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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to go through the trauma of getting the kids' passport photos done again because the first lot aren't very flattering?

28 replies

Mirrorball · 27/04/2010 16:36

...well, my four year old boy has somehow tucked his head back and given himself a moon-face.... other one looks like he's going to burst into tears... will they be embarrassed of their passport photos when they're older? They are apparently good enough for the passport applications, correct measurements etc.

Would you be holding onto first passports or shall I just get them checked at the post office and sent and then chuck them out in five years?

Time is of the essence and I have already spent £12 in one of those booths with wriggly and upset children, and then £8 per child at a photographers where at least the photos have been done properly.

AIBU to think of having them done AGAIN for aesthetic reasons?

OP posts:
Kaloki · 27/04/2010 16:40

You're brave to do it again! I wouldn't!

I used to have to do passport photos in Jessops, and trust me, there is no such thing as a flattering passport photo. It's not worth the hassle really.

thrifty · 27/04/2010 16:51

i had ds's done in snappy snaps, they use a didgtal camera and keep going til they get one that'll pass inspection. they only charge you for one set of prints, no matter how many photos they take. he wasn't quite 3 when we had them done (they did mine too at the same time) and the pics are not at all embarassing.

thrifty · 27/04/2010 16:52

digital obviously

Amapoleon · 27/04/2010 16:54

If they fit the specifications, I'd keep them because they are so fussy about passport photos. Also the children will only have them five years.

nobiggy · 27/04/2010 16:54

Another Snappy Snaps customer here. I'd stick with what you've got, having said that I got DD1's done again, as on closer inspection there was quite a lot of bogey on display

rubyrubyruby · 27/04/2010 16:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

laydeestardust · 27/04/2010 16:57

No,no YANBU at all.

YABcompletely bonkers!!
Don't put yourself through it again, once is traumatic enough in my experience. Just thinking about the times I've had to do it over the years brings me out in hives

OrmRenewed · 27/04/2010 16:59

Don't be daft! They photos will have to be done again soon enough as children change so much so quickly. They won't be embarrassed, they won't care.

Northernlurker · 27/04/2010 17:03

You've spent £28 and you're wondering if you shuld spend more so your small children won't be upset by a photo they will never see?

You are either staggeringly shallow or bonkers or both.

JaneS · 27/04/2010 17:05

I wouldn't bother - given you're not meant to smile these days, everyone looks strange. DP and I had ours done recently in order to get a marriage approval license and less romantic photos I have never seen - we look like a pair of very gormless criminals.

If you get a 'good' photo, inevitably it won't meet the requirements anyway.

Linnet · 27/04/2010 17:10

When dd2 needed her passport updated last year I took her for a haircut, where she got a lovely shoulder length type of bob, then went to jessops to get the photos done.

The first thing the guy said was "could you tuck her hair behind her ears they have to be able to see their ears now." I could have cried.

If the photos are passable I wouldn't go through the trauma of doing them again.

susiey · 27/04/2010 18:23

I always have mine done in snappy snaps sooo much easier than the whole booth thing with babies especially. they just layed them down on a white sheet and they have all the right parameters and rules ready to go!

oricella · 27/04/2010 18:28

They will just laugh at them when they grow up.. oldest DD's pic at 7 weeks could be slotted into a police line-up and she'd stand a good chance of being picked out as the burglar in a dark alley. Don't bother getting them done again

Lonicera · 27/04/2010 18:39

once the passport office digitise them and stick that clear film with the hologram over them they will look terrible anyway.

thesecondcoming · 27/04/2010 18:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ihearthuckabees · 27/04/2010 18:51

YABU - isn't it a rite of passage to have hideous passport photos? It will give them something to laugh about/tease each other about. And everyone who knows them knows what they look like really, so who cares?

Although, I have to confess that when my DH and I had ours renewed recently we were totally cringing at how hideous (and old) we looked in them. Had to strongly resist the temptation to get them retaken

Original poster
Mirrorball · 27/04/2010 20:34

Northern Lurker - do you know, I think I may well be both shallow and bonkers. Is that bad?

Thank you for all the responses, I sent them... they are after all, passable photos. No more trauma. They will be tucked away in a drawer and looked at about 3 times in the next five years.

OP posts:
OrmRenewed · 28/04/2010 08:01

Hurrah mirrorball

kreecherlivesupstairs · 28/04/2010 08:05

My dd got her first passport aged 8 days, by the time we flew back from her first holiday she was unrecognisible as the baby in the photo. Her second one she got when she was five. Somehow I'd persuaded myself that plaits were a good look on her three years later I have to concede that they aren't.
My latest passport photograph makes me look like Myra Hindley. Roll on 2014 when can change it.

NoahAndTheWhale · 28/04/2010 08:07

My passport photo is quite bad. Not as bad as driving licence photo which has only recently been updated.

ProzacTheGiggleFairy · 28/04/2010 08:13

I had both of my boys passport photos done in jessops, but as ds1 has s/n he does not co-operate in situations like that, so his looks absolutley awful.
Ds2's photo looks bad too.

If you are the same Mirrorball that I know (munch munch), I will scan in the boys terrible photos to fb.

I have thought about doing my own photos online next time though, as you can print them yourself www.epassportphoto.com/

fedupwithdeployment · 28/04/2010 08:26

My 5 yo DS is usually fairly cooperative...but his passport photo is hideous. We were in photobooth with 4 chances:

  1. Too low.
  2. It took ages and he leaned out and said, "it's not working" Then flash.
  3. Nice - BUT he was smiling. No good.
  4. In the right space, not smiling, ticks the passport requirements. But he looks like a little thug. And he is a gorgeous good looking (I know I would say that), teacher's pet sort of boy. However, until 2015 he looks like a mini BNP supporter.
Sassyfrassy · 28/04/2010 08:31

I had to have dd2's photo taken at the swedish embassy when I applied for her passport. She was only 6 months and not keen at all. I was of course desperate to get a photo that passed muster since I had paid out money for trainfares and gone to London with her to get it done.

We did finally get one, she's crying with snot coming out of her nose, but at least she has a passport. As long as they meet their requirements I wouldn't change them.

FlorenceandtheWashingMachine · 28/04/2010 12:15

I'd recommend www.epassportphoto.com as I am sick of wasting money in photo booths.

I used this for free for my own passport and had no problems. You can print out at home or download to a dongle and print out at a machine.

It's very cheap (mine cost £1 for six passport photos) and you can use any photo with a plain, light background as long as it conforms to the rules. The site above has a system that makes sure that your head is in the right position etc.

Original poster
Mirrorball · 28/04/2010 12:34

Ho ho, Florence and the Washing Machine - I wish I'd thought of that name...

I will bookmark this page for 5 years time when they need renewed. epassportphoto.com had better still exist then.

OP posts:
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