How NOT to Take Your Own Passport Photos

Filed Under "Tutorial/Education"

Don't be "that guy."

"That Guy" read a tutorial online instructing him on how to take his own passport photo. Now, while passport photography isn't dentistry, it does have a few rules and guidelines that, if not met, will cause a delay or total rejection of your passport documents.

The tutorial says "find a light colored wall as your background." XXXX (buzzing sound)

The US Passport requires a white wall. Any colors (yes, even a nice soft pastel) will cause a rejection stamp to be employed.

The tutorial says "any camera will do, even a cell phone." XXXX (buzzing sound)

The tutorial says "stand near a window." XXXX (buzzing sound)

The US Passport Office will reject images that are out of focus, bad lighting (overhead lighting causes "raccoon eyes" and window lighting will cause unwanted shadows).

The tutorial says "use your camera's pop up flash if it has one." XXXX (buzzing sound)

That pop up flash will likely cause "red eye" because that's what pop up flashes do. It will DEFINITELY cause "mullet hair" which is a shadow on the wall, just behind the head that makes you appear to be sporting a mullet.

If you're a die hard DIY'er who is hell bent on saving yourself a few bucks, go ahead and give it a shot. All you have to lose is time, and if time is on your side, go for it.

But if you value your time and you'd really like your passport photo to be sharp, well lit, properly adjusted for color, and NOT delay your passport - you know, something you might even be PROUD of, then give us call and in ten minutes you'll have just that!

Newsome's Studio is located at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219 in North Tampa (Carrollwood). 813-968-2810

Dutch (Netherlands) Passport Photographer, Tampa

The Dutch Passport for the Netherlands states an outer dimension of 35x45mm, pretty much the standard size for a lot of European passport photos. The head size is between 26-30mm, slightly smaller than most, but not too far off. The Netherlands Passport Photo requirements also state that the eyes must be between 22-32mm from the bottom of the photo.

Specs like these cannot be met by anyone other than a professional photographer who can customize the size precisely at the point of photography. Drug stores? No. AAA? Nope. The Post Office? Forget about it.

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

Call for an appointment 813-968-2810 and in less than 10 minutes, you'll leave with the correct sized images - in hand!

Dutch Netherlands Passport Photographer, Tampa

British Passport Photographs, Tampa

I never really know which is proper (note, I pronounced "proper" with a British accent, as in "propa"). Is it a UK passport, or a British Passport? Or for that matter, an English Passport? No matter, they're all the same size, 35x45mm with a head size of between 29-34mm, and all on a light gray background. Of course, in England, the PROPA spelling is "GREY," while here in the colonies, it's "GRAY," but that's a horse of a different color, I suppose.

So, where does one go for a passport that's measured in millimeters? You can't go to the drug store, they only know "inches" and that'll never do. You go to Newsome's Studio of Photography, that's where!

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 in Carrollwood, just north of Busch Blvd.

Ten minutes and you're on your way, with a PROPA pair of British Passport photos, "Practically perfect in every way" as Mary Poppins would say!



British Passport Photographer, Tampa, Newsome's Studio of Photography

Citizenship & Immigration Photographer, Tampa

Welcome! You're going through the proper channels to legally live in the US. Congratulations and Thank You!

At some point, the paperwork you file will require a photo. That photo has certain requirements regarding size, color, background, head size, etc. WHO YA GONNA CALL?... NEWSOME'S STUDIO!

Newsome's Studio of Photography, 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 Hwy, just north of Busch Blvd).

You'll be in and out, with photos in hand, guaranteed to pass muster in less than 10 minutes! Get it right, get it quick, and get it done!

US Citizenship, Visa, and Immigration Photos - Tampa

Australian Passport Photos, Tampa

To obtain the correct size passport photos for an Australian passport in the Tampa area, you only need the name of one photographer... Newsome's Studio of Photography.

The correct size is 35mm x 45mm and the image resolution must be at least 450 ppi. Now, that sounds a lot like "blah blah by blah blah, and the image blah must be at least blah blah," AMIRITE? Well, don't worry, Newsome's has been deciphering the blah blahs for 30 years, and we have it down pat.

Call FOR AN APPOINTMENT (because we're not always here - busy, we are), at 813-968-2810. The studio is conveniently located in Carrollwood (North Tampa) in Cypress Point Office Park at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa, FL 33618.

IDP - International Driving Permit Photographer - Tampa

An International Driving Permit, or IDP, is useful as when planning vacations abroad where you may need to get behind the wheel of a car in foreign countries. They must be accompanied with a valid drivers license, but are recognized in several countries across the globe (see map below).

To obtain the proper documents, you must submit the proper photo. Don't risk delay by sending an image that won't pass muster!

Call Newsome's Studio of Photography, Inc at 813-968-2810, located in Cypress Point Office Park in Carrollwood, 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219. (Behind Starbucks at the corner of Linebaugh and Dale Mabry Hwy).

Dark Blue indicates countries that recognize the IDP.
By Joe DeRose - I created this work using a Wikipedia blank map., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8832669

Bulgarian Passport Photographer, Tampa

Welcome, Bulgaria! Welcome to my ever-expanding list of countries I've now successfully produced a set of passport photos for.

From Bulgaria and need to update your Bulgarian passport? Where are you going to go to get the required photographs - you know, the ones measured in millimeters that are nowhere close to a US passport photo? I'll tell you...

Newsome's Studio of Photography, located in North Tampa (Carrollwood), at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa, FL 33618. We are in Cypress Point Office Park, located behind the STARBUCKS at the NW corner of Linebaugh Ave and N. Dale Mabry Hwy, just over the Busch overpass.

Call for an appointment and you'll walk out in less than ten minutes with the best passport photo you've ever taken!