Biometric Passport Photos

Some foreign governments will request or require a "biometric" photo for your passport. A biometric passport is a traditional passport that has an embedded electronic microprocessor chip within the cover. The chip contains information that can be used to authenticate your identity.

Your "biometric" photo is simply a digital image (a JPEG) that becomes part of the information embedded in that chip. It is taken with a digital camera and delivered to you via email in the exact same size required as a printed image might be.

If you're in need of a biometric photo for your foreign passport, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone other than an independent professional photographer who can do it. Newsome's Studio has been providing this service for many years.

Newsome's Studio of Photography is located at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa, FL 33618. Please call 813-968-2810 for an appointment.

DV Lottery Photos in Tampa

Every year, there's a rush for DV Lottery Photos in Tampa, indeed, across the US! To find a professional photographer in Tampa that can create the proper image that conforms to US standards for a Diversity Visa, and then provide that image in a digital format suitable for uploading, is a very difficult thing.

Along comes Newsome's Studio of Photography! We've been providing DV Lottery photos for years, and in Tampa, there is no better, more experienced professional photographer in this arena.

Located at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa (in Carrollwood), we work by appointment only and you'll have your digital image in about ten minutes.

Please call for an appointment 813-968-2810.

"Preferred Passport Photographer" in Tampa

The consulates of some countries keep a list. It's a list of photographers that they refer their citizens to for creating their passport photo that is guaranteed to pass their strict specifications.

Not all passport photos are created equal. The US is one of only three countries still using the Imperial Measurement System. The rest of the planet is on the Metric System, thus, their passport photos are measured in millimeters, not inches. If you're a citizen of Canada, the UK, Australia, Greece, or any number of other foreign countries, your passport photo might be 35x45mm, 50x70mm, 40x60mm, or even 33x48mm. The drug stores can't do this, they can only do 2x2 inches (51x51mm).

Newsome's Studio has been one of a VERY few photographers in the entire state of Florida who is on the preferred passport photographer list of SEVERAL foreign countries, and we got that way by doing it correctly over a very long period of time.

Newsome's is located at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa, FL and can accommodate your foreign passport photo requests in less than ten minutes.

By appointment only... 813-968-2810.

Top Five Reasons to Use a Professional

One might think "It's only a passport photo... who cares how bad it is?"

Well, you COULD adopt that attitude about it, but it may actually make difference with a customs agent nowadays. Here are five good reasons to care...

1. Size... Not all passport photos are created equal. The US passport photo is measured in inches, but all other countries measure theirs in millimeters. Drugstores and travel clubs have difficulty measuring in millimeters and keeping up with all the different sizes required by more than 200 countries.
2. Background... see above. The US requires white, the UK - gray, and Jamaica is either white, gray, or blue depending on skin tone, clothing and hair color.
3. Color... a professional studio will use a professional lighting system that is calibrated with their printers. Drug stores often use available light, which changes depending on if the scene is lit with fluorescent lights, tungsten lights, or window light (each producing a different color cast).
4. Sharpness... using a professional lighting system (as above), your images should be crispy sharp. Using available light at a drugstore, the slower shutter speed required to get a good exposure means there will likely be hand movement by the camera operator.
5. Experience... a professional photographer makes their living by creating high quality images, whether it's a passport photo or a canvas wall portrait. A drugstore employee may be brand new at the job and by the time he or she has figured out what they're doing, they've either quit, been fired, or even promoted, replaced by another brand new employee.

Bottom line, even though it's "only a passport photo," go to a professional and avoid getting it wrong, wasting precious time and money by having to do it all over again.

Newsome's Studio is by appointment only. Call 813-968-2810 for your ten minute appointment!

Tampa's Passport Photo Expert

To our foreign citizen friends and neighbors... when the day comes to update your passport for your home country, your choices on where to get you passport photo will be very limited.

If your native country is anything other than the US, Burma, or Liberia, then your passport photos are very likely measured in millimeters, not inches. This means that the drug stores and travel clubs either can't, or won't, be able to correctly provide the images your need.

When knowledge of the metric system is required, and every country has different size requirements, you really need to call someone who is an expert at foreign and international passport photos. Lucky for you, the most experienced and qualified foreign passport photographer in Florida, resides right here in Tampa.

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

By appointment only... call 813-968-2810 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.

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

An Honest to Goodness "Thank you"

I'm pleased to say that here at Newsome's Studio, we receive the occasional thank you note for work we've done. It's always gratifying to know that we deliver a quality product that our clients are thrilled with.

Recently, I photographed Carol for her Jamaican Passport. It was sized and cut to their stated specs, but oddly, although their stated specs called for a vertical image (35x45mm) with a head size of between 25-35mm from the chin to the top of the head, the sample photo that the Jamaican consulate provided Carol, showed a 2x2 inch image. I followed the vertical route and was confident it would pass. It didn't. They requested to be able to see more of her shoulders, meaning her head size would need to be smaller than the 25mm minimum. It was a catch 22.

