Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Other subjects

Flip

Original poster

Toddler photos for Passport

23 replies

LadyP · 17/03/2004 18:12

Not sure if this should go here or on travel, but here goes anyway...

Does anyone have any tips on how to get a 2.5 year old to stay still in a photo booth (or even get into one without freaking out)?

Could we get away with sending pictures taken at home on a digi-camera?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

OP posts:

twiglett · 17/03/2004 18:15

message withdrawn

Hulababy · 17/03/2004 18:19

Some photo developing shops (like Jessops) will do photos in front of a white screen there and then in a shop. Make be a bit easier.

GeorginaA · 17/03/2004 18:20

I think we went to Superdrug or Boots who had a polaroid-style passport photo camera - and it worked out cheaper than a photo booth too! Well recommended.

Momp · 17/03/2004 19:07

For God's sake don't get your face in the photo!!

Just had our 11 mth old's application returned from the Passport Office because 2 faces were on the photo - mine and DS's as I was holding him up.

How on earth can a 32 yr old be mistaken for an 11 mth old?

On advice from passport office the 2nd attempt has me covered in a white blanket! Felt like I was in a shroud.

All I can say is.....good luck!!!

zippy539 · 17/03/2004 19:10

just had ours done in a booth at sainsbury's - ds (2.6) thought it was a great laugh and he's usually quite a nervous soul. The booth we went to gave you three shots - so if the first one was a disaster at least it wasn't money down the drain. I also let him watch me get mine done first and set up the stool to the right height before he even got in so he was only in there for a moment. He looks v cute - I, on the other hand, look like an exhausted terrorist suspect... I think there was something on the form about digital photos ie had to be a certain resolution so they musat be fine. Good luck!

magnum · 17/03/2004 19:18

My father in law took my dds photo on his digital camera for her passport and it was fine. (I think it's really sweet them having their own passport, she's only 9 mths). As long as you print the photo out on proper photographic paper and it is cut to the correct size it'll be acceptable. Oh, you have to make sure it is on a white background. We laid dd on a blanket.

lailag · 17/03/2004 19:24

we also had 6wk old and 2.5 y old photo's taken with digital camera (dh), had jessop printing them in passport size (sorry, typing with left hand)

Hulababy · 17/03/2004 19:29

My DD's passport picture was taken at 2 days old in hospital. She is now 23 months old and you would never know they were the same child!

handlemecarefully · 17/03/2004 21:29

I agree with the suggestion that it is far easier to go to a photo developing shop where they take a photo of the child in front of a white screen. My 20 month old dd rarely sits still longer than a second, but it was very quick and easy this way...they just popped her on a stool and 'click' it was done.

fisil · 17/03/2004 21:39

we took ds into a photo developing shop. they were really good with getting him propped up on a cushion etc (only 2 weeks old) so i'm sure they'd be great with a toddler.

tanzie · 17/03/2004 21:53

Yes, go to photo developing shop - much easier and quicker, over in a flash . We had both of ours done when they were a few days old, with DH propping up DD1 and head fully in the picture. No quibble from Passport Office then, but BA queried it about 2 years later (when she was totally unrecognisable anyway). Also had ID cards done this way with DD1 being propped up by me behind the stool. Much better than a photo booth.

Pacific · 17/03/2004 22:25

Must tell you this funny story.

I had to get passport photos. Went to Sainsbury's. Booth situated alongside long queue for lottery and fags. Parked DD(3)in the shopping trolley, next to queue, close to booth and I went in to get photos done.

DD leans out of trolley, peers around the curtain and said " Mummy, are you doing a wee-wee?"!

When I emerged, red faced, needless to say, the lottery queue were falling about laughing!

SofiaAmes · 17/03/2004 22:35

I have always done my own passport photos. Just take pictures with a normal (or digi) camera at a few different distances. Make sure the subject is against a white background. When you get the film developed get two copies of all the photos (cheaper and easier than getting them done later). Voila, you've got two passport photos AND the negatives so that if you need photos for something else (visa, id, etc.) later on. I did the same with my ds and dd. I had their passports done when they were only a few weeks old and took photos of them lying on the floor on a white blanket. (Ds was easy, dd was a little more difficult as she screamed everytime I put her down!)

ninja1 · 17/03/2004 23:14

Digital camera is fine - the passports forms say what dpi they need to be printed out at (can't remember now) my daughter (2.5 months at the time) conseuqently has a passpotr photo that every customs officer can't help but say 'aaah' at

fairydust · 17/03/2004 23:16

we went to the local photo shop and they sat dd on a high stool with a white back ground with me holding her from benenth.

They tuned out perfect first time and only cost £3.50 for 4photos

HiddenSpirit · 18/03/2004 00:15

I got DS1's done in local photo shop too when he was 2.5yrs, only he wouldn't sit on the stool so I had to hold him but away from me so I wouldn't be in the picture. He thought this rather amusing. His pics turned out fine, mine on the other hand were a complete disaster!

fisil · 18/03/2004 07:22

I have a feeling that you no longer need open eyes, so you could use SofiaAmes idea and do it while s/he is asleep!

lucysmum · 18/03/2004 08:00

Either John Lewis or Boots (can't remember which) will produce passpost size photos from your digital pictures which you email them via the web site. Just take a picture of your DD/DS in front of a white sheet draped over a bed/sofa.

Bozza · 18/03/2004 09:21

I went to a Klick and they stood DS in front of a pull down white screen (bit like for an OHP) and took the photos on a polaroid. About same price as a photo booth. Assistant had some trouble with DS because he kept spotting buses through the shop window. Might have been better taking him to one in a shopping centre! DS was about 2.1 then.

Original poster

LadyP · 18/03/2004 18:18

Thanks. I knew that MN would come up with many options.

Think I will go to Jessops (hope there is still one in Croydon).

Thanks again

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 18/03/2004 18:31

Yes - the biggest Jessops is up the West Croydon end of Noth End.

SoupDragon · 18/03/2004 18:32

Or even North End! There's a smaller one next to the Post office near the Grants centre.

Paula71 · 18/03/2004 21:02

When I got ds twins photos done (aged 20 months at the time.) We went into the photo booth at our local ASDA. It is one of those where you can select the photo before it prints so any mistakes can be erased and you can take another photo. I had expected it to be hellish but as they had to stand on the seat that made it a lot easier and I ended up not having any struggle at all!

They were so bemused at seeing themselves on the "big screen" they started waving, resulting in some very cute photos!

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread