How to Capture Your Baby's Passport Photo

When it comes to your child's first passport, there are many details to consider.

The journey involves several steps, from organizing the right paperwork to securing an appointment. Among the trickiest tasks is snapping the perfect passport photo. After all, you can't exactly ask a wiggly newborn who can't even support their head to 'sit up and look at the camera.'

But don't worry – it's totally doable. We've got everything from official passport photo guidelines to helpful tips for photographing your baby.

Official U.S. Passport Photo Guidelines

The general guidelines for passport photos are as follows:

• Photos must be recent and in full color.
• No selfies or photo filters allowed.
• Background should be plain white or off-white.
• Eyeglasses, hats, and headphones are prohibited.
• The face must be clearly visible with eyes open.

For infants, the rules also allow for eyes that may not be fully open, but the baby must face the camera without any other person appearing in the photo. You can check the U.S. State Department website to see which types of baby and toddler photos meet the requirements and which don't.

Images where a baby's hand covers their mouth, the baby is wearing a pacifier, the child is sticking out their tongue, or if the photo is blurry or the face is shadowed or unclear will not be accepted. Photos must be clear and cannot be grainy, pixelated, altered, or damaged in any way.

The required passport photo size is 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 millimeters), with the child's head measured from 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.

Taking Passport Photos at Home vs. In-Store

You can have your baby's passport photo taken at locations that provide passport services, such as FedEx, CVS, or Walgreens, or you can take it yourself at home. Some official locations that process passport applications, like post offices and libraries, may also offer photo services for an additional fee.

Passport photo locations are typically familiar with the correct size requirements (but it's a good idea to bring the specifications with you just in case). They often provide guidance on how to get your baby to look at the camera and offer tips for holding your infant so they can take the photo without you being in the shot. Some places might ask you to wear a white sheet and hold your baby in your lap, or they may use a white sheet over a stroller or car seat to keep the baby seated, depending on their age.

When I took my baby for his photo at 2 weeks old, he refused to open his eyes due to the bright lights in the store. So, we ended up taking the photo at home instead.

Some stores offer to resize and edit photos taken at home for a small fee, especially if, after several attempts, you're unable to get the perfect shot of your baby.

Tips for Taking Passport Photos at Home

If you find taking your baby's passport photos at home is easier than going to a professional, here are some helpful tips to guide you through the process.

• Place your baby on a white sheet — this ensures the background is the right color. If you're photographing a toddler, you can lay the sheet over a high chair and snap the picture while they sit.
• Stand around four feet away from your baby — just be careful not to cast a shadow on them.
• Use proper lighting — natural daylight works best. Use lamps as needed, but avoid shining bright light directly into your baby's eyes or from above, as they may close their eyes. Also, steer clear of lighting that causes shadows on their face.
• Use a toy to catch their attention — don't aim to make them laugh too much, just ensure their eyes are open and looking at the camera.
• It's helpful to have two adults present — one to take the photo, and the other to distract the baby with a toy.
• Use an app or photo editor for adjustments — apps like Passport Photo Software or 123 Passport can assist with resizing and cropping the photo. The U.S. Department of State also provides its own cropping tool. Keep in mind that photos with filters or digital alterations won't be accepted—only make the necessary edits.
• Take the photos to a shop if you'd rather not crop them yourself — most stores can help crop the photo for a small fee.

More tips for getting that perfect passport photo

• Use a rolled-up white towel or pillows under your baby's neck or around their head beneath the white sheet to help keep them looking straight ahead.
• Take numerous photos, then select the best one.
• Turn off the flash if your baby's photos have a red-eye effect.
• Sheer curtains or white sheets can soften light and reduce shadows.
• Crop and print a few photos. That way, if one gets rejected, you have backups ready to go.

Different countries may have different passport photo requirements.

These tips are mainly for U.S. passports, so if you're applying for a passport from another country, be sure to carefully check that nation's specific requirements.

My son has both a U.S. passport and a Spanish passport. Thankfully, we could use the same photo for both, but we had to crop it differently to meet each country's passport standards. If you're applying for passports from multiple countries, make sure to gather all the necessary information to ensure you get the right photo for each one.

The Bottom Line

Getting your infant or toddler's passport photo might feel like a hassle, but it can also provide some amusing moments.

For me, getting my son's passport photo involved two trips to the store, nearly 100 attempts at home, some tears (his, not mine), a spit-up incident, and even a wardrobe change. But now, watching my 10-month-old take his 15th flight, with four countries already visited, makes that chaotic photo session totally worth it.