Get a Clear Picture of Where To Take Your Passport Photos

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Where To Take Passport Photos—The Mystery Solved

Having your passport photo taken is one of the crucial steps when applying for a new passport. While there are many places where you can take a photo, not many of them can help you meet strict passport photo requirements.

Knowing where to take a passport photo can help you save a great deal of time and ensure your passport application doesn’t get rejected because of an unsatisfactory image. In this article, DoNotPat will present all suitable and convenient places where you can have your passport photo taken. We will even explain how to take a passport photo online!

Where To Take a Passport Photo

Unless you live in a totally isolated area, you probably have numerous places in your vicinity for snapping and printing your passport photo. Take a look at the table below for the ultimate rundown of the most convenient locations:

Where To Have Your Passport Photos TakenDescription
Shipping centersShipping centers that typically offer passport photography services are FedEx and UPS stores. Make sure to call your local shipping facility and confirm that you can have your picture taken at that exact location
PharmaciesYou can check your local pharmacy, such as CVS, Rite Aid, or Walgreens, to see if they offer passport photo services
Retail storesRetail stores, including Target and Walmart, are typically the places to go to when you need to have your passport photo taken at an affordable price
Professional photography studiosWhile you may consider going to a professional photography studio to ensure the quality of your photographs, bear in mind that:
  • Not many photography studios offer passport photo service
  • You will have to pay a lot more than you typically would for having your passport photo taken
U.S. passport officesPassport application acceptance facilities typically offer passport photo services to their clients. Since most of them are located in post offices, you can conveniently finish the whole procedure in one place, including:
  • Having your passport picture taken
  • Applying for the passport issuance
  • Sending the application for processing
Passport expediting servicesPassport expediting services can send the application for you if you:
  • Are unable to visit a regional passport issuance agency
  • Need your passport done in two weeks or less

They typically offer passport photo-taking services but call them to confirm

How Much Do Places That Take Passport Photos Charge?

You typically have to pay between $0.35 and $15 to have your photo taken in one of the places with a passport photo service. Post offices arguably charge the most, but the price may be worth the convenience of having your photo taken at the same place where you can submit your passport application.

Places with the most affordable passport photo service prices are:

  • Walmart—$7.44
  • Rite Aid—from $7
  • UPS stores—$11.99
  • Target—$12.99
  • Walgreens—$14.99
  • CVS photo—$14.99
  • FedEx—$14.95
  • USPS—$15
  • AAA—$15 ($10 for basic members)

How To Take a Passport Photo at Home

Many people find having their passport photos taken professionally pricey and inconvenient. Luckily, you can facilitate the process and save time and money by snapping a photo at home.

If you decide to go about the procedure alone, you have to know the U.S. passport photo requirements regarding:

  1. Passport photo size
  2. Appropriate background
  3. Acceptable posture
  4. Facial expressions (e.g., whether or not you are allowed to smile)
  5. Allowed attire, accessories, and eyewear
  6. Suitable photo quality

You can use a tripod or ask a friend or a family member to snap your photo. Make sure to face the window when taking a picture since standing by a lamp can cast a shadow on your face.

It’s also crucial to avoid patterned or colored backgrounds and put away all surrounding objects. You have to stand in front of a white background, facing the camera, with your eyes wide open.

If you are wearing prescription glasses, remove them when taking the photo. The same rule applies to wearing hats, headgear, earrings, and scarfs that threaten to cover a portion of your face and jeopardize your face recognition. You may leave the accessories only for religious or medical reasons—provided your face is clearly visible with them.

Taking Your Passport Photo—A Word of Caution

Certain actions should be avoided when taking a passport photo without professional help, including:

  • Using old pictures stored on your computer or cell phone (passport photos cannot be older than six months)
  • Taking selfies since it’s prohibited
  • Using cheap, disposable cameras that produce low-quality photos (you can use a phone or a tablet with a high-resolution camera or a digital camera)

If taking the photo by yourself proves inconvenient, there is another option—DoNotPay. to get the best of both worlds—a top-quality photo with minimum effort!

Take Homemade Passport Photos to a Whole Another Level With DoNotPay

Why would you overcomplicate taking your passport photo when it can be so simple? We will facilitate the process to the max if you:

  1. Find our Create Passport Photo product
  2. Snap a photo of yourself and upload it
  3. Choose if you want us to:
    1. Print and send you two copies of the photo via mail
    2. Email the digital copies to your account

Our AI-powered app will process the photo and:

  1. Make necessary adjustments to make sure the photo fits the requirements
  2. Inform you if the photo needs to be retaken for a better result

If you’re in a hurry and need printed copies, you can get them in as fast as three business days.

Find your place of residence in the table below to see where you can have your passport photo taken:

San DiegoSacramentoBostonAlbuquerqueRaleigh
HoustonAtlantaPhoenixSan FranciscoDenver
CincinnatiRochesterLos AngelesColumbusScottsdale
HonoluluMinneapolisChicagoTallahasseeKansas City
New York CityPortlandPhiladelphiaAustinRockville
SeattleCharlestonSan JoseSan AntonioCharlotte
HerndonColvilleIndianapolisLas VegasBrooklyn

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