You likely know if you have seen a passport that there is a picture of the passport holder in the document. It's like any other form of photo ID.

In some ways it is one of the most important forms of ID though. A passport, unlike other forms of ID, is internationally recognized and is used as a travel document when you travel in and out of different countries. The document includes a lot of information to identify you, including your nationality and your identity. It includes your full name, birthday, and country of citizenship.

Forgery of passports is a booming business; trying to falsify this document is not uncommon. Because of this there are stricter requirements for the passport photo than you are going to find for IDs such as your drivers' license or office ID. In a passport, passport photo near me your photo has to be easily recognizable as you.

For a passport photo to be accepted for use, it has to be high quality. It has to accurately represent you and to be free from defects. Otherwise there will be a delay in processing.

Here are the necessary properties for a picture to be used in a passport: it must be 2 inches passport photos near me by 2 inches. It must be a color photo, printed on thin photo stock or photo paper. It should be a clear print with continuous-tone quality. There should be no editing, retouching, or enhancing of any kind.

But wait, it gets even trickier. Within the 2 inch by 2 inch photo, you have to ensure that your full head is presented, that your head is centered in the frame, and that the eye height is within 1 1/8 inches and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom margin. Additionally, the photo should have a plain white or off white background. You want to have a natural expression on your face as well.

When you apply for your passport, you have to have two copies of a photo that meets all of these criteria. If any are missing, you'll end up delaying the processing of your application.

Instead of trying to take a picture yourself that has all of these factors, it is worth it to have your passport photos taken by a professional who knows what the requirements are.

We can't all be great photographers however when dealing with the State Department for US Passport Photos certain guidelines and requirements are necessary. These rules for passport photos must be followed or your customers request for a passport will be denied.

As with any field of endeavor today the field of the photographer has seen various advances and changes resulting from technological progression. These various advances have resulted in changes in the way that our current passport or visa photos are not passport photos only taken but also the way in which the United States Department of State now processes these photos. I have taken the liberty in this article to explain a few hints mainly for the photographer but they apply equally to the customer to ensure a speedy passport process.

It is important that when a photo is made that this photo be a true and accurately image of the passport applicant. The photo must be completely free of any sort of defect which would be cause for rejection and ultimately result in undo delays. Producing a good quality photo will result in the rapid processing of the documents and a very satisfied customer.

As with any subject of a technical nature taking a passport photo will require specific setup routines. A successfully produced photo begins with the application of proper lighting being cast upon the subject.

You should position the light sources onto both sides of your photographic subject in order to avoid the creation of shadows on the person's face. I would recommend the use of a light source situation in such a manner as to illuminate the background directly behind the subject as well. This procedure will avoid the creation of shadows from developing within the background of the photo.

The next important item to cover would be the position of the camera in reference to the subject. You would be wise to place your camera approximately four feet in front of the subject you are photographing. The camera should be positioned at eye level with the subject and it goes without saying that the subject should be facing the camera directly. Do not ever consider a side view or a slightly angled view. We are dealing here with technical photographic content and not creative images.

When considering the print qualities of the photograph be sure you fully understand that each end product will be only 2 inches by 2 inches square. It used to be that passport photos needed to be in black and white, however they are usually accepted as color these days. They should be printed upon a thin photo paper.

Above all ensure that you produce a clear print with no blurring of any sort. Never retouch or enhance a photo. If necessary re-shoot the picture. As a photographer if you follow these simple steps you can ensure that your customer receives their passport without undo delays.

Many folks go to the post office to get their passport photos taken and to have it sent off to the government for renewal but what most don't realize is that passport photos can be taken on the cheap. There are local passport photographers who may not specialize in taking passport photos but are extremely well versed in the proper size and shapes and lighting to get it done.

So what some folks might pay at the post office, they would save half that money by going to a photographer. It is also possible to take pictures yourself to be sent off for passport approval. They would likely be approved so long as they match the dimensions as prescribed by your passport but the problem always arises that if the lighting is bad, you may need to resubmit.

There are many rules out there on passports recently due to heightened security.

Travel documents, such as Visas, may be required to have if you choose to go to a foreign country that requires it. All travelers are requested to check with the state department to learn about the dangers of traveling to a foreign country, the necessary documents. etc. Some folks may request this service from a travel agency or with the agency that is booking their trip but it is not necessary. If it can be done by oneself for no cost, then all passengers are requested to do that.

In case your passport is lost or passport photo stolen overseas, it will become imperative that you have a copy of your passport wherever you go. You could, and should, photocopy it and even digitally scan it for safekeeping.