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Living overseas

babies passport photos

20 replies

MrsBucketxx · 22/05/2012 16:44

moving abroad soon and need some tips on how to get them done i have a 2 year old ds and a nine month dd,

do you just hold them in the booth and hope for the best.

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chocoroo · 22/05/2012 16:46

We just got DD's done in a shop like Max Speilman. 8 for £5 so cheaper than a photo booth anyway.

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MrsBucketxx · 22/05/2012 16:47

ooohh i didn't know that how did they actually do them.

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CelticPromise · 22/05/2012 16:49

Lay them on a plain blanket, take a pic on a digital camera and send to one of the online companies to sort it for you. I got ours from Picture Lizard for about £2.99 I think. They make sure they meet the requirements.

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dilbertina · 22/05/2012 16:51

When mine were very little I took them in to a photography shop and they would photo from above with them lying on a cushion -was much easier than attempting to get them at right angle with no hands showing in booth! You are guaranteed a decent shot because they'll keep trying until they get one and cheaper than booth.

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chocoroo · 22/05/2012 16:52

DP took her but he said they just sat her on a chair (she's 15mo - I guess they'd lay her down if much younger) and snapped away until she looked in the right direction.

Much easier, I think I'll get mine done that way when necessary too!

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bronze · 22/05/2012 16:54

They're not so fussy about babies pics. Ds has his eyes shut in his. He was five days old though.

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Graciescotland · 22/05/2012 16:54

White blanket on carseat. After spending £15 on 3 sets of photos in booth...

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DressDownFriday · 22/05/2012 16:56

I would also agree to going into s photo shop. They are very good and make sure that the photo is exactly as it should be to pass the strict regulations.

I even went in for my photo which was a good job as it had to be retaken 3 times - hair not tied back enough and then I was smiling too much.

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WifiNappies · 22/05/2012 16:58

I wasted £10 in a booth then took her to Max Spielman!

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BestImitationOfMyself · 23/05/2012 06:36

I put 2 week old in bouncy chair in white sleepsuit, on muslin and took lots of photos, picked the best then used paspic.com. They check manually and correct the background/contrast etc. Very quick to arrive (about 48hours to Belgium and was £4.99. (I then of course decided my pfb's photo didn't do his beauty justice and repeated the process. Waste of a fiver, but can report equally efficient service 2nd time round and a much cuter passport has now arrived).

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roary · 23/05/2012 08:39

I also used aPaspic, who will email you if there are any problems vis a vis regulations (and can do so for several countries) without extra charges. Retakes for cuteness will attract charges, but otherwise they are great and won't bother doing it any other way.

we used a white sheet but babies were under 6 months.

Be warned that they ARE fussy about babies' pics, you will no longer get away with closed eyes but they may grant you open mounths!

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CokeFan · 23/05/2012 11:43

I took DD's (2yo at the time). Had her sit on the back of the sofa bed against plain white wall and just took loads of pics until we got one that would do. Also used online firm to get them printed.

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thanksamillion · 24/05/2012 21:51

DD1 was about 1 and I crouched down in the photo booth holding her above my head Hmm. Not advised! DD2 had them done at 2 days old in the post office lying on a white cushion - much easier.

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Imperfectionist · 25/05/2012 14:42

I photographed the babies lying down on a white sheet (8 weeks and 4 months respectively), and printed them to the right size in the self-service machine at Boots.

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Horopu · 29/05/2012 09:15

From the passport guidelines
Children aged five and under do not need to have
a neutral expression or to look directly at the
camera. Babies under one don?t need to have
their eyes open. If the baby?s head needs to be
supported, the supporting hand must not be seen.
All other photograph standards must be met.

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mummytime · 29/05/2012 09:56

My then 3/4 year old had an awful time, and we'd have wasted a fortune trying to do it in a booth. She wasn't happy, so wouldn't co-operate, then when she cheered up she'd be told she couldn't smile.
So photographers or the online services is the only way to do it IMHO, same for adults really, DH had to have 3 lots done in a booth before they would pass them, and that was at the passport office itself.

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Hopandaskip · 29/05/2012 17:45

We did ours at home too on a beanbag covered with a blanket. I took them while dh stood behind me and made noises and squeaked/crinkled things.

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Hopandaskip · 29/05/2012 17:46

We take our own adult and older child ones now too.

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MrsPear · 29/05/2012 17:50

I went to the local independent photo shop and they laid 4 month DS on a blanket on the floor. The requirements for babies are not as strict - the details are here

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TheTeaLady · 11/07/2012 04:06

Got ours at snappy snaps. They were fab. Baby lay on special cushion. Toddler on a stool. No danger she would smile......

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