Baby passport photos--anyone done this recently?

[honeygirl1971]

I am getting an American passport for our baby, and I went to get the photos today. I went to the place the consulate recommended, which was more expensive than the place I usually go for ID photos, and now that I'm home, looking at the photos, I am worried that they are not going to be accepted. I am getting the passport expedited, and can't risk delays. Has anyone gotten US passport photos for a baby recently? If so, do you know if the baby has to be looking directly at the camera? And does the mouth have to be closed? He is facing forward, but his eyes are looking slightly to the side, and his mouth is open. The photo is also larger than the size they say, but I think they trim it--the head size is correct. I don't want to pay for more photos if I don't have to, but I also don't want our application to get sent back for this reason. :confused:

[melfitz]

I recently got a passport for my DS. Honestly, I think they try to get the best possible picture. I was sitting on the floor holding my DS up over my head to get his pict taken. The passport photographer just took photos until one was OK. It only took 2 takes. We got his passport. When my oldest DD had a passport as a baby, her mouth was open, my arms were in the photo and she wasn't looking directly into the camera. A passport was issued anyway. I wouldn't worry about it.

[KristaMB]

My two year old DD's mouth is open in her passport picture. Her head is straight on, but her eyes are looking slightly off center. It's a recent picture and they processed it fine.

As an aside, getting this photo was one of the most maddening experiences of my life. The Costco employee was rude to start off with, which didn't help in trying to pin down a wiggly two year old. It took at least 10 tries to get this photo, and by the end I was pouring sweat.

The only thing I would be worried about on your photo is the size. Is there something you can find that will specify if you need to trim it to size? Of course, if the consulate recommended this place, you'd think the photo place would be good enough to give you something that is acceptable.

[Terri_A]

The weeone is not looking at the camera in her passport photo. I think they understand that getting a baby to look at the camera with their mouth closed is next to impossible!

[jphilg]

I had my 5 month old's passport pic rejected (by the post office employee doing the intake paperwork, not the Dept o' State) because he was crying. But his eyes were squinched up in addition to the open mouth.

It was a very, very infuriating process.

[honeygirl1971]

Thanks melfitz and Krista!!!!
Krista, that sounds a lot like our photo, LOL. His face is forward but his eyes are looking slightly off to his right (I was on his right, TRYING to hold him on the stool). I'm actually not as worried about the size, since the head is the right size and here when they give you ID pictures they are always bigger than the size you need. The govt offices have this tool that clips them (kind of like a stamper thing) to the right size and shape. These photos are rectangular, and overall larger, but I think if the consulate has the same kind of trimmer it should be OK. They told me to go to this place, and to say, "US Passport," so I am HOPING the guy didn't mess up. I was panicking, though, when I looked at them and realized he wasn't looking at the camera and his mouth was open. When we got his French passport photos taken, he made the perfect, neutral, "passport photo" face! Today, no such luck! :rolleyes:

ETA thanks Terri and jphilg also! You posted while I was typing. I agree, getting a baby to cooperate for a photo is NOT easy, it's just that his French passport photo is absolutely textbook perfect, and this one totally is NOT. He's not crying, though. He looks a bit worried, and harried, but his eyes are wide open. I guess I'm hoping that if worst comes to worst, the consulate people will tell me the photo is not good enough. If I send it off and it gets refused and returned by mail, we are going to be in big trouble since we'll never get it redone in time to travel!!! But I am a major worrier, and you guys have really been helpful. I think this should be okay given what you've said!

[little_bopeep]

I wish I had my baby passport so I could show y'all. I was 10 months old, my eyes were crossed, and I was blowing a spit bubble. What a little darling....

[Becky13347]

It sounds like you should be okay. DS had his passport done as a 7 mo. 4 1/2 years ago. He is looking at the camera but his mouth is open. I had to hold him by the butt and between his legs (with one hand mind you) b/c he couldn't sit up well enough.

We had to do the picture 4 times b/c my thumb kept showing up between his legs. We were told that absolutely no other person's body parts could show in the pic. even in an infant picture when an adult was holding him. Talk about an impossible way to hold a child and keep your fingers out of the pic!!!!!!!!

[Debralynn]

You can go to almost any drug store (i.e. CVS, Eckard, Rite Aid,) and get a pass port photo for $7 and that way it won't delay your application and you don'[t have to worry about the picutre being denied. Good luck. Debralynn :)

[badunnin]

You can go to almost any drug store (i.e. CVS, Eckard, Rite Aid,) and get a pass port photo for $7 and that way it won't delay your application and you don'[t have to worry about the picutre being denied. Good luck. Debralynn :)

Unfortunately, (well, fortunately, depending on your perspective!) honeygirl lives in France....

[Debralynn]

OH, :D How would I know that, or should I say, HOW do you know that? hehe

[badunnin]

OH, :D How would I know that, or should I say, HOW do you know that? hehe

Well, it's listed in her profile that shows on every post, upper right corner, where it says Location: France! Between Join Date and Posts.

