Baby Passport Photos

I'm currently trying to take passport photos to get passports for the girls.

Thankfully www.frogprints.co.nz allow you to upload an image and they will post out 6 passport photos for $7.50. I'm not sure if this is cheap or expensive but it allows me to take photos the rare times the girls are alert and content at the same time.

I uploaded 2 photos last night and they emailed me today to say that the photos wouldn't be approved by Dept of Internal Affairs. *sigh*

Round 2 starts today.

Why couldn't we just put their names on my passport just like the 'good auld days'

I'm assuming this is the 'easiest way to get it done as I can't guarantee the girls to be alert when I take them out to get the photos done. They tend to fall asleep as soon as they go near the car or the buggy.

If anyone has some tips on how to get the photos taken successfully let me know please.


Here are some of the criteria that need to be met:

criteria wrote: * Recent photos, less than six months old * A full-front view of face, head and shoulders, looking straight at the camera with eyes open and head straight * Without hat, head band or head covering. If you wear these for religious or medical reasons, please state the reason on the Statutory Declaration on page 13 of the passport application form. * In all cases, facial features from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and both edges of the face must be clearly shown * Without sunglasses. Tinted prescription glasses may be worn as long as the eyes are still visible. There must be no light reflection on the glasses. Thick or heavy rimmed frames must be removed * A true image and not altered in any way * Clear, sharp and in focus with minimum reflective light on the face * With a plain, light coloured background (not white or dark) and no background shadow * Of high quality colour showing natural skin tones (black and white photos are not acceptable) * Printed on high quality photographic paper of high resolution, instant colour film and low gloss coated thermal papers providing the printers are high resolution printing systems * Not printed with ink jet printers, on extremely high gloss paper or heavily backed thermal paper * Taken with a neutral expression with the mouth closed * With eyes open and clearly visible, and no hair across the face or eyes * Actual photo size of 45mm height x 35mm width * Head size a maximum 80% of the photo (36mm) and minimum 70% of the photo (32mm) * Have a strong definition between the image and the background

Take them to a photo store -- most of these will redo the photos for free if it gets rejected. It is almost impossible to do them properly yourself, as the criteria is so strict.

We've had a couple of threads about baby passport photos -- do a search and you'll find heaps of advice from our MB mums.

I had Alani's passport photo taken this week too. I went to the camera house. I just had her sitting on my lap against the background. The lady took several shots until she got Alani with her mouth shut. She knew exactly about all the criteria. She also said that for smaller babies if they can't hold their head yet, they just lie them down onto the background. It was 12$ for 6 pictures and they gave me the stickers for the back as well. I thought it was quite a good service.

Some great tips here already so I haven't really got anything to add - but wanted to say that baby passport photos are a bit of a laugh really! We needed to get DD's done at 3 months and she will be nearly 2 when we travel again in a few months, so the differences between her then and now are massive I wish it was like it used to be too, and children under a certain age just traveled on their parents' passports.

oh my i have to get james photo soon how do i get mister i smile or all my photos to not smile

We had the gremlins done at 3 weeks, it took an hour ad a half at a Kodak Express store coz they either had their eyes and mouth closed or eyes and mouth open and not eyes open and mouth closed, plus they had a nightmare trying to get both their ears in the pic coz of the shape of their heads, it was physically impossible to see both ears when taken straight on coz their cheeks were so wide lol.

Was much easier when Maya was a baby, we just used the pic that was taken in the hospital.

We had Joey done at 8 weeks I think. Took him to a photo shop too. They just lay him on the floor on a sheet and took heaps until they got a good one Didn't cost extra either.

I know Redbedrock, Maya's height is listed on hers as 58cm *rolls eyes*