Why are Passport photos so expensive?
Nov 6, 2015, 10:17 am
#46
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM MM SC; GE; Bonvoy Titanium; IHG Diamond
Posts: 2,310
That's exactly what I did. Had someone take my picture standing in front of a white wall, found a website where I could upload and crop it as needed and printed it using my Canon printer. Had no issues with it at all.
Nov 6, 2015, 10:29 am
#47
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Right here
Posts: 2,940
Renewals require submission of your previous passport. I assume one standard check is to compare the pictures--obviously some aging is to be expected, but esp. with facial recognition software, if the photos appear too different I assume a red flag will be raised.
Nov 6, 2015, 12:23 pm
#48
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: GLA
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 2,964
Wow, some of the prices being quoted here by those based in N. America really are expensive. But then, it never occurred to me that you might pay a real, live person to take a passport photo. I take it you don't have the photo booths that are ubiquitous in train stations, bus stations and so on here? Not that they aren't themselves frustrating - not working, only taking pound coins, etc. but at least they are not disastrously expensive.
Nov 6, 2015, 12:49 pm
#49
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Wow, some of the prices being quoted here by those based in N. America really are expensive. But then, it never occurred to me that you might pay a real, live person to take a passport photo. I take it you don't have the photo booths that are ubiquitous in train stations, bus stations and so on here? Not that they aren't themselves frustrating - not working, only taking pound coins, etc. but at least they are not disastrously expensive.
Nov 6, 2015, 1:12 pm
#50
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Yes, you can dig out your camera, look up the guidelines on size/borders/restrictions, remember not to smile, download and crop/process, upload, drive to pickup, and hope it's right.
Or you can pay someone $8, stand there, and be done in 2 minutes. Some people have difference preferences - value their free time more highly than others.
Or you can pay someone $8, stand there, and be done in 2 minutes. Some people have difference preferences - value their free time more highly than others.
Cheers.
Nov 6, 2015, 2:03 pm
#51
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 413
Nov 6, 2015, 5:40 pm
#52
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Scarborough
Posts: 596
Some countries (3rd world) just take the photo on the spot by digital camera at the passport counters, therefore no need for doing photos before appearing at the passport office.
Why can't these "highly developed" countries do that in 2015 ?
Why can't these "highly developed" countries do that in 2015 ?
Nov 6, 2015, 6:24 pm
#53
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: GLA
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 2,964
Because that would involve going to a passport office! Here, at least, passport applications (other than your first) are done by post. It would be a seriously retrograde step to force people to appear in person for the sole purpose of having their photograph taken!
Nov 7, 2015, 9:26 am
#54
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 238
Canadian passport photos must be taken by a professional photographer and have some fairly strict standards--no flash glare/shadows, uniform lighting, specific facial measurements. With the right setup you could get the same results at home but it's not really worth the time and investment.
Nov 7, 2015, 10:09 am
#55
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,307
Even if the photo from one of these booths meets the U.S. passport requirement of being 2" (51mm) square, it's hard to ensure that the distance from the bottom of your chin to the top of your head and the distance from the bottom edge of the photo to your eyes are both within the allowable limits without a good deal of (time-consuming and expensive) experimentation. It might work for documents whose issuers aren't as picky about that sort of thing.
The booths have markings on the wall to the side of the lens, and you adjust the seat position until your features align. The camera has a glass in front of it which doesn't affect the photo, but allows you to see your reflection and the marks at the same time.
Takes about 30 seconds and costs zero.
Nov 8, 2015, 12:32 am
#56
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,735
Yes, you can dig out your camera, look up the guidelines on size/borders/restrictions, remember not to smile, download and crop/process, upload, drive to pickup, and hope it's right.
Or you can pay someone $8, stand there, and be done in 2 minutes. Some people have difference preferences - value their free time more highly than others.
YMMV. People.
Or you can pay someone $8, stand there, and be done in 2 minutes. Some people have difference preferences - value their free time more highly than others.
YMMV. People.
Nov 9, 2015, 12:34 pm
#57
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: KSUX
Posts: 906
Since I was afraid of messing it up I had my photo taken at the passport office here and it came out like crap. I was surprised they even accepted it. Even the CBP officer who did my GE interview said while it was acceptable it's a pretty bad photo. Hopefully I don't have any issues using said passport for the first time in a couple weeks. Next time I'll probably just take my own or that the minimum go elsewhere to have it done.
Nov 9, 2015, 8:58 pm
#58
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: NZ*S
Posts: 773
NZ has online renewals, submit digital photo online, enter details and credit card info.. new passport typically arrives 3-5 days later. Only for standard renewals.