She called me, very distressed, because she knew we'd provided them with exactly what they'd asked for, but didn't know what to do. I immediately resized the images so her shoulders were more evident, putting her head size slightly below 25mm. I mailed the images to her the same day, at no charge to her whatsoever (we guarantee our work here).

It passed.

She was extremely happy, and shocked that I wasn't going to charge her anything extra - not even postage! So much so, she hand-wrote me a Thank You note! I LOVE Thank You notes!

So Thank YOU, Carol, for your lovely note of thanks, and I look forward to assisting you and your family members with any of their photographic needs in the future!

Newsome's Studio has TWO Websites!

In today's world of advertising, the first place people look to find someone to fill their need is the Internet. They'll either use Google, Bing, Yahoo, Yelp, or any number of other search engines. Google is the most popular, and tries to match up their key search words with the most up-to-date information on the web. They serve up ten results at a time (page one).

A business's goal is to be found on page one. A SMART business's goal is to occupy more than one of those ten positions, increasing the likelihood that a potential client will click on their listing.

If you're looking for a passport photographer in the Tampa, St Pete area, you'll likely use the search terms "passport photographer, Tampa." If you're in need of a Canadian or UK passport photo, you're going to get more accurate results by adding "Canadian" or "UK" to your search term thread.

Newsome's Studio of Photography has been providing the Bay Area residents with high quality passport photos for years, and particularly those residents who are in need of passport photos for Canada, the UK, or ANY foreign country.

This blog is just one website that may come up in your search results, but we also have two complete studio websites and two more blogs that address passport photography, both foreign and domestic. Those two sites are www.newsomesstudio.com and www.newsomestudio.com. Feel free to check either site out and read up on why Newsome's Studio is the preferred photographer recommended by the Canadian consulate, the Greek consulate, the British consulate, and the Australian consulate.

Located in North Tampa (Carrollwood), we work by appointment only. Give us a call at 813-968-2810.

International Foreign Passport Photos, Tampa

If you're in need of International Foreign Passport Photos in the Tampa, St Pete area, your choices on where to go are limited. Your local drug store isn't going to do it. Oh, they might TRY, bless their hearts, but to get it right will often require an experienced studio photographer who can customize your image to your country's specific needs.

A Canadian passport photo is 50x70mm. A British or UK passport photo is 35x45mm. A Greek passport photo is 40x60mm. A passport photo for India is 35x35mm. And for each of these outter dimension sizes, the head size is different as well.

When it's time to update your foreign passport photo in Tampa, call the experts, Newsome's Studio of Photography in Carrollwood (North Tampa), located at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa, FL 33618. 

by appointment only... 813-968-2810

Biometric Passport Photo, Tampa

Sometimes, traveling abroad may require a "biometric" passport photo. All US Passports are biometric, because the passport itself contains a chip with information about the passport holder. The photo itself, is usually the created with the same specifications as a normal US Passport photo (2x2"), but occasionally, we get requests to create it using European specs (35x45mm). When you come in for a biometric passport photo, please bring your paperwork with you so we can produce the proper sized photos for you.

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

Call for an appointment at 813-968-2810

Passport Photos, Foreign Passports, Tampa

Newsome's Studio of Photography is Tampa's most experienced provider of foreign passport photos. The entire planet, with the exception of the US and Liberia, is now on the metric system. That means their images are measured in millimeters, not inches. If you're a citizen of a foreign country and you need to update your passport, you cannot go to the drug store for a your passport photo - you MUST go to a professional photography studio who can provide your images, customized to your country's specifications. Don't waste your time even asking the druggist if they can accommodate a 35x45mm or a 50x70mm passport photo - they can't.

Give us a call at 813-968-2810 and let Newsome's Studio ease your pain!

US Passport Photographer, Tampa,

Yes, you can go to the drug store to get your US Passport photo updated. Yes, it’s very inexpensive and you don’t need an appointment. Yes, they will use a low resolution, consumer grade, point and shoot camera, under fluorescent lighting conditions (explaining the green tint on your face), against a window shade (that’s going to be gray instead of white). Yes, it has a good chance of being slightly blurry, because no flash was used to freeze the exposure, and yes, it has a chance of getting rejected by the US Passport Office for not conforming to their stated quality standards. But hey, you got toothpaste while you were there, right? Good for you.

Yes, you can come to Newsome’s Studio of Photography for your US Passport photo. Yes, it’s a little more expensive than a drug store and an appointment is highly recommended. Yes, we will use a very high resolution, professional grade camera, and a professional three light with a reflector flash system (explaining the perfect color on your face), against a pure white background (avoiding shadows because of the additional background light). Yes, it is guaranteed to be razor sharp, because that’s how we roll, and yes, it has a 100% chance of being accepted by the US Passport Office, not only conforming to their stated quality standards, but totally blowing them away. But hey, I didn’t sell you any toothpaste, but then again, I’m not a drug store pretending to be a photography studio.

