This really ticked me a few weeks ago when they just took a [poor] digital photo of me and then put it in their self service machine and charged me 8 bucks for two lousy photos. Next time I'll save the bucks. Make sure you use glossy paper (if required).

By the by... I absolutely HATE the new passports .... they look cheesy as hell with all the wildy-colored patriotic images. Plus I understand they have rfid tags in them.

I like the old plain, understated ones. Hope my old one is still valid as it hasnt been 10 years yet since I got it.

I don't know WHO that guy is, but he's just ASKING for a cavity search.

I tried the website out tonight, just for kicks. Thanks, Consumerist, for making me realize that I have a double chin. For now I'm going to blame it on the particular pose and the fact that my arm was out, holding the camera...

The State Department has a helpful website describing the passport picture requirements, suggested lighting seups, acceptable and unacceptable pictures, etc.

It seems a little odd that they're still requiring printed photographs when it's very clear that they just scan your photos (to embed into the RFID chip and print on the passport). Ideally, you should be able to hand them a JPEG file (which is also the image format on the RFID chip, btw) conforming to certain specifications and be good to go.

Your JPEG file could contain a buffer overflow attack (in the image itself), or a virus on the media, or who knows what. I feel safer that the government accepts paper images, because they're going to get themselves into less trouble with it.

@Karl: From the site: "Natural Expression - The subject's expression should be natural, with both eyes open. Please refer to the photographs found on this website for acceptable facial expressions."

These are those photos. What goofy looking person were they using as a reference when they came up with that one?

When getting my photo for a visa application, I went to a Walgreens. WORST customer service/photo quality ever. I had measurement specifications and when I tried to ask if their photos would fit, he didn't want to see the paper. I got my photo taken, uploaded, and printed after forever and it was blurry. I had it done again after work (the prior was on my break). It took even longer, was blurry, and didn't fit the measurements. I returned them and not once did I receive an apology.

I ended up finding a mom&pop photo place in my hood- for about $6, I got the two photos (very good quality) and the guy made me take some photos smiling for fun even though he knew I needed a straight-faced photo : )

RFIDs can be destroyed in the microwave. This will not invalidate your passport.

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility if this otherwise damages your passport, however.

@chiieddy: How about a safer way using a hammer that won't cook your passport? :)

@chiieddy:

I was just going to say the same thing. If you don't like the security intrustion potential of an RFID chip, then fry it in the microwave.

In Canada the 2 photos you provide must be stamped and signed by the shop where the photo was taken - meaning you can't do one at home yourself.

@CapitalC: So sign them 'Bob's Drug Store'. Done.

@mantari: As long as you're extremely paranoid about security, acceping JPEGs doesn't seem like a big risk. Furthermore, all of the processing could be done in a safe language, like Java (as long as it doesn't in turn invoke some unsafe code to do the heavy lifting).

I work at FedEx Kinko's, and though I know we over charge for Passport photo's I've seen others and we certainly have a higher quality of product.

We use a Sony Dye Sublimation printer, much like the ones you can buy for your digital cameras. Only difference is that the paper says "PHOTO ID" or something.

Link to camera
[www.bhphotovideo.com]

The coolest thing about our Passport camera is that it has Bluetooth and we print pictures wirelessly.. so i wondered if somebody had a bluetooth PDA or camera themselves could they print to our printers? I would love for somebody to try this.

I took my own photo, with multiple lighting sources set up. The photo was well within the parameters described on the state dept web site. When I went to submit my app at the post office, the worker took one glance at the photo and said that there were shadows on my face (there weren't), and charged me $15 for her to take a picture that was much worse. Probably SOP for them to charge everyone $15 to take their picture.

@skankingmike: yes, if your printer uses a bluetooth receiver, somone could print to it assuming it doesn't have a key set for the bluetooth connection. Anyone with a cellphone could walk by and see its there.

Er... last I checked the regs the photo has to be taken by someone who can be held accountable - other than you. Technically they do not allow digital photos or photographs you take of yourself. Even if they do fit the specs. Basically, careful what printer paper you print them on.

Anyway, passport photos are SUPPOSED to look bad! That's the point!

When I went to the US consulate to get my passport renewed they would not take any photos that touched a computer you owned. Reason being that you could photoshop it. This was coming from US State Dept. officials, not the USPS guys. So you might get away with it if it's on photo-stock paper, but the rule is that you can't have had it in a computer you own.

//they just refuse to give you more than two unless you pay extra://

Walgreens does that, CVS gives you all 6.

Also, some stores/employees freak when they see you doing it, trying to charge the passport rate because they think they took it.

I want to be the first US citizen with a LOLZ CATZ passport photo.

@trai_dep: hhahha Trai! I'm in yur document, verifyin' yur identity :)

This has been quite helpful actually. My passport expires in March, but I live in Tokyo and the State Dept. makes it clear that Japanese regulation passport photos are unacceptable for US passports.

