Passport Photos - apps or DIY?

user1977

Living room selfies have been fine for my last two renewals.

TELLIT01

A friend of ours used the Post Office Check and Send service.  The application was returned by the Passport Office because it wasn't signed.  Certainly a waste of money in that instance.

We did use photo booths to produce our photo's because of the stories of people having to send in photo's multiple times.  Cost isn't bad when it's only 2 people but obviously adds up for a family.

otb666

Did ours online a couple of days ago and already received them. Very easy although i struggled to take a selfie without my glasses. Just stand in front of white wall.

thegreenone

The lack of a white wall was my issue last year so I went to the Timpsons hut outside my local Sainsburys.   Sorry, I can't remember what I paid but he uploaded it, confirmed it had been accepted and I did the rest.  Very quick and painless.

NoodleDoodleMan

DIY is fine if you can avoid the most common problems - shadow projected behind the image is one, where direct flash has been used. If your camera flash has a bounce facility it should be used - unfortunately mobile 'phones don't have this option AFAIK.

Best scenario is a lens set at around 50mm-80mm on a tripod with the subject sitting, as close to the background as possible.

I've had decent results using a self timer - and taking multiple shots to achieve the best image.  

Best background is a very light cream.

jimi_man

I've done it a number of times DIY using a white(ish) wall and an iPhone.

Key is to do it in daylight, not after dark with flash/artificial light as that tends to turn the background slightly yellow. Daylight, with no flash or other form of artificial light is best. Sunlight can create shadows so a bright but cloudy day is perfect.

A mobile phone is fine - preferably using a free app to get the right picture/proportions. 

Wyndham

Just done mine through Max Spielmann. They checked the photo would be accepted. Got home, started the application, and the on line system didn't like it. So, went back and had fresh photos taken at no cost, which then worked. No fuss at all about the second one.

I understand that the passport system has got really picky recently, and more are rejected.

jimi_man

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81854404#Comment_81854404

Really? That's poor - not getting it right first time for what (I presume) is a paid service. Definitely one to avoid then, thanks for pointing them out.

The passport photo requirements have not changed and they are no more picky than previously. What has changed is that more and more people are now doing it with their phones and not following the basic rules, poor lighting, not the right proportions, poor background and incorrect expressions.

OP - as stated, a phone, a nice white wall, daylight and an app like passport photo or similar is all that's required. A few minutes getting it perfect and then send it off. Do not pay for this, there is no need and as the example above shows they are no better than anyone else. So you may as well not pay and have a couple of goes at it.

Wyndham

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81857834#Comment_81857834

Actually, I commend them for their customer service. Mistakes can happen and you can tell a lot about a company by how they deal with it. In this case it was a perfect final resolution.

The passport application wasn't happy as it said I may not be looking directly at the camera - though I could proceed if I wished. Looking at the photo I certainly was looking at the camera, but am slightly wall eyed so it may not have liked that. I also only see out of one eye, and that was the one which was straight on. So it may be more to do with me than the process….

NoodleDoodleMan

I suspect the number of photo booth type images rejected is very few and that the vast majority are accepted.

So. to have it done again at no extra cost is a good result IMO.