Newsome’s Studio. Where people go to have professional photographs taken. Not buy toothpaste.

Greek Passport Photos, Tampa

My good friends at the Greek Consulate here in Tampa have been wonderful. My son attended St John Greek Orthodox Day School from K3-8th grade, so I've had a good connection to the Greek community for over 20 years.

The Greek Passport photo is a unique size. While many European passport photos call for 35x45mm, and the Canadian passport photo are 50x70mm, the Greek passport photos fall in between at 40x60mm. This is not something that can be obtained at a drug store, you must go to a professional photography studio who can customize your images for you.

Newsome's Studio of Photography, located in North Tampa at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219 (Cypress Point Office Park in Carrollwood), can provide you with high quality passport photos, guaranteed to make the Greek Consulate smile when they see them.

Call for details, by appointment only. 813-968-2810

International Passport Photos, Tampa Photographer

I asked a new client how he found me... "Google."
What search terms did you use? "International Passport Photos, Tampa Photographer"

Interesting. I've often used the term "foreign" when describing my passport services, but don't recall using "International." Well, live and learn!

Yes, Newsome's Studio of Photography does passports for our International residents, living throughout the entire Central Florida area. If you're from Canada, the UK, Poland, Nigeria, or New Zealand... you can call us when it's time to update your passport, immigration status, visa, or citizenship papers.

Located at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219 in the Cypress Point Office Park (behind Starbucks at the corner of Linebaugh and North Dale Mabry Hwy in Carrollwood), just call 813-968-2810 for an appointment and you'll have your "International" passport photos within 10 minutes!

See you soon!

German Passport Photos Tampa

Within the last week, I've done three German Passport Photos for different clients. It had been almost a year since the last one, so it was unusual to get three right in a row like that, but good things come in threes, right?

A German Passport requires a 35mm x 45mm image on a light gray background, with a specific head size (32-36mm). Not many places can be so specific in sizes, and most will only measure in inches, so millimeters is near impossible for some.

If you're a German national, living here in the Tampa area (or Central Florida area), give us a call at 813-968-2810 when it is time to update your German passport. Newsome's Studio is now located (as of June 1, 2015) at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219 in the Cypress Point Office Park (behind Starbucks at the corner of Linebaugh and Dale Mabry Hwy).

Passport Photos, Photographer, Tampa

Applying for US Citizenship? Time to update your green card, immigration card, or US Passport?

Go where you can count on getting the best image possible (face it, you're going to live with it for what? TEN YEARS?).

Your choices are great, but not so great... You can go to the drug store for a US sized (2x2 inch) passport style photo. The drug store images are very cheap, and for good reason... it's not a professional photography studio, it's a drug store. They sell drugs, toothpaste, and hairspray. The images taken by their counter clerk are taken with a consumer grade camera and less than ideal lighting conditions. They loose money selling them because it's a "loss-leader." Something designed to get you in the door, so you'll buy toothpaste and hairspray - and DRUGS, where their REAL profit is.

I don't sell toothpaste. The drug store shouldn't sell passport photos.

Give us a call when it's time to update your passport photo. Newsome's Studio of Photography, located in Carrollwood's Cypress Point Office Park at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219 in North Tampa, 813-968-2810.

Oh, and brush your teeth before you come. :-)

UK British Passport Photographer, Tampa

Finding a place to update your British passport photo can be daunting. The drug stores, AAA, or Post Office won't do them. The reason? A UK passport photo is measured in millimeters, not inches. A standard US 2x2" photo is the wrong size! And the background must be light gray, not white.

Newsome's Studio of Photography, located at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy in North Tampa Cypress Point Office Park in Carrollwood) has been providing our foreign residents in the Central Florida area with top quality passport photos for nearly three decades.

If you're in need of updating your British Passport Photo in Tampa, call 813-968-2810 and schedule an appointment. You'll leave with your finished passport photos in less than ten minutes.

New Zealand Passport Photos, Tampa

Seems New Zealand is among the first countries to stop requiring paper passport photos and accept digital submissions only. At least that's what I deduced from the New Zealand government's passport photo submission page on their government web site.

The new requirements forego the need for a paper photo, and are now requiring a digital file.

Newsome's Studio of Photography, located in Main Street Plaza at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219 in Carrollwood (North Tampa) has been providing high quality passport photos for any country on the planet (over 50 different countries in just the last three years). If you're a citizen of another country and need to update your citizenship, immigration, passport, or visa photo, call 813-968-2810 and schedule your appointment today. Fast, affordable, and guaranteed to pass the specs from any foreign government.