[honeygirl1971]

We had to do the picture 4 times b/c my thumb kept showing up between his legs. We were told that absolutely no other person's body parts could show in the pic. even in an infant picture when an adult was holding him. Talk about an impossible way to hold a child and keep your fingers out of the pic!!!!!!!!


Ugh, this was another thing I was worried about. As I said, the picture is larger than 5cm X 5cm, and when it is trimmed my hand won't show, but right now, you can see my fingers on his hip. I guess I am now thinking again that maybe I'd better go to another photog and get another set of pictures just in case. I'm annoyed, because I went to the place recommended by the consulate and it was more $$ and everything than the place I usually go. Grrrr.

Baby is in a bad mood today, so I fear this won't be much easier than yesterday. :(

[Clover]

To avoid having your hands in the picture, you can have the baby lie on a white sheet on the floor and shoot the picture of his face from directly above him, aimed straight down. In the picture, you won't be able to tell that he's lying down instead of upright. Of course, it depends on his holding still long enough.

[Andrea_2]

I just got photos done for my kids, and didn't even realize that their mouths had to be closed. I remember the clerk rejecting what seemed like dozens of pictures he took for other reasons (not looking straight, having a small part of a chair showing in the background, etc. etc.), but hadn't heard about the mouth part. My daughter's picture must have taken 45 minutes to an hour to get right. Then... I realized I didn't need it after all, and that you only need a passport application to FLY into Canada, not to drive. We do want to go to Italy, but that probably won't be for two summers, so I guess these photos are probably now useless after all that.

Anyway... If you are concerned about the photos, it is probably a good idea to get them redone, especially if you can't afford a delay. However, couldn't you take them back to the place you had them done and explain that there is a problem? Perhaps they'd offer to redo them for you?

[cminmd]

My friend just got her sons passport and she took the picture herself. He was laying on a white carpet when she stood above him and took the picture straight down at him, emailed it to a photo place that printed it out as a "real photograph" not on computer paper and then she cut it to the correct size. I think they are picky about eyes being closed and anything obstructing like pacifiers or those head garters. And for some reason she mailed it in and got it back in 2 months and didn't even pay for expediting. With all the horror stories we were wondering if he would be two by the time it arrived, but she's lucky.

[honeygirl1971]

I had them redone today. I went to the guy I usually go to, and they are now the correct size and shape, no hand showing, baby looking at the camera etc. His mouth is still open, but I think that is not a big deal. Thanks for all the feedback! :)

Oh yeah, and they told me I would have the passport in 2-3 weeks! They said stateside it takes WAAAAAY longer, but when you are doing it here, it is fast. We'll see if that's true--hopefully it is!

[Debralynn]

Sorry Badunnin, I DO NOT READ every persons profile before submitting a post! :rolleyes:

[MKSquared]

the word "France" is mentioned no less than three times in every post she makes, and her avatar is a waving French flag ...:rolleyes:

Yay! I'm glad the second round went a little smoother. I've never had to imagine getting a passport for an infant, and the thought of getting the perfect "passport" photo just boggles my mind. Crazy! This is all very helpful information, and I may be PM'ing you for some more information about it. :)

[mcgeiger]

OH, :D How would I know that, or should I say, HOW do you know that? hehe

because honeygirl has over 3000 posts and speaks about the differences in France often, the flag next to her name, the where I'm from part that says France, oh--and she said she went to the place the consulate recommended....:rolleyes:

[badunnin]

Sorry Badunnin, I DO NOT READ every persons profile before submitting a post! :rolleyes:

If you looked who posted it, you likely have looked at number of posts as well - they're right next to each other. :rolleyes: right back at ya.

[Debralynn]

Well thanks for shaing that with me. :) Debralynn

[honeygirl1971]

Thanks again for the feedback, ladies. And M-K, feel free to PM me if you need more info about this. :)

As for not noticing I'm in France, well it does seem sort of hard to believe since as Mary-Kate mentioned, I'm not that subtle about it, ha ha! But, I think it's easy to overlook avatars, location, etc., especially if someone hasn't been on the BB long enough to "know" everyone and their history. My DH has a very interesting job opportunity in the States, and if we decide to take it and move back, that will probably be about the time everyone here remembers I am in France, LOL! :cool:

[Debralynn]

Good morning Honeygirl, Sure hope I did not hurt your feelings. Some people on this message board just love to jump all over me. :D Since you have been around here much longer than I have been, I am sure you know what I mean! :eek:
As far as noticing peoples locations, something I will work on, would someone fill me in on to where in the world is HOCKEY TOWN?? Enjoy your weekend. :) Debralynn

[mcgeiger]

Where in the US will you be going?!?!

[Canice]

Saaaaaay...didn't you say that the folks opening that new bakery in NAPA are friends of yours? ;)