Why Do People End Up Looking Awful in Passport Photos?

You have read all the approved requirements for a passport photo. You even had a good eight hour sleep and has asked a professional photographer to take your picture the next day. So, how come your photo still looked scary and ugly when your passport is delivered?

Based on reports, crappy passport photos are a common problem amongst Americans and no matter how much they spend on good photo centers like that of a CVS passport photo center, they will still end up looking as if they forgot to sleep the previous night.

Besides being a permanent reminder of how your photo did not turn out well, it will be seen by different people from different countries and sometimes, this will also be where people will get their first impression of you. What if they see someone who looks like a bred between a raccoon and a human, what do you think they’ll think of you by just simply looking at your passport?

Acceptable Passport Photos

• Following the standard dimension and sizing requirements
• Using a neat-looking and professional clothing
• Colored, not washed out
• White background has been used
• A timid smile that doesn’t change your physical features

Unacceptable Passport Photos

• Toothy, wide grin that makes you look like the Grinch on Christmas morning instead of the professional that you are
• Blurry, faded and erasable photo print
• Using any eye wear, sun protection gear, scarves and the like during the picture-taking
• Hair covering most or all part of the face
• Skimpy and unruly outfits

How come all your efforts seem thrown out of the window once the printed copy of the photo has been released? This could be due to several reasons and sometimes, it can be because of:

• Lack of printer ink use
• Bad quality of picture paper used
• Photo not taken by a professional
• Bad lighting
• Bad angle when the photo was taken

Sometimes, it does not need one whole day just to prepare for your picture to be taken by a specialist.