Setup and Production Guidelines

Successful U.S. passport and visa photography begins with careful setup and appropriate production methods.

Please review the guidance and tips below for obtaining a high-quality photograph. Correctly composing the photograph is critical to producing a suitable image file. Digital and film cameras require many of the same careful considerations.

A Digital Camera produces a digital photograph (digital image file) directly. The digital photograph can then be transferred to a computer using a direct connection (such as USB) or a memory card reader. You must then prepare the digital photograph to comply with the digital photograph requirements. If a digital camera is not available, you may wish to consider other sources for a digital photograph.

A Film Camera will require additional steps to produce the digital photograph. The film must be developed and printed on photo-quality paper and then digitally scanned. Depending on the type and quality of film development, printing paper, and scanning equipment, these additional steps may degrade image quality and make preparing an acceptable digital photograph difficult or impossible.

Proper Lighting Arrangement

• Position light sources on both sides of subject to avoid shadows on face.
  
• Use a light source to illuminate background behind subject to avoid shadows in background.

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Camera/ Subject Position

• Place camera approximately 4 ft (120 cm) from the subject.
• Have camera at subject's eye level.
• Position subject facing the camera.

Select a plain white or off-white background Ensure that the eyes can be seen and there is no significant glare from the applicant's eyeglasses Position the applicant close to the background (wall), especially when using a flash Position camera height at the applicant's eye level Set camera zoom to include good clearance both below applicant's shoulders and above the head (Film Camera) Professionally develop print photograph on untextured, photo-quality paper no less than 2 inches wide and 2 inches high

Ensure even lighting on the face and background (Digital Camera) Ensure jpg file compression is set to normal or fine Position camera more than 4 feet (1.25 m) from the applicant Center photograph on the applicant's nose Ensure that applicant maintains a frontal view with eyes open and a natural expression and that no part of the face is obscured

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Photograph Print Properties

• Produce 2 inch x 2 inch (51 mm x 51 mm) color photo.
• Print photo on thin photo paper or stock.
• Ensure the print is clear and has a continuous-tone quality.
• Do not retouch or otherwise enhance or soften photo.

 

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