing the standard US sized photos - 2x2 inch. If you ask them to do a Canadian passport photo which measures 50x70mm (2 x 2 3/4 inch), they can't, because their printer only makes 2x2" images. If you ask them to do a UK Passport photo, they can't, because at 35x45mm it's too precise a measurement for them to match, and the UK government will reject it if it's not done perfectly.

Additionally, an Australian passport photo or a New Zealand passport photo must be printed at a higher resolution than most other passport photos, which requires a special printer, something those other guys don't have.

The only choices a foreign resident has, is to go directly to their country's consulate, which may be in Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, or Washington, DC... or go to a professional photography studio that specializes in foreign passport photos like Newsome's Studio. The cost difference for a foreign citizen to go to Washington, DC for a passport photo, or coming to Newsome's Studio is HUNDREDS of DOLLARS! NO PLANE TICKET REQUIRED! Not to mention ground transportation, rental car, and possibly a HOTEL!

No, Virginia, a foreign passport photo taken at Newsome's Studio DOESN'T cost so much. Not when you consider the alternative.

Newsome's is located at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219 in Cypress Point Office Park. Please call for an appointment and we can accommodate your requests in less than ten minutes.

813-968-2810

US Passport Photos Available in Tampa

You actually have a choice. You can go to the drug store or your local auto club office and have your US Passport photo made, or you can go to Newsome's Studio in Carrollwood (North Tampa).

Be aware though, that there will be differences. For instance, the cameras and lighting used by non-professional photographers will vary greatly. They are largely very simply "point and shoot" cameras using "auto" settings that produce a low resolution image. The lenses on those cameras cannot be manually focused, and if the settings have any manual availability at all, the operator likely has little to no experience with it, meaning if your image looks orange, they may not know how to fix it by changing the settings on the camera (yes, this is a very common problem).

At Newsome's Studio, you're being photographed by a 30+ year professional who uses only the very best photography equipment, camera, and lighting available. Face it folks, you're going to be looking at that image for 10 years... TEN YEARS! Get it done right. Go to Newsome's Studio at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa.

Passport Photo Business is BOOMING!

I have no idea why. I don't know if the recent political developments have anything to do with or not, but the passport business is on FIRE right now.

During the course of a normal week, I'd say we provide passport photos for about five Canadians, two UK, one Australian, and maybe one or two from lands around the planet.

During the last month, I'd say we've provided passport photo services for at least 25 Canadians, 15 UK, a dozen Aussies, and maybe ten or more from parts unknown.

I'm not complaining, I'm just making an observation and wondering "why?" Whatever the motivation might be, I'm proud to be able to meet so many wonderful people from around our fair planet, and provide them with the very best passport, immigration, citizenship, permanent residency, green card, visa, and ID photos in the world.

Newsome's Studio of Photography, located at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa (in Cypress Point Office Park, behind Starbucks at the NW corner of Linebaugh and Dale Mabry).

Call for an appointment - 813-968-2810.