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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be fed up with my passport photos

19 replies

PrincessFiorimonde · 19/01/2018 16:21

Went to a photo booth for pics for passport renewal and I look so stern that even I find the photos scary.

More annoyingly, the lower part of my face is in such shadow that I don’t think the Passport Office is going to accept the photos. (This wasn’t obvious when I was looking in to the screen of the photo booth, where I just looked like a normal person.)

So that’s £6 wasted then ...

In the olden days, you used to be able to change your pose for each picture, but that option wasn’t available today.

I hate photo booths.

Has anyone else had a good photo taken in one of these places?

OP posts:

Battleax · 19/01/2018 16:22

Why don't you go to a photo/camera shop place that does them?

Trinity66 · 19/01/2018 16:23

Over here alot of Pharmacies do them and they'll keep taking them until you like one, I pretty much always go to one of those for Passport pics

jaseyraex · 19/01/2018 16:25

My passport photos have all been bloody awful. I don't even look remotely like my current one anymore, I'm surprised I get away with using it! I've never had a good photo taken in a photo booth unless they've been silly photos. There must be some sort of knack, I'll be watching with interest

ShimmeringBollox · 19/01/2018 16:26

Yes, I like the photo shops that do them too, it doesn't cost much more and the staff make sure the photos will pass the scrutiny of the passport office.

OlennasWimple · 19/01/2018 16:27

Go to a shop and get a photo taken for you - they only cost a couple ££ more than the booths, and you don't have to worry about swivelling the ridiculous seat up and down either

Some places do a "guaranteed acceptance for passports" thing, and my friend got hers done somewhere that also gave her a code that she could use for an online passport application, where the photo got uploaded direct to the Passport Office website

ZaraW · 19/01/2018 16:28

I got mine done in Jessops by a photographer a few years back. My photo is fine Iook quite good in it.

Skowvegas · 19/01/2018 16:37

Mine was done by the US immigration people just after they'd mangled my fingers for half an hour trying to get fingerprints that would satisfy the FBI.

I look like I'm ready to kill someone. Frankly I'm still amazed they let me in the country.

haggisaggis · 19/01/2018 16:38

If you do an online application you now can only send a digital photo. You can either take your own or if like me you reckon you'll make a mess of it, photo shops will do it and e-mail it to you so you can attach with your application. (I did this for my renewal last year - easy peasy and took just over 1 week to get the passport back)

MickeyLuv · 19/01/2018 16:39

If its just for a renewal you can take your own with a smartphone and upload them to the passport website, far easier and cheaper!

MothertotheLordsofmisrule · 19/01/2018 16:43

I've just done a renewal online, got do to take my photo according to their rules and passport is on its way!
Just remember to take photo in good light and stand away from the plain wall to avoid shadows behind you.

mumoseven · 19/01/2018 16:44

I looked like that old pic of Myra Hindley in a previous passport

MothertotheLordsofmisrule · 19/01/2018 16:44

Dh not do.
Stupid autocorrect.

DGRossetti · 19/01/2018 17:12

Can I big up Timpsons ?

Went with my wife to have our pics taken last year, at a Timpsons inside a Tescos. The guy could not have been more helpful (my wife uses a wheelchair). He cropped the pictures for passports (and printed them) and for an extra couple of quid gave us a memory stick with the full-size files on, for any other ID use.

I think we got 6 photos each too which is good value if you have more than one passport.

dementedpixie · 19/01/2018 17:16

I use the paspic website. Take picture and upload to the website and they send passport compliant photos in the post. I just use my phone for the photo (taken against a light background)

MrsMaxwell · 19/01/2018 17:16

Meh how long do you spend actually gazing at it, it’s nit like you are going to frame it.

Original poster

PrincessFiorimonde · 19/01/2018 18:50

Sorry - not ignoring you; unexpected visitors turned up just after I'd posted.

Our local Jessops closed a while back, and I don't think we have another photo/camera shop here.

I hadn't thought of an online application - DP is quite a good photographer, so perhaps uploading a photo he's taken is the way forward - thank you!

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 19/01/2018 19:17

www.paspic.com

hevonbu · 19/01/2018 19:20

It doesn't matter how you look in the photo as long as you're recognised and it's good enough to let you back into the country again. That's my view.

MsHomeSlice · 19/01/2018 19:29

I really like my passport photo, previous one was also MyraH-esque and I was determined not to spend another ten years being horrified everytime I went away
Get your expression neutral, and not gormless, eyes open nicely but not crazy staring, and push your face forwards a bit
I practised my posture and face for ages before...do it with your eyes closed and then look to make sure it is right, you get to know how it feels and it stands you in good stead for all forthcoming photos.

Get your hair done, do your makeup nicely and take a big bit of white card to hold out of shot (over your lap, angled up a little) to bounce the light about a bit.

And use one of those machines that allows retakes if you cannot bear to go use a real person.

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