Portrait Photography is a BITCH
I already knew that. And I don’t have all the fancy lights, reflectors, etc., to really do the job properly. But that didn’t stop me from trying. It was ONLY a simple passport photo – how hard could that be? Well, I sure found out!
They want a headshot against a white background. - I ain’t got a white wall in this house anywhere.
I draped a white sheet over a pole. - Any texture is also no-no so unless you want to spend who knows how long ironing the sheet, that’s a no-go.
We’ve got some white poster board. - It has a very faint texture to it too. 😒
Well, I’m gonna just shoot against this light tan wall. Judging by their acceptable/not acceptable examples, it SHOULD be OK
Next set of problems and solutions:
Getting full head down to the shoulders framing right – trail and error, thank goodness for digital cameras.
Shadows - More light.
Uneven lighting of face - More strategically positioned lighting.
OK, 3 hours later - NOW I’ve got something.
Fifteen minutes or so to enter data for the passport renewal on-line form. Upload photo – “Background too dark. Use white untextured area” SOB!! 😬
The site says “Do not use any kind of filter or retouching tools to change your appearance.” But screw it. I would not doing really be doing that anyway! I’m just messing with the background. Dump the best photo into photo processing program. Select background. Set saturation down to minimum. (This turned the background a shade of gray thereby confirming there was some color there.) Next was to up the exposure to almost maximum. Now THAT is WHITE. The automatic system accepted the shot – “subject to human review”. 🤣
So if I disappear without warning, it may be due to some masked ICE agent showing up at my door about my adulterated passport application photo. But regardless, this way sure beats the old system of getting a paper photo, stapling it to the paper application form, then mailing the application, and your old passport, off and hoping it doesn’t get lost.
When was the last time you had to renew your passport?
Did you do it on-line or via paper?
How did you get the needed photograph of your face?
16
11 comments
I need a passport? Not if you don't get in the line. LOL
Last time I left the country I just needed my SDL to get back in the US.
Things have changed since WAY back then. 😀
Heck, you even need a passport to get back from Canada now!
The last time I renewed my passport I went to the UPS store. They didn't do a good job. When I got home with the photos I realized the framing wasn't right (not close in enough). Had to go back the next day and make them re-do.
Now I have to have new photos taken for Africa visa applications. The FB neighborhood group were pretty unanimous in recommending the neighborhood Walgreens. They will give me a hard copy AND a PDF that I can upload to the visa application site.
I think it will be quicker than three hours just to pop down there.
I think I went the Walgreens route last time but was wondering if they'd kept up with times and offered a digital image.
And YES, you're not the first female to question WTF I just didn't make the 10 minute drive to the local Walgreens. 🤣
I got my first passport sometime in 2024. I printed the form off line and then went to the post office. They took my picture and application (and all the fees) and sent everything in. Easy-peasy
I've heard the Post Offices will do it. Beyond the normal application fee (now $130) do you remember what they charged you for this service?
@CleavageFan4U It was about $50 for the processing fee + photo
I renewed my passport about five years ago. I always use a photo booth to get my passport photos done.
I have done that in the past, but this DYI approach SEEMED quicker and easier (initially). 🤣