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.

Need Passport Photo Reprints?

It happens. You get your passport photos taken, go home and set them aside, then a week later attempt to finalize the paperwork and discover you've either misplaced the 35x45mm sized images and can't find them, or they got crumpled into the bottom of your purse and are deemed unusable.

Don't panic.

At Newsome's Studio of Photography, we maintain the digital files of your passport photos and can easily and quickly reprint them for you. All you need to do is call and we'll have them ready for you to pick up within minutes, and all at a price that will make you smile. :-)

Newsome's Studio prides itself on being Central Florida's Passport Photo Expert. People come from as far away as Atlanta, Orlando, and Miami, just because they want their foreign or domestic passport photo done correctly. Consulates from around the world have put Newsome's Studio on their "preferred photographer list" because they're familiar with the quality of work we do, and their vote of confidence is welcomed.

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 Ave and N. Dale Mabry Hwy, just north of Busch Blvd).

Call for an appointment. It only takes ten minutes and you'll leave with your passport photos in hand.
813-968-2810

US Passports Now Discourage Smiling

Years after the rest of the planet made "stoic" passport photos fashionable, the US has finally begun following suit. At one time, a big 'ol American smile was acceptable in US Passport Photos, but not any more. The newest regulations require a closed mouth. They still appear to allow a slightly pleasant, closed-mouth smile, but no more grinning with teeth. Still not quite as strict as the rest of the planet, but getting there.

It seems the customs folks are using facial recognition software to scan the passport photos, looking for bad guys, and of course, bad guys NEVER smile in their photos, so it stands to reason that they don't want anyone else to either.

In any case, learn to smile more with your eyes, and less with your mouth. You local US bureaucrat will love you for it.

For the very best US Passport photos on the market, call a real photographer. Call Newsome's Studio of Photography at 813-968-2810. Located in North Tampa (Carrollwood), at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa (behind Starbucks in Cypress Point Office Park, at the corner of Linebaugh and Dale Mabry Hwy).

Think happy thoughts!

Chinese Passport Photos, Tampa

We discovered a new "guideline" this week regarding Chinese Passport Photos... they 'prefer' you to wear a dark colored shirt as opposed to a white one! WHO KNEW? They didn't have that guideline in their paperwork and I'd never encountered that in the past, leading me to believe it might have simply been an overzealous bureaucrat in the Chinese passport office, but none the less, if that's what they want, that's what they're going to get.

So, from now on... all Chinese Passport Photos taken here at Newsome's Studio will be required to wear a black shirt (even though you can barely see the collar)!

Give Newsome's Studio of Photography a call and schedule your appointment to update your Chinese passport photo. Located at 10012 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 219, Tampa (Carrollwood). We are behind Starbucks, at the corner of Linebaugh Ave and N. Dale Mabry Hwy, in Cypress Point Office Park, just north of Busch Blvd.

By appointment only, 813-968-2810.