How to Take a Passport Photo at Home (US Guide)

Why Take Your Passport Photo at Home?

Taking your passport photo at home saves both money and time. Walgreens charges $16.99, CVS charges $14.99, and even Costco charges $6.99. A photo taken at home with your smartphone costs nothing — all you need is good lighting and a plain background.

Beyond the cost savings, home photos offer other advantages:

• Unlimited retakes — keep shooting until you get one you're happy with (photo booths give you one shot)
• Convenience — no trip to Walgreens or CVS, do it whenever suits you
• Better results — harsh booth lighting is unflattering; natural home light often produces better photos
• Privacy — no awkward posing in a public booth

The only catch? You need to make sure your photo meets the U.S. Department of State's strict requirements. Get any detail wrong — background, lighting, expression, or size — and your application could be delayed by weeks.

This guide walks through exactly how to get it right.

What You Need

Do you need a professional camera? No. Modern smartphones take photos at 12-48 megapixels — far exceeding the State Department's 600 × 600 pixel minimum. The rear camera on your phone will produce better results than the front (selfie) camera due to its higher resolution and better lens.

Setting Up the Background

The background is the #1 reason home passport photos get rejected. The State Department requires a plain white or off-white background with no patterns, no shadows, and no other objects visible.

Finding the Right Wall

• Look for a plain, white or off-white wall. Avoid walls with texture, wallpaper, or visible paint imperfections.
• Remove any pictures, mirrors, or shelves from behind where you'll stand.
• White is the required background color for US passport photos. Off-white or very light gray also works.

No Suitable Wall? Use a Sheet

• Hang a plain white sheet or large piece of fabric on the wall using tape or hooks.
• Iron or stretch it first — wrinkles create visible shadows and texture that can cause rejection.
• Alternatively, use a large piece of white poster board or card.

Avoiding Shadows on the Background

• Stand about 30cm (1 foot) away from the wall. Standing too close casts your shadow onto the background.
• Face the light source (window) — this pushes shadows behind you and away from the wall.
• Check the background in your test shots. Even faint shadows around your head or shoulders can cause rejection.

Getting the Lighting Right

Good lighting is the difference between a photo that looks professional and one that gets rejected. The goal is even, soft light across your entire face with no harsh shadows.

Natural Light (Best Option)

• Face a large window during daylight hours. The window should be in front of you (behind the camera), not behind you or to one side.
• Avoid direct sunlight — harsh sun creates strong shadows and squinting. Overcast days or a north-facing window give the softest light.
• If the sun is shining directly through the window, use a thin white curtain or sheet to diffuse it.
• Turn off overhead room lights — they create downward shadows under your eyes, nose, and chin.

Artificial Light (If Needed)

• If natural light isn't available, use two desk lamps placed at 45-degree angles on either side of the camera.
• Both lamps should be the same brightness and color temperature (both warm or both cool — not mixed).
• Avoid using your phone's flash — it creates harsh shadows, red-eye, and uneven lighting.

Camera & Phone Setup

Use the Rear Camera

Your phone's rear (main) camera is significantly better than the front camera — higher resolution, less distortion, and better low-light performance. If possible, use the rear camera with a timer or have someone else take the photo.

Camera Position

• Place the camera at eye level. Too high makes you look down; too low makes you look up. Both can cause rejection.
• Position the camera about 1.5 meters (5 feet) away. This distance avoids the facial distortion that close-up photos cause (wider nose, larger forehead).
• Use a tripod, stack of books, or lean the phone against something stable. Handheld photos at arm's length will be too close and distorted.

Camera Settings

• Turn off flash — always use natural or ambient light instead
• Turn off filters and portrait mode — no blur, beauty filters, or colour adjustments
• Use the highest quality setting — ensure your camera is set to maximum resolution
• Set a timer — 3-10 seconds gives you time to get into position
• Turn off HDR — it can create unnatural lighting and processing artefacts

See our detailed guide to taking a passport photo with your iPhone for device-specific tips.

Positioning & Expression

Body Position

• Face the camera directly — not at an angle. Both ears should be visible (if not covered by hair).
• Keep your head straight — not tilted to either side, not looking up or down.
• Your shoulders should be level and square to the camera.
• The photo should show your full head and top of your shoulders.

Expression

• Neutral expression — mouth closed, not smiling
• Eyes open and clearly visible, looking directly at the camera
• A natural, neutral expression — the State Department says 'a neutral facial expression or a natural smile'
• Relax your face — avoid frowning, raising eyebrows, or tensing your jaw

What to Wear

• Wear everyday clothing — no uniforms, no costumes
• Remove all glasses (required since November 2016)
• Remove hats and head coverings (religious headwear is permitted)
• Avoid white or very light tops that blend with the background

For detailed clothing advice, see our passport photo dress code guide.

Step-by-Step: Taking the Photo

Size & Cropping Requirements

US passport photos must be 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51mm). Here are the specific measurements:

For online renewal, you upload a digital photo. For in-person or mail-in applications, print at 2 × 2 inches on photo-quality paper (glossy or matte).

How to Crop Your Photo

Most phones have a built-in photo editor where you can crop to a custom ratio. Set the crop to 1:1 (square) and adjust so your head fills the correct proportion of the frame.

This is where DIY gets tricky — getting the exact head size within the allowed range requires careful measurement. Too large or too small, and the photo will be rejected.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

For the full list of rejection reasons and how to fix them, see our guide to why passport photos get rejected.

The Easy Way: Let AI Handle It

Taking a passport photo at home is absolutely possible — but getting the background, lighting, sizing, and compliance exactly right takes effort. And if anything is slightly off, you risk your application being rejected and delayed.

That's why we built EasyPassportPhoto. Upload any selfie or phone photo, and our AI:

• Removes the background and replaces it with the correct white background
• Adjusts the lighting to eliminate shadows and ensure even exposure
• Crops and sizes the photo to exact State Dept. specifications
• Checks compliance against all the U.S. Department of State requirements