Impossible newborn passport photo!

[bigblueboots]

I'm trying to take a passport photo for my 3 week old baby, and I have read that there is leniency on some requirements - they don't have to have eyes open or a neutral expression. But lying him down on a sheet to do it, it's so hard to get even lighting (so no shadows) and have him facing directly front on, and have a completely plain background (as he makes wrinkles in the sheet by wriggling).

Has anyone had experience of getting a newborn photo approved? Or have you have one rejected? How strict were you about all those kinds of regulations? I don't know if better to go for one with slightly shadowy parts or not quite face on, or his little fists up near his face...

Thanks for any experience!

I've heard of people draping a white sheet over a car seat. Maybe worth a try?

Can you swaddle him and put him on a fitted sheet?

Doesn't the app vet them for you?

Have you tried taking the photo when he is asleep?

You need several people to achieve a good result. One to hold the camera, one to hold the white sheet straight and one to hold the babies arms down.

then do it right after a nappy change when baby os very away and make lots of loud noises

practice with a teddy before hand and use lamps all around the sheet to get even lighting with no shadows

My dc had some classic first passport photos, they are forgiving of scrunched up faces etc

Go to a shop who will do it for you, they know what will be rejected/accepted. Timpsons or max speilman somewhere like that

Take him to a photo shop.

When i son was newborn we had them taken in a snappy snaps me holding him then they hairbrushed me out of the picture.

Dd's was rejected as only 1 ear was visible!!

Just go to a Max Spielman or something. I got my baby's done there, after getting the onf I did at home rejected. It was over and done in 5 mins.

Go to a snappy snaps

We did it by just taking loads. Had a few lamps to light from all sides to stop shadows. Definitely a 2 person job!

You could lay him in an empty bath for a plain white background that won't wrinkle.

Snappy snaps or similar

Snappy Snaps take them on a beanbag when they're tiny so they can't wriggle around as much, maybe try that?

Rejected for eyes not open!
@Treacletreacle thats a fancy hairbrush!! 🤣

Go to max spielman. They have a set up specifically for babies, plus they guarantee that the pics will be acceptable

I put DD on a pillow with a white pillowcase, and out my arm underneath her (inside pillowcase) to cradle her head and keep it facing forwards.

Think there were some small wrinkles in sheet but it got accepted

Timpsons will do it for you, it costs about a tenner but worth it as they will keep trying until they get one that will pass the requirements. They will give you a digital code to enter on the passport application.

We put a moses basket mattress on a picnic blanket outside on a cloudy day as that gave us the best lighting/fewest shadows.

Agree go to snappy snaps if there is one anywhere near you

I used to check passport applications at the Post Office. Babies don’t need a neutral expression and they can have their eyes closed. The main thing is no shadows and the face within the correct dimensions- so not too close or far from the camera lens. I’d strongly recommend going somewhere where they take them for you- London Camera Exchange if there is one near you. A pp also mentioned Timpsons.

Bloody autocorrect 😂😂😂

I gave up and took her to Timpsons, done and dusted in a few minutes whereas I spent what felt like hours trying but just couldn’t get one with no shadows etc. They run it through the check to make sure it passes the passport office requirements too.

Go to a photo shop. Super easy. They will be able to tell online that the image is pre-approved by the Passport Office. They just give you a code that you add to your application to link the photo. It’s so much easier than doing it yourself. Never had any issues with either of mine.