Yet, they strongly encourage you to submit your passport applcation by mail while telling you acceptable photos are difficult to obtain. The solution? There's a photo booth at the embassy that will issue the appropriate photos, making a trip to the embassy mandatory.

Also, what's the word on the RFID passport wallets? I've been advised to get one.

I think AAA gives free or cheap passport photos, if you're a member.

@trai_dep: Hello Mr. I HAS PASPORTZ

I want a passport photo like that baked guy at the top of the article.

baked? looks more like he swings by all the 24 hour convenience stores to buy cold medication to take back to his trailer and cook down.

CVS printed me out a group of 12 for the same price. I asked how much it would be to print my photo out on a larger sheet of paper and they did it. I think I said I needed "ID" photos and they were accepted for my passport renewal as well as for IDs abroad.

@missdona: They are cheaper, but not free (when I got my passport originally, I went to AAA).

@huadpe: Interesting. I have always taken my own photos for visas and then lined them up in PS and saved the file onto a memory stick to print out at CVS (for like 30 cents) and never had any issues. However, like I said, it has always been for visas (about 10 of them) and I've never had an issue. Then again, I'm not shopping myself, just cropping and setting up the photo, and also it's not for a passport per se, though it is a passport photo.

My wife got a passport a few months ago, and following the instructions on the passport website, I took her picture. They have a few "rules" that I can't remember completly, but it was something like (1) white background, (2) head must be 75% of photo, (3) must show shoulders, (4) something about the hair, and (5) something about the total size of the photo. It took about 5 minutes total to take picture, download, edit, and print out photo. I printed out 3-4 versions of it because I wasn't 100% sure if they were very picky about some of the rules - but she headed down to the DMV (where they do passports), and accepted everything with no problem - with a passport showing up shortly after.

Nice link and just what I needed - tnx consumerist!

"consider that they also produce sets of six photos at a time-they just refuse to give you more than two unless you pay extra"

The Walgreens stores in my area that I worked for only did 2 at a time... 6 at a time must be CVS. Or someone screwed up and did the pics the wrong way...
Then again, I don't personally speak for the competence of every underpaid photo clerk out there. Just that I knew how to do them the right way. =)

I just got my new passport... and am a bit pissed off about these rfid chips.

[www.wired.com]

ah ha! now my harry balzonya passport is finished!

I saw a guy getting his passport picture taken in Walmart -- they had one employee stand behind him with a white board and the other employee take a picture with a standard digital camera. After I saw that, I realized I could just do ours at home. The pictures have to be 2x2, so I could printed entire family on one 19-cent 4x6 print.

@mantari: Er, no. The JPEG cannot "contain" a buffer overflow attack. It may be malformed in such as a way that certain software reading it may become compromised. The difference is subtle but important. There is demonstrably secure software for safely reading JPEG files (and lots of other types of data for that matter) and they could easily use it.

If you're in Philly, you can go see this guy:

[i28.photobucket.com]

I believe he was a few blocks north of the Art Institute.

I went to CVS for my passport photo years ago, and I got 24 of them. I leave them hidden places now - not much else to do with pasty bright photos of myself.

We did my passport renewal photos at home with our own camera and printer. I mailed them in with my application and my old passport and received a replacement in about two weeks. No problem. It could be that there's less hassle for a renewal because you don't have to deal with a picky clerk.

I highly recommend disabling the rfid chip in your passport. The only way to disable it is to smash it with a hammer.

That picture? Is scaring me. I hate having to scroll past it.

@suburbancowboy:

I plan on doing that upon my renewal...

@laserjobs:
@suburbancowboy:

What's wrong with the rfid chip? I mean specifically.

I took a couple of passport size photos from Sears and I wanted to have a soft copy and guess how much they charged? $20 - 2 photos and $49 for a CD. I feel like it's a total rip off, the CD came up with crapware.

@jeff303: Semantics. It would still contain a buffer overflow attack. It would just be ineffective against software without the specifically targeted flaw.

@missdona: I can confirm that AAA does free passport/ID photos. Have used them a couple of times for that. No hassles, done in 5 mins. No fee.

I ordered my passport in January 2007, I didn't get an RFID chip in mine, and I believe it's thanks to the panic of everyone rushing to get their passports due to the changes in travel regs.

Oh, and I thank the woman at Kinkos for when she took my passport photo, after seeing how fat my face looked, I went on a diet and I'm now much thinner.

@swalve: Targeted IEDs

Google Cache Link describing a tested method of targeting e-passports based on nationality

Just don't tell them that you made it yourself. The greedy... employees... at the post office kept telling me that something was wrong with my picture everytime I told them I took it myself. They even went so far as to claim they could see the line where "I cut my head in" when the only thing I did was brighten the background like they requested.

So, I took it to the local county judicial building and the clerk glanced at the photos and took my check. My passport arrived in less than 2 weeks when everyone else's was taking months. I was so tempted to go back to the post office and use it as ID for something.

@CapitalC: Or print the Adobe Photoshop logo and Title on the back and sign it with your name. Most government workers (in the US at least) don't have